Tailor's Bunions

The big toe isn’t the only place where people develop bunions. Although rarer, a bunion can develop on the outside of the little toe. These are called Tailor’s bunions, and if you’re suffering because of one or just don’t like the way it looks, we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates can help.

The long bones of the foot that lead to the toes are called metatarsals. When a person has a tailor’s bunion, the head of the metatarsal leading to the little toe bulges out, while the little toe points inward. The development of bunions often has a hereditary factor, such as a biomechanical problem that causes people to put pressure on the outside of their foot, but it could also be caused by tight calf muscles. Tailor’s bunions tend to get more severe with time, but may only be present on one foot.

We can provide patients with anti-inflammatory medications in the form of injections or pills. But treating a Tailor’s bunion will also require patients to wear shoes that don’t compress their toes or slide them forward. They may also benefit from padding or orthotics. Surgery to realign toe bones is an option for severe cases, after which patients would also need to guard against relapses by wearing supportive shoes. Patients may also be able to relieve the pressure on the outside of their feet by doing stretches to loosen their calves.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

Sesamoiditis

The foot is a complex structure and can suffer all sorts of overuse injuries. If you feel soreness in the ball of your foot, you may have a kind of inflammation called sesamoiditis. We at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates often provide pain relief and corrective orthotics to people with this problem, but it is easier to treat when people seek help quickly, and we want more people to understand why their foot bones are vulnerable.

Sesamoids are bones that do not directly attach to other bones, but are held in place by tendons and cartilage. The kneecap is one example. Sesamoids and tendons form pulleys that allow other bones to move more efficiently and comfortably, and there are several on the bottom of the foot. They are particularly important for elevating the big toe. Inflammation of the tendons surrounding sesamoids usually results from overuse and is common in dancers and people who play sports that subject the feet to a lot of impacts, such as basketball.

When a person complains of pain on the ball of their foot, we will take x-rays and test the foot’s flexibility. Sesamoiditis can result from the bones being fractured, in which case the patient may need to wear a brace and specialized pad while they heal. If the problem is only inflammation, the patient will gradually return to activity while wearing a supportive pad in their shoe, and we may tape the big toe in place and provide anti-inflammatory medication. People are likelier to develop sesamoiditis if they wear high heels, so patients should also switch to shoes that don’t compress the toes or slide them forward.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

Common Causes of Heel Pain

As podiatrists who specialize in sports medicine, we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain want all our patients to continue leading active lifestyles. Keeping the lower limbs strong and flexible will prevent problems later in life, but athletes are at greater risk for overuse injuries. Heel pain is a common problem that can usually be traced to biomechanical defects that worsen over time, so this week’s blog post is about recognizing why they develop.

Most heel pain is caused by a problem with the plantar fascia or the Achilles tendon. The plantar fascia is what connects the heel to the ball of the foot. It can suffer wear when a person has fallen arches or they develop a bone spur on the back of their heel. The Achilles tendon travels down the back of the ankle to the heel and may be inflamed when a person’s shoes are rubbing against it. Inflammation here can also result in the growth of a bone spur.

Although these problems are usually treatable with rest, they are worth examining in case the heel pain is actually being caused by an infection or fracture. People with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis may benefit from supportive shoe inserts and from doing stretching exercises to loosen up their tissues. We can provide patients with anti-inflammatory medications, and in severe cases, can discuss surgical options such as bone spur removal.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

 

Introduction to Gout

Among the many forms of arthritis, one of the most painful is gout. This condition can affect any joint, but is usually seen in the first joint of a big toe. An attack may only last for twelve hours, but they often recur. At Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain, we can help people control their symptoms, but they’ll need to make some lifestyle changes to lower their risk of future attacks.

The body contains substances called purines that, when broken down, produce uric acid. Normally, uric acid is filtered through the kidneys, but when the kidneys are overwhelmed or underperforming, uric acid will form sharp crystals. Those crystals tend to accumulate in the lower parts of the body and can cause gouty inflammation.

Gout can be controlled with injectible or orally consumed anti-inflammatory medications. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. If a person has chronic gout attacks, they may also be prescribed drugs that affect uric acid levels. The people most at risk for gout are middle-aged men who smoke or are overweight. People may reduce their risk of gout by avoiding red meat and seafood, which are high in purines, as well as sugary drinks, which increase uric acid.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

 

Morton's Neuroma

If you have pain in the front of your foot, you may have a condition called Morton’s neuroma. This ailment is usually responsive to conservative treatment, but it can get worse without intervention and needs to be properly identified, so we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain thought it would be a good idea to teach our patients more about it.

A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue. It creates pressure on the surrounding tissues and causes numbness or a sharp pain. Morton’s neuroma is the name of a neuroma that develops between the third and fourth toe. It is often described as feeling like a person has a stone in their shoe and tends to develop in people who wear shoes that slide their feet forward into narrow toe boxes. Partly for this reason, it is more common in women, but it also occurs frequently in runners of both sexes.

Morton’s neuroma is identified through imaging, tactile, and range of motion examinations. To treat it, podiatrists recommend roomier, more supportive shoes with customized orthotics. Patients may also receive anti-inflammatory injections. Most people find this sufficient, but in advanced cases, surgical reduction of the neuroma is an option. We will also treat co-occurring disorders such as bunions.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.