Hallux Rigidus

Your big toe plays a major role in the balance of your foot, so it’s a serious problem if your toe is becoming less flexible. Hallux Rigidus is a term that describes arthritis in the metatarsophalangeal, or MTP joint, which connects the big toe to the rest of the foot. We at the Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates of Lorain have helped a lot of people to manage this condition, but if it’s not caught early, it can cause permanent damage.

Some people have a genetic susceptibility to cartilage damage in their feet, but loss of cartilage can be exacerbated by overuse. If a person’s ankle rolls inwards, they’ll put a lot of stress on their MTP joint. A person who suffers from gout or has a rheumatoid condition will also have damaged cartilage, and as the bones of their toes rub together, they may grow a spur. This may cause a visible bump in the top of the foot that could be mistaken for a bunion, and a patient will likely feel pain in their big toe when they push off from the ground while walking. Some people also feel more pain in damp weather.

It’s always important to wear shoes with sufficient room in the toe box, but that’s especially true if you’re experiencing MTP stiffness. If your stiffness has already progressed, you might need to wear a shoe with a rocker-shaped bottom to compensate for your big toe’s inability to help you move. We can provide nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to reduce swelling, and can provide corticosteroid injections in more advanced cases. Many people find corrective orthotics helpful. It may also be possible for us to remove a bone spur surgically. However, patients need to see us before too much irreplaceable cartilage is lost or our options will be more limited, and it’s better to see us before spurs develop.

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.

 

Caring for Toenails

If you’re thinking of wearing open-toed shoes or going barefoot in the summer, you’re probably paying more attention to the shape of your toenails. But if you aren’t caring for them, correctly, you’re increasing your risk of developing a hangnail. At the Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain, we can assist people who have conditions such as neuropathy that make it dangerous for them to cut their nails themselves. But for everyone else, we have some tips on good nail care.

Generally, it’s safer to cut your nails when they’re dry. This makes them less likely to bend and tear under the pressure of the clippers. They should be cut frequently enough to not grow beyond the edge of the toes, but they shouldn’t be cut extremely close to the nail plate. This will mean cutting them about every six weeks, for most people. Each nail should be cut straight across. Cutting them in a rounded shape increases the risk they’ll grow into the sides of the toe, especially if a person wears tight shoes or hose. Once the nail has been cut, the jagged edges can be filed down a little.

It’s common to have separate clippers for the fingernails and toenails, since toenails are thicker and keeping clippers separate limits the spread of bacteria. A person who has very thick toenails may need to wet them before cutting, in which case they should be patted dry afterward. The cuticle should not be cut; it may be pushed back, but cutting it could result in an infection.

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.

 

Causes of Fallen Arches

If you’ve recently felt pain in the sides of your ankles or a bump developing on the bottom of your foot, you may be in the process of developing a flat foot. While that’s hardly good news, we at the Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates of Lorain are experts at treating this condition. But flat feet can be caused by several things and treatment may vary depending on which of them is responsible, so let’s take a closer look at the causes of ankle degeneration and arch collapse.

Our feet are largely shaped by the posterior tibial tendon, so it’s one of the first things we look at when a person’s foot is getting flatter. The posterior tibial tendon stretches from the thigh to the inside of the foot, and when it frays, the arch of the foot may sag. Fraying is usually due to wear-and-tear, but it could have been the result of an acute injury. It’s also possible that a ligament that is more centrally located or in the back of the foot has frayed. Degeneration is more likely to occur when a person is suffering from diabetes, which damages the nerves and makes it difficult for someone to feel pain from injured tissues. Another potential complicating factor is arthritis, in which the cartilage supporting the ankle joints would be worn away, causing the bones to develop spurs that might also compress nerves.

It might not be possible to determine whether you have a serious structural problem with your foot just by looking at it. Some people have more flexible arches than others. But if you are in pain, or you know diabetes might prevent you from feeling pain and you suspect something is wrong, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us. We can devise a minimally invasive plan to restore your foot’s function, but the earlier you get treatment, the easier it will be.

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.

 

National Juvenile Arthritis Month

Could arthritis be the cause of your child’s swollen feet? It’s possible. Last month, we of the Integrity Foot and Ankle Associates in Lorain discussed Sever’s disease, a common cause of foot pain in children. But since July is National Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, we felt it would be appropriate to acknowledge another possible cause of ankle swelling in pediatric patients, and describe how it’s recognized and treated.

Juvenile arthritis is poorly understood, but is an autoimmune condition. That means the body’s immune system is attacking healthy tissues, causing swelling, hot spots, and stiffness. Most cases of juvenile arthritis are oligoarticular, meaning that they only directly affect a small number of joints. However, the joint that is affected is often the ankle or knee. It is more common in girls and tends to strike during the first few years of a child’s life.

Oligoarticular arthritis is generally considered to be the mildest form of juvenile arthritis. The diagnostic process includes x-rays and blood tests for antibodies associated with autoimmune disorders. Treatment is conservative, usually consisting of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles, allowing them to better support the joints. We especially encourage low-impact exercises that will also stretch the ankle without jostling it.

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.