Walking through life with constant pain in the feet, legs, back, and hips can be excruciating. At first, you think it is because you have a bad pair of sneakers. So you go out and get a new pair with ample support and shock absorption and hope the pain goes away. Unfortunately, while the shoes are comfortable, the pain still lingers. No amount of stretching, exercise, and over the pain medicine is helping, and all your efforts feel fruitless. Finally, you decide to call your podiatrist to seek relief. You make an appointment, and within the next few days, you have your feet examined. The verdict? You are misaligned.

Many problems such as pain in the feet, back, legs, and hips can be due to misaligned feet. Other more severe problems that occur from misaligned feet are bunions, spurs, hammertoes, shin splints, and heel pain. If the alignment of your feet is off just slightly, it can throw your whole body out of whack. This is because, although the feet are at the bottom of the body, they are transferring shock, weight, and impact to the other body parts. These other body parts work in unison to get you mobile and on your way to enjoying everyday activities.

So, what do you do if your feet are misaligned? First, do not panic. The misalignment of feet can be cured with new innovative technology. One new advancement in the medical field is called HyProCure.  HyProCure is an outpatient surgery that is typically done under local anesthesia. A HyProCure stent is placed within the natural space between the bones of the foot to stabilize and realign them. This allows a patient to get back into proper alignment almost immediately. A patient will have a recovery window of a few weeks’ time. After a follow-up appointment with their podiatrist, they can resume regular activity again, pain-free.

How do I know if it is right for me?

Consult with your podiatrist if you are misaligned and are looking for a way to help ease pain from this common deformity. As HyProCure is a surgery, it is not for everyone and should be considered on a case by case basis. If you do not have a podiatrist, consult with us! Call Dr. Alan J. Discont and Dr. Krahn of Family Foot & Ankle Care, PC located in Chandler, Arizona. Call 480-732-0033 or make an appointment online today. HyProCure could be your ticket to a pain-free lifestyle.

It can be pretty embarrassing to take your shoes off and feel like you left a puddle of sweat behind. How can feet be this sweaty? If this scenario sounds like you, then chances are good that you may be wondering what could be going on to cause this awkward issue.

If you have extremely sweating feet then you could be dealing with a condition known as hyperhidrosis. This is something that can happen to anyone but tends to be more common in younger adults. If you have hyperhidrosis of the feet you may also find that the palms of your hands sweat more than most.

Why is this happening to you? Unfortunately, it can be a bit tricky to determine why this is happening to you. Perhaps this is something that runs in your family (thanks, mom!). It’s hard to tell, but those with true hyperhidrosis will experience sweaty feet all the time, not just when it’s hot or humid out.

So, what constitutes hyperhidrosis? Besides the obvious extreme sweating, you may also notice that your feet slip and move around in your shoes more. You may be more prone to embarrassing foot odors or even infections. If you have diabetes and are dealing with any foot problems, even seemingly innocuous ones like sweaty feet, it’s still important that you visit a podiatrist to help you manage your symptoms and to prevent complications.

There are some at-home measures you can take to reduce sweaty feet symptoms. Make sure to thoroughly wash your feet everyday and dry them completely. Once feet are dry, you can apply a talcum or antifungal powder onto your feet and your shoes to prevent infections and to reduce sweat. It’s also a good idea to wear socks that are breathable and wick away sweat and moisture from your feet. If you aren’t sure what kinds of shoes and socks to wear, you can always turn to a foot doctor for advice.

If you are dealing with severely sweaty feet or you aren’t able to handle the issue on your own then it’s time you turned to a podiatrist for some answers. While a lot of people can find easy ways to manage their symptoms and reduce perspiration, it’s not always easy for everyone. Call your foot doctor today.

When you injure your foot or ankle, it can be devastating. Not only are you in a lot of pain, but it affects your ability to properly perform day to day activities. When you aren’t able to be in tip-top shape, it can affect your work, home, and family life.  A trip to the podiatrist is definitely in order. A podiatrist will examine your foot and ankle and make a diagnosis. Sometimes it is easy to see clearly what is wrong with the foot or ankle. In other instances, it is not as easy or clear. Sometimes special technology is used to get better imaging to aid a podiatrist in making a diagnosis. One such technology is called an MRI.

Most of the time, an MRI takes place in a hospital or clinical setting. These MRI images highlight the internal structure of the body and allow a podiatrist to view them better. These images can be used to determine where an injury is and how it may have occurred.  Open MRI’s allow a patient to have imaging done without radiation and allow for a less claustrophobic feel.

There are quite a few different reasons why a podiatrist may order an MRI. Here are some of the most common occurrences:

Swollen Tendons – If you have pain in any area that has a tendon, a podiatrist may order an MRI. This is because tendon pain can be a sign of an underlying problem such as infection or disease. An MRI can pinpoint the inflammation and tell the podiatrist if there is any damage.

Weakened Joints – Sometimes if a ligament is inflamed or damaged it can cause the weakening of joints in the foot and ankle. A podiatrist will order an MRI to confirm the damage to ligaments.

Arthritis – if you have pain in the foot and no memory of trauma, a podiatrist may order an MRI to see if you have damage caused by arthritis.

Although the three mentioned problems are common, there are many other problems such as fractures, infection, cartilage injuries and more than can be diagnosed with the use of an MRI. An MRI is a useful medical tool that a podiatrist may use to help best identify and treat your injury. Call Dr. Alan J. Discont and Dr. Krahn of Family Foot & Ankle Care, PC located in Chandler, Arizona at 480-732-0033 or make an appointment online today. An MRI can get you on track to a proper diagnosis.

We use our feet so often that it's easy to take them for granted. But podiatrists, or foot doctors, are well-acquainted with the functions of the feet and the best ways to keep them healthy. At Family Foot & Ankle Care in Chandler, AZ, we have a team of podiatrists that help our patients achieve optimal foot health each day. Dr. Alan Discont, Dr. Gregory Krahn, and Dr. Boyd Andrews have answered a few questions about the nature of their medical specialty here.

What kind of schooling does a podiatrist need?

Most podiatrists, including those on staff at Family Foot & Ankle Care, have the letters "DPM" behind their name; this stands for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. There are a select few medical schools in the country that are fully accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. Beyond the four years of undergraduate schooling, podiatrists need about four years of medical school in addition to a residency, or in-house training, to become certified. Our podiatrists also participate in seminars and other educational opportunities to stay up-to-date on the latest practices, procedures, and products.

What do podiatrists treat?

The short answer: a lot! The feet are complicated structures, made up of 26 bones and dozens of tendons, ligaments and muscles, and podiatrists like Dr. Discont, Dr. Andrews, and Dr. Krahn in Chandler deal with the multitude of problems that can come with these structures. Podiatrists also treat disorders that affect the ankles, such as sprains, and the toenails, which can become afflicted with fungal infections, and help their patients make the best decisions for orthopedic shoes and shoe inserts.

How often do I need to see a podiatrist?

Many people ignore developing foot problems until they are very uncomfortable, so it's important to contact our podiatrists for an evaluation of any ongoing pain, itching, or irritation associated with your feet and toes. Patients with diabetes, who can experience complications with their disease that affect the feet, should see their podiatrist at least once a year. Those who have had previous issues with foot wounds or nerve damage should make every effort to visit their podiatrist every three to six months.

To schedule your appointment with one of the members of our podiatry team, contact Family Foot & Ankle Care in Chandler, AZ today!

Fighting a fungal infection that is embedded in the toenail can be very hard. Not only does over-the-counter anti-fungal cream rarely work, it can sometimes make the infection worse. Even a podiatrist who prescribes medicine to treat toenail fungus knows that it may not always work. Conveniently, due to medical advancement, there are other options out there that can help you get rid of your toenail fungus. One such option is laser fungal treatment.

Before you get your fungus removed with a laser, you should know the basics of toenail fungus. Onychomycosis is a fungal infection that tends to affect the toenail and the toenail plate. It is more commonly found in older men, but it can infect any person of any age. It is hard to treat this type of fungus because it lives in dead tissue. This makes it hard for anti-fungal medicines to do their job and remove the fungus.

Lasers are a newer type of technology that helps doctors treat an array of different problems. One such problem that can be treated by lasers is toenail fungus, specifically onychomycosis. These lasers produce a strong light energy that is capable of being projected into the tissue. The laser heats up and allows for the dead tissue to be destroyed, which kills the fungus.

Are lasers the best method for treatment of toenail fungus and onychomycosis?

Lasers are a relatively new technology, but there have been ample studies that have proven the positive effect of the treatment. Patients all over the United States have been able to cure their toenail fungus and onychomycosis because of the development of laser treatment. The best way to decide whether or not laser treatment is right for you can only be determined by your podiatrist. If you have a fungus growing on your toenail, make an appointment with your podiatrist right away. Your podiatrist may decide that a course of antibiotics might be the best way to start treatment, or they may recommend laser treatment right away.

We are happy to help! Dr. Alan J. Discont and Dr. Krahn of Family Foot & Ankle Care, PC, located in Chandler, Arizona, can accurately diagnose your problem and begin effective and long-lasting treatments. Call 480-732-0033 or make an appointment online today. Fungus doesn’t have to take over your life.