When you look at your feet and ankles and notice a growth that wasn’t there before, it could panic you. What is on my foot and why is it there? After a call into the podiatrist, they inform you that they have made an appointment for you to come in for an examination and a possible soft tissue biopsy. These words can be very frightening but read on to learn more about what you should expect if you have to go through a soft tissue biopsy.

What Is a Soft Tissue Biopsy?

A soft tissue biopsy is the removal of the skin, fat, muscle, and tendons that surround, connect, or support other tissues or organs of the foot or ankle. These biopsies are used to help inspect the skin and what might be causing the new growth or imperfection. They usually take a bit of time and are done by a surgeon.

What Can Cause a Soft Tissue Biopsy?

• Freckles that are bigger than average or discolored
• Moles that are bigger or more discolored than normal
• Infections due to fungus or bacteria
• Eczema, dermatitis or other rashes
• Lesions from diabetes or other underlying conditions
• Fibromas, cysts and other nodule conditions or diseases
• Psoriasis or other toenail conditions
• Warts
• Keratoses

What Does the Biopsy Involve?

A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of skin from an affected area. It is usually done under local anesthetic and then cleaned and wrapped up. There are multiple types of biopsies, here are the main types:

1. A thin piece of tissue is shaved off, known as a shave biopsy.
2. A tiny core of tissues is removed or punched out from the body. This may require the use of stitches.
3. An entire piece of skin is removed and may require stitches.

A skin biopsy may sound alarming, but it is very necessary to help prevent severe diseases such as cancer, fungal infections and diabetic complications. If you suspect that something is wrong with the skin on your feet, it is important to call your podiatrist right away. Call Dr. Alan J. Discont and Dr. Krahn of Family Foot & Ankle Care, PC located in Chandler, Arizona. The number is 480-732-0033, or you can also make an appointment online today. Assess unknown skin conditions before it is too late.

Are you dealing with heel pain? If so, you aren’t alone. Foot pain, particularly heel pain, is one of the most common complaints and most people will deal with pain at some point during their lifetime. Whether you are on your feet all day for work or you are a runner, there are many risk factors that can play into your likelihood to deal with heel pain. If heel pain is happening to you, you may be wondering what’s causing it and how you can get rid of the pain quickly.

Causes of Heel Pain

As you might imagine, there are many reasons why you might be experiencing heel pain. The root cause will also determine the best course of action for getting your symptoms under control while providing the optimal healing environment for a speedy recovery.

The most common cause of heel pain is an acute inflammatory condition known as plantar fasciitis, in which the thick band of tissue that runs along the soles of the feet from the toes to the heel (known as the plantar fascia) becomes inflamed. Of course, there are other reasons people experience heel pain. Other causes include:

• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fracture
• Arthritis
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Heel spur
• Bursitis
• Osteomyelitis (an infection of the bone)
• Page’s disease of bone
• Peripheral neuropathy

Heel Pain Treatment Options

For more mild-to-moderate cases of heel pain, your podiatrist may recommend simple conservative treatment options that you can incorporate into your daily routine from the comfort of home. This is usually the first course of action, unless the condition is more serious. Only once we’ve exhausted at-home care and pain is still present do we decide on more aggressive tactics for handling your symptoms.

Common at-home heel pain treatment options include:

• OTC pain relievers (e.g. ibuprofen)
• Icing the heel several times a day
• Bracing or splinting the foot
• Wearing custom orthotics (shoe inserts)
• Wearing protective and supportive shoes
• Resting and avoiding certain activities or high-impact exercises

If you’ve tried these treatment options for weeks and still don’t notice any change in your symptoms—or if symptoms get worse—then it’s time to visit your foot doctor again to determine the next step. If pain and swelling are severe we may recommend steroid injections, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) or ultrasound therapy. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the imbalance, deformity, or problem that’s causing your chronic or severe heel pain.

Don’t let heel pain affect your day-to-day life when there are simple and easy solutions to manage your symptoms and promote faster healing. Turn to a podiatrist who will be able to handle your heel pain and get your foot health back on track.

The Achilles tendon is a very important tendon located on the back portion of the foot within the heel. It connects the heel to the calf muscle and aids in the flexing and moving of our feet and bodies. The Achilles tendon naturally receives a lot of stress during its day to day activities. Overuse, trauma, and other risks can cause problems that prevent a person from moving around freely. Here are some of the most common problems your Achilles can face and how to prevent them.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis occurs when the Achilles tendon is inflamed. This causes pain in the heel, especially when walking. It tends to come and go and progressively gets worse over time without treatment. The Achilles tendon can get small cuts within itself if inflammation is not properly treated. In rare cases, when this condition gets very bad, it can cause the rupture of the Achilles tendon.

Causes of Achilles Tendonitis

Overuse is the cause of most cases of Achilles Tendonitis. As the Achilles tendon is strained, it becomes more inflamed and swollen. This causes pain and the breakdown of the tendon. Athletes are more likely to suffer from this condition because they push their feet to the max on a regular basis. People who are flatfooted are also more likely to suffer from this condition. This is because more stress is put on the foot due to the lack of the arch.

Symptoms

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Tenderness
• Intense pain

Treatment

• Immobilization is commonly used to heal this condition. This is because it prevents the tendon from being used and exacerbating the problem. It also gives the tendon time to heal properly.
• Ice is often used to reduce swelling, inflammation and pain.
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medications may be prescribed to help relieve discomfort.
• Orthotics can be made by a foot doctor that are custom for your feet. They fit right into the shoe and can alleviate symptoms and prevent further progression of Achilles tendonitis.
• If your tendon hurts a lot at night, a night splint may be used to help prevent movement during sleep.

Achilles tendonitis can be a very painful condition. It can hurt so much that it can leave you immobile. If you are suffering from Achilles pain, call Dr. Alan J. Discont and Dr. Krahn of Family Foot & Ankle Care, PC located in Chandler, Arizona. The number is 480-732-0033 or make an appointment online today. Achilles tendonitis doesn’t have to interrupt your day.

Metatarsalgia is a painful condition that causes a group of varied symptoms. These symptoms are typically swelling, pain and inflammation in the foot. Cases generally range from mild to severe and can be treated by a podiatrist. If you are diagnosed with this condition, you may be unsure as to why you are suffering from it. The fact is, this condition has many different underlying influences.

Are you overweight?

Weight can be a tough subject to bring up. The truth remains that if you weigh more than you should, all of your excess weight is being transferred to your feet. This adds more pressure and stress to the feet while they are in movement. As we age, the fat pad on our foot starts to get thinner and wear out. This fat pad protects our feet from pain. When it gets thin, and extra weight is put on the body, there is less protection and a higher risk for metatarsalgia. If you lose weight it may help cure the condition or lessen its severity.

Improper footwear

If you are wearing a pair of shoes that do not fit you correctly, you are providing your body with an open avenue for foot pain. Shoes that have a small and narrow foot box or cause a lot of pressure to the forefoot can lead to metatarsalgia. Shoes that fit poorly also make you alter your gait. An altered gait can cause more pressure on the forefoot which can lead to pain.

You are plagued with a bunion or arthritis

Bunions and arthritis weaken the big toe and the ball of the foot. The pain from these conditions can cause a patient to alter their gait. This altered gait creates more pressure on the ball of the foot and the forefoot, which can lead to the swelling, inflammation and pain that this condition is so well known for.

If you are suffering from any type of foot pain, it is important to see a podiatrist immediately. What you might think is a small problem can turn into a bigger one. Call Dr. Alan J. Discont and Dr. Krahn of Family Foot & Ankle Care, PC located in Chandler, Arizona. The number is 480-732-0033 or make an appointment online today. Let’s stop the underlying cause before it gets out of hand.

While it might not be something you think about often (or at all), the health of your child’s feet is important. Your child is growing by leaps and bounds and certain habits and other factors can affect how your child’s feet develop or if they experience injuries or other problems down the road. Unfortunately, a lot of children end up wearing shoes that are far too small for their feet, which can lead to pain, structural imbalances and certain foot deformities.

We know that going shoe shopping is certainly not a walk in the park for most parents; however, it’s an important component to making sure your child maintains healthy feet. There are many things to think about when it comes to picking the right shoes, and your podiatrist can also provide suggestions and tips to make the world of shoe shopping easier for you and your little one.

Some factors that you should consider when shopping for the right shoes include:

• Your child’s age
• The shoe’s material
• Your child’s shoe size
• The shoe’s structure

A good rule of thumb is to shop for shoes every 2 months when your child is between the ages of 1 and 2 years old. Once they reach three and four, you’ll want to purchase new shoes approximately every four months. At the point that your child is five or six years old, every six months is a good time to swap out old shoes for new ones.

As you might already know, the bones of a baby or infant’s feet are soft and haven’t fully developed. To protect your child’s feet it’s important that they wear socks and soft shoes. Make sure that as your child’s feet grow that the toes have room to wiggle and move around within the shoes. Bunched-up toes are a major no-no!

Since your little one is growing by leaps and bounds it is important that you are constantly checking their shoe size for changes. Remember that feet swell throughout the day, so shoe shopping should be done at the end of the day when feet are at their largest. If you aren’t sure what size shoe your little one wears, you can ask one of the store’s footwear specialists for help.

Of course, you can’t forget the importance of choosing the right socks, as well. Socks can prevent your little one from blisters, calluses and other foot problems. They can also wick away sweat and prevent fungal infections. When it comes to choosing the right socks for your little one consider the type of fabric, your child’s activity level, the size of your child’s feet and sensitivities they might have to certain fabrics.

When in doubt, you should talk to a foot doctor who can provide you with advice, answer any questions you might have about your child’s developing feet and also provide comprehensive care, when needed.