Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Michael J. Petrocelli, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., C.W.S.P.
Board Certified Ankle and Foot Surgeon and Board Certified Wound Care Specialist
If you have pain in your feet from issues such as bunions, plantar fasciitis, hammertoes or multiple other conditions, you may have tried different at home remedies like self-massage, soaking, taping or bracing, but these often leave individuals still in pain and dealing with stiffness, immobility and the list goes on and on.
The force we place on our feet each day with every step is two to three times your body weight. To put it in perspective, if a person weighs 150 lbs., they can potentially be putting 450 lbs. of pressure on their feet! In this intricate body part, many things can cause foot pain.
Painful feet make daily living and activities challenging. The good news is, there are viable options to correct, regenerate, and improve your condition, and many of those are noninvasive.
Muscle Spasms | Sciatic Pain | Joint Pain
Leg Pain | Foot & Ankle Pain
Deep tissue laser therapy is a noninvasive, advanced technology used to accelerate your body’s own natural healing process. In a process called photo-bio-stimulation the laser sends photons into damages cells, which increases blood flow, stimulates the healing process, and reduces inflammation by penetrating throughout the layers of tissue, ligaments, and muscles.
Using this non-invasive laser therapy will reduce the amount of tissue or joint pain in just one session, and after the 6th session it usually feels better, but 90% of healing usually comes after 10 sessions. The regenerative effects are long-lasting.
Heel Pain | Plantar Fasciitis | Heel Spur
Achilles Tendonitis | Achilles tendinosis
Heel pain is one foot condition that strikes with surprise. You may be totally fine one day and then all of a sudden, your heel hurts with every step you try and take. Because several conditions can lead to heel pain, it’s important to be seen by an experienced podiatrist.
You will need an examination of your foot and ankle using high-definition X-rays or an ultrasound. In some cases, Dr. Petrocelli or Collier Podiatry sends patients out for an MRI to confirm a tear or fracture.
• Plantar fasciitis and heel spur: If you notice pain and inflammation in your heel, you might have plantar fasciitis. If the condition worsens, it might develop into an abnormal heel bone growth called a heel spur.
• Achilles tendonitis and Achilles tendinosis: Achilles tendonitis is a condition where you feel pain in your Achilles tendon, which is located at the back of your leg near your heel. It can turn into Achilles tendinosis, where the tendon breaks down and tears.
If you think you may have one of these conditions, contact Dr. Petrocelli to identify the source of your pain and receive the best treatment.
After examining your foot and determining the precise cause of your pain, Dr. Petrocelli might recommend the following approaches, depending on your condition:
• Laser therapy
• Custom orthotics to help your feet absorb shock as you walk
• Surgical shoe or boots are used to that the fracture will heal
• Taping of the foot
• Physical therapy or gentle stretches
• Ice application for 24 to 48 hours and then heat application
If the condition does not improve, our doctor may recommend surgery, cortisone injections for plantar fasciitis or heel spur, and corticosteroid shots for Achilles tendonitis or Achilles tendinosis.
Bunions
Bunions are a type of foot deformity, caused by the joint of your big toe protruding. It is often caused by wearing pointed or ill-fitting shoes that squeeze your toes into unnatural positions.
Bunions can be treated by wearing proper shoes, or wearing specialty splints or orthotics, but sometimes surgery is needed.
Here are signs that you need to consider surgery:
• It Is Often Times Hereditary
• Pain That Limits Your Everyday Activities, Even with Proper Shoes
• Inability to Walk More than a Few Blocks Without Pain
• Toe Deformity
• Pain Persisting Even with Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
• Bunions Not Healing Even After a Change in Shoes or Medication
• If It Is Affecting Your Quality Of Life, We Recommend Surgery
Hammer Toe
When the muscles in your toes get out of balance, they can start contracting into a claw like position. This causes the toe to bend in an upward position in the middle joint of the toe. When this happens, it can create severe pain. Hammertoe can be genetic and many times occurs in people with either a high arch or a flat foot. Various forms of arthritis can contribute to this issue as well. And unfortunately, ill-fitting footwear can also cause hammertoe, due to pushing the toes out of their normal position for long periods of time.
Treatment
• Padding the toe
• Wearing more comfortable shoes
• Outpatient surgery (This involves redirecting the lower tendons of the toe to the top of the toe to help straighten it into the correct position)
The causes of foot pain are vastly numerous and depend on your specific circumstances. Consulting with a podiatric specialist is the best decision for a proper diagnosis and a successful treatment outcome.
Collier Podiatry
Dr. Michael Petrocelli has been practicing podiatric medicine for well over 20 years. He is an expert in his field and a leader to his peers. If you are experiencing any foot pain or foot conditions, please contact Collier Podiatry at (239) 774-0019, or visit their website at www.collierpdiatry.com
Collier Podiatry, P.A.
Michael J. Petrocelli
D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., C.W.S.P.
239-775-0019
www.collierpodiatry.com
NCH Countryside Commons
1715 Heritage Trail, Suite 204
Naples, FL 34112
