Are you dealing with any foot issues? Here at Southwest Foot Institute in Phoenix and Glendale, AZ, Dr. Michael H. Dershowitz can help you and your feet feel better.

If you are suffering from ankle, foot, or toe pain, it’s hard to know whether it will go away on its own, or whether you should seek out the help of a podiatrist. You should seek out the help of Southwest Foot Institute in Phoenix and Glendale, AZ, if you are experiencing:

• Chronic pain in your ankles or feet that will not go away
• Nail or skin changes on your feet or toes
• Severely cracked, peeling skin on your feet
• Blisters or other open sores on your feet

If you are diabetic, you should also receive regular foot examinations from your podiatrist. After all, diabetics are at risk of sores that won’t heal, nerve pain, decreased blood flow to the feet and toes, and other serious conditions. Your podiatrist can help keep your feet healthy.

One of the most common foot conditions is plantar fasciitis, which causes severe heel pain. It’s caused by overpronation, or the rolling your feet when you walk. Your podiatrist can treat plantar fasciitis by recommending custom-fit orthotics and other devices to take the stress off of your heels.

Other common reasons to see your podiatrist include:

• Bunions, which are large, bony bumps on the side of your big toe; your podiatrist may recommend bunion removal and realignment of your foot.
• Toenail fungus, which starts out as a tiny spot under your toenail and grows larger as it burrows underneath your toenail; your podiatrist may recommend prescription-strength anti-fungal cream to aid this issue.
• Foot or ankle fractures, which can happen because of an accident or sports injury; your podiatrist can help by recommending crutches, a brace or cast, or another device to take weight off of your ankle while your ankle heals.

These are just a few of the reasons why it’s important to visit your podiatrist. To find out more about how a podiatrist can help with foot, ankle, or toe pain, call Dr. Michael H. Dershowitz of Southwest Foot Institute in Phoenix and Glendale, AZ, at (602) 340-8686. Call today!

Do you suffer from one or more corns on your feet? More than just annoying, these hard skin bumps really hurt, and can even change the way that you walk. Fortunately, here at Southwest Foot Institute in Phoenix and Glendale, AZ, your podiatrist, Dr. Michael Dershowitz, treats problems related to corns and can show you ways on how to prevent them.

Those stubborn corns

Corns on the tops or bottoms of your feet, or even between your toes, can really hurt as you walk. A type of callus, corns typically present themselves as small, hardened, and raised areas of skin that if untreated, continue to grow and eventually ulcerate.

At our offices in Phoenix and Glendale, AZ, your podiatrist sees many patients that suffer from considerable corn-related discomfort. He examines corns carefully to discover why they are forming. Causes for corn formation frequently include:

• Friction from socks which bunch up inside the shoes
• Shoes which are too tight or fit too loosely, causing areas of friction
• Foot deformities such as bony bunions and claw-like hammertoes, says the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Treating corns

Removal becomes necessary if corns have become large and particularly harmful to your foot. For smaller and less widespread corns, however, you can attempt some self-care such as warm soaks, the use of over-the-counter medicated pads, and pumice stone therapy, all of which may shrink the size and rough surface of a corn. Wearing wider and more well-padded shoes helps, as well, as do customized shoe inserts (orthotics) which can correct how you place your feet as you walk.

Cure your corns

With the help of Dr. Dershowitz and his friendly staff at Southwest Foot Institute you can find relief from your crowns. Set up an appointment at either Phoenix or Glendale office today by dialing (602) 340-8686.

Find out what might be causing your heel pain.

With Americans spending so much of their lives on their feet, it’s no surprise that heel pain is a common complaint. From wearing worn or improperly fitted shoes to suddenly increasing the length of a run, there are many reasons why heel pain may develop. From the office of our Phoenix podiatrist Dr. Michael Dershowitz, here are some common symptoms you may be dealing with plantar fasciitis related heel pain.
 

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a thick ligament that runs the soles of the feet from the toes to the heel bone. This ligament is responsible for providing the arches with support. If the fascia is overstretched or strained this can lead to inflammation or plantar fasciitis.
 

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The classic symptom of plantar fasciitis is a stabbing heel pain that is often worse in the morning or after bouts of inactivity. Whenever you rest, the ligament relaxes but when you stand up or move around this can stretch the inflamed ligament, which results in severe pain at the bottom of the heel that may extend to the arches. You may also notice swelling and stiffness around the heel.
 

How should I treat plantar fasciitis?

Even though this is a common condition it’s important that you get the proper care you need and to not ignore your heel pain. Rest is crucial to proper healing. Avoid any high-impact exercises or activities that might exacerbate the inflamed heel.

Conservative care is sometimes all that’s needed to treat plantar fasciitis. If you’ve dealt with this problem before then chances are you recognize your symptoms; however, if you are dealing with heel pain for the first time it’s a good idea to see your Phoenix foot doctor to find out if you are dealing with plantar fasciitis. After all, there are several causes of heel pain and it’s important to know the best way to treat the problem.

Options for treating plantar fasciitis-related heel pain include,

• Stretching exercises
• Wearing proper footwear that provides support
• Resting and elevating the foot
• Splinting or bracing the foot, especially during the night
• Wearing custom orthotics
• MLS laser treatment
• Injection therapy

If you are dealing with persistent or recurring heel pain in Phoenix or Glendale, AZ, it may be time to turn to our foot specialists for some answers. Call Southwest Foot Institute today to get your heel pain under control.

Have you noticed that your feet have been changing over the years? Are they wider than they once were, primarily around the big toe area? If so, you may be dealing with the presence of a bunion, an often painful foot deformity that arises from overuse and pressure from too tight of shoes. Fortunately, your Phoenix podiatrist, Dr. Michael Dershowitz, can be your local resource for bunion treatment!

How bunions can impact you

If you have noticed that your big toe is just now pointing closer to your other toes, and that bony bump now exists on the inside of your foot by the base of your big toe, you probably have a bunion. This means that your first metatarsal foot bone has shifted sideways, causing your toes to move and the bones at the big toe joint to bulge. Bunions are one of the most common foot deformities that people experience, particularly as they age.

Sometimes, bunions just change the look of your foot and how your shoes fit, but refrain from causing any painful symptoms. Other times, bunions will change the look of your foot, and also cause a great deal of pain in the bones of your big toe and foot. In these cases, the pain is often the sharpest in the bulging toe joint.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the most common bunion symptoms are:

• Pain in the bulging toe joint, especially when wearing tight shoes.
• Thick, hardened skin on the ball of the foot.
• Redness, swelling, and inflammation of the big toe joint.
• Difficulty moving the big toe.
• Corns developing on the bunion or on other toes.

Seeking bunion treatment

Bunion pain can be unbearable, and even become chronic, if left untreated. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it may be time to seek bunion treatment. The type of treatment offered depends on several factors, including the severity of the deformity and any other medical conditions a patient may have.

Some possible treatments include:

• Wearing properly fitted shoes. You always want to wear shoes that are wide enough and support your foot properly.
• Using toe splints. These serve as spacers between your toes and are designed to help maintain proper joint alignment while slowing the progression of the bunion.
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), both pills and creams, can help ease bunion pain and inflammation.

For very severe, unrelenting bunion symptoms, surgery from our Phoenix podiatrist may be the best bunion treatment. Bunion surgery corrects the bone/joint alignment in the foot and can relieve symptoms.

Need relief? Give us a call

The only way to determine which bunion treatment will suit your needs is to consult a professional. Call our Phoenix office today at (602) 340-8686 to schedule a consultation with your podiatrist, Dr. Dershowitz!

Have you been ignoring your ingrown toenail, hoping that it will get better on its own? Unfortunately, ingrown toenails only become worse if you don't treat them. Luckily, your podiatrist in Glendale and Phoenix, AZ, Dr. Michael Dershowitz, offers treatments that will ease your pain!

Can I treat an ingrown toenail at home?

If your nail has just begun to grow into the skin, you may be able to free it at home. Soak your toe in warm water for 20 minutes to soften the skin. Dry your foot thoroughly, then place a small piece of dental floss or cotton under the nail. Keep cotton or floss under the nail until it no longer grows into the skin (be sure to change the floss or cotton every day).

Don't try this at home if you have diabetes, however. If you have the disease, any foot problem, even if it seems minor, can quickly turn into a serious infection. If this applies to you, immediately turn to your foot doctor in Glendale or Phoenix, AZ, to free your nail and help you avoid an infection.

When should I see a podiatrist?

Call your foot doctor if:

• Your nail won't budge when you try the cotton or dental floss method.
• You think that your toe might be infected (signs include your toe being red and warm to the touch, pus being present, and acute pain occurring)
• Walking, standing or even moving your toe is very painful.

During an appointment, your podiatrist can remove the trapped portion of the nail during a quick, minor surgical procedure. Your toe will be numbed thoroughly before the procedure begins. In fact, you won't feel a thing when the problem section of the nail is removed. You may also receive a prescription for antibiotics to treat or prevent an infection.

What can I do to prevent ingrown toenails in the future?

Your toenail cutting technique may be to blame for your ingrown toenail. In the future, cut the nail straight across, rather than rounding the edges, to prevent it from growing into your skin. Avoid tight shoes and socks too—they can press against the nail and force it into the skin.

Need care? Give us a call!

Do you have an ingrown toenail? Call one of Dr. Michael Dershowitz's offices in either Glendale or Phoenix, AZ, at (602) 340-8686 to schedule an appointment!