Austin Foot & Ankle Injury Blog

Dwayne Wade – RICE at its best

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

While the headlines have been blasted with ‘Linsanity’, the stellar return of Dwayne Wade may be under your radar. Wade had been struggling through games during the month of January with injuries that wouldn’t resolve. He had been ‘taking it easy’ during that time without any resolution to his heel pain or ankle sprain. After the Miami Heat benched him for two weeks at the end of January, he seems to be back with a vengeance. The Heat has gone 12 for 14 since his return.

It would appear that resting from his injuries played a big part in his healing. If you’ve visited our blog before, you are no stranger to the RICE mantra for injury. Hopefully it didn’t take an injury of your own to discover that many injuries, especially those of the ankle, should be treated with rest, ice, and elevation. The main reason this is a very effective initial treatment is that it limits further damage.

Rest: Initial rest or immobilization of an injury prevents the initial damage from spreading or becoming worse. Resting long term, as in Dwayne Wade’s case, allows time for your body to do what it was made to and heal the damaged ligaments and tendons.

ICe: Ice and Compression helps to minimalize swelling to the area by constricting blood vessels. Swelling is your body’s way of bathing the damaged tissue in fluid to protect and heal the area. Unfortunately, many part of your body, like the ankle cannot easily accommodate a large influx of fluid. Pressure from the increased fluid can create its own damage in addition to halting healing.

Elevation: Your lymphatic system returns excess fluid that escapes your circulation. By raising the injured ankle or limb above the heart, it is easier for excess fluid to exit the damaged area and return to the circulatory system. When elevation is used together with icing, you can efficiently control the level of swelling that is occurring. Effective reduction in swelling can help injuries to heal faster and with fewer problems than otherwise.

It is important to seek out proper medical treatment for any major injuries to give yourself the best opportunity to heal. Your Austin podiatrist has many non-surgical procedures that can promote and shorten healing time. If we look to what resting and proper treatment did for Dwayne Wade, you should seek out treatment today.

Until next time, keep those feet and ankles happy and healthy Austin!

Keeping Active in Retirement – Don't let osteoarthritis get you down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

All of us probably remember our parents or grandparents dealing with the pain or limitations that come with arthritis. While there are different types of arthritides, or problems affection your joints, osteoarthritis tends to affect almost all individuals as we age. Think of it as the result of ‘wear and tear’ on your joints. With an active lifestyle,the problem you may be experiencing yourself is the same problem that affected your elders but at a younger age. You have many more options than aspirin and copper bracelets unlike the generations before you.

The bones that connect at your joints are covered in smooth cartilage tissue that allows them to glide smoothly over one another. Over a lifetime, this cartilage can become worn down, especially when there has been some trauma or damage to the affected area. This ‘trauma’ induced wear down occurring in the foot most often affects the ankle joint and big toe joint. Trauma is in quotes because it doesn’t only consist of fractures or serious injury. Over a lifetime, poor foot mechanics or structure can cause undue stress on particular joints eventually leading to degradation of the cartilage. The key to good treatment, as with many medical problems is early intervention.

While we still haven’t discovered the fountain of youth, there are many options available to optimize the function of your feet. One of the best ways to keep your big toe and ankle functioning properly is through a total contact orthotic. The custom inserts we can design for you will help to keep the structures of your foot and ankle in optimal alignment thereby eliminating or preventing the traumas we mentioned earlier. Some arthritis, particularly in the ankle, may be improved with injection into the joint of a viscous material. There are several options of viscosupplemention, or replacement for the loss of cartilage. In the case of more severe joint degradation, there are surgical options available as well. Joint replacements for the big toe joint have been used for many years and are of the highest quality. Ankle joint replacements don’t have the track record that knees or hips do, but are becoming better and better with time. While Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists cannot turn back the hands of time, early intervention can keep your joints functioning for many years to come!

Until next time, keep those feet and ankle happy and healthy Austin!

Valentine's Day – Eats & Diabetes

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Anyone who subscribes to the Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists newsletter, sent to your email address once a month, has already read some of our suggestions for the celebrating the holiday. Hopefully you are not Googling last minute ideas for dinner inAustin, as many places are sure to be busy. If you are still looking for a dinner out for you and your sweetheart, here are a few local places we recommend with hyperlinks for convenience:

Romeo’s Driskill Grill Hudson’s on the Bend Chez Zee

The Melting Pot Uchi Ches Nous Fonda San Miguel

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill Eddie V’s Edgewater Grill

Whether or not you are living with diabetes; try to make good food choices whenever you eat. Limiting or eliminating fried foods can greatly improve your cardiovascular health, and fresh vegetables are always a better option than French fries. All restaurants offer you a variety of delicious choices to tempt your palate and may of them are quite healthy; it is up to you to choose the right foods.

If you are living with diabetes, good management of blood sugars depends greatly on the right food choices. Chocolate is often the sweet of choice for Valentine’s day. While you have been told to stay away from sweets as a diabetic, there are better options to satisfy your sweet tooth. Most major brands of chocolate offer sugar free or low carb options for those who need to watch their sugars. If you are having trouble finding sweets, there are many ‘diabetic candy’ options that can be found online year round. One such website, titled DiabeticCandy.com, has the sole focus of sweets for those with diabetes. Another, thecandyshop.com also has a variety of options. Even though these options may not have the sugar pack of regular chocolates it is still important to observe moderation. Diabetes requires many changes in habits you may have had for a long time, but watching what you eat, losing weight, and staying active, you can enjoy many more days with the Valentine’s in your life.

Until next time, have a Happy Valentine’s Day Austin!

Bob Marley's Birthday – A lesson on Myeloma

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

This month marks the birthday of Jamaica’s most prominent citizen. The musician Bob Marley used his music to arise from humble beginnings in his country to world renowned fame. While not everyone can say they are big fans of reggae music, few amongst us would not immediately recognize the beats of ‘One Love’ or ‘I Shot the Sheriff”. It has been almost 31 years since Bob Marley died at the young age of 36 due to cancer. Some types of cancer, such as breast and prostate, receive a lot of publicity and you have regular health screenings to detect them. Many other types of cancer are less emphasized, melanomas on your feet fall into that category. This was the type of cancer that affected this musician.

Subungal malignant melanoma is the medical term for the type of cancer that results from pigment cells underneath your nail. Sun damaged skin can increase the risk of melanocytes, or the cells that produce pigment, to grow uncontrolled. Too often we may not notice or ignore small discolorations under our nails or on our feet. It doesn’t hurt, so it can’t be that bad, right? When dealing with this type of cancer, nothing could be further from the truth. Melanoma lesions are often painless and some of the most dangerous types of soft tissue cancer. Any type of discoloration that grows with the nails, leaving a stripe, or begins at the base of your nails is highly suspicious for melanoma.

With any type of cancer in any part of your body, early detection is vital to successful treatment and resolution. We urge you to keep regular appointments with all our doctors. Any suspicious changes to your nails should be seen by your Austin podiatrist. One of the first things your podiatry physician may do to any discoloration or suspicious lesion is to take a small biopsy. By taking a small sample and identifying the types of cells present, the best and most definitive treatment can be given. As you can see from Bob Marley, getting the proper treatment can be a life or death decision.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and cancer free Austin!

5 Foot Problems You Shouldn't Ignore

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

If you are a regular subscriber to the Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists monthly newsletter, you hopefully have read January’s snippet about ‘The 5 most commonly ignored foot problems”. Our monthly newsletter can be delivered to your email inbox by providing your email address and signing up on our website. We use these digital newsletters to keep our patients up to date and provide foot care information to our Austin community. Take a second to think about it, but chances are you have been ignoring one of the 5 problems listed below.

Heel Pain. It’s #1 on the list because of how often it occurs. There are many reasons heel pain can occur and many of them are easily resolved with proper care.
Ankle Sprain. There are many important ligaments that support your ankle. Ignoring or not treating them can lead to a repetitive problem and sometimes completely destroy these tissues.
Achilles Pain. Most often caused by entering a new activity or increasing the intensity without proper training or warm up. Tendonitis here can be treated conservatively and should be. Failure to get proper and timely treatment can result in ruptures, which do require surgery to repair.
Big Toe Pain. Some problems affecting the big toe, such as gout, are often too painful for you to ignore. Stiffness or decreased motion is more likely to take a backseat. This is often the result of damage to the joint due poor foot mechanics; mechanics that can easily be adjusted with inserts.
Ingrown Toenails. Some individuals are more prone to developing them than others, but avoiding tight fitting shoes is a contributing factor you can easily implement. A simple in-office procedure can have you walking pain free. We have previously blogged about the dangers of self treatment.

Your Austin podiatrist is well qualified to identify and treat all of these problems. The Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists website can help you schedule an appointment. Seeking out proper treatment sooner, rather than later, can help you avoid future problems that may prevent you from many activities you enjoy.

Until next time, keep those feet healthy and happy Austin!

Stepping on Toads – Home remedies not the best cure for warts

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

I remember being told as a child that playing with toads will give you warts. That old wives tale would be hard pressed to explain plantar warts, or the warts you get on the bottom of your foot, unless you’ve recently stepped on a toad. While these skin growths rarely pose any major health concerns, they can make walking unbearable. Those that have been present for a long time begin to feel like stones in your shoes, even when you’re not wearing shoes! So what exactly causes those painful growths? What is the best way to treat them and keep them from coming back?

Warts are actually an overgrowth of your skin cells caused by a virus. The Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, has many different strains that attack different parts of the body. Some strains prefer moist, membranous environments that occur in the mouth while others, ie verruca plantaris, bury themselves in the foot. Because of the thick skin at the bottom of your foot, the virus is able to avoid detection by your body’s immune system. The virus is very common and can easily get into your skin through a minor cut or scrape. You can greatly lessen the chance of contracting the virus by avoiding going barefoot.

The virus can survive in shoes and other surfaces for periods of time. Because of these ‘reservoirs’, it is important to avoid sharing socks or footwear with anyone. Sharing shoes with someone who has the warts themselves puts you at increased risk of catching it. Not to mention the bacteria, yeasts, & fungus that can cause athlete’s foot or discolor your nails.

There are many different options for treating plantar warts and Dr. Thomajan will discuss the best treatment option for you. Because some individuals are more sensitive to the virus and your body has little immunity, re-infection is common. The best way to avoid it from happening is prevention through proper foot care and foot wear. Inspecting your feet and identifying warts early is a great way to make the treatments most effective and least painful!

Until next time, keep the bottoms of your feet happy and healthy, Austin!

Foot care & Fall Prevention – Resolve to Stay Mobile

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

There are many among us who assume that aches and pains are a part of getting older. We here at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists urge you to dispel this ‘knowledge’ and seek out medical treatment for any persistent pains, especially in your feet. Chronic pains that you may think are a normal process of aging can often be resolved with the proper care. Too often we see foot problems that are the result of poor shoe choices or neglect of simple, fixable problems. Little problems in your feet can create bigger problems in your knees, hips, and back as your body attempts to compensate from instability. Regular visits with your Austin podiatrist and routine care can keep you happily moving about no matter what your age.

As we age, regular foot care becomes more and more important. It has become an important part of fall prevention. Falls can occur for a number of reasons that become more common as we age. Because falls can cause fractures, organ damage, or any number of injuries that often lead to long, expensive hospital stays, it is beneficial to do everything you can to prevent them from occurring. We have made fall prevention one of the many services we are able to provide at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists. A thorough assessment of your foot structure, balance, & stability will give us the information to prescribe proper bracing or footwear. When muscle imbalance or weakness are found on physical exam, several weeks of physical or occupational therapy can do a lot to keep you healthy and on your feet.

Between regular visits to your healthcare provider, there are simple things you can do to keep your feet pain free. Measure your feet every time your purchase new shoes. Your feet can swell later in the day and different manufacturer’s sizes fit a little differently, so try them on for comfort before making a purchase. Wash your feet with mild soaps and lukewarm water daily. Take the time to inspect your feet as you apply lotion to the bottom and top, avoiding putting any between your toes. Lastly, keep walking. Walking has many benefits to your lungs, heart, and circulation as well as keeping your legs and feet strong. Resolve to stay mobile this year!

Until next time, prevent falls by keep those feet and ankles happy Austin!

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Foot Surgery delays start of tour

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

For fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it has been a long anticipated tour of North America. There has been some upheaval the last few years, with members taking time on separate projects, and European and Asian tours. It was in 2007 during these tours that lead singer Anthony Kiedis initially injured his foot after jumping off of the drums. The tour to support their newest album ‘I’m with you’ was scheduled to begin in January but has been pushed back due to this injury. After Anthony was spotted using crutches at an LA Lakers game on January 8^th the band announced the start would be delayed until March. During this time, Anthony Kiedis is recovering from surgery to remove a fractured sesamoid and repair a tendon.

Sesamoids are two small round bones that are found underneath the ball of your foot. Because this area of your foot is a major point of pressure during standing, walking, and running, sesamoid fractures can be very difficult to heal. Pain to this area of your foot, especially after trauma, should be addressed with a visit to your Austin podiatrist. If warranted by a physical exam, simple x-rays of the foot will help to visualize fracture to these bones. Proper treatment of any fracture is immobilization and stabilization. This can be achieved through a cast or special boot to allow time for the bone to heal.

Even with the best care, these bones often do not heal completely. Surgical excision of the injured bone is the best next step. It is difficult to speculate how much of Mr. Kiedis’ injuries occurred back in 2007 and how much of it was due to aggravation of that initial injury. Continuing to walk on a fractured sesamoid can not only delay or prevent healing, it can cause further fracturing or damage to the associated tendons. It would seem that both of these things occurred over the past 4 years for this lead singer. Hopefully, he heals without any complications and can start touring in March.

Until next time, keep those feet and sesamoids happy and healthy Austin!

Diabetes: Avoiding peripheral neuropathy in the New Year

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Studies have shown that almost 50% of individuals who have diabetes for many years will develop peripheral neuropathy, or problems with the nerves in your arms and legs. Most individuals who have mild neuropathy are unaware of it due to the subtlety of the symptoms. The nerves in your body have to main jobs, relay information to your brain (sensory nerves) or your brain to your muscles (motor nerves). Those that sense or feel send signals for pain, hot or cold, and light touch among others. It is the nerves that react to light touch that are most susceptible to damage from diabetes and uncontrolled sugars. Because there is some forms of sensation still present, it is easy to be fooled into thinking everything is fine. Many times small scraps or injuries that are not noticed can become infected or increase in size before you notice. As foot specialists, we see too many individuals who don’t seek out treatment until irreversible damage has been done. We at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists urge anyone with diabetes to make regular visits to see us.

The best way to prevent neuropathy from occurring is to keep your blood sugars under control. With the help of your family physician, endocrinologist, diabetes educator, dietician, and Austin podiatrist, good sugar control can prevent, and sometime reverse symptoms of neuropathy. Early intervention can keep symptoms from becoming worse. In advanced cases of neuropathy, constant burning or tingling sensations can become unbearable and may require special medication or other treatments to manage.

We offer a free book to help you better understand diabetes and your feet. The more you know, the better prepared you are to identify problems and keep your feet in good shape. Early loss of light touch can be easily detected through a routine podiatric examination. If this is elicited from your examination, we will discuss the daily foot exams you should do at home to detect what your nerves no longer can. You can identify problems early this way and seek our proper care.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

Winter Weather, Feet & Diabetes

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

We hope you took the time to care for your feet over the past few weeks. In the midst of the holiday season it can be easy to overlook our own health and wellbeing in favor of others. The dip in temperatures can also pose risk to your feet especially if you are living with diabetes.

As we have mentioned before, this disease can affect the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to all your body‘s tissues. The small vessels in your fingers and toes are often the first to be affected by the fluctuations in your blood sugars. Because of their small size, they are also the same vessels that can be affected by the seasonal drop in temperatures. We may not have to spend hours in the snow shoveling as they might in other parts of the country, but we still need to make sure our feet are properly insulated against the cooler temperatures. It doesn’t take long for an exposed foot, especially when diabetes has resulted in loss of sensation, for skin and muscles to become damaged from cooler temperatures. Make sure you were warm socks and proper footwear to keep your feet safe if you do find yourself visiting more snow laden regions. Even if there is just a small amount of snowfall, avoid going out in sneakers or sandals.

The outdoors aren’t the only place your foot needs protection if you are living with diabetes. Because diabetes can increase you healing time and make you more susceptible to infection, ‘an ounce of prevention’ really is ‘worth a pound of cure’. Make sure you keep your feet protected with footwear even if you are just walking around the house. Take a few minutes every day to inspect your feet for any changes. Cracks, sores, blisters or any other changes to the skin can lead to bigger problems if not properly cared for. Visit your Austin podiatrist if you do encounter any of these things or have concerns about any changes to your feet. With regular check-ups and early appointments after you notice changes, we can keep you on your feet.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

5 Things you can do to pamper your feet for the holidays

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Covered in socks and shoes for most of the day, many of us probably don’t give our feet a second thought…..unless they start to hurt or ache. You don’t have to wait until your feet become painful to take good care of them. This busy time of year, with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, is often a time when we see more foot aches and injuries in our office. Many of these problems can be avoided by taking good care of your feet. A little pampering can go a long way in helping prevent problems. The American Podiatric Medical Association offers a list of tips to relieve holiday foot pain. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialist want to highlight 5 things you can do for your feet to keep them happy this holiday season.

Massage your feet. They don’t have to hurt for you to rub and massage your feet. Taking a few minutes to do so can help increase blood to the tissues and loosen any tightening that occurred through the day.
Moisturize. Hydrating lotions and creams are good to keep skin healthy. Thickened skin can crack easily leading to open wounds. Applying daily moisturizers
Elevate. A long day on your feet can cause excess fluid to remain in your feet and legs. ‘Putting your feet up’ or elevating them above your heart is an easy way to get that excess fluid back into your circulatory system and keep it from causing problems.
Foot & Ankle Exercises. You won’t even have to break a sweat to keep them in good shape. While your legs are elevated, make circles with your feet and curl in and extend your toes. Repeat each of these 10 times to loosen up the tendons and ligaments that have tightened up throughout the day.
Smart Shoes. We know that certain shoes may make or break and outfit, but as we’ve advised before take caution with high heels. If you plan on being up on your feet for most of the day, try to make sure your footwear choice offers lots of support and padding.

Please remember these easy tips as the holidays approach. Remember, that we here at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists want to you take good care of your feet year round. Schedule a visit for regular check-ups or any concerns and pamper away!

Until next time, keep your feet and ankles happy and healthy Austin!

Eating during the Holidays – Avoiding the gout

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Eating in excess is hard to avoid during the holiday season. With big meals and plenty of cakes, cookies and sweets, it can be especially dangerous for individuals living with diabetes. We have written before about this particular metabolic problem and taking care to manage it around the holidays. There is another more painful problem that can raise its head around the holidays. Anyone who has experienced the discomfort of a gout attack knows exactly what we’re talking about.

Gout has afflicted man about as long as diabetes has. Gout has long been known as ‘the rich man’s disease’ since it was often seen in those who ate too much. Before modern science discovered that this problem was the result of purine metabolism gone awry, ancient people associated it with drinking and eating red meat in excess. In these early times, having more than you needed were more often associated with the wealthy and thus goat was described as the ‘disease of kings’. Our modern society has put many foods within the grasp of all of use, rich or not. We are doubtful that any of this matters much to you if your big toe has become red, swollen, and hot. These typical signs of goat can make your toe so sensitive that the light touch of a sheet on your toe is excruciatingly painful.

Dr. Thomajan can provide you with effective treatments to get you through this acute phase. When your toe becomes red and painful, you body has had a buildup of the waste product, uric acid, in your body. Increasing the amount of water you drink can assist your body in excreting it and medications can minimize your pain and discomfort. Once the attack has resolved it is important to monitor your diet avoiding foods that can lead to a reoccurrence. Avoiding these foods, or replacing them with green vegetables, can keep your free of the gout for many years. If you have concerns that gout may be affecting you visit Austin Foot and Ankle Specialist today.

Until next time, keep that big toe happy and healthy Austin!

Fall Prevention – Great way to avoid putting damper on the season

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Staying healthy during the holidays should be a priority for all of us. Because injuries and sickness can put a serious damper on what should be a joyful yet busy time of year, prevention should be part of our daily life. Let the team at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists help to eliminate falls as a potential problem this holiday season. If you are over 65 years young, you are at a greater risk for falling. Studies have shown that these falls can have drastic effects with 1/5^th of individuals who fall requiring hospitalization. For those who have reached 85 years young, these falls can result in fatal injury in more than 30% of cases. We here at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists want all of our older Austinites to know that we can help them from becoming one of these statistics.

There are often many reasons why falls occur. It is our mission to determine all the reasons behind your risk for falling, prescribe ankle foot orthosis, other assistive devices and work with other healthcare providers to keep you on your feet. A podiatrist is specially trained in the foot and ankle. Our team will assess your foot, ankle and the muscles that attach to them and support the rest of your body. As part of your healthcare team, we can assess muscular, structural, neurologic and vascular systems to evaluate your risk for falling. With a completed assessment, we can help manage many of the reasons for your increased risk. These risks can often be negated or eliminated with proper management.

You don’t have to wait until you have fallen to seek out an Austin podiatrist. Dr. Thomajan can assess your center of gravity and ultimate stability no matter what age you are. By assessing your risk factors and possible deficits appropriate supportive devices and therapies can be prescribed. Don’t wait until a fall affects your holiday; make an appointment to see your podiatrist today.

Until next time, stay on your feet to keep happy and health Austin!

Living with Diabetes – Make all your shoes safe for your feet

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

As part of our focus on diabetes this month, we wanted to talk about proper shoe selection. Shoes should never hurt your feet. This is especially critical if you are living with diabetes. Slower healing time and increased risks of complications from injury make shoe selection critical for foot health when living with diabetes.

Every time you go shopping for shoes, take a few seconds to get an accurate measurement with a Brannock device, or those things you see lying around the store for measuring your feet. The proper measurement is taken by standing normally, with your heel firm against the back, and have the slid placed where your big toe meets rest of your foot. This number is your shoe size. Fall between marks? Give yourself an extra half size. Be sure to try them on for fit as not all brands sizes will fit the same.

A leather shoe is typically a good choice because the soft leather’s ability to shape to the foot. Sneakers, tennis shoes, or athletic shoes are also a good choice for their support as well as softer materials on top. All of these shoes should have good ventilation. Shoes that have good air flow will help keep your feet dry and help prevent fungal infect of the nails or athletes’ feet. If you find that your shoes are causing irritations on the tops of your toes or on any part of your foot, it is time to visit Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists.

Dr. Thomajan will examine your feet and your footwear to decide how to best address the problem. Often foot deformities, such as hammertoes, can be accommodated with typical ‘diabetic shoe’, or one that has more depth in the toe box. Additionally, a cushioned and supportive insert may also relieve the problem. Off the self footwear and inserts will not fit every foot type and for those individuals a prescription of custom molded shoes may be necessary. Call Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists to make an appointment and make sure you have the right shoes for your feet.

Until next time, keep those feet and ankles happy and healthy Austin!

Diabetes Awareness – 5 important steps for foot care

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who saw a spike in my blood sugars due to that big meal. Hopefully, if you are living with diabetes, you did a better job of keeping your sugars low during the first big holiday of the year.

Well just in case you missed our first blog of the month, November is the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Awareness month. We hope you keep a yearly appointment with your family doctor or primary care physician in order to check your overall health and identify problems, like diabetes, early. If you have any symptoms, such as vision problems, frequent urination, extreme thirst or hunger make an appoint to see your doctor immediately as you may have diabetes.

Part of maintaining good health as a diabetic individual is through yearly visits to your Austin podiatrist. Because of increased risks for open or difficult to heal wounds, vascular problems, neuropathy, and amputation, regular podiatry visits are a must. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists have some guidelines for you to follow between visits. We highlight the big 5 here:

Check your feet daily. Utilize a mirror if necessary, but be such to check the bottom of your feet as well as between your toes for any problems.
Wash your feet daily. Use warm water and avoid long soaks. Be sure to dry them well, especially between the toes where moisture can lead to breaks in the skin. Moisturize your skin afterwards again avoiding between the toes
Trim nails carefully. Cutting them straight across will prevent them from becoming too short and ingrown. Use a file or emory board instead if they are difficult to trim and there is a risk of cutting yourself.
Never self treat. Attempting to cut out ingrown nails, using caustic callus removal agents, or trimming corns yourself can lead to infections and worsening of the problem.
Never go barefoot! By wearing shoes or firm soled slippers at all times you are on your feet, you can avoid scratches, cuts, or other traumas.

If you do notice any injuries to your foot, don’t delay in making an appointment by calling Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists at (512) 328-8900.

Until next time, keep those diabetic feet happy and healthy, Austin!

Decorating for the holidays & avoiding injury

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

The next two months can be a fun but hectic time of year. With so little time between Thanksgiving and Christmas the stores may not be the only ones quickly putting up and changing around their decorations. Decorating both inside and outside your house can is a great way to get into the spirit of the season, but don't overdo it. This fun time of year can also be dangerous if you aren't cautious.

Going up and down ladders or standing on furniture can be a dangerous task if you are not careful. 5822 is the average number of ER visits that result from bumps, sprains and breaks related to decorating for the holidays. So how do I keep myself from being part of 5822? We have a few suggestions for you to follow.

· Use proper equipment. Folding or dining room chairs are not designed for standing on. When placing things up high, be sure to use a step stool or ladder that will allow you to do so without getting up on your tip toes.

· Make sure your stable. Don't reach out too far when hanging lights or performing any activity on a ladder. The extra time to move the ladder over will pay dividends when you don't have to visit the ER.

· Stay on the ground. If part of your decorating requires cutting wood or any type of power tool, you are best to do what you can on the ground. You will minimize any slips, cuts or abrasions by doing so.

· Recruit help. Especially if you are hanging lights on your roof. Having someone to stabilize the ladder will make it safer and more stable for the individual climbing. Additionally, a person on the ground can help minimize the number of ups and downs the person on the roof must do.

· Wear shoes. Broken bulbs, heavy falling option, or power tools can all be a danger to you feet. Whether you are outside or not, it is important to wear shoes when decorating.

If you do slip and fall or make a misstep, be sure to seek out medical attention. It is untrue that 'if it's broken, you can't walk on it'. Many fractures don't eliminate function but can become much worse and not heal correctly if not treated properly. RICE, rest, ice, compression, & elevation, should be implement immediately as well as making an appointment with your Austin podiatrist if you sustain any foot or ankle injury.

Until next time, keep those decorating feet and ankles happy and healthy, Austin!

Knock your socks off! What do I need to know about diabetes?

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

November is the American Diabetes Associations (ADA) diabetes awareness month. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) uses also uses this time to launch the 'Knock your socks off' campaign. Both of these things were recently highlighted in the Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists' Newsletter. Hopefully you are aware of this newsletter that you can have delivered to your email inbox every month; if not, you can get more information and sign up here. Both the ADA and the APMA try to use this time of year to make people more aware of this disease and the severe problems than can result from poor management. Diabetes is a disease that robs your body of its ability to properly control the supply of nutrients to your tissues and it becomes necessary to you to do it instead.

By regularly measuring your blood sugars, watching what you eat, and taking medications prescribed by your family physician, you can avoid many of the problems that can occur. Unfortunately, many people do not realize that they have the disease until these complications occur. Latest estimates indicate that almost 5 million individuals living with diabetes are undiagnosed! The longer someone with diabetes goes untreated the more problematic the symptoms can be. Symptoms such as frequent urination, extreme thirst, changes to your vision, extreme hunger or tingling in your finger and toes are signs of high blood sugars. When blood sugars remain high, they can that lead to bigger problems and you should make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.

Information and education are powerful tools when it comes to your health. The ADA has a wealth of resources available to you online as well as through their regular publication. Because of the havoc this disease can wreck on your feet and ankles, Dr. Thomajan has published a book, Diabetes and Your Feet, available to you at no cost! ADA recommends regular visits with a podiatric physician because of the 10 times risk of amputation and individual with diabetes has. You can make an appointment at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists website or by calling 512-328-8900.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and health Austin!

Happy Halloween Austin!

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

With Halloween falling on a Monday this year, chances are you and your little ones have spent the weekend trick or treating. A fun time to dress up, your children will spend their evening sorting through the bag of goodies the collected. If you have read our newsletter this month or visited our Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists facebook page, you have seen our tips for sending you kids out on Halloween. Those of you who tune into NBC's Biggest Loser this week you heard about how much candy gets consumed during this time of the year. While having the occasional sweet can be helpful to keep you from gorging or straying too far from healthy eating habits, Halloween candy too often in consumed in large quantities.

While the threat of the tummy ache has dissuaded few children from eating as much candy as possible, the reality is that this hyperglycemia can tax their bodies. It is longstanding high blood sugars that cause problems for individuals with diabetes. In young healthy children, a once a year binge isn't an immediate concern. The big concern from our standpoint is developing good eating habits in your children. Instilling good diet and exercise habits can keep many health problems at bay. Two of these, diabetes and obesity, are affecting younger and younger individuals throughout the nation. Healthy habits early in life can do a lot to stop diabetes and other problems from occurring later in life. Because your feet often take the brunt of these metabolic changes, regular visits with your Austin podiatrist become necessary to prevent infection and other terrible complications.

Enjoy some Halloween candy with your kids, but make sure you stress the importance of good eating habits for yourself and your children. There are many small changes we can all make to the foods we and our families eat to better improve our nutrition and lead a healthier lifestyle. Biggest Loser nutritionist gives some advice on good eats for the fall as well as a recipe in her latest blog.

Keep those feet and ankles happy and healthy this Halloween, Austin!

Will my PAD lead to amputation?

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

The short answer is that it doesn’t have to. If you’re not sure what peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is or if you have it, you should make an appointment to see your Austin podiatrist. Many individuals who have this problem are unaware of it and regular check-ups with a doctor of podiatric medicine can identify problems early, keeping amputation at bay.

What is PAD? PAD is the narrowing of blood vessels in your arms and legs. There are several causes for this and it is important to know if you are at risk for having or developing PAD. Increased risks for PAD include but are not limited to: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being 50 years or older, and lack of exercise or activity. We have talked about how smoking, also a risk factor, can have similar effects, but all these risk factors can cause deposits inside your blood vessels or hardening of the walls. This causes the inside of the vessels to narrow and will inhibit the proper amount of blood to flow. This can result in slow wound healing or, at the worst, chronic ulcers. Wounds that stay open for long periods of time are at an increased risk of infection. Infection, and the inability to control it, is what often leads to the need for amputation.

Part of a regular podiatric exam involves checking the blood flow in your legs down to your toes. If there is any question of proper flow, a comparison of ankle and arms pressure, or ABI, is useful in identifying proper treatment. Often changes to diet and exercise along with medications are enough to control early or pre-PAD. If there is a significant decrease in blood flow to you feet, a referral to a vascular specialist for intervention may be necessary. Symptoms of PAD include changes to skin color, calf pain after walking a short distance or at rest, cold feet and legs, or lack of hair growth. If you notice any of these symptoms, make an appointment with Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists.

Until next time, keep those feet and ankles happy and healthy, Austin!

Options for Healing - Platelet Rich Plasma

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

For young, healthy individuals, healing a cut or a broken bone is as simple as keeping the area protected, uninfected, and giving the body time to heal. This paradigm works for many people and is a mainstay of post surgical and post traumatic care. Unfortunately, there are many things that can lengthen or complicate the heeling process. As we age, it becomes more difficult to heal injuries. Tobacco use, poor nutrition, diabetes, or other diseases can all cause body tissues to have problems recovering from damage. While you may have heard of its use in athletes' bone repair, platelet rich plasma, or PRP, is becoming more widely used for healing a variety of foot problems.

There have been multiple research articles that have reported the use of PRP alone and combined with bone marrow cells to correct fractures and subsequent non-unions, or bone that doesn't heal. Additionally, PRP has been used to help repair damaged cartilage in joints. More recent work has shown a higher number of individuals with chronic open wounds went on to heal completely with PRP than those who received standard care. While the research is more limited, there is evidence for use of PRP in problems with tendons and ligaments, such as plantar fasciitis and other tendonopathies. The fact that this therapy has wide applications is due to why these problems become difficult to heal. With health problems or any of the things we mentioned earlier, your body can have problems delivered the proper growth factors and supplies to the areas that need it the most. The 'science' behind this therapy is that it is able to bring these things directly to the area it is needed.

This treatment involves drawing your blood and spinning the fluid in centrifuge. By doing so, the different components of your blood are selected out by weight. The platelet portion contains a high concentration of 'immature' growth cells that can grow into many different cell types and promote healing. By using your own cells, many of the problems that can occur with use of foreign materials are avoided. This 'rich' plasma can be delivered to the site of the problem allowing for faster and better healing.

This is yet another one of the many treatments your Austin podiatrist can provide. Dr. Thomajan will discuss this and other treatments to best heal your foot problems.

Until next time, keep those feet and ankles happy and healthy, Austin!

My Feet are on Fire! - Burning Feet Not so Entertaining

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Could we call 'Fire' a classic funk song? A catchy tune, you would probably recognize it for its use in recent advertisements and the FOX series Hell's Kitchen. This song was originally performed by the Ohio Players and then by many others. Whichever artists' version you find most entertaining, a burning pain in your feet is not.

There are many causes for burning sensations in your feet but generally it is due to irritation of specific branches of nerves. Irritation of a nerve can result from many different causes. Two main causes are:

o Mechanical: Compression of a nerve can occur with specific foot structure or use of improperly fitting shoes.

o Metabolic: Changes to your body, such as those that occur with excessive alcohol use or diabetes, can also cause nerves to become damaged and act improperly.

The first cause is most often related to the type and size of the shoes you wear. Unfortunately, many women's shoes push the toes together and leave nowhere for them to go when walking forces push the toes forward. This action squeezes the metatarsal heads (aka – the longer bones behind your toes) closer together pinching the nerves between them. These compressed nerves can often grow abnormally and form a 'Morton's Neuroma'. In addition to squeezing the foot, shoes with an increased heel can put undue pressure on the ball of your foot and irritate the nerves there. We understand that comfortable sneakers don't work well with dresses and that you may love your heels. The best advice we can give is to decrease the height of your heels, go for the 2 inch as opposed to the 4 or 6. If you prefer the height, then try to shop for a platform heel for increased stability and distribution of pressures. By using heels sparingly you can avoid future foot pain.

The metabolic causes of burning sensation need to be addressed through lifestyle changes and medication. Regular visits with your podiatrist are a must to delay progression of these problems. You can find more information on our FAQ's page or our library. At www.austinfootandankle.com, you can find a lot of information on taking proper care of your feet.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

Obesity – Fueling Diabetes and Foot Problems

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Most of us could benefit from losing a few pounds. If you calculate your body mass index, or BMI, chances are you are in the upper part of normal or slightly overweight. Staying active and eating better foods can help to keep you at a more ideal weight. Unfortunately, this simple solution is difficult for some to implement and often does not work for everyone. Those who fall into obese or severely obese NEED to lose weight to prevent health problems. There are a variety of problems that can result from having a high BMI. One of the biggest problems is that the increased weight can adversely affect your metabolism and lead to Type 2 diabetes. Traditionally this has been called adult onset because it begins to affect people later in life. With the current trend of obesity affecting all age groups and type 2 diabetes present in younger and younger individuals this label no longer fits. Type 2 diabetes is very closely associated with increased body fat and improper diet. In addition to the toll this can have on your internal organs, your feet can bear the brunt of a variety of problems.

While we have talked before about the nerve and vascular problems that can occur in the feet, the added pressures of increased weight can also cause undue stress on the bones and joints. A few aches and pains when starting a new activity are normal, but if these pains persist past a few days you should visit a podiatrist. Heel pain, arch pain, ball of your foot pain, and/or flattening of the arch are all common problems that occur with weight can. These problems can stop you from increasing your activity and thus add to the problem of weight gain.

There is no better time than now to see your doctors about weight loss. Having a podiatrist, nutritionist, and other specialists give you the tools to lose weight, many health problems can be eliminated. Your Austin podiatrist can recommend the best shoes and special inserts to keep your feet comfortable as you work on losing weight, so don't delay making an appointment!

Until next time, keep those feet and ankles happy and healthy, Austin!

Plantar fasciitis, turf toe, & TE Antonio Gates

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Associated press reported Monday that San Diego Charger's TE Antonio Gates returned to practice in a limited role. Antonio has been out for the last three games for problems related to the plantar fascia of his right foot. We have talked about plantar fasciitis before and it is typically treated with rest and proper support. Unfortunately for Mr. Gates, his case is the extreme opposite. While we do not know the finer details of his health history, it appears from reports that we can trace his problems back to a turf toe injuring in 2008. He set several records from his NFL start in 2003 until he pulled out of his 5^th Pro Bowl in 2008 due to problems in his left foot. We here at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists wish this athlete the best and want to discuss his injuries here to better inform his fans.

If you have been paying attention, you may have noticed that the 2008 injury and subsequent surgery was his left foot and his newest problem is his right foot. Plantar fasciitis often occurs on the opposite foot of another injury due to compensation, or unconscious attempts to take strain off the injured foot. The 'turf toe' injury is commonly seen in football players and occurs when the big toe in flexed up beyond its normal range. This hyperextension causes damage of the soft tissue and possibly the sesamoids of the big toe. He underwent surgical correction of this injury that year. This kept him playing until September of 2010, when he hurt his big toe and ankle while playing against Jacksonville. While Gates had minor bouts of plantar fasciitis in the past, the fact that he played through these injuries on his left foot, caused increased demands of the right foot. He continued to play through October 31, 2010 when he caused a partial tear in his plantar fascia. It is this tear and the subsequent scar tissue that resulted that continue to be a problem.

Plantar tears do not have to occur! If you have heel pain, seek out a proper diagnosis from your Austin podiatrist. Plantar fasciitis may be the cause of this pain, and there are a variety of treatment options available. By implementing the RICE principle and seeking our professional treatment, you can keep your plantar fascia healthy and pain free!

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy, Austin!

Why the health of your feet is a priority

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

A recent survey released by the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) reported that Americans are least likely to worry about the health of their feet. If you have read any of our blogs, you probably care more about your feet than the responders of this survey. Even so, think about how many times your feet have hurt and you have ignored it. Would you ignore a tooth ache? Shoulder or knee pain? Or would you seek out an evaluation by a medical specialist? As a specialist of the foot, your Austin podiatrist is looking out for your feet and doesn't want you to ignore it.

If you think about it, your feet are one of the most important components of your daily activities. While there are many thing instrumental to your daily activities, you can to favor an uninjured arm over the other without many problems. Attempting to do this with an injured foot is not only extremely difficult and could lead to falls, but it also puts undue stress on your other joints. Many times small aches or problems with your foot can lead to knee, hip, or even back pains. Your foot bones, the ligaments that hold them together and the muscles that attach to them are your foundation and require the proper support. One of the best ways to correct small problems in the way your foot is aligned with using a custom orthosis. While you can visit other practitioners who may attempt to prescribe orthosis, a podiatrist has the best training to put you in the best one for your foot type.

We feel it has been stressed many times, yet we'll do it again..... foot pain is NEVER normal! Do not ignore foot pain or chalk it up to aging. Often the RICE principle can be used to provide relief and limit further damage early after an injury or the onset of pain. This is not always a cure and should be followed up with an appointment to Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists. Take good care of your feet with regular visits to the podiatrist and they continue to keep you healthy.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy, Austin!

Shoes for Your Sport – Cycling

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Previous blogs have discussed matching the appropriate footwear to your activity. With this blog, we would like to focus on one activity in particular....cycling. Many sports require proper cushioning and fit to prevent any discomfort or injury as you place increased stress on the foot. The demand cycling puts on your feet are quite different than many other sports. Instead of your body transferring the energy into the foot as it contacts the ground, the power in your limbs needs to be efficiently transferred to the pedals of the bicycle.

This is best accomplished through a sturdy shank, or the part of your shoe that supports the midfoot. While the advanced rider may be using a type of shoe specially designed to clip into the pedal, many cyclist can use a good cross training shoe. These style shoes give you the support you need while walking as well as cycling. This recommendation is assuming that you have a normal foot structure. If you suffer from any type of pain or deformity, i.e. hammertoes, you should have your foot assessed with our Gaitscan® technology. Based on the findings from this, a customized orthotic insert is designed. Custom orthotics help to correct any imbalances in your foot that can lead to shin splints, knee pain, tendonitis, or numbness as you cycle. Individuals who already have a customized orthotic they use for their everyday shoes, should consider having a pair designed for their cycling footwear.

If you have any foot or ankle pain that occurs from cycling, make an appointment at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists. Remember that with any new activity, or one that you haven't participated in for some time, start slow and gradually work up to higher speeds and greater distances. Make sure that your seat is at a height where your knees are slightly bent and your hips are over your knees. This position gives you the best alignment. Additionally, pain can be avoided with proper stretching before and after a ride. Cycling, like many activities that rely on your lower limbs, uses the major muscle groups. Prevent problems by stretching your calves, hamstrings, gluts, and quads every time.

Until next time, keep those cycling feet happy and healthy, Austin!

Ricki Lake, Injured on Dancing with the Stars – Small cuts can be a potential problem

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Earlier this month, there were a few online reports of Ricki Lake injuring her leg while practicing for Dancing with the Stars. Actually, it appears that she posted a picture of her injury, which included a small cut, via her Twitter account. According to People Magazine, an ambulance was called to the seen though Ms. Lake Tweeted "Not sure how my bruise turned into a medic showing up? I'm fine!! :)" For a healthy individual this may have little consequence other than covering it with a bandage for a few days. Unfortunately for any individual living with diabetes or other systemic illness, healing wounds is often a much longer course and carries many more risks.

Anytime there is a break in the skin there is a risk of bacteria being introduced and infection setting in. Infection only complicates the healing process. If an individual is not in a healthy state, bacteria can often overcome local defenses and lead to irreversible tissue damage. People with long standing diabetes are only one group of people who can have trouble healing from a cut. High blood pressure, smoking, increased age, and poor nutrition are all things that can create a delay in healing. The longer a wound is open the greater chance there is of a bacterial infection. For this reason if any of these things apply to you, it is worth taking a little extra caution to avoid injury. It is important that anyone who gets a foreign body or puncture wound seek out medical treatment.

Regular check-ups with a podiatric physician can help to identify deficits important to healing. One of these is blood flow to your feet. Eating a hearth healthy diet, exercising, and watching your cholesterol and blood pressure are all things that can keep your circulatory system in good order. PAD, or peripheral arterial disease, causes problems with your circulation and may not cause any noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Unfortunately, when it is untreated can lead to complications as serious as gangrene or limb loss. A routine exam by your Austin podiatrist involves assessment of the pulses in your legs and feet as well as skin changes that can be a sign of vascular troubles. If there are troubles detected, you may be referred to a vascular specialist. A yearly appointment with your podiatrist can be just as important as the one with your family doctor.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy, Austin!

Patient Payment Options - CareCredit

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists Patient Payment Options

Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists offer many types of patient payment options to cover your visit. Our practice is committed to making the monetary portion of your visit simplified and worry-free.

As a courtesy we file claims on your behalf with your insurance company. Don't forget to provide any secondary insurance information so that we may bill both insurance companies for you.

Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists accept many forms of payment as well. We accept cash, credit card and CareCredit.

What is CareCredit?

CareCredit is the credit card for your foot and ankle health needs!

CareCredit is a line of credit that you use just for healthcare needs to include doctor, dental, veterinary and optical visits and procedures.

CareCredit offers numerous extended payment plan options, no teaser rates, no introductory rates or pre-payment penalties. There are no application fees and eligibility is painless! Apply online at www.carecredit.com or by phone (800) 677-07818. Either way you will find out immediately if you are approved.

How does CareCredit work?

With CareCredit you can get a "no interest if paid in full within the promotion period" payment plan every time you use your CareCredit card. A minimum purchase amount is required for promotional plans longer than 6 months in duration. Interest is only charged to your account if you make a late minimum payment or do not satisfy the full payment amount by the end date on the promotion period.

The length of time you have to pay depends on the promotional payment plan that you choose when you use the card. Ask our Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists Manager, Rhiannon, for more details on what types of promotional plans we offer.

Why Does Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists Offer CareCredit?

Unfortunately, too many times we experience that patients delay treatments and procedures because they cannot afford the extra healthcare expense. At Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists we know that CareCredit allows you to pay over time often without incurring interest charges instead of a lump sum prior to treatment with our facility. We wish to provide the best care and recommendations for our patients and by participating in CareCredit we strive to make the financial portion of your recovery the very last concern in your treatment. We want your feet to ultimately be at their best!

We welcome your questions regarding insurance. Please contact our Manager, Rhiannon, via email with your insurance questions: Rhiannon@austinfootandankle.com

Halle Berry Injured in Spain – Foot fractures

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Whether you keep a close eye on celebrity news or not, you have probably heard about Halle Berry's recent injury. She apparently was out enjoying a day off from filming her latest movie endeavor when she fractured a bone in her foot. We here at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists don't have any further details as to how the injury occurred. If you are looking for any further gossip on the matter, you will have to find another website. Instead we were hoping we could use Ms. Berry's misfortune to discuss foot fractures and help you to educate yourself should you ever have a mishap of your own.

For most individuals, the foot is made up of 28 different bones. The fact that some individuals have accessory, or additional bones in the foot structure, is often inconsequential. These bones are of various shapes and sizes and often require a great amount of force to break. Since we do not know the details, we must assume Ms. Berry had a forceful slip and the fracture was due to trauma. If you were to go to the hospital or your Austin podiatrist's office with a suspected fracture that occurred during normal walking, they would likely draw your blood and closely examine your x-rays for changes in nutrition or abnormalities in the bone.

Your podiatric physician will determine through an exam of your x-rays, and the type and position of the fracture, whether it is stable or unstable, and displaced or non-displaced. These findings are import in order to provide the proper treatment, which will allow your bones the best chance of healing. Stable, non-displaced fractures are easily treated with immobilization in a cast or even a removable walking boot. Unstable fractures whether there is a lot of separation (displacement) or not, may require surgery to insert pins and/or metal plates to stabilize the site as well a casting to allow proper healing. Either way, it is important to seek immediate medical attention for any suspected fracture, as Halle Berry did, to assure your body the best opportunity to heal.

Until next time, keep those feet and ankles happy and healthy, Austin!

Diabetes & your feet – Exercise can help

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Diabetes has been called a disease of carbohydrate metabolism. For genetic, environmental or other reasons, the diabetic individual can no longer properly process sugars, a simple carbohydrate, out of the blood and into the tissues that need it. After detection of diabetes, initial treatment intervention focuses on changing the types of foods eaten to reduce the amount of simple sugars your body has to process. Exercise or some significant increase in physical activity increases your muscles need for energy can helps the body to do eliminate excess sugars more efficiently. Altering the foods eaten and increasing activity can properly manage diabetes blood sugars in many individuals.

In many cases, medicines are prescribed to help keep blood sugars low. Just because you use oral medication doesn't mean you should abandon eating better or exercising more. Your body is a very efficient machine and many of the problems that can manifest, especially in the kidneys, are attempts to keep the system functioning normal. We already mentioned how exercise helps clear sugars from your blood, but it also can improve your circulation. Blood flow through healthy vessels allows your body to properly supply the needs of your limbs and organs. When chronically high blood sugars harden these arteries, or lack of physical activity increases the chances of clots from slowed flow, the smallest vessels in the hands, feet, eyes, and kidneys are the first notice changes. That is why your yearly diabetic foot exam at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists focusing on the blood flow to your feet and the ability to feel stimuli. The loss of either or both of these systems in the feet greatly increases the risk of infection and life threatening amputations.

Reevaluate the things you are doing to take care of your diabetes. If a daily walk or 20 minutes of exercise are not part of your daily routine, examine why. Foot pain can and should be addressed by a podiatric physician. Keeping your on your feet is a big part of what we do to keep diabetic individuals healthy.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy, Austin!

Footcare as You Age – Fall prevention is only one reason to visit a podiatrist

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Several months ago we blogged about fall prevention and some of the things Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can do to help. While falls can be quite devastating for older Americans, there are a variety of other problems that become more common as we age. Regular foot care can do a lot to keep your feet healthy and keep you mobile.

As we age, it becomes more difficult for our bodies to heal from damage. Lack of activity, smoking, and health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes can further complicate the process. Most of our daily activities create some amount of damage to our feet and muscles. With proper nutrition and rest, your body can quickly recuperate and grow stronger. A simple evening walk around the block can do a lot for your overall health as you get older. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do in respect to low impact on your joints and can have a good impact on your circulatory system. Good blood flow throughout your body, but especially your feet, keeps your tissues healthy and allows for quick healing.

Staying active is important for good health at any age level, but be more important as we age. While our bodies may change as we grow older, you shouldn't accept pain as part of that change. Many of the problems that affect the feet are a result of the placement and movements of the bones and tendons, or your foot mechanics. Some problems, such as bunions and hallux rigidus, may have taken a better part of your lifetime to progress to a painful deformity. Often early intervention can limit the progression of these problems. Your Austin podiatrist has several conservative options, including footwear, padding and orthosis to name a few, that may allow your feet to be pain free. If these treatments are ineffective, there are also a variety of surgical options that Dr. Thomajan will discuss with you. Take a look at our new interactive foot map to help pinpoint your foot pain before making an appointment.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy, Austin!