AF&A Blog

There is so much media attention paid to the ‘barefoot running trend’ that it seems necessary we visit this topic once more as the summer comes to an end. Lack of footwear obviously opens your foot up to injury from random objects. The development of shoes like the Nike Free and Vibram Five Fingers may help to keep you out of Dr. Thomajan’s office for removal of glass shards or other objects stuck in your foot. These new types of footwear offer some protection but still lack the support of ‘traditional’ footwear. If you haven’t taken the time to slowly allow your body to adapt to this footwear or have not been devoted to the proper training regime, you may need to schedule an appointment for a completely different reason.

While you may be able to avoid getting objects stuck in your feet, the position of your foot may prove to be more problematic. Each one of us has a different variation in foot structure. Some feet will function fine without the support of footwear. Unfortunately, it is much more likely that your foot structure requires some type of support from shoes. The body will attempt to compensate for any lack of support but often the results can be painful or with changes in the way you walk or run. A visit with Dr. Thomajan can help you decide if barefoot running is for you. Part a visit to AFAS may include GAITSCAN computerized assessment in addition to physical examination of your feet.

Our goal here at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists is to educate you about keeping your feet healthy. There are two books that Dr. Thomajan has written to help do that. Both deal with special issues concerning foot health. ‘Keep Running!’ is most relevant to our discussion of barefoot running. Request your free copy today and learn the best things you can do to avoid injury while running. Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

You have decided enough is enough. That nail has become so painful; you are going take care of it right now! Grabbing a pair of nail clippers buried in your bathroom drawer you prop your foot on the tub and test the limits of your pain tolerance. That ingrown nail of yours has come back time and time again even with your attempts to trim it back. Unfortunately, you there is a pretty good chance you didn’t use proper technique to avoid infection and you probably don’t have a good understanding of the anatomy you are digging into.

A better idea would be to visit a foot specialist like Dr. Thomajan. Four years of medical education beyond college as well as several years of residency training at a hospital allows podiatrists to diagnose and treat a variety of pathologies of the foot. The particular issue of an ingrown toenail too often is complicated by infected or inflamed before making an appointment at AFAS. Don’t wait for this to happen! Remember that pain is never normal and an easy in office procedure, under toe anesthesia, can be done to eliminate the offending nail. One of the most important parts of this procedure is the cleanliness needed to avoid infection, something that bathroom surgery doesn’t afford. Next time you find that ingrown nail causing you pain, opt for a visit to AFAS and put those old nail clippers away! Until next time, stay happy and healthy Austin!

With the warm weather out there and the convenience of ‘slipping them on’, you may find yourself wearing flip flops or sandals frequently. It may be time to reconsider the ‘ease’ of putting them on if you find yourself in discomfort. Very few sandals available offer the support that other foot wear can. As we have mentioned before, without the proper support and padding, you feet are more prone to damage. Pain in your heel can be happen for multiple reasons but two big ones, plantar fasciitis and calcaneal stress fracture, can be due to lack of support and lack of padding.

The best thing you can do is to avoid either of these maladies from affecting you. Try to wear your flip flops or sandals sparingly; or if you must wear them, invest in ones that offer more support and padding to your feet than the flat soled, inexpensive types that you can find almost anywhere. Since it is well into the summer months, you may already find yourself with nagging discomfort or pain in your feet. If so, don’t delay and schedule a visit to AFAS. Remember that pain is never normal and you shouldn’t just accept it. You and Dr. Thomajan can discuss the problems that you are having and find the best solution for you. Inspecting your footwear and visiting a foot specialist can keep you on your feet without pain. Until next time, stay happy and healthy Austin.

What in the world are we talking about? Are you asking yourself, ‘how in the world can stretching alleviate my heel pain?’ Well, that’s why you are going to read today’s blog.

You may be tired of hearing how stretching has many health benefits, but when it comes to pain in your feet the results can be easily seen. Often the heel pain your experience in the morning is due to tightness of the tissue the spans the arch of your foot, the plantar fascia. Simple stretches including rolling a tennis ball under your foot, pulling your foot towards you (by looping a town around it) while seated with your legs out, or standing with the ball of your feet on a book with your heel on the ground all can do a lot to limit pain in your feet. The classic ‘runner’s stretch’ against a wall or any other stretch that targets your calves can also help. There are also some products that allow you ice & stretch simultaneously. Perform these stretches before you start your day and before you go to sleep for best results.

While the causes of heel pain can involve many factors, stretching is something you can try before seeking podiatric care. Other things you can do include making sure your shoes have proper arch support or losing weight, both which help to avoid putting undue stress on your plantar fascia. These helpful hints should not be a substitute for a good medical evaluation. If this pain persists more than a few weeks, we here at AFAS want to encourage you to seek the help of Dr. Thomajan. Don’t let foot pain interfere with your daily life, make an appointment today. Until next time keep healthy Austin!

With summer vacation just a few weeks away, we at AFAS wanted to give you a few thoughts to keep in mind when outfitting your little ones’ feet.

First off, kids grow fast, so making sure that they have the right sized footwear is most important. Many times, in adults as well as children, putting on the right sized shoe can solve a lot of problems. Checking that there is extra room in front of the shoe will stop the toes from becoming compressed while walking and it is an easy way to make sure they haven’t out grown that pair. Just be sure the shoe fits….before you wear it.

Secondly, the type of shoe is important. We know it gets hot out there and it is easy enough to slip on a pair of flip flops before heading outside. Depending on the day’s activity, this could be a bad choice, especially for your little ones. Children rarely sit still for long and tennis shoes or sandals that Velcro on would be a better choice than the thin soles and loose fit of flip flops. Additionally, a full day on their feet definitely calls the proper support, offered by tennis shoes, to avoid fatigue and possibility of injury.

It is important to remember that children are not ‘little adults’, especially when it comes to growth and development. Many of the ‘bones’ in your child’s feet will not become hardened, or fully ossified, until many years after they have been walking. In those critical years of growth and development, it is important that your child have the right kind of shoes. Keep in mind that pain in your child’s feet is never normal and should be addressed by a Podiatric physician. If there is ever concern over your child’s feet, foot wear, or the way they walk, don’t hesitate to make an appointment at AFAS. Until next time, keep those kids happy and healthy Austin!

Cycling is a great way to get some cardiovascular exercise and stay fit! Riding a bicycle is an especially good choice for individuals with knee or feet problems. There is a wealth of studies indicating the benefits of daily exercise as well as the benefits of ‘non-weight bearing’ in cases of healing injury or pathology to the lower extremity. While there are many positives to using cycling in your workouts, there are a number of problems that can arise.

Stress fractures are one type of problem that can be caused by any type of overuse or increase in activity. Other types of injuries can occur by not having the proper fit. Just as improper shoe size can complicate or cause injury, a bicycle that is not adjusted to your limb length, height, etc can cause a number of problems. Sore ‘calves’, pain between your toes, or pain in your feet are all problems that can be associated with improper foot/pedal placement. Pain or discomfort in your knee (‘cyclists knee’), ‘hamstrings’, side of your leg, or hip can all result from a seat that is placed too high or too low. It is a good idea to have a professional help you achieve the proper fit to your bicycle in order to repair or prevent cycle associated injuries.

Remember your local podiatrist, Dr. Thomajan, is trained in all aspects of medicine. A specialist of the foot must still be aware of the individuals overall heath and receives training accordingly. If any of the problems mentioned are afflicting your cycling routine, make an appointment to come by AFAS. Until next time, stay active, and stay healthy Austin!

Do you feel like you have a marble in your shoe? Maybe you are experiencing pain or numbness between your toes, particularly when you have your shoes on? These symptoms are common in a condition known as Morton’s neuroma. While the exact cause is unknown, this condition is typically exacerbated by wearing ill fitting shoes. You need to make sure that your shoes have enough room forward for your toes, as mentioned in previous blogs, as well as adequate width.

Your podiatric physician will first assess your condition with a physical exam. X-rays will be taken to rule out more serious bone problems and then MRI or ultrasound will be used to assess the nerves and surrounding soft tissues. Morton’s neuroma will appear as a thickening or enlargement of this tissue which is complicated by the movements of walking or squishing your feet into shoes that are too small. At this point, you could probably care less about why or what is going on in your foot, but rather ‘how can we alleviate the pain?” Well, if you are visiting Dr. Thomajan at AFAS, there are many different options that can be implemented.

Our first goal is to get you some immediate pain relief and attempt to stop it from returning. This is accomplished through ‘conservative treatment’. There are a number of options, including metatarsal raise padding, orthosis fitting, or shoe gear change that must be exhausted, before moving onto more invasive treatments, such as surgery. The metatarsal raise, is a pad placed into your shoe, works by keeping the bones of your feet from rubbing against the painful neuroma by spreading them out and is typically quite helpful for eliminating your pain right away as well as for a long period of time. If one of these conservative treatments does not eliminate the problem, your podiatric physician will discuss the more invasive surgical treatment with you. This type of treatment is usually considered a ‘last resort’ as there is the chance of complications with any surgical treatment. If the problem progresses to this stage, the damaged nerve will be removed while you are under sedation and effectively eliminate the pain.

Just remember Austin, a trip you a specialist does not always involve surgery. Our goal here at Austin Foot & Ankle Specialists is to keep you healthy and feeling well. There are often many options for treatment and surgery is typically the last one implemented. Stay healthy and keep those feet happy!