April is Foot Health Awareness Month

Often, people do not pay any attention to their feet until they hurt! All of the sudden, they are sitting in my office and completely perplexed about why they are having this new pain, swelling, or other issue with their feet. The feet are complicated structures that help us move around all day during our regular activities but also help us exercise, climb steps, drive, and achieve many other functions during the day. Each foot contains 28 bones and multiple tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. Thus, there are many things in the foot that can get injured by overuse, a twist or fall, dropping some thing on the foot, stubbing the toe, and many other causes. In addition to actual accidents, poor circulation, obesity, nerve damage, poor bone density, and a variety of diseases (diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and other conditions) can cause the foot to develop problems. It is important to wear supportive shoes that stabilize the foot. High heels, ballet flats, pointed shoes, flip flops, and other shoes can injure our feet. Additionally, shoes should be made of a material that does not rub on our feet or toes,and there should not be seams that irritate our feet. It is also important to inspect the feet daily for any changes. All diabetic patients are instructed to look at the tops and bottoms of the feet each day, but this is a good practice for all of us to get into as part our our daily routines. If you notice something that is new or does not look right, it is important to see a podiatrist to get it checked out. Blisters, color changes, new swelling, new pain, drainage, and other conditions should be checked by a foot specialist. For more information on your feet, visit oakparkpodiatry.com or apma.org. Keep your feet healthy! Dr. Bender, 708-763-0580.

Blood Sugar and your FEET

Diabetes is a serious disease and affects an ever growing number of people in the United States. There is an even larger number of pre-diabetics in the United States who do not even know that they are at an increased risk of developing diabetes. These individuals have elevated blood sugars which are not high enough to put them in the category of Type 2 Diabetes, but they will probably develop it over the next ten years if no intervention for blood sugar control is implemented. Normal blood sugar is between 70-99 mg/dL, and for diabetics and healthy feet, blood sugars should range from 70-120 mg/dL. When levels exceed this range for long periods, nerve damage (neuropathy) and circulation (blood flow) problems can develop, the skin can open up and develop ulcers, the risk of infection increases due to impaired immunity, and healing is delayed. A combination of medication, exercise, a proper diet, reduction of stress, and other factors can be used to control the blood sugar and keep the feet healthy. If you are a diabetic with elevated blood sugars and foot problems, give us a call, 708-763-0580.

Exercise and the Feet

Over the last two months, I participated in two challenging stair climb events in Chicago-Hustle up the Hancock and the Lurie Kids Climb at the AON Bulding. These events support excellent causes that I believe in, but they also offer me a challenge. Because my office and family life can be very busy, along with the numerous committees and groups I am involved with, I am concerned that I may not make exercise a priority in my life. This is the case with most of us, as we have so many different things in our lives that need our attention. Therefore, I made a commitment, set a goal, and spent months walking, running on the treadmill, and in the pool preparing for these events. Exercise is excellent for our bodies, and it is great for our FEET! Regular exercise helps with our circulation and blood flow to the feet. This brings oxygen and nutrients to our feet that are needed for walking, standing, running, and other weightbearing activities. Exercise keeps our muscles, tendons, and ligaments strong and healthy so they can perform as they are supposed to in our feet. Exercise also helps control or prevent certain diseases. In the example of diabetes, exercise is very helpful at reducing and controlling blood sugar, which keeps the nerve and blood flow healthy. It also allows for stronger immunity for fighting infections. Biking and swimming are great forms of exercise for people with foot problems. However, if you need a more specific exercise plan for your foot issue, come in for a visit! 6931 W. North Ave., Oak Park, IL. Exercise is great-give it a shot! 708-763-0580.

MRI and Foot Pain

With the cold, wet weather, people are coming to my office with the complaint of foot or ankle pain that is not getting better after they twisted it. The foot is a complicated part of the body with 28 bones and many small muscles, tendons, and ligaments that hold it all together. There are some injuries that are very easy to diagnose, and others that are more challenging. A podiatry exam, x-rays, and occasionally, more advanced tests like MRI or CT scans may be necessary to diagnose a problem. At my office, we use a foot and ankle radiologist for all of our readings on MRI exams, so that we can provide our patients with the most thorough diagnosis. Conventional x-rays can show bone and joint problems in many cases. However, small bones, bones that overlap on x-rays, stress fractures, bone contusions, soft tissue injuries, and other conditions may not show up on a regular x-ray. MRIs are very good for looking at soft tissue problems but can also pick up some of the bone conditions that may not be visible on x-rays in the office. If you require an MRI for your foot condition, we often are required by your insurance to get an approval number before we can schedule your test. Additionally, after your exam, the foot and ankle radiologist may need 3 business days to complete your reading. We are here to help and find a good solution for your foot pain! Give us a call-708-763-0580.

The Super Bowl and What is Jublia?

For the second year in a row, there has been a Jublia ad during the Super Bowl. Jublia is a topical anti-fungal prescription therapy for fungal toenails. It is applied daily to the outside of the toenail, and it is a newer treatment for onychomycosis or fungal toenails. Fungal toenails often appear thick, discolored, crumbly, and can have an irregular shape or contour. Often, a biopsy is taken of the toenail to confirm that it is fungal. There are oral, topical, and laser treatments for fungal toenails, and no matter which option is chosen, it takes 9-12 months for a toenail to grow out. Do you have an irregular toenail? Give us a call! 708-763-0580 Dr. Bender

What is the calcaneus?

Our heel bone is also known as the calcaneus, and it is the biggest bone in the foot. On the back of the calcaneus, the gastrocnemius, plantaris, and soleus attach as the Achilles Tendon and are very important for us to walk and run. On the bottom of the calcanues, there are also several muscles that attach and are important for various foot functions. The plantar fascia also attaches on the bottom of the heel bone, and this is a common area of the foot that becomes inflamed in patients, requiring a podiatry visit.

Obesity and the Feet

The new year is here, and many of us have started thinking about shedding pounds and losing weight. Weight gain can cause a variety of foot aches and pains, including plantar fasciitis or heel pain, tendonitis, ankle sprains, arthritis, capusulitis, bursitis, stress fractures, and other conditions. Added pounds stress the normal structures in the feet and alter the way we walk and the way the structures function. Over time, this leads to pain. Many chronic health conditions can also lead to or be related to obesity and foot pain in some patients: peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, renal failure, heart disease, strokes, and others. This can complicate the foot pain and make treatment more important. Finding a weight loss solution that is effective and not harmful to the feet is essential. Swimming, water aerobics, biking, and sitting exercises are often the best options, but there are other forms of exercise that may work as well. Finding supportive shoes and possibly orthotic devices or inserts that provide cushioning and stability to the foot are very important. Additionally, a variety of treatments can be employed by a podiatrist to reduce your pain and make weight loss easier at the same time: padding, medicine, physical therapy, and other treatments. Foot pain? Give us a call 708-763-0580.