Items filtered by date: December 2023

Ingrown toenails, though seemingly minor, can cause significant discomfort and warrant careful attention to both symptoms and causes. One of the primary symptoms is pain, often concentrated along the edges of the toenail, where it begins to grow into the surrounding skin. Swelling and redness may accompany the pain, indicative of inflammation and potential infection. The ingrown nail may also cause tenderness to the touch, making wearing shoes or even walking a painful experience. Causes of ingrown toenails are diverse, often stemming from improper nail trimming, wearing tight or ill-fitting footwear, or inherited structural issues such as unusually curved nails. Trauma or injury to the toe, fungal infections, and poor foot hygiene can also contribute to the development of ingrown toenails. If you have developed an ingrown toenail, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist who can provide treatment options and effective preventive measures.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Judson Siegel, DPM of Assabet Family Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Plainville, Marlborough, and Somerset, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Foot corns are thickened patches of skin that form due to friction and pressure. Common symptoms can include rough, yellowish, sensitive skin on the toes, which can be painful when wearing shoes. Corns can develop in various areas of the feet, including below the toenails, between the toes, on the sides of the foot, and on the soles. Wearing tight shoes or standing for extended periods of time may cause corns to develop. If you have persistent or worrying foot corns, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for professional removal, which may involve scraping, shaving, or cutting the corn layers over multiple appointments.

If you have any concerns regarding your feet and ankles, contact Judson Siegel, DPM of Assabet Family Podiatry. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What Are They? and How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns can be described as areas of the skin that have thickened to the point of becoming painful or irritating. They are often layers and layers of the skin that have become dry and rough, and are normally smaller than calluses.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as wearing:

• Well-fitting socks
• Comfortable shoes that are not tight around your foot
• Shoes that offer support

Treating Corns
Treatment of corns involves removing the dead skin that has built up in the specific area of the foot. Consult with Our doctor to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Plainville, Marlborough, and Somerset, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Ankle sprains, a common injury, can be classified into three types based on the affected area and ligament. Lateral sprains are the most frequent, occurring when the foot rolls outward, impacting the outer ankle ligaments. Medial sprains are less common, caused by the foot rolling inward and straining the inner ankle ligaments. High ankle sprains, though less frequent, are more severe, affecting the ligaments above the ankle joint, especially during activities where the tibia and fibula are forced apart. Each type of sprain varies in symptoms and severity, and their treatment can range from rest to surgery, in severe serious cases. If you have sprained your ankle, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for a diagnosis of which type of sprain has occurred, and appropriate treatment.

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Judson Siegel, DPM from Assabet Family Podiatry. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Plainville, Marlborough, and Somerset, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Concerns exist regarding the impact of a sedentary lifestyle on children, but there are also issues related to sports injuries in children participating in organized sports, which often involve intensive training from a young age. This trend is driven by the belief that early training is essential for future success, leading to a younger demographic in sporting activities such as tennis, swimming, and gymnastics. Specialized training at a young age increases the risk of both acute and overuse injuries, with boys, especially during growth spurts, being more susceptible. Factors like physical attributes and playing conditions play a significant role in these injuries, which can range from ligamentous and meniscal injuries to fractures during peak growth periods. Stress fractures, although rare, are noteworthy in young athletes. The long-term consequences of overuse injuries remain a concern. While accidents are more common outside sports settings, the potential long-term impact of overuse injuries in sports such as gymnastics and soccer is an area of concern. If your child is involved in organized sports, it is suggested to consult a podiatrist to discuss preventive measures and address any foot and ankle issues that may arise from sports participation.

The health of a child’s feet is vital to their overall well-being. If you have any questions regarding foot health, contact Judson Siegel, DPM of Assabet Family Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Tips for Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

• Make sure their shoes fit properly
• Look for any signs of in-toeing or out-toeing
• Check to see if they have Clubfoot (condition that affects your child’s foot and ankle, twisting the heel and toes inward) which is one of the most common nonmajor birth defects.
• Lightly cover your baby’s feet (Tight covers may keep your baby from moving their feet freely, and could prevent normal development)
• Allow your toddler to go shoeless (Shoes can be restricting for a young child’s foot)
• Cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails
• Keep your child’s foot clean and dry
• Cover cuts and scrapes. Wash any scratches with soap and water and cover them with a bandage until they’ve healed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Plainville, Marlborough, and Somerset, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.