Foot and Ankle Doctor Blog Space

Venous Ulcers..

Veins are thin vessels that transport blood from the body back to the heart. Veins contain valves that act like gates providing a continuous forward flow of blood. When valves become weakened and incompetent they allow blood to flow backwards and pool in the lower extremity. This pooling of blood stretches the skin and can lead to the development of venous ulcers.

Clinically, venous ulcers present as shallow irregular ulcers located over bony prominences. Varicosities, edema and skin discolorations are common findings associated with venous ulcers. Risk factors for developing venous ulcers are older age, obesity, previous leg blood clots, and history of leg swelling.

Treatment options include:

Debridement – can be sharp (with a blade or curette), enzymatic (topical ointments that are applied and eat away at the dead skin), mechanical debridement (wound scrub). Debridement aids in removal of dead and unhealthy tissue that hinders the healing process.

Dressings – promotes faster healing. Some dressings may contain antibiotic properties to prevent infection

Compression – there are two types of compression, inelastic and elastic. Unna boot is an example of inelastic compression. Unna boots provide static compression and aids in removing excess fluid from the lower extremities. It contains zinc an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agents and calamine lotion to sooth skin irritation. Compression stockings are an example of elastic compression. Compressions stockings should provide at least 30mmHg of compression to aid in moving blood up the legs and reduce edema.

Skin grafting – to help close non-healing wounds, improve function and appearance of the leg

Surgery – to remove insufficient veins to prevent recurrence of venous ulcers

For treatment of venous ulcers please visit us at Foot & Ankle Doctors, Inc

Dr. Nejad

Getting Rid of Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are a painful nail condition where the nail curves downwards and grows into the soft tissue surrounding the border of the toenail. The big toe is commonly affected with an ingrown nail and can be a result of:

 Trauma

 Ill-fitting shoes

 Improper trimming of the nail

 Thick fungal nail

Patients complain of a red swollen nail edge(s) that are painful upon touch. If the skin surrounding the nail becomes pierced bacteria can grow in the area leading to an infection, and antibiotics may be needed. If you are suffering from an ingrown toenail come see us at Foot & Ankle Doctors, Inc.

At Foot & Ankle Doctors, Inc. we offer various treatment options patients can choose from:

 Partial removal of the offending nail

 Complete removal of the offending nail

 Permanent removal of the offending nail

Dr. Farshid Nejad

Kim Kardashian Has Psoriasis

Kim Kardashian has publicly announced on her reality TV show, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” that she suffers from psoriasis, a genetic skin condition.

Psoriasis forms dry red patches covered with thick silvery scales that can be itchy and sometimes painful. These patches are commonly found on the elbows, knees and soles of the feet. Picking at the silvery scales leads to pin point bleeding a classic hallmark of psoriasis known as an Ausptiz’s sign.

Psoriasis of the feet can be painful and sometimes misdiagnosed as a plantar wart. Our doctors at Foot & Ankle Doctors, Inc. can correctly diagnose you with psoriasis by taking a small sample of the affected area for testing. Complications of psoriasis include psoriatic arthritis that commonly affects the small joints of the feet. Psoriasis cannot be cured, however mild cases can be treated with topical creams, and more severe cases can be controlled with oral medication.

 

Dr. Dardashti

Feeling pins and needles in your feet?

If you experience burning, tingling, stabbing, pins-and-needles sensation in your feet, you’re not alone. This sensation is referred to as peripheral neuropathy and commonly affects diabetics. 60-70% of diabetics will develop peripheral neuropathy because they have uncontrolled blood sugars which damage nerves in the hands and feet leading to a tingling sensation and loss of feeling. Your feet may feel numb and you may loose the ability to feel temperature and pain making you more susceptible to injury, infection and burns. It is important to check your feet every day for signs of injury or infection. Many patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy are unable to sense a small pebble in their shoe and after walking on it all day long can develop a wound. It is important to wear properly fitted shoes and avoid walking barefoot. Make sure to check the temperature of the shower water before jumping in to avoid burning your feet.

There is no cure for peripheral neuropathy but there are medications that can help with the tingling sensation. Controlling blood sugar can help prevent the onset of peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy can also be caused by a vitamin B deficiency, certain medications, alcoholism, autoimmune diseases, infections, toxins and by many others. A herniated disk can also produce symptoms of a burning, tingling pain in the legs and feet. Come see Dr. Dardashti at Foot& Ankle Doctors, Inc for adequate diagnosis and treatment of your foot pain.

Dr. David Dardashti

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