To put it bluntly, they hurt!  An ingrown toenail occurs when instead of growing straight, the nail edges dig into the soft flesh at the corners or sides of the toes. Although any toe can get an ingrown nail, they most commonly affect the big toe.  Ingrown toenails do not usually affect children and they are more common in men than women. Ingrown toenails are characterized by pain, redness and inflammation. If the toenail is not treated, it can become infected and in some cases the infection may spread to the bone.

There are several possible causes of ingrown toenails, they are:

• Tight shoes that crowd the toes together and apply pressure

• Incorrectly trimmed toenails

• Injury or repetitive trauma to the toe area

• Fungal infections that cause nails to widen and thicken

You may be more susceptible to ingrown toenails if someone else in your family is bothered by them. Or your nails may just naturally curve more, allowing them to dig into the skin.

In most cases, ingrown toenails can be treated at home, but if the symptoms have not improved within a few days, you should seek medical help. Home treatment involves a warm foot soak a couple of times per day. This helps with the pain and swelling. After the soak when the skin is still soft, use an orange stick or sterilized instrument to gently raise the nail out of the skin. You can also apply a topical healing ointment and bandage. Make sure to wear sandals or shoes with plenty of room for the toes to wriggle.

Ingrown toenails are a quick fix for your podiatrist. Dr. Vargas can remove the ingrown portion of the nail and make you a lot more comfortable. In more severe instances if the toenail continues to be problematic, it may have to be removed.  As with all foot ailments, if you have diabetes, go to your doctor for treatment. Your feet are more at risk to develop infection and more complex problems due to lessened sensation.   If you think you have an ingrown toenail and you tried home treatment and it is not better, call Dr. Vargas at (281) 313-0090 in Sugarland or (281) 342-8700 in Richmond/Rosenberg. He can make quick work of it hand have you back on your feet.

References:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ingrown_toenails/
http://www.dailyglow.com/skin-conditions-and-diseases/ingrown-toenails.html

Barefoot running is trendy, but not for everyone and not every time. So where do you draw the limits? Listen to recent arguments - there are as many on one side of the issue as the other.  So with that in mind accept the fact that there are circumstances where it may be appropriate and other times not.

Zola Pieterse (Budd), one of the worlds’ premiere running athletes, grew up in South Africa running barefoot. Although she continues to run barefoot, it’s on tracks and grass. Because of foreign objects, temperature variants and the miles covered it is not practical for her to train barefoot. She spends too much time on her feet. Even though it contradicts popular belief, she freely admits that most of her training is done in shoes. Be that as it may, she is still an advocate of barefoot running and believes there is nothing wrong with being barefoot in daily life provided safety is not an issue.

People who strongly advocate barefoot running tend to believe that the added cushioning placed in shoes causes runners to alter their stride and that can lead to foot and ankle problems with pain that radiates to knees, hips and lower back. Some people claim that they have resumed running after experiencing pain that sidelined them. Others state that barefoot running re-connects them with the ground allowing them to grow stronger starting in their feet and ankles and then strengthening their entire body.

Runners who are critical of barefoot running claim the benefits gleaned are far outweighed by the inherent dangers of trail debris and stress injuries. Perhaps it’s time to become less of an all or nothing personality type. Possibly give it a try. Start slow, giving your body an opportunity to adjust. Maybe incorporate a short barefoot run into your weekly schedule. You will need to make the determination for yourself.  However, do not embark on a barefoot running schedule under the belief that it will resolve existing problems. Make sure any current issues are treated by Dr. Vargas prior to taking on a new program and then listen to your doctor’s suggestions.

Contact Dr. Vargas at (281) 313-0090, to make an appointment for a complete foot and ankle physical, and discuss your barefoot running intent with him. He will be able to offer suggestions and cautions to help keep you on the right track. Place your feet in his hands.

If you have a barefoot running story to relate, please comment below.

References:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/24/uk-zolabudd-idUSLNE83N00C20120424
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120422/XPLORE01/304220001
http://www.9news.com/sports/article/263793/295/Accident-survivor-credits-barefoot-running-with-survival

You’ve all been there.  Blisters can be so intensely painful with no escaping the hurt, and they present themselves at the most inopportune times. If a shoe causes a blister, the only immediate relief is removal of the offending object, and that can be darn inconvenient. Usually blisters do not need to be treated by a doctor.

Most blisters are caused by friction by something that rubs repeatedly against your skin, like your shoe. If the rubbing did not occur at a rapid, repetitive rate, probably a much less painful callous would develop.  But blisters are entirely different. The friction and moisture makes the skin soft and the continued chafing allows the outer skin layers to separate and moisture to accumulate beneath. The new unconditioned skin is where the pain originates. If you can cover the sore area with a Band-Aid and avoid further irritation, you may be able to prevent a blister from forming.

It is best to not pop a blister because infection can easily result. If the blister is very large and painful it may have to be popped. If that’s the case, the following steps should be taken:

    •    Wash the affected area

    •    Use a sterilized needle or razorblade to break the skin on the lower side

    •    Gently apply pressure to squeeze out the clear moisture

    •    Leave outer layer of skin intact (this protects the new skin)

    •    Apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide

    •    Cover with a Band-Aid or gauze patch

    •    Keep the affected area clean by changing the bandage daily or each time it gets wet or dirty

    •    White or yellow fluid indicates presence of infection and you should see Dr. Vargas

If you suffer from diabetes or other nerve damaging conditions that affect your feet, see Dr. Vargas. Something which is seemingly as inconsequential as a blister can lead to serious complications.

There are other diseases and conditions such as psoriasis that can cause blisters on your feet. If you have blisters on your feet that are not friction blisters, call Dr. Vargas at (281) 313-0090 in Sugarland or (281) 342-8700 in Richmond/Rosenberg. He will need to examine and treat you.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/blisters-home-treatment?page=2
http://blistersonfeet.org/managing-blisters-on-feet.html/

The big chill is out of the air and it’s time to start kicking it and getting back into stellar condition. Maybe you’re planning on a marathon or a half and you have some serious training to do. Or perhaps you just want to take your running to the next level, and you are planning on some trail running. Have you taken inventory of your equipment? What about the shoes? Of course, shoe manufacturers are going to have you believe that you need to go out and invest another $100-$150 into a pair of trail running shoes, but is that really necessary? Well, that depends on whether or not you have the $150 to invest and how often you trail run.

It’s always good to have multiple pairs of shoes, because you know how quickly they need replacing. If you are trail running every other day or so, go ahead. You can purchase the trail shoe that is sturdier, has greater support and fits a bit higher on the foot to offer greater protection to the ankle.  With a trail shoe it has more of a toe roll to prevent injury if you should kick a rock or root. This will take the stress off of your road running shoes, and allow you to use them for a longer period of time. That’s not to say you’ll get more mileage out of them. You still need to look at replacing shoes every 300-500 miles.

Trail shoes offer better traction from a deeper groove, are a little stiffer and a little higher fit to give more ankle support should you turn an ankle slightly. If you are running a technically difficult course with very rocky terrain, lots of limbs or mud, the trail shoe could benefit you here. You know the kind of running you do.

Check with Dr. Vargas and advise him of the kind of running you are going to be doing. Dr. Vargas will be able to offer you suggestions for the best kind of shoes for your running program and what you need to protect your feet. Call him at (281) 313-0090 Sugarland or (281) 342-8700 in Richmond/Rosenberg. Then strap on your camel back pack and hit the trail. Don’t forget to take a cell phone, and on trails, you’re always better off running with a couple of buddies, just in case of a mishap. Have a good run!

References:

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/14394-trail-running-gear-shoes

Have you ever had pain at the corner or edge of your big toe, accompanied by redness and swelling? If that’s the case, you probably had an ingrown toenail. They can be very painful and annoying and although any toenail can become ingrown, it is usually the big toe. When an ingrown nail first begins, the area may feel hard and tender. Redness, swelling and possibly infection can follow. This is because instead of growing straight, something has caused the nail to grow into the skin on the sides or corners of the toe. Ingrown toenails are common, most notably in teenagers.

There are a number of factors that can cause ingrown toenails. In some instances the nail is simply too big for the toe, but other causes are:

    •    Injury to the toe

    •    Improper nail trimming, nails being cut too short or curved at the corners

    •    Shoes that crowd the toes because they are too tight or too short

Ingrown toenails should be treated immediately. As long as infection has not had time to develop, home care can usually avoid further medical treatment. Recommended treatment methods include:

    •    Warm foot soak three or four times daily

    •    Keep the area dry the rest of the time

    •    Over-the-counter pain predication if needed

    •    Wear shoes that are roomy in the toe area, or wear sandals until the condition clears up

    •    Gently lift the embedded nail away from the skin

    •    If condition does not improve within three days, call your doctor.

In serious cases, your doctor may need to surgically remove all or part of the offending nail and treat you with antibiotics. If the entire nail is removed, the chance is increased that your nail will grow back deformed.

Prevention is the best medicine. Wear shoes that provide enough room for your toes. Protect your feet from injury. Trim nails when necessary, making a straight cut as opposed to curving at the corners. If you have diabetes and develop an ingrown toenail, please see your doctor right away. Your feet may be at greater risk due to loss of sensation, and infection could develop quickly.

If you have an ingrown toenail that you cannot treat at home, or if the condition has persisted for more than three days, call Dr. Vargas at Foot and Ankle Associates. He has offices in Sugarland (281) 313-0090 and Richmond/Rosenberg (281) 342-8700 to serve you.

References:

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00154