Who Gets Sever's Disease?

Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, is an injury of the growth plate in the heel bone that is caused by repetitive trauma to the area. It often affects both heels simultaneously. This condition is most common among children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 12 as they go through a rapid growth spurt. Sever’s disease occurs more often in males than females. Children who participate in sports that require frequent running and jumping, such as basketball, soccer, track, cross-country, and gymnastics are most at risk. If your child complains of heel pain or is walking with a limp, it is suggested that you take them to see a podiatrist who can diagnose and treat their condition.

Sever's disease often occurs in children and teens. If your child is experiencing foot or ankle pain, see the Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. in Livonia.  We can treat your child’s foot and ankle needs.

Sever’s Disease

Sever’s disease is also known as calcaneal apophysitis, which is a medical condition that causes heel pain in one or both feet. The disease is known to affect children between the ages of 8 and 14.

Sever’s disease occurs when part of the child’s heel known as the growth plate (calcaneal epiphysis) is attached to the Achilles tendon. This area can suffer injury when the muscles and tendons of the growing foot do not keep pace with bone growth. Therefore, the constant pain which one experiences at the back of the heel will make the child unable to put any weight on the heel. The child is then forced to walk on their toes.

Symptoms

Acute pain – Pain associated with Sever’s disease is usually felt in the heel when the child engages in physical activity such as walking, jumping and or running.

Highly active – Children who are very active are among the most susceptible in experiencing Sever’s disease, because of the stress and tension placed on their feet.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Livonia, MI. at 734-522-7676.

Plantar Warts: Common, Contagious, and Communal

When the common human papillomavirus (HPV) enters the skin of the foot through a small cut or compromised area and causes keratin to develop, plantar warts occur. These are rough, white, or skin-colored warts that present on the heel, toes, or other weight-bearing points on the sole of the foot. Plantar warts, also known as verrucas, will sometimes have black dots at their core, which are actually clotted blood vessels. Because HPV is contagious, plantar warts can be passed from the skin of one person to another through direct contact, or by indirect exposure to an infected person’s socks, shoes, towels, or surfaces such as public swimming pools or communal changing rooms where the virus may be living. The virus can spread to hands and fingers, but the warts that develop on these parts of the body are known as palmar warts. People with a weakened immune system, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, or those who have warts that bleed, change color, cause a loss of sensation in the foot, or are very painful, should seek professional help. A podiatrist has a variety of remedies and procedures that can treat or even remove plantar warts.

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked contact the Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M.   Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

About Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are the result of HPV, or human papillomavirus, getting into open wounds on the feet. They are mostly found on the heels or balls of the feet.

While plantar warts are generally harmless, those experiencing excessive pain or those suffering from diabetes or a compromised immune system require immediate medical care. Plantar warts are easily diagnosed, usually through scraping off a bit of rough skin or by getting a biopsy.

Symptoms

• Lesions on the bottom of your feet, usually rough and grainy
• Hard or thick callused spots
• Wart seeds, which are small clotted blood vessels that look like little black spots
• Pain, discomfort, or tenderness of your feet when walking or standing

Treatment

• Freezing
• Electric tool removal
• Laser Treatment
• Topical Creams (prescription only)
• Over-the-counter medications

To help prevent developing plantar warts, avoid walking barefoot over abrasive surfaces that can cause cuts or wounds for HPV to get into. Avoiding direct contact with other warts, as well as not picking or rubbing existing warts, can help prevent the further spread of plantar warts. However, if you think you have developed plantar warts, speak to your podiatrist. He or she can diagnose the warts on your feet and recommend the appropriate treatment options.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our  Livonia office at 734-522-7676.  We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankles needs.

While the feet have a variety of functions, issues with the feet can also indicate issues in a variety of other parts of the body. Because of this, podiatrists can often be the first doctors to notice an issue. For example, feet that are too cold, or are blue in color, can indicate circulation problems in the rest of the body. Swollen feet can sometimes indicate heart disease or high blood pressure. The toenails can also indicate a variety of issues. Changes in toenail color can be signs of issues in the lungs, heart, kidneys, or liver, and it can even be a sign of diabetes or an infection. If you are noticing any abnormalities in the feet, consult with a podiatrist to make sure there are not any underlying issues.

When dealing with systemic disease of the feet, it is extremely important to check the affected areas routinely so that any additional problems are caught quickly.  If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact The Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M.  We will assist you with all of your podiatric needs.

Systemic Diseases of the Feet

Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable.  Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.

Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body.

Diabetes mellitus – is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin. Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes.

Diabetes of the Feet

Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.

Peripheral Vascular Disease – can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our Livonia office at 734-522-7676 . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

When the nerves are damaged in the extremities such as the feet, it is known as peripheral neuropathy. This ultimately leads to Charcot foot when the bones in the foot are weakened. These weakened bones can lead to fractures that worsen and cause the joints in the foot to collapse. Charcot foot can cause the foot to become deformed, and it can be disabling and even potentially lead to amputation. Common signs of Charcot foot are a warmness to the touch, redness, swelling, and pain. Because of its association to neuropathy and neuropathy’s association with diabetes, diabetic patients should monitor their feet for this condition. Patients who believe that they may have this condition should consult with a podiatrist as soon as possible. A podiatrist will be able to assess the foot and suggest treatment options.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy can be a potentially serious condition, especially if it is left undiagnosed. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing nerve loss in your feet, consult with the Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M.  The doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment for neuropathy.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that leads to damage to the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy that affects your peripheral nervous system, usually occurs in the feet. Neuropathy can be triggered by several different causes. Such causes include diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and toxic substances.

Symptoms of Neuropathy Include:

• Numbness
• Sensation loss
• Prickling and tingling sensations
• Throbbing, freezing, burning pains
• Muscle weakness

Those with diabetes are at serious risk due to being unable to feel an ulcer on their feet. Diabetics usually also suffer from poor blood circulation. This can lead to the wound not healing, infections occurring, and the limb may have to be amputated.

Treatment

To treat neuropathy in the foot, podiatrists will first diagnose the cause of the neuropathy. Figuring out the underlying cause of the neuropathy will allow the podiatrist to prescribe the best treatment, whether it be caused by diabetes, toxic substance exposure, infection, etc. If the nerve has not died, then it’s possible that sensation may be able to return to the foot.

Pain medication may be issued for pain. Electrical nerve stimulation can be used to stimulate nerves. If the neuropathy is caused from pressure on the nerves, then surgery may be necessary.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Livonia, Michigan.  at 734-522-7676. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Livonia Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes) Doctor

THE FOOT HEALTH TEAM OF DR. PETER F. GREGORY D.P.M. CAN BE REACHED AT 734-522-7676.

It is commonly believed that there is nothing that can be done for a broken toe.  This is not true.  Toe fractures that heal wrong will remain stiff and painful.   Toes need to be x-rayed to be sure the fracture is not displaced, angulated or gapped.  The metatarsals are the part of the foot between the top of the arch and the toes. There are five metatarsals behind each of the toes. These bones are easily fractured. Stress fractures are particularly common. Signs of a fracture include bruising, redness and swelling.  Depending on the severity of the fracture, either protected weight bearing, non-weight bearing or surgery may be needed.

The structure of the foot is complex, consisting of bones, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues. Of the 28 bones in the foot, 19 are toe bones (phalanges) and metatarsal bones (the long bones in the midfoot). Fractures of the toe and metatarsal bones are common and require evaluation by a specialist. A foot and ankle surgeon should be seen for proper diagnosis and treatment, even if initial treatment has been received in an emergency room.

What Is a Fracture?

A fracture is a break in the bone. Fractures can be divided into two categories: traumatic fractures and stress fractures.

Traumatic fractures (also called acute fractures) are caused by a direct blow or impact, such as seriously stubbing your toe. Traumatic fractures can be displaced or nondisplaced. If the fracture is displaced, the bone is broken in such a way that it has changed in position (malpositioned).

Signs and symptoms of a traumatic fracture include:

• You may hear a sound at the time of the break.
• Pinpoint pain (pain at the place of impact) at the time the fracture occurs and perhaps for a few hours later, but often the pain goes away after several hours.
• Crooked or abnormal appearance of the toe.
• Bruising and swelling the next day.

It is not true that “if you can walk on it, it’s not broken.” Evaluation by a foot and ankle surgeon is always recommended.

Stress fractures are tiny hairline breaks usually caused by repetitive stress. Stress fractures often afflict athletes who, for example, too rapidly increase their running mileage. They can also be caused by an abnormal foot structure, deformities or osteoporosis. Improper footwear may also lead to stress fractures. Stress fractures should not be ignored. They require proper medical attention to heal correctly.

Symptoms of stress fractures include:

• Pain with or after normal activity
• Pain that goes away when resting and then returns when standing or during activity
• Pinpoint pain (pain at the site of the fracture) when touched
• Swelling but no bruising

Consequences of Improper Treatment

Some people say that “the doctor can’t do anything for a broken bone in the foot.” This is usually not true. In fact, if a fractured toe or metatarsal bone is not treated correctly, serious complications may develop. For example:

• A deformity in the bony architecture, which may limit the ability to move the foot or cause difficulty in fitting shoes.
• Arthritis, which may be caused by a fracture in a joint (the juncture where two bones meet), or may be a result of angular deformities that develop when a displaced fracture is severe or has not been properly corrected.
• Chronic pain and deformity.
• Nonunion, or failure to heal, can lead to subsequent surgery or chronic pain.

Treatment of Toe Fractures

Fractures of the toe bones are almost always traumatic fractures. Treatment for traumatic fractures depends on the break itself and may include these options:

• Rest. Sometimes rest is all that is needed to treat a traumatic fracture of the toe.
• Splinting. The toe may be fitted with a splint to keep it in a fixed position.
• Rigid or stiff-soled shoe. Wearing a stiff-soled shoe protects the toe and helps keep it properly positioned. Use of a postoperative shoe or bootwalker is also helpful.
• Buddy taping the fractured toe to another toe is sometimes appropriate, but in other cases, it may be harmful.
• Surgery. If the break is badly displaced or if the joint is affected, surgery may be necessary. Surgery often involves the use of fixation devices, such as pins.

Treatment of Metatarsal Fractures

Breaks in the metatarsal bones may be either stress or traumatic fractures. Certain kinds of fractures of the metatarsal bones present unique challenges.

For example, sometimes a fracture of the first metatarsal bone (behind the big toe) can lead to arthritis. Since the big toe is used so frequently and bears more weight than other toes, arthritis in that area can make it painful to walk, bend or even stand.

Another type of break, called a Jones fracture, occurs at the base of the fifth metatarsal bone (behind the little toe). It is often misdiagnosed as an ankle sprain, and misdiagnosis can have serious consequences since sprains and fractures require different treatments. Your foot and ankle surgeon is an expert in correctly identifying these conditions as well as other problems of the foot.

Treatment of metatarsal fractures depends on the type and extent of the fracture and may include:

• Rest. Sometimes rest is the only treatment needed to promote healing of a stress or traumatic fracture of a metatarsal bone.
• Avoid the offending activity. Because stress fractures result from repetitive stress, it is important to avoid the activity that led to the fracture. Crutches or a wheelchair are sometimes required to offload weight from the foot to give it time to heal.
• Immobilization, casting or rigid shoe. A stiff-soled shoe or other form of immobilization may be used to protect the fractured bone while it is healing. Use of a postoperative shoe or bootwalker is also helpful.
• Surgery. Some traumatic fractures of the metatarsal bones require surgery, especially if the break is badly displaced.
• Follow-up care. Your foot and ankle surgeon will provide instructions for care following surgical or nonsurgical treatment. Physical therapy, exercises and rehabilitation may be included in a schedule for return to normal activities.
• Contact the Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. at 734-522-7676 for any questions or concerns.