Foot and Ankle Wound Healing and Skin Grafting

Foot and ankle wounds can happen with accidents, sports, shin injuries, or trauma related to underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. Proper care and heating protocols are essential.

Second Opinions

When you have received a diagnosis, it can often be incorrect. And the internet is not always correct when you ask Dr. Google what is wrong. Seeing a trained medical specialist is always recommended for injuries and pain. Plantar plate tears, nerve pain, and heel pain are all culprits of misdiagnosed conditions. Sports injuries and sprains can also be a concern for getting a second opinion. 

Healthmark physicians are extensively trained and have detailed systems and protocols to diagnose and treat all foot and ankle conditions correctly. 

Children's Foot Injuries

Children's foot injuries can occur as a result of various factors such as accidents, sports activities, or underlying medical conditions. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, intoeing, and sever's disease.

Ankle and Foot Surgery

When surgery is the best option for your condition, you can rest knowing that Healthmark Foot and Ankle Associates are highly trained and professional and want the best results for you. 

 

Sever's Disease

Is your child complaining of heel pain? During growth spurts, Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, can be common in children and adolescents. This condition is the inflammation of the growth plate in the heel (calcaneus).

 

Foot Puncture Wounds

You are at risk for foot puncture wounds if you walk barefoot or wear sandals or open-toed shoes that do not provide adequate protection for your feet. Additionally, people who work in construction, agriculture, or other occupations that involve manual labor or handling of sharp objects are also at a higher risk of sustaining puncture wounds in the foot. 

 

Plantar Plate Tear

An ultrasound, MRI, or X-ray may be ordered to diagnose the plantar plate tear. This condition is very misdiagnosed, as many patients see a podiatrist thinking they have a neuroma,

Nerve Pain

With nerve pain, you may not have back or leg symptoms or sciatica pain but a burning left big toe, sharp, burning pain in your foot, tingling or numbness between your toes, or a fiery pain in the ball of the foot.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Your tibial nerve passes through a narrow space in the ankle called the tarsal tunnel. It is known as tarsal tunnel syndrome, when this nerve gets irritated, compressed, or squeezed. This is very similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy. Healthmark Foot & Ankle Associates are highly trained in this condition that causes nerve damage and holds standards high in treatment and recognizing the condition. As a diabetic care of excellence standard, peripheral neuropathy is not taken lightly. 

 

Plantar Fibromas

Plantar fibromas are small nodules, benign (non-cancerous) growths that develop on the plantar fascia, the rubber-band-like thick tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot between the toes and the heel bone. 

 

Peroneal Tendon Injuries

Do you feel unstable when you are walking or running, have weakness in the ankle, or have outer foot pain? You could have issues with your peroneal tendons. 

Peripheral Artery Disease

This circulatory disorder occurs when arteries narrow or have a blockage outside the heart, typically in the legs. This results in insufficient blood flow to the legs and feet. PAD is one of the most common and serious threats to your foot and leg health, especially those with diabetes.

7 Health Warnings Your Skin and ToeNails May Be Giving 

Skin and health are more important than you may realize. While foot and ankle health is commonly thought of as sprains and breaks, skin and nail health is vital to overall well-being. Your nails directly correlate with what is potentially happening with your health- maybe not on the surface, but deep down. At Healthmark, your foot health is of utmost priority, and we can assist with preventing and treating corns and calluses. Discover 7 warning signs your skin and toenails may be giving.

High Arches

Do you feel the arches in your feet higher than others? High arches can be genetic/familial but also caused by previous injury and or underlying neurological disorders, which may be progressive. A high correlation also exists between high arches and lower back and jaw problems. Many studies highly tie up to a 69% chance of back problems, underlying neurological disorders over time, and jaw problems with high arches.

 

Intoeing

Have you heard the term “pigeon-toed?” This is what many call intoeing. This inward turning of the feet results from a skeletal or neurological problem. Intoeing can come from multiple levels - the foot, tibia, femur, or hip.

A common condition, intoeing, is often undertreated. Many medical authorities will say a child will grow out of intoeing, but they really don’t, and aggressive treatment may be necessary at a late stage of the problem. The concern arises when a child’s gate changes or presents itself later in life. Intoeing is typically related to the inter-uterine position of the baby in pregnancy before birth.  Early recognition and early treatment are vital with intoeing.  

Pronation Care

Pronation and underpronation are normal, necessary movements of the foot. When range of motion becomes excessive one way or another, clinical symptoms occur.
 

Hallux Rigidus | Hallux Limitis

Do you have pain in your big toe? Is there swelling, stiffness, or difficulty bending your big toe? You could have a condition called Hallux Rigidus. This is often due to spurring of the bone, joint fragments, or joint narrowing of the big toe. This can be referred to as Hallux Rigidis, as the joint does not move, or Hallux Limitis, where the joint has limited painful motion.

 

Haglund’s Deformity

Caused when the soft tissue near the back of the heel becomes irritated when the large, bony lump rubs against a shoe. This condition is a good reason to wear different shoes each day. Haglund’s Deformity can affect one or both feet.

Frieberg’s Disease

Frieberg’s disease, also known as Frieberg infraction, is a condition that affects the metatarsal bones in the foot. The metatarsal bones are a group of five long bones located in the metatarsus of the foot, between the tarsal bones (near the ankle) and the phalanges (toe bones). The condition often affects the second or third metatarsal bones. 

 

Charcot Foot

Are the bones and joints in your feet deformed without pain, or perhaps you have redness or swelling? You could have nerve damage related to what is known as Charcot’s foot. Also known as Charcot neuropathy, this condition results from nerve damage that causes significant bone destruction, often due to diabetes or other conditions, where you are unaware of broken bones in your foot.

Heel Bursitis

Heel bursitis is tiny sacs of fluid at the back of or under the heel, which can become inflamed, causing pain, tenderness, and difficulty wearing regular shoes.

Achilles Tendon Injuries

Prevent painful Achilles tendonitis or injury before it starts. Respond to your feet' distress signals. Your foot is connected to the rest of your body, sending warning signals of problems. The longer you wait to address the pain, the longer recovery will take. Learn more about Achilles Tendon injuries.

 

Women's Health at Healthmark

Many women suffer from Vitamin D deficiencies, inflammation or weight gain, osteopenia or osteoporosis, skin and nail challenges, and have higher stroke and heart disease risk. At Healthmark, our physicians know first signs of systemic disease begin in the foot. We keep track of records and personalize treatment and prevention to keep you well. Screening for these and more is important to know your health is a priority.

Covid-19 Resource Reading Page

Healthmark provides a list of reference websites and articles for better understanding the Covid-19 Pandemic. many of the materials presented here help answer many of the questions that our patients ask us everyday. We update this list in accordance to developments associated with the 2020 Covid-19 Global Pandemic.

Medical CBD for Foot and Ankle Treatment

Ankle Sprain

An estimated 25,000 people experience an ankle sprain each day, making this injury one of the most common. Anyone of any age can sprain an ankle, whether playing sports or just walking on an uneven surface. Because a sprain can be more serious than you first think, you need a doctor to diagnose this injury.

Athlete's Foot

Also called “tinea pedis”, athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that commonly appears between the toes and sometimes on other parts of the feet. It causes an itching, stinging sensation and is contagious. See a doctor if your condition doesn’t improve or gets worse.

Bunions

If you suffer from bunions, you know how painful they can become. These bony enlargements, usually occurring at the base of the big toe, can cause the big toe to turn inward towards the other toes. Whether caused by genetics, arthritis or years of ill-fitting shoes, bunions can be treated successfully.

Corns

Caused by pressure or rubbing on the skin, corns are usually formed when shoes fit improperly. While very annoying, corns can be treated very successfully. Seeing a podiatrist should be the first step to relief.

Diabetes

One complication of diabetes is a tendency to foot problems. Diabetics can be afflicted with diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease, two serious conditions. Also, when a diabetic acquires one of the more common foot problems like athlete’s foot or bunions, they are more likely to become infected and/or lead to serious complications.

Flat Feet

The condition known as flat feet, sometimes also called “fallen arches”, is a common problem. Although usually painless, this condition can cause problems with your knees and ankles. If your flat feet are causing you pain, you should have this condition checked out.

Gout

Gout is a painful form of arthritis that can be found in joints throughout the entire body. Gout is commonly found in the foot and can create terrible discomfort for the toes. If you think you are experience gout or any other type of arthritis in your foot, ankle, or leg, contacting a podiatrist is the most important decision you can make to fix your joint pain.

Hammertoes

When the toe is permanently bent in a claw-like position, it is called hammertoe. Usually appearing in the second toe, hammertoe is often caused by ill-fitting shoes. This condition can and should be treated by a podiatrist as early on as possible to avoid surgery.

Heel Pain

When a hook of bone forms on the heel bone, it is called a heel spur. This condition is sometimes linked with plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue in the arch of the foot. Heel spurs can be painful, but there are many successful treatments.

Plantar Warts

Warts can come in all different shapes and sizes, especially on the foot and toes. Warts are very hard to treat, but a proper medical diagnosis and consistent treatment can help you get rid of this painful, ugly virus.

Pressure Wave Therapy

Pressure Wave Therapy is an effective pain management method for treating chronic pain found throughout the whole body. At Healthmark we use this therapy primarily in the foot, ankle, and leg, but understand the benefits and applications for the entire body. This a noninvasive remedy that uses sound waves to promote solutions for habitual and unexpected pain.

Raynaud's Phenomenon

Raynaud’s is a disorder that causes blood vessel spasms usually within the hands and feet resulting in discoloration, numbness, pins-and-needles, restricted movement, and skin changes. The associated circulatory spasms lead to decreased blood flow to areas such as the tips of the fingers and toes.

Scleroderma/Sclerosis

Scleroderma is the hardening and inflammation of many organs in the body. In most cases of scleroderma, the indications of the disease are seen on the skin; with symmetrical skin-thickening, discoloration, and/or lesions.

Toenail Health

Millions of people suffer from nail problems. At Healthmark we are here to diagnose and treat all ailments of the toenail and toe while simultaneously educating our patients on ways to improve the overall conditions that they suffer from.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is a condition that affects 50-75% of Americans. When the body lack the vital effects of vitamin D, it can take a serious toll on the bones, the skin, and the stability of internal organs. The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency vary greatly among those who suffer from it. Many Americans do not realize that they are lack the necessary dose of vitamin D which can result in injury or chronic ailments not just in the feet but throughout the entire body.