Now that spring is on its way, more individuals are concerned about their toenail fungus. There are several ways to treat fungal toenails, however, studies have shown that the use of laser is the most effective.

Laser machines that are used for fungal treatments utilize light energy to help combat this condition. The laser beam is able to infiltrate the thick toenail to target the fungus which is located under the nail. At the time of the procedure, the toenail will not become instantly clear; it will take time to grow out. The light energy is soaked up by the fungi and this helps abolished these colonies. This new technology provides safer, faster, and more effective treatment than other options.

At Advanced Podiatry, we use a laser that directs a concentrated beam of light through the nail to eliminate the fungus that is harboring under the nail. The procedure is done in office and it doesn't involve anesthesia and is painless.

Clinical studies show that the laser kills toenail fungus and promotes clear nail growth with a single treatment in better than 80% of cases. The laser treatment is safe, effective, and most patients improve usually after their first treatment.

There are several advantages of applying laser treatment to toenail fungus, which include: safe, painless treatment, no side effects or drugs, no liver enzyme test required, no recovery time, only 15 minutes required to treat the toenail fungus on both feet.

Metatarsalgia refers to any pain in the foot related the heads of the metatarsal bones. These bones are the long bones of the midfoot which lead up to the toes. While metatarsalgia is a common general diagnosis, there are various specific causes for the pain.

If one of the metatarsal bones is elongated or prominent, this may lead to increased pressure underneath the heads of the bone. This is most common around the 2^nd metatarsal since it is the longest of these bones. Patient may experience focal tenderness to the area, and they may also develop a callus as a result of the increase in pressure.

There are other deformities of the foot and ankle that can lead to increased pressure under the metatarsal heads. A tight Achilles tendon will cause the foot to be more contracted and can create more pressure under the forefoot. Additionally, patients who have high arches will have metatarsals that come down at a steeper angle and therefore incur more pressure under their heads. 

Older patients may experience atrophy of the fat that is naturally present on the sole of the foot. Without this fat padding present, these patients may develop pain around bony prominences, especially the metatarsal heads.

Metatarsalgia can also result from injury to the soft tissue structures around the joint comprised of the metatarsal and its adjacent toe. These injuries can result from trauma or from overactivity especially in athletes.

Treatment of metatarsalgia is specific to the specific type of issue the patient may have. For individuals who have increased pressure around a metatarsal head because of a tight Achilles or an elongated metatarsal, an off-loading pad may be dispensed to decrease pressure to the area. Custom orthotics are an excellent treatment option since they too can decrease the pressure in the painful area under the metatarsal head, and they are specifically customized based on the patient’s foot type. If a callus is present in the painful area, it may shaved down to reduce pain. If there is a specific soft tissue injury that is causing pain, it may be treated with RICE therapy, orthotics, or anti-inflammatory medications.

While the vast majority of metatarsalgia responds to conservative therapy, surgery may be indicated in some patients. Those who have pain due to an elongated metatarsal may benefit from a surgical procedure in which the bone is shortened to reduce stress beneath the head of the bone. If there is damage to a soft tissue structure around the joint of the toe known as the plantar plate, this can also be repaired surgically.

While metatarsalgia is an all-encompassing diagnosis for forefoot pain, there are various possible reasons a patient may be experiencing this form of pain. Do not hesitate to make an appointment at one of our offices to be properly worked up and treated for metatarsalgia. 

In today's world of fast paced, high tech,state of the art procedures and surgery, it is easy to overlook the importance of conservative palliative care, especially for those patients with diabetes and circulation problems. These patients have a compromised immune system and healing capacity.

Many patients have foot deformities which are subject to excessive pressure or friction within the confines of closed shoe gear. This increased pressure or friction can lead to undue stress to the underlying tissues, resulting in skin breakdown that could lead to ulceration, infection, and possible loss of body part, limb, or life if not addressed early by a qualified licensed podiatrist.

Palliative care reduces the excess pressure and stress to the tissues and can be accomplished in different ways.It can be done by debridement of excess dead skin, orthotics for the redistribution of the pressure forces associated with walking, or by devices that protect the vulnerable area when wearing closed shoes. If these issues are addressed by a nail salon or someone less than a qualified professional, the consequences could be quite severe. Patients should consult with their podiatrist for a proper care schedule and for maintaining healthy feet.

In June of 2019 Kevin Durant confirmed on social media that he had suffered and underwent surgical correction for a Right ruptured achilles tendon.

Durant had just returned back to the NBA Finals at the time of his injury after sustaining a calf strain.  The achilles tendon is a tendon at the back of the leg that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone.  Injuries of this magnitude are not just seen in professional athletes but can also be a risk for our “Weekend Warrior” patients - a term affectionately given to men and women who participate in athletics in their spare time.  Muscle imbalances, tight muscles, lack of stretching, poor shoegear, uneven surfaces or failing to rehab appropriately from an injury minor or not can make us all susceptible to injury.

Most professional athletes take about 10 months to recover from this type of surgery, Durant, due to the pandemic, had 19 months to let his body heal -  to properly prepare for the season and give his body the best shot at returning to pre-injury form.

To date, Durant has been having an amazing season with the Brooklyn Nets and is showing no signs of this injury impacting his game.  

One of the greatest take aways for this basketball fan and podiatrist is that injuries, big and small, need time. They need proper rehab to build strength, correct muscle imbalances, and get our athletes - high school, college, professional and weekend back on the field or court safely with their best foot forward.

Do you have fungal nails? Are you constantly self conscious about your toenail appearance and hide your feet? Don’t worry, you are not alone - millions of individuals in the United States are affected by nail fungus. 

There are different types of nail fungus- fungi love warm and moist places and can thrive in the layer of dead skin surrounding your nails. Depending on the circumstances whether due to health issues (immunocompromised), going barefoot in communal areas (gym showers, pool areas, gym mats)- your nails can become infected. Once infected, your nails may become discolored, thickened, and even painful. Stop nail fungus and try laser toenail treatment!

At Advanced Podiatry, we offer the Pinpointe Foot Laser. The Pinpointe laser is the first FDA approved laser that is clinically proven to provide significant improvement in clear nail growth without side effects or need for blood tests! The laser targets the fungi the nail without causing damage to your nails or skin! Most patients only complain of increased warmth on their toenails during the procedure.

If you are interested in the Pinpointe Foot Laser, now is the time to do it in order to have your nails summer ready! This is because you may not visually see a change in nail appearance until your nail grows out which may take about 5-6 months. According to a study performed, more than 71% of patients experienced “sustained improvement in new, clear nail growth.”

Don’t hide your toes any longer, book your appointment for the Pinpointe Foot Laser today!