No matter what sport you are following this time of year, odds are good that you are going to see a few athletes using tape to support their feet and ankles.  Recently, Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls caused a stir over the use of ankle taping after he felt that the tape on his ankles hindered his ability to play to his full capabilities.  Tape can be very beneficial for a wide variety of conditions in the foot and ankle in both athletes and non-athletes if done correctly. 

While Derrick Rose suffered an ankle sprain last year during the playoffs, he was lucky enough to not miss any games due to the injury.  This year he has not been so fortunate with his ankle injury and has been forced to miss playing time.  Rose is right to take care of this injury because many ankle sprains can progress to cause chronic ankle instability requiring surgical treatment to fully cure, even when they are properly cared for.  When the ligaments that stabilize the movements of the bones in and around the ankle joint become damaged, unnatural or excessive movement of the bones can result.  These abnormal movements can give the feeling of the ankle “giving out”, and can be painful.  Another condition called peroneal subluxation can contribute to chronic lateral ankle instability.  The tendons of the muscles peroneus brevis and peroneus longus run along the outside of the foot near the ligaments that are commonly damaged in ankle sprains.  If the tendons become irritated a tendonitis can result.  Peroneal subluxation can also occur if the fibrous structure that normally keeps the tendons on their course becomes damaged.  This allows the tendons to move out of place and causing a “snapping” sensation on the side of the foot. 

If these conditions of ankle instability are not painful, they can be treated with conservative methods such as taping or bracing to help maintain the stability of the ankle and prevent further damage to the foot and ankle.  When diagnosed with lateral ankle instability, your podiatrist may offer to tape your foot and ankle to provide some relief immediately until a more structured brace can be ordered or ankle surgery can be performed.    

While taping may not have been Rose’s favorite treatment option for his ankle injury, many people find taping to be a great option, either temporarily or to be used as needed, for conditions of the foot and ankle.  Other conditions that may gain some relief from orthopedic taping in addition to or before the use of surgery, physical therapy or custom orthotics include:  Achilles tendonitis, heel pain, posterior tibial tendonitis, and overpronation.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see apodiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Fans of both American Idol and Aerosmith may have noticed that Steven Tyler has recently been getting media attention not for his singing, dancing or judging skills – but for the wild appearance of his toes!  Stephen claims that the years of dancing and wearing ill-fitting, unsupportive shoes have taken their toll on his feet, which now bear a variety of deformities. 

The most noticeable problem in Stephen’s feet is his overlapping and underlapping toes.  The second toe of his right foot completely overlaps the big toe, or hallux, and toes three, four and five of both feet underlap the adjacent toe.  Not only are underlapping and overlapping toes thought of as cosmetically unappealing, but they also can cause painful corns and calluses on the tops of the toes and make finding properly fitting shoes  a challenge.  Many times underlapping of the toes are a congenital deformity that is present from birth.  Most commonly the fifth toe will be rotated and underlap the fourth toe, a condition specifically called digiti quinti varus.  There are a variety of underlying causes of digiti quinti varus but one of the most common is a coalition, or fusion of the two bones that normally make up the fifth toe.  Another common cause of underlapping and overlapping toes that develop early in life is muscle and ligament imbalances, which can often be treated by taping and bracing.  When the condition develops later in life, as in Steven Tyler’s case, a tear of the plantar plate may have occurred.  The plantar plate is a thickening in the capsule of the joint at the base of each two and serves as an attachment for ligaments that connect the metatarsals.  When the plantar plate tears, these connections are disrupted and the involved toe may deviate over another and metatarsalgia, or pain in the forefoot, and swelling may develop. 

Tyler has also complained of a history of Morton’s neuroma contributing to the painful state of his feet over the years.  A neuroma is an enlargement of a nerve that typically results from irritation to that nerve.  A Morton’s neuroma is found between the third and fourth toes that is the most common location of a neuroma in the foot.  Metatarsalgia, tingling and burning pain are common complaints of those suffering from a neuroma.  Neuromas may be treated by your podiatrist with injection of corticosteroids to decrease pain and swelling, or surgery to excise the painful neuroma.  To avoid Steven’s neuromas and toe deformities, be sure to keep your feet in rock and roll shape with supportive shoes and regular checkups with your podiatrist at the first signs of problems!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see apodiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Wrestlers frequently will often force themselves to extremes to reach their weight class for wrestling.  Those reaching for heavy weight status may, to the detriment of their own health, indulge in unhealthy eating habits.  While the extra weight may provide an advantage in the short term of trying to hold down an opponent, the resulting diabetes later in life may end up knocking the wrestler’s feet out from under them.  These facts were a sad reality this past week for the World Wrestling Entertainment’s retired wrestling legend Kamala when he underwent his third amputation in recent months from complications of diabetes and high blood pressure.  Podiatrists work with their diabetic patients to avoid amputations at all costs, performing them only when it is necessary to save the patient’s life from an infection of the foot travelling further up the leg to the body causing gangrene, or tissue death and septicemia.  By maintaining a low blood sugar, wrestlers with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes can avoid many of the complications seen in the foot that Kamala likely suffered from including neuropathy, and slow wound healing. 

At the other extreme, wrestlers trying to remain a lightweight frequently take up running in the offseason.  Wrestlers who enter into an intense running regimen too quickly after months spent just wrestling can experience common running ailments including shin splints, heel pain, and the development of painful corns and calluses.  By starting off slowly with low mileage, purchasing proper shoe gear and stretching these injuries may be avoidable.  Orthotics may also be helpful in avoiding painful conditions if the individual has underlying biomechanical and structural problems with their feet. 

When they are in season, a study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that collegiate wrestlers have an injury rate second only to spring football.  The ankle is one of the most commonly and most seriously injured parts of the body in wrestling.  During takedowns and sparring, ankle sprains and muscle strains can occur when the foot is planted on the ground and forced to twist in an unnatural way.  Wrestling is also notorious for the occurrence of athlete’s foot or “ring worm”.  This skin condition is not actually due to having worms in the skin, but is caused by infection with a fungus.  When it occurs in the foot this is also known as tinea pedis and can spread to cause fungal toenails if not treated. 

Wrestlers should make good use of the beginning of their offseason to visit their podiatrist and make a complete recovery from any lingering foot and ankle injuries or skin infections.  With good health, they will be quick on their feet when the time comes for their next big match!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Golfers hitting up the greens at the York,  Worthington Hills, Muirfield or Tartan golf courses near the offices here at Columbus Podiatry in Surgery, need to take their feet into consideration when looking for ways to lower their scores.  While many golfers look to the newest technology in their clubs and golf balls to enhance their drive, custom foot orthotics could be the missing link to correcting many parts of your swing!

Even though golf is thought of a relatively low risk sport, there are many painful foot problems that commonly arise in golfers from the intense amount of walking involved.  Heel pain can occur from a variety of causes.  Plantar fasciitis can cause heel pain that radiates down the arch of the foot and is often worst in the morning or upon standing after periods of sitting.  Stress fractures of the calcaneus, which can occur from chronic strain on bone resulting from excessive walking, are another cause of heel pain.  Metatarsalgia which is a term that refers to pain in the ball of the foot also commonly occurs in golfers.  Stress fractures of the metatarsals, most commonly the second metatarsal, can be one underlying cause of this pain.  Plantar plate tears can be another common cause of metatarsalgia.  The plantar plate supports the head of the metatarsal bone and pain results from a tear because the metatarsal head becomes subjected to higher ground pressure with each step. 

Many of these problems are caused not from golf itself, but because excess pressure from walking being placed on an abnormally functioning subtala rjoint, which is most commonly functioning overpronated.  When this joint does not function optimally, problems can start in the foot, but may also progress higher up the body’s “kinetic chain” or chain of movement.  This can result in knee, hip, back and neck pain.  Using a digital gait scanner, as is used at Columbus Podiatry and Surgery, an orthotic can be fit specifically to address an individual’s foot problems and create a custom orthotic to correct any biomechanical problems.  With improved function, a golfer’s body will have the capacity to achieve the perfect swing!!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

With the record setting high temperatures the past few weeks in Columbus, kids have been soaking up the sun and playing outside as much as possible.  While the exercise is excellent for foot health, some new pains may develop from the sudden increase in activity level.  Parents need to pay careful attention to new pains as they can sometimes indicate issues more serious than just normal muscle soreness.  One of these conditions often identified during childhood years is called a pedal coalition. 

Pedal congenital coalitions are caused when the tissues destined to become two separate bones in the foot during development fail to separate and remain united as one bone.  These two bones may be united together by bone, fibrous or cartilage tissue.  The type and amount of tissue connecting what should be two separate bones will determine how much motion will be allowed where the joint would normally be.

While some coalitions may never cause any problems and go unnoticed, others can cause severe foot pain, stiffness, muscle spasm and foot deformity.  Some of the symptoms of a foot bone coalition can resemble the normal pains of post-playtime soreness with aching, and fatigue.  These symptoms are brought about by activity, and thus kids with lower activity levels may remain asymptomatic and undiagnosed.   The bones involved in a coalition can be identified by matching up the normal time the bones are ossifying with the onset of symptoms.  For example, a child who develops the foot pain and joint stiffness around three to five years of age would have a coalition between the talus and navicular bones as a possible diagnosis. 

Luckily, the most common congenital coalition in a child’s foot is typically not painful and is a fusion of the two bones that make up the fifth or “pinky” toe.  However, common coalitions that occur in the tarsal bones will cause symptoms in an active child.  Fusion of the talus and calcaneus, or heel bone, is the most common of the tarsal coalitions.  The subtalar joint, which is located between these two bones, requires mobility in each phase of walking or running and a coalition of the talus and calcaneus will limit that mobility.  When movement necessary for normal ambulation becomes limited, the body will try to force through the motion, causing pain, or will make changes to work around the need for that movement, causing deformity.  Commonly, with the talus-calcaneus coalition, overpronation will be part of the deformity and the child may appear flat footed. 

Early identification of these symptoms can result in earlier treatment and improved quality of life for the affected child.  Whether the coalition is congenital or has been acquired later in life as a result of osteoarthritis wear and tear or a fracture within the joint, a visit to your podiatrist can help relieve pain and work towards allowing your feet to function in the best way possible!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see apodiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

An article published in “USA Today” this past week discussed the scary reality that many elderly patients will leave a hospital much weaker than when they arrived.  Even though the patient’s original condition will be treated, the overall health of the patient may suffer from lack of physical activity.  A similar concept can be applied to many treatments of the foot and ankle, in that even though a treatment may remove the original pain or deformity, post-treatment actions must be taken by the patient to ensure that they maintain optimum health and their condition does not return. 

One condition that requires continued maintenance even after a pain-relieving treatment is plantar fasciitis.  Stretching and orthotics are often suggested as the first line of treatment because they address the root of the problem.  However, individuals with severe plantar fasciitis may find even stretching to be too painful and can receive steroid injections for more immediate relief.  In plantar fasciitis, the fibrous band of tissue called the plantar fascia that attaches from the heel to the ball of the foot becomes irritated from having too much tension placed on it.  Overpronation and equinus, or stiffness of the ankle, can add to the tension placed on the fascia causing its inflammation.  Even though a steroid injection removes the heel pain of plantar fasciitis, the underlying causes of tension will remain and eventually allow the pain to return if they are not addressed.  For a patient to get optimal results from their treatment, they should discuss a daily stretching regimen with their podiatrist that should be easier to adhere to after their pain has been alleviated by the injection.  Simple stretches and custom orthotics will often relieve tension and thus the irritation on the tissue, allowing the patient to avoid recurrences of the condition. 

This concept of stretching and physical therapy following treatment is often used following surgeries that actually have removed the underlying problem, including those performed to remove a bunion.  While the bunion deformity is gone, physical therapy to get the toe moving after surgery can prevent complications down the road that may result from the prolonged inactivity of the toe following the operation.  Bones and tissues that have been cut need time without bearing the weight of the body in order to fuse together properly.  Unfortunately this period of rest that is necessary for bone healing may cause joints and ligaments to become overly stiff from the inactivity.  Physical therapy can be used to remove or prevent any adhesions of tissues to one another that can lead to painful limitation of motion or even arthritis. 

While for some patients, following a post-treatment schedule involving stretching, foot exercises and physical therapy may be difficult, other patients will struggle with the idea of doing as little as possible with their affected foot.  Whether you are eager to return to sports practice, or someone who does not look forward to the idea of any sort of exercise, it is crucial to follow the treatment plan your podiatrist or other doctor has provided to you to completion for your best health possible!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see apodiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Whether you are running in the St. Patrick’s Day 5K at Flannagan’s this Saturday in Columbus or simply running to the pub, taking care of your feet can make or break your celebration of this lucky holiday.  Properly fitting shoes are imperative for good foot health, and also can help in avoiding knee, hip and back problems that develop from the problems originating in your feet! 

When you travel to a shoe store, most have what is called a “Brannock device” that is used to measure feet and estimate shoe size.  This device measures not only the length of your foot from heel to toe, but also measures width, and the distance from heel to the ball of your foot.  The heel to ball distance is most critical in determining whether a shoe fits correctly.  Located at the “ball” of your foot on the middle or inner aspect is the joint called the 1^stmetatarsophalangeal joint or 1^stMTP.  This is where a bunion develops, but the normal movement permitted by the joint is also critical to the overall function of the foot.  The base of the joint is the first metatarsal which slides downward in order for the big toe to flex upwards and help propel the foot when walking or running.   When this motion sequence occurs in a normal foot, the foot pushes off the ground and swings into the next step.   

Correctly fitting shoes allow the 1^stMTP to function as it should, while shoes that are too small can cause major problems.  Shoes are designed to allow the normal bend at the 1^stMTP joint and to inhibit abnormal bending of most other joints in the foot.  However if the shoe is too small, the 1^stMTP joint will not be allowed to bend normally and big toe will be forced to flex upwards when it should not be.  This leads to the condition called hallux limitus, where, as the name implies, the movement of the hallux, or big toe, is limited.  Overtime, hallux limitus can progress to hallux rigidus where the joint big toe joint is practically immovable.  This is a painful form of arthritis that has resulted from the abnormal wear and tear of the joint.  Not only is this painful, but the combination of hallux limitus or rigidus in an already too small shoe can lead to calluses, corns and even ulcers developing on the big toe. 

It is important to recognize that biomechanical problems, including excessive pronation, can also contribute to the development of hallux limitus so custom orthotics can often help with this condition.  Wearing one size larger shoe is only a difference of one third of an inch in the actual length of the shoe.  So this St. Patrick’s day even if you think that a smaller size shoe may look better, by getting the correct size for your foot you will definitely have the luck of the Irish and keep your feet looking great!!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. If you would like to see apodiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Recently, a man named Mike Stevens travelled from Mississippi to California to undergo a surgery that would transfer his big toe to his hand where it will replace the thumb he lost in an accident.  This may be a surprising idea to many people because the thumb and toes are not thought of as being as functional as the fingers.   However, the musculature and bone structure of the hands and feet are remarkable similar. 

 While it is very exciting that Mike will hopefully regain a large portion of the function of his thumb and be able to use his hands better in his career as a mechanic, he will have to take extra care to prevent additional deformities from occurring in his foot.  While Mike’s case is extreme, smaller changes in the action and structure of the muscle and ligaments of the foot are what can lead to various deformities and a decrease in the functionality of the foot.  One common example of this happening is the development of hammer toes.  Commonly, a muscle known as the tibialis posterior becomes weakened and muscles that attach to the bottom of the toes and act to flex them or pull them towards the ground are forced to “fire” earlier, longer and with more force to compensate.  This constant force leads to hammer toes which can cause painful corns on the tops of the second, third or fourth toes.  An excessive pull from one of the flexor muscles that causes hammer toes can also cause mallet toes.  The difference between a hammer toe and a mallet toe is that in mallet toe only the very tip of the toe is bent down towards the floor, while hammer toes have the base of the toe bent up away from the floor and the other 2/3 of the toe bent towards the ground.  Mallet toes can also cause corns or even black toenails from the nail abnormally hitting against the shoe forming a bruise. 

A variety of surgical procedures exist to successfully eliminate these deformities, but there are also many less invasive options for pain relief.  Corns should never be removed at home, especially in an individual with diabetes, as it can lead to serious infection if done improperly.  Your podiatrist can safely remove any corns or calluses and fit padding over the affected toe to lessen the development of painful corns in the future.  Custom orthotics can also be used to help correct the underlying muscle imbalance and any other abnormal changes in foot structure.  So whether you just had your big toe removed or you are tired of corns and your feet feeling tired and aching, contact your podiatrist to address these problems and allow your feet to function to the best of their ability!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see apodiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Kid feet are not simply smaller versions of adult feet.  The bones in the legs and feet of a small child are still developing and can sometimes take on an appearance that would be abnormal for an adult, but is normal for a kid.  For example, infants can have flat arches that would be abnormal for an adult, but are normal for a for certain periods of childhood development.  Walking with the toes turned in toward the midline of the body is the walking pattern commonly referred to as being “pigeon toed” or “in-toeing” and can appear and spontaneously resolve in some children, while in others can be a major cause for concern. 

Being pigeon-toed can represent bone deformity in the feet, tibia (or shin bone), or hip.   When the foot bones are involved, the condition is typically called “metatarsus adductus”.  The metatarsal bones at the base of each toe develop angled toward the midline of the body, commonly as a result of the child’s position while developing in the mother.  Treatment can be highly successful if the condition is caught before the infant is two years of age using a series of casts to properly re-align the bones.  Custom shoes and orthotics may also be used.  When the tibia or hip is rotated towards the midline of the body causing the feet to also appear “pigeon toed” casting or surgery may also be needed as treatment.  For all of these conditions, the earlier a parent notices the problem and contacts their podiatrist, the more treatment options will be available.  Take care of your little ones’ feet beginning before they begin walking and they can avoid being pigeon toed for a life that will hopefully also be free of wearing pigeon high-heels!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

A new treatment option that may one day be of great help to all those suffering from heel pain in Columbus has been making news for its success in a clinical trial.  The study focuses on an injection that shows potential for being used to treat individuals with plantar fasciitis who have not had significant pain relief with other treatments.

Luckily for the time being, patients suffering from plantar fasciitis can visit their podiatrist for a variety of treatment options that, for the majority of individuals, will provide great pain relief.  The first step in treating your plantar fasciitis is to determine if you in fact have plantar fasciitis.  While plantar fasciitis is one of the more common causes of heel pain, there are many other problems that occur relatively frequently that can also cause heel pain.  Some of the cardinal signs of this condition include the most intense pain of the day occurring when you take your first step out of bed in the morning and pain localized primarily to the bottom of the heel, at the front edge of the heel fat pad, on the side closer to the opposite foot.  A nerve entrapment can also cause similar pain on the bottom surface of the heel.  A nerve entrapment in this area typically involves what is known as “Baxter’s nerve” which supplies sensation and power to a muscle that allows movement to the smallest toe.  When the nerve is compressed, it is similar to a bruise and is called neuropraxia.  This bruise of the nerve then causes pain and decreases its ability to transfer information.  If the entrapped nerve is caught and treated, recovery occurs in around three to four months.  In areas around the heel that could cause heel pain in a location very near to the pain of plantar fasciitis also include fractures, and tendonitis.  

Once your plantar fasciitis has been correctly diagnosed, there are a variety of treatment paths to begin with.  While treatment varies for each individual, most people begin treatment with a conservative approach using the least invasive options available to start.  Some of the conservative treatment options include:  stretching, taping, icing, and wearing orthotics.   All of these treatment options can have great success in many patients if performed correctly.  The next step in treatment for plantar fasciitis that has not responded to the previously mentioned treatments can be an injection of a steroid with numbing agents.  This is done in addition to continuing conservative treatments.  The steroid is injected for its anti-inflammatory properties which serve to “soothe” the aggravated plantar fascia and relieve pain.  While surgery would typically be the last treatment resort as a plantar fascia that is still painful, the aforementioned research study provides a potential new option.  It has suggested that injecting plasma rich protein actually provides greater pain relief and healing potential than injecting steroids.  Hopefully this new research will continue, and the information gained can allow patients to receive the highest quality treatment options from their podiatrist!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

The Patriot’s tight end Rob Gronkowski’s performance at the Super Bowl should serve as a reminder to all athletes and non-athletes of the impact a few ligaments in your foot can have on your daily activities.  Earlier in the season, Rob had suffered one of the most common sports injuries, a severe ankle sprain and like many professional athletes, was willing to sacrifice the health of his feet and body to try to help his team at their biggest game of the year.  Luckily, Rob did not suffer any additional injuries while playing football on his already weakened ankle and underwent surgery this past Friday to treat his partially torn ligaments. 

Most ankle sprains occur when an individual has their foot in an inverted and plantar flexed position, meaning that the inner arch is lifted off the ground and their toes are flexed towards the ground.  Gronkowski’s injury occurred in the opposite of this motion with his foot everted, or with the side of the foot closer to the smaller toes lifted off the ground.  When injuries do occur with the foot in this position, damage tends to be more severe with a longer time needed for healing.  Although he did not break any bones, Gronkowski is said to have torn two ligaments.  While many would people think this should mean faster healing, it is important to remember that while a fracture can take around 6-8 weeks to heal, a damaged ligament also requires six to eight weeks to heal back to good strength. 

Ankle arthroscopy was used to surgically stabilize Gronkowski’s torn ligaments.  Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery where a small incision is made that allows a tiny camera and surgical instruments to enter inside the affected joint.  This type of surgery was used because the damaged ligaments are intricately connected to not only to the opposing bones of the joint, but also to the capsule surrounding the joint.  This type of minimally invasive procedure means a smaller scar, and less wound for bacteria to try to enter.  Following this surgery, Gronkowski will be in a cast for about eight weeks to minimize excessive movement of the ligaments and promote healing.   This is very similar to bone healing, in which motion also needs to be minimized to prevent a nonunion, or the bone fragments not coming back together. 

In the meantime, Gronkowski’s doctor has hopefully gotten him into a physical therapy program to maintain his range of motion and reduce joint stiffness in the future.  To lessen the workload of the healed ligaments, orthotics, a brace, or specialized athletic shoes can also be used to increase the stability of the ankle joint after the eight weeks in the boot are completed. 

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

New York Giants co-owner has discovered an unusual good luck charm for his team with a little help from his two daughters.  In late December, his daughters painted his nails in red and blue, the Giants’ colors, and the team has not lost a game since then.  Steve has left the polish on in the hopes that the good luck charm can work its magic for one last game at the Super Bowl. 

While his nail polish certainly may not be looking “pedicure perfect” after 5 weeks, the health of Steve’s toes and nails are in no danger as long as he still has been taking regular care of his feet.  Pedicures for both men and women can be relaxing and safe for as long as you keep the health of your feet a priority.  If Steve decides to keep his trend going there are a few things he should know about the relationship between toenails and overall health.  First, nail polish is completely safe to use on healthy toenails.  However, if a toenail fungus, or onychomycosis is present, nail polish should not be applied.  The polish “locks in” the fungus and allows it to continue thriving on nail tissue.  Treatment should be sought when nails appear abnormally thickened or discolored, as this can be a sign of an invasion of “dermatophytes”, the organisms most commonly at the root of a nail fungus.  After the nail infection is treated with PinPointe Foot Laser or a variety of other medications and the fungus has resolved, regular nail polish may be applied. 

The length of the nail after it has been trimmed can be another area of podiatric problems for those trimming their own nails or having them trimmed at a nail salon.  In some individuals, toenails are extremely curved along the sides.  When these curved nails are cut too short, the individual’s likelihood of developing an ingrown toenail is greatly increased as the nail regrows.  Ingrown toenails can become infected and extremely painful.  Contact your podiatrist at the first signs of an ingrown nail.  Attempting to remove the ingrown portion of the nail on your own can lead to dangerous infection that is capable of spreading beyond the affected toe. 

Whether you are prepping your nails for the big game or a big date before Valentine’s Day be sure to keep your feet healthy and call your podiatrist if you notice any unusual changes!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

As the Williams sisters joined the international team tennis competition called the Fed Cup this past week, it is astonishing to look at the health and foot and ankle problems they have had to overcome to continue to be a force in the world of tennis.   In 2011, not only did Serena survive a pulmonary embolism following several foot surgeries, but in August Venus finally received a diagnosis for a variety of symptoms that had plagued her for the past 4 years.  After visiting many doctors,  Venus’s eventual diagnosis was the autoimmune connective tissue disease that can affect the feet called Sjogren syndrome. 

While most people have heard of rheumatoid arthritis, which is also an autoimmune condition where the body attacks the joints, few have heard of Sjogren syndrome even though it is the second most common autoimmune joint disease.  Rheumatoid arthritis or a variety of other autoimmune disorders often occurs with Sjogren syndrome, adding even more damage to the joints of the body.    Chronic fatigue and difficulty breathing were some of the initial symptoms that brought Venus to seek a diagnosis for her condition.  Women are most commonly affected by Sjogren syndrome, with dry mouth and dry eyes being some of the cardinal signs of the disease as white blood cells multiply past their normal amount. 

Venus also noted that she developed misshaped joints and swelling. These are the rheumatological aspects of Sjogren that can affect the feet and could have contributed to foot pain while playing tennis.  If rheumatoid arthritis is occurring with Sjogren syndrome, the toes and area of the foot closest to the bases of the toes can be the first site where the autoimmune joint destruction can be seen on an x-ray.  As the joint is destroyed, the space between the adjacent bones becomes smaller and motion becomes limited and painful.  When this occurs in the foot, your podiatrist can prescribe custom orthotics to limit painful motion during walking or in severe cases perform surgery to fuse the joint and stop all motion, and thus pain from occurring.  Another common symptom in the foot and ankle in Sjogren syndrome is neuropathy, or loss of sensation.  Like the neuropathy that occurs in diabetes, special attention is required to prevent ulcers and subsequent infection in these areas where the individual can no longer feel.  

Venus’s Sjogren syndrome symptoms seem to be relatively mild at this stage and she has begun medication to limit the pain and damage caused by her body’s overactive immune system.  As Venus makes her return to professional tennis competition this week, her story should serve as a message in perseverance to those suffering from medical problems.  A patient knows when something is painful or wrong with their own body and should seek medical attention until the problem can be identified.  Had Venus not persisted in finding out her diagnosis, she would not have been able to improve her tennis and quality of life. 

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

After Chef Paula Deen finally announced her diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus that she had been hiding for two years this past week, there has been an outcry from people across Columbus and the country.  Deen promoted to everyone who watched her cooking shows the exact lifestyle that leads to the development of type 2 diabetes.  Now, if Deen and fans of her cooking who also have type 2 Diabetes don’t change their ways, many severe complications of diabetes, including foot amputation are likely to be the next course. 

Type 2 diabetes typically develops later in life and as a result of an underlying genetic defect involving the beta cells of the pancreas that causes them to produce insufficient amounts of insulin, along with a resistance of other tissues to the minimal insulin that is secreted.  Three major risk factors for diabetes development that Paula Deen possessed are being over age 50, obesity and a family history of diabetes.  While age and family history are uncontrollable, obesity and overeating are easily modifiable with a little effort.  Lifestyle modifications to reduce obesity and thus the risk for diabetes type 2 can include exercising, dieting, and reducing fat intake.  These simple lifestyle modifications have been shown to prevent or delay type 2 in about 60% of people at risk.  In severely obese patients, gastric bypass surgery has even been shown to reverse the diagnosis of diabetes. 

Foot problems represent a major complication in diabetic patients, with 25% of hospital stays for diabetic patients being foot related.  The neuropathy, or nerve disease that occurs in diabetes affects the longest nerves first; which is why loss of sensation commonly begins in the feet.  Aside from losing sensation completely, patients may experience painful tingling or burning in their feet and legs especially when sitting or resting.  With loss of innervation can also come motor weakness and wasting away of the muscles in the feet.  The combination of motor and sensory loss can lead to ulcers, infections of those ulcers, and Charcot foot.  All three of these conditions are debilitating and need to be examined and treated by your podiatrist.  Preventing ulcers and their subsequent infection can mean saving not only the leg from amputation, but also the patient’s life. 

For Paula Deen and others with type 2, it is important to  remember that they can greatly improve their condition and possibly even reverse it by cutting back on the butter and sweet cream, developing a regular exercise plan, and regularly self-examining their feet as they go

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Although they do not have a date set in Columbus, fans traveling to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers tour for their 2011 album may be wondering what has led them to reschedule many of their appearances.   The cause of these major changes in concert dates is due to lead singer Anthony Kiedis’s painful foot injury of the two small bones at the base of the big toe called sesamoids. 

While many people believe there are 26 bones in the foot, there are technically 28 due to the 2 small constant sesamoids that Kiedis appears to have injured.  Normally the term sesamoid refers to a bone that is not found as part of the normal bones of the body and only appears in a small percentage of the population.  Sesamoids form in tendons and joint capsules to reduce the friction or alter the pull of the tendon.  The 2 constant sesamoids at the base of the big toe are found in a tendon; however they are present in the majority of the population unlike a typical sesamoid and thus are termed “constant”.  Sesamoids can also form elsewhere in the foot not as part of the normal anatomy and thus can occasionally cause discomfort.  Anthony Kiedis unfortunately discovered that the constant sesamoids can become irritated or fractured.  Because these bones are placed under tremendous pressure with each step we take as the foot propels off the ground, any damage to them can cause immense pain and trouble ambulating. 

Irritation and inflammation of the tendons surrounding the sesamoids is called sesamoiditis.  This is a type of tendonitis that does not typically require surgery as part of its treatment.  Fracture of the sesamoids occurs more commonly to the medial sesamoid, or the sesamoid that is located to the side of the big toe away from the other toes.  This is because the two sesamoids are separated from each other by a bony ridge called a crista on the bone they lie beneath.  The medial sesamoid can often slide under this crista and burst or fracture into many small pieces of bone when placed under pressure.  Surgery may be required to remove pieces of the sesamoid bone that have “died” from loss of blood supply.  Kiedis underwent this surgery to not only clean up the sesamoid fracture but also to correct the placement of the muscle tendon that the sesamoid usually lies within. 

Continuing to walk with a painful injury could have led to additional problems by the body attempting to compensate and avoid placing pressure on the sesamoid.  By undergoing the appropriate treatment soon after identifying his sesamoid injury, Kiedis should enjoy immense pain relief and regaining the ability to give high energy performances at his newly scheduled tour dates!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Lewis Center. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

With the unusual warm weather we have been seeing in Columbus, Ohio it is great to see so many people outside walking and exercising their feet lately.  Any extra exposure to sunlight is always appreciated during the short and often dreary months this time of year.  While excess sun exposure can be dangerous for skin, sunlight does provide the beneficial vitamin D, or calciferol that is crucial to bone health. 

Osteoporosis is the most common skeletal disorder.  It is characterized by an absolute reduction in bone density and mass.  Bones become weak and are at increased risk of breaking.  Because 28 of the bones in the body are located in the foot and they are under the pressure of the entire body weight, fractures commonly manifest here.  Sunlight does not directly provide vitamin D; it stimulates the body to make vitamin D from a precursor found in the skin.  The active form of vitamin D promotes the uptake of calcium from the intestines so it can be used to calcify bone as well as stimulating the parathyroid hormone to reabsorb calcium before it is filtered out by the kidneys as waste.  Without enough vitamin D, not only are individuals at risk for osteoporosis, but they can also develop a similar condition called osteomalacia.  In osteomalacia, bone cannot be mineralized and symptoms include muscle weakness, bone pain and bone deformities.    The childhood form of osteomalacia that is more commonly known is called rickets.  In rickets, children affected will typically be six to 12 months of age and will have symptoms of muscle tetany or extreme muscle contraction, delayed development, smaller overall stature and soft tissue swelling, or edema around the growth plates located at the ends of bones.  Bowing of the tibia bone inward in the legs is a common consequence of vitamin D deficiency in rickets. 

The one upside of these diseases is that there are some preventative measures that can be taken to avoid their occurrence.  To keep your foot bones and the rest of the bones in your body healthy, be sure you have enough vitamin D as a part of your healthy diet.  Bone mass peaks at age 35, so it is especially important to maintain an adequate amount of vitamin D and calcium in your diet and through exposure to sunlight later in life.  Females are prone to developing osteoporosis following menopause and therefore should also take extra care to keep their bones strong.  By contacting your podiatrist at the first signs of foot injury or bony pain in your feet and ankles, both any fractures that have occurred as well as loss of bone density can often be identified in one set of x-rays.    The sooner that loss of bone density is identified, the sooner steps can be taken to supplement vitamins and minerals necessary to keep you healthy and on your feet!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Back in June, the Columbus Dispatch published an article on the scary reality of sepsis or septicemia, an infection of the blood that can be deadly.  This past week a follow up article was run on the positive outlook of the Columbus man who survived his sepsis and subsequent below the knee amputation.  With the help of a new prosthetic leg, the man is learning to walk again. 

While sepsis is a terrifying infection of the blood, an often related infection that frequently occurs in the foot and leg is called “osteomyelitis”.  Osteomyelitis occurs when bacteria reaches and infects the bone.  As bone tries to fight off the infection, it often walls off the dead piece of bone, called a sequestrum, and attempts to envelop the piece away from healthy tissue by quickly synthesizing a weaker woven bone around it called an involucrum.  Pain that feels as though it is coming from the bone, and edema, or swelling are the most common initial complaints of a patient with osteomyelitis.  In order to diagnose a bone infection, taking x-rays are the first step.  A timely diagnosis is imperative to prevent the spread of infection through larger areas of the bone and into the joint.  If not caught early enough, like sepsis, osteomyelitis may require lower extremity amputation to prevent further damage. 

But how can bacteria get to your bones through the surrounding layers of skin, fat and muscle unless you have had a bad fracturewhere the bone penetrated the skin?  In children, an elevated amount of bacteria in the bloodstream can not only lead to sepsis, but also has a tendency to dwell in and infect the slow moving capillaries of still growing bones.  This is called hematogenous osteomyelitis in which the blood has carried the igniting agent for the bone infection.  In adults, “direct extension” osteomyelitis is the most common cause of bone infections, with the foot bones of diabetic patientsbeing at a very high risk.  Direct extension means that bacteria has infected a wound in the more superficial tissues, such as the skin or fat and then “extended” its way down to attack the bone.  Because many diabetic patients often have lost some or all of their sensation in their feet, a small cut or irritation can quickly develop into a major ulcerby the individual unknowingly continuing to irritate the sensationless area.  This injury then allows an easy route for bacteria to travel to and attack the bones of the foot.  Amputation is a serious risk in diabetic patients through this process. 

Amputation is a grave condition on its own for diabetic patients.  Within five years of one below the knee amputation, research has shown that risk of below the knee amputation of the other leg greatly increased.  The second amputation has an almost deadly effect, with increased mortality seen within the next five years.    It is for these reasons that even the smallest wound or ulcer of the foot or ankle must be taken very seriously by diabetic patients.  Regular self-examsand visits to your podiatrist at the first sign of injury, infection or bone painin any patient are critical to preventing and treating these deadly conditions. 

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Holiday parties filled with colorful drinks and rich meals are an integral part of this time of year for many people.  However, all of this drinking and feasting can increase your risk of a painful attack of the arthritic condition that tends to strike in the foot known as gout. 

Gout is a disease of the metabolism or breakdown of purines.  Purines are nucleotides that are essential to the survival of all the cells in our bodies because they are vital building blocks of DNA.  While we naturally make proteins, they are also found in many foods.  When purines are broken down by the body, uric acid is created.  Abnormally high levels of uric acid in the body, or hyperuricemia, precede the development of gout. 

When the excess uric acid causes crystals to form in the joint, the joint will become inflamed and often extremely painful.  Gout more commonly affects men, but its prevalence increases in women after menopause.  The most commonly affected joint is at the base of the big toe, or hallux called the metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ).  Other than the MPJ of the hallux, gout also occurs in the ankle, wrist and knee.  The affected joint will most often become red, hot and so painful that even the weight of a bed sheet will feel unbearable.  A bump, or mass filled with the urate crystals is also often seen at the joint affected. 

It is important to rule out a paronychia which is an infection of an ingrown toenail, a painful fracture, and other types of arthritis of the foot before being able to offer relief from gout.   With proper diagnosis, gout can be managed and the pain eliminated with various medications.  Lifestyle changes can also be helpful in gout management and prevention.  Excessive alcohol consumption and a diet rich in meat and seafood are associated with a greater risk of gout.  So while it may be difficult to resist this holiday season, you will certainly regret not limiting your intake of these items if you are unfortunate enough to develop painful gout later on! 

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

If you are planning on taking a tropical vacation away from cold Columbus winter this year, there is one item that should be packed in everyone’s suitcase: sunscreen.  While many people are getting better about covering their faces and shoulders, the feet are often a missed spot when it comes to sunscreen application. 

Increased exposure to the sun leads to an increased risk of several types of skin cancer including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and the more deadly melanoma.  As the tops of your feet are often exposed in warmer weather, whether laying poolside or when out walking in flip flops, it is crucial to protect this area by using sunscreen.  It is also extremely important to examine for the development of any new lesions or changes in markings on your feet regularly through self-exams.  At the first sign of a noticeable change in the skin of your foot you should contact your podiatrist to catch any potentially malignant lesions early on.  The prognosis for a melanoma is related to how deep the tumor is able to grow into the tissues in your foot.  The more time a tumor has to grow deeper into your foot, the more deadly it becomes.  By catching a tumor early through regular self-exams, you increase your chances of having it treated before it can invade local tissue or metastasize throughout your body. 

Like anywhere else on the body, in the foot you want to watch for the “ABCDs” of pigmented, or dark colored lesions including moles and anything darker colored than the normal surrounding skin.  “A” stands for asymmetrical shape or pigmentation, “B” stands for borders that are irregular or indistinct, “C” stands for any changes in the lesion, and “D” stands for a diameter of over six millimeters.  If you notice any of these features on a skin lesion in your foot it can be an early sign of cancer development and you need to contact your podiatrist who can then do a simple biopsy to check for any abnormal cell growth.  It is also important to recognize that while some cancers in the foot may display these “classic” signs to indicate their cancerous nature, skin cancer in the foot can also have a more atypical presentation including being scaly or non-pigmented in which they will be the same or a lighter color than the rest of your normal skin.  Cancer of the feet can also appear similar to other typical ailments of the foot.  For example, a case of tinea pedis, or “athlete’s foot” that does not resolve with the normal treatment for tinea pedis may require a biopsy to rule out other conditions that can include an atypical skin cancer. 

Keep skin safe on all tropical travel this year with sunscreen use and with fair-skinned individuals especially taking further protective measures using clothes or sticking with the shade!  Happy travels and take care of your feet no matter where you choose to go!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

An Ohio woman has recently developed a new invention that may of benefit to podiatry patients whose toenails have gone missing!  “Nail Creations” is an artificial toe nail that can be stuck on to the skin for all those who may have lost a nail due to toenail fungus, injury or other disease process. 

While this addresses a cosmetic non-medical complaint after the toenail is already lost, it is important to consult your podiatrist at the first signs of nail changes to ensure adequate medical treatment against serious infection and disease and perhaps prevent the loss of the nail entirely!!

Nail fungus or onychomycosis is one of the most common disease processes that affect the toe nails.  The process of a nail fungal infection begins with some form of trauma.  This trauma can be something noticeable such as dropping a heavy item on your toenail or something occurring on a continuous basis going unnoticed.  Foot deformities such as hallux limitus, in which the movement in the joint of the big toe is restricted, can cause the toe to regularly undergo small trauma by slamming against the inside of your shoe with each step.  If an obvious trauma has happened a bruise under the nail may be seen as a black toenail.  Athlete’s foot or a tinea pedis also typically precedes the infection of the nail.  This fungal infection of the skin then moves into the toenails where the organisms causing the infection, commonly dermatophytes, thrive by eating the keratin that makes up the nail. 

All fungal infections should be treated to prevent spread and worsening of what can be a painful condition. Treatment of a fungal infection once it has reached the nails is more difficult than when only the skin is affected.  Oral medications are often needed that often have a variety of adverse side effects throughout the body.  At Columbus Podiatry and Surgery, we offer the PinPointe Foot Laser to treat nail fungus in our office in about 30-40 minutes without the harmful side effects.  Along with this treatment, it is also a good idea to be examined and treated by your podiatrist for any deformities that may be exposing your nails to unnecessary trauma and making them more susceptible for future infections.  With such treatment options not only are you keeping your feet healthy and preventing future fungal infections, but you also may prevent the loss of your toenail in the first place!  So while the “artificial toe nail” is a great option for those who have already lost their toe nail, preventing toenail loss is even better!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Last Thursday’s Thanksgiving and the rest of the upcoming holiday season are the time of year when families all around Columbus gather together, reuniting nieces, nephews, cousins and great grandparents that may not get to see each other as often as they would like.  As young relatives play together, this can provide a great opportunity for parents and other family members to observe and make sure that kids feet and legs are developing in a normal way, similar to other kids of the same age.

Kid’s feet are not simply smaller versions of adult feet.  What may be common in an adult’s foot can be much more serious if seen in a child’s foot.  As kids are growing, the earlier injuries and abnormalities are detected and brought to a podiatrist’s attention, the more treatment options will be available.  Maladies detected early on also have better chances of being corrected more easily and not continuing to pose problems into adolescence and adulthood. 

What you thought was a normal behavior may be brought to light as not being the norm when you can observe your child interact with a group of peers.  For example, a child that regularly walks only on their toes is never normal and can be an indication of serious neurological disease.  Certain milestones of development should also occur around the same time in all kids.  Six months is approximately around the time when a baby should first be able to sit up on their own and by around one year a child should be starting to walk.  Slight variation in the timing of these events may be normal.  Kids that seem clumsy compared to other kids of the same age and tend to trip a lot can also be a sign of developmental problems that should be watched carefully.  Even though hammer toes and bunions are relatively common in adults, children who develop these deformities early on can have a more rapid progression of the deformity becoming severe.  Clubfoot is another birth defect that twists the heel and turns the toes upward.  The sooner clubfoot is diagnosed the more likely bracing and casting will be able to lessen the deformity.   Hip dislocation and dysplasia also occur in infants and their incidence is frequently increased in kids with clubfoot or other foot and ankle deformities. 

In summary, it is always important to watch the development of your child’s feet and motor skills, and the holidays can provide an additional opportunity to compare your child’s progression with that of other children.  Be sure to contact your podiatrist at the first sign of pain or other abnormal findings – and don’t forget that no matter how cute children’s holiday shoes are, they need to first and foremost fit comfortably!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is now in Dublin! Call 614-885-FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

If you are a follower of football news, this year it almost seems as though turf toe is a contagious disease at both the professional and collegiate level, even though that is not actually the case.  Luckily, this injury has not made the news for sidelining any Ohio State football players recently!

While ankle sprains are the most common foot and ankle sports injury, metatarsophalangeal joint sprains in the big toe, or hallux, have also been very common since the injury was first given the name “turf toe” in 1976.  Football players including Eddie Lacy of the University of Alabama, Kevin Kolb of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Evan Mathis of the Philadelphia Eagles are just a few of the players this year who have gotten medical attention for their turf toe injuries in order to not only to return to practice and games, but also to prevent long term problems with the use of the joint at the base of their big toe, the metatarsophalangeal joint. 

Turf toe gain its name because the hard surfaces of turf, along with more flexible athletic shoes, cause the big toe to hyperflex up towards the top of the foot in a way that stretches ligaments and causes a sprain.  This hyperflexion typically occurs when an athlete is on his toes running quickly and the foot is pushed down, flexing the toe past its normal range of motion.  As with most sprains, this is a painful injury that will also swell and sometimes bruise.  If you see and feel these symptoms in your big toe, it is also important to see your podiatrist to be examined not only for ligament sprain, but also for sesamoiditis, fracture of the bones in your big toe, or a tear of the plantar plate which is a structure crucial for keeping bones in place during motion of the toes.   The metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is crucial for normal walking and running, and can be very painful if it is not functioning normally.  Thus, proper diagnosis and treatment is imperative in the short term for athletes who want to miss as little of their season as possible.  In the long term proper podiatric care of a turf toe is essential for everyone as the injured joint’s articular cartilage can wear down causing arthritis and loss of function.  When the motion of the big toe, or hallux is reduced, the disorder is called hallux limitus, and eventually when motion is completely lost it is called hallux rigidus.  Both of these conditions can be very painful during walking and when severe enough may require surgical correction. 

Hopefully Ohio football players will continue to avoid the notorious turf toe and players on other teams currently suffering from this injury will continue to receive proper care and treatment of this condition!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

The time of year is fast approaching when only the most dedicated of fans will brave the cold weather to attend Buckeye’s football games.  Staying warm at the games or any outdoor activities this winter. As snowfall becomes more frequent, it is not only a matter of spectating comfort, but also a matter of safety. 

The damage that is incurred by your body depends on exactly what Mother Nature is doing and how long you will be exposed to the elements.  When it is damp along with the cold, individuals become more at risk for developing what is called pernio syndrome or acute chilblains.  In most cases, skin that is poorly protected or in contact with wet clothing will become red and slightly inflamed with intense itching and burning.  Extreme heat over 85 degrees Fahrenheit and itching or scratching should be avoided and the area should clear in less than two weeks. If the skin is repeatedly exposed to such conditions, chilblains may become chronic with the red inflamed area becoming a more serious ulcer type of lesion. 

Frostbite is a more commonly heard of cold injury that is more serious than chilblains and occurs with extreme cold exposure, even without wetness.  Unlike in chilblains, the tissues making up the area of exposure in frostbite actually freeze with ice crystals developing in or around the cells.  As with many cold injuries, the feet are commonly affected as blood is shunted towards the core to keep many vital organs warmed to a temperature that allows them to keep functioning properly.  Frostbite is extremely important to stop before permanent tissue damage occurs that can lead to amputation.  If the foot still has sensation, displays pinks skin when it is warmed and has no blisters or blisters with clear fluid this typically indicates that you should still contact your podiatrist but your foot should still be able to make a return to good health. 

Individuals with pre-existing peripheral vascular disease such as venous stasis or atherosclerosis are more susceptible to developing a cold injury and need to take extra care to keep extremities protected.  Everyone should be sure to keep feet warm and dry when braving the elements in order to stay healthy and be able to keep cheering on the Buckeyes!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

While the Cleveland Browns play the Texans this weekend in Houston, another Texas team will be hoping that their punter Mat McBriar has made a sufficient recovery to help them score some points.  Unlike the more commonly heard of sports injuries,  including ankle sprains, pulled muscles or broken bones, McBriar has injured the nerve in his left foot and leg.  Although he kicks the ball with his right foot, the planting foot also plays a critical role in a player’s ability to punt the ball. 

Mat has not only been experiencing pain severe enough to disrupt normal walking, but he has also lost the ability to “lift his foot up”.  This lack of “dorsiflexion” or lifting the top of the foot up towards the shin is of critical importance not only for playing football, but also is necessary in walking!  The nerve that controls this is called the deep fibular or deep peroneal nerve.  When the deep peroneal nerve is not functioning properly, the foot will not be able to clear the ground while walking, and the foot will slap to the ground instead of being slowly lowered as it normally would.  This can make walking a very difficult and tedious process.  Mat may have caused this injury by a sudden stretch of the nerve when planting his foot to punt the ball.  Other causes of this nerve injury can include frequently crossing the legs, which is the most common cause, knee dislocation, or knee surgery. 

Mat may also want to talk to his podiatrist about the possibility that he could have a mass in his foot that could be pressing on the nerve and causing his symptoms.  A neuroma or a ganglionic cyst are both small masses in the foot that can cause problems on their own even without impinging on a nerve in the foot as could be a possibility in Mat’s case.  A Morton’s neuroma is an abnormal nerve growth found between the third and fourth toes.  A ganglionic cyst is an out-pouching of fluid from a joint that can require surgery to treat. 

Symptoms of nerve damage can include, but are not limited to, pain that shoots up or down the foot or leg, loss of sensation and loss of function.  If you have signs of a nerve injury it is important to contact your podiatrist as soon as possible because damage can become more severe over time including permanent loss of nerve function. 

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Halloween can be a rough time of year for children with diabetes as well as for parents trying to keep their kids healthy.  Several Columbus area dentists and doctors have made efforts to give more options to keep Halloween healthy and fun for diabetic kids.  A local dentist’s office has offered to buy candy from kids after Halloween for $1 per pound to then be donated to Operation Gratitude which then gives the candy to troops overseas.  

Type 2 diabetes typically develops later in life than type I diabetes, but is becoming more common in children.  This increase in diabetes in kids has been linked to the increase in childhood obesity.  While type 2 diabetes has a genetic component, individuals who are overweight or do not exercise are at a greatly increased risk of developing the disease.  In this sense, while walking house to house may provide good exercise for kids, the excessive consumption of candy should be avoided. 

People with both types of diabetes often develop nervous system disease with loss of sensation in their foot.   When sensation is lost in the foot, people may develop injuries without being able to feel any pain and continue to cause further damage to their tissues.  This is why it is critical for diabetic patients perform regular self-foot exams and have complete checkups with their podiatrist.  These areas where sensation is lost are typically where ulcers develop and can lead to amputation. 

While diabetic ulcers are not often seen in children’s feet, it is important to take preventative measures to avoid serious diabetic disease changes that increase the risk of ulcers later in life.   One good preventative measure to start with during the Halloween season is to avoid excessive sugar consumption.  The more extremely elevated, or uncontrolled a diabetic individual’s blood sugar is, the higher their “HbA1C” values are.  The HbA1C indicates an excess amount of sugar that gets “stuck” to hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen to tissues.  When the HbA1C is elevated, there is a much higher risk of developing problems with blood vessels, leading to diseases including high blood pressure and problems with the retina of the eye.   By not eating too much sugar and getting a lot of exerciseat Halloween and all year, kids with and without diabetes will be sure to have a scary good time keeping their feet healthy!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

During October, pink ribbons and Susan G Komen “Race for the Cures” serve as a reminder of the importance of awareness and prevention in the fight against breast cancer.  Even at the Columbus marathon last weekend, there was a group called “Team Komen” running to raise money towards breast cancer research.  While women supporting this cause are out running races to help save lives, they also may find out the hard way that there are many foot and ankle ailments that tend to be more common in females than in males. 

While many studies have been done demonstrating the harm that women inflict on their feet  by wearing high heels, there are also differences bone and tissue structure that make women more susceptible to various foot and ankle problems.  Studies have found that women may have less cartilage in some of the joints in their foot and ankle.  This decreased cartilage may play a role in the development of osteoarthritis, which results from normal wear and tear of the joints over time.  Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints that is known for causing a crippling of the hands, but also commonly affects the feet.  This disease also more commonly affects women than men.  By visiting a podiatrist, women with both of these types of arthritis may be able to find pain relief and improved foot and ankle function with the use of orthotics or possibly surgery. 

Females are more likely to develop osteoporosis than males.  Osteoporosis is a loss of bone density that is abnormal and unhealthy for a person’s age and gender.  This loss of bone density means that your bones are weaker and can be damaged more easily.  A stress fracture in the foot can be one of the first indicators of osteoporosis.  In a healthy bone, a stress fracture would typically only occur in situations of repetitive force being applied to the bone, such as in long distance running or marching for extended periods of time.  Being aware of this increased bone loss can allow for women to protect their bones with preventative measures including getting adequate nutrition with calcium and vitamin D in their diets. 

Women have been shown to suffer from bunions and hammertoes more frequently than men.  Along with their natural foot structure, wearing inappropriately fitting shoes may contribute to this problem.  It is important to remember that high heels and shoes that are too small not only cause pain in your feet, but contribute to pain in yours knees and back.  For the month of October, women helping out in the fight against breast cancer should also remember to help their feet out by taking care of them with good fitting shoes, a good diet and seeing their podiatrist at the first sign of problems!!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Congrats Columbus Marathoners! Now, what were those crazy compression socks you saw people wearing & should you get some for your next race?

Fall brings marathon season with Chicago last weekend, New York coming up the first weekend of November and most importantly, the Columbus Marathon this Sunday, October 16^th!  Runners are known to do whatever it takes to reach their goals including forcing down that last Gu, waking up at the crack of dawn to get those miles in, or unfortunately, attempting to continue training through foot pain and injury.  One item that many marathoners and distance runners have been seen wearing as a part of their race day uniform are tall compression socks in black and a rainbow of other colors.  But the real question is: are these socks just successful at intimidating competitors on the line with their cool looks, or do they actually serve a purpose?

Interestingly, while it may seem like compression socks are the ultimate new running necessity aside from proper fitting running shoes, it is not the runner population that tends to know a bit more about the benefits and uses of compression socks.  It is diabetic patients with swelling, or edema that podiatrists regularly prescribe compression stockings, or socks to.  Patients with venous stasis from causes such as improperly functioning, or insufficient valves and varicose veins also can have their condition improved with the use of compression socks.  With normal valves and vessel structure, the calf muscles function to pump blood upwards against gravity to prevent this pooling.  In patients with the conditions mentioned, there is a slowed return of blood via the veins to the heart, resulting in some venous blood pooling.  This pooling can not only result in dermatitis, or a rash, but it can also lead to the formation of dangerous deep vein thrombosis and venous ulcers.  In order to help restore normal venous blood flow, compression stockings are used to gradually increase pressure up the leg, assisting the “calf pump”.  While this has been shown to have positive effects in groups of people with the disease states discussed, the effects of compression sock induced decreased venous pooling, assistance of the skeletal muscle pump and increased deep vein blood speed still require more research before they can be conclusively linked to their claims of performance gains in running.  Many athletes also utilize compression stockings post-exercise in order to decrease lactic acid build-up, but this use also requires more research. 

So while they may look cool, and can be extremely beneficial if you have venous insufficiency in your legs and feet, compression stockings have a ways to go before they can definitely prove themselves as doing more for your race time than just making you LOOK fast.  At this point, if athletic compression socks make you feel better when running, then do what is best for you – just make sure you test them out before your big race and always call your podiatrist if you develop any foot or ankle pain! 

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. To schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio, near Tuttle Crossing Mall, please call 614-885-FEET (3338).

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

While Katy Perry was in Columbus at the Schottenstein Arena on September 13, one of her original opening acts, up and coming pop star Jessie J was unable to perform that night and for most of the tour.  In June, Jessie had jumped off a stage while dancing during rehearsals and badly hurt her foot.  Now, in recent interviews, Jessie has been describing the story of her injury and how she now feels it will cause her painful arthritis for the rest of her life.  Jessie and anyone else who has suffered a traumatic ankle injury need to know their treatment options to avoid or cope with possible arthritis in the future. 

After her injury, Jessie was initially diagnosed with a ligament injury of the ankle.  Unfortunately it was not diagnosed until later that she had also fractured 4 bones in her foot and ankle.  While ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries that dancers can encounter, it is also important that the individual be evaluated by x-ray or other radiographic imaging for bony injury if have symptoms of tenderness when they press on bone or are unable to stand on only the injured foot.  Chronic lateral ankle pain, or pain on the outside of the ankle, can result from both ligament or bone damage to the ankle, but bone fractures can also lead to arthritis of the ankle.  While arthritis in the knee or hip common result from wear and tear over time, the most common cause of arthritis of the ankle is a previous traumatic injury. 

The missed diagnosis of broken bones has led to a more severe situation for Jessie’s ankle.  Because Jessie’s fractures were not diagnosed until later, the broken bone pieces were allowed to continue moving in an unstable manner in her foot as she continued to bear some weight on them in a brace for the ligament injury.  Without proper blood supply or biomechanical stability, bone pieces cannot realign and unite.  This is called a non-union and when it occurs as it likely did with Jessie a graft of bone material must be surgically placed in the foot to promote union and healing of the bones.  After this “bone transplant” as Jessie has been referring to it, she now complains of chronic pain in her ankle and a possible future of painful arthritis.  Because she cannot turn back time and get her foot promptly diagnosed correctly to have possibly avoided the non-healing of her bones, Jessie and all foot and ankle arthritis suffers should talk to their podiatrist about their options to reach a much less painful state.  Physical therapy may be an initial step to healing and regaining motion in the joint after surgery.  There are also other surgical options to help an arthritic joint function less painfully and thus with better motion, including a fusion of the bones that make up the joint or a total joint replacement.  For active individuals such as Jessie, studies have shown that in arthritic patients who received a total ankle replacement were able to greatly increase their sports activity from their previous arthritic state. 

Luckily for Jessie J her diagnosis was eventually caught and she will hopefully look into future treatments to alleviate some of the pain of her current condition and possible arthritis!  

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. To schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio, near Tuttle Crossing Mall, please call 614-885-FEET (3338).

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Halle Berry may not only have been afraid for her foot after she fractured it while shooting the movie “Cloud Atlas”, but she also may have feared for her job in revealing what she was doing when the fracture occurred!   Initially Berry reported that she was taking a casual stroll on her day off around the property she was staying at.  However, more recently she admitted that she was actually chasing goats with her young daughter leading up the injury!  Although the idea of chasing goats does not seem to make much sense, it at least makes a lot more sense for how a foot fracture developed!

To better understand fractures and how they occur, it is important to know that fractures can generally be divided into two groups: stress fractures and general bone fractures.  Stress fractures typically occur in people doing a low-intensity repetitive motion, such as running, marching or walking long distances.  The bone is not able to remodel and heal itself fast enough to keep up with the repetitive stress being place on it.  Muscles that are fatigued may also play a role in the development of a stress fracture because they will not be able to contract and redistribute force over a larger area. 

In this acute instance however, it is more likely that Halle suffered from a general bone fracture than a stress fracture.  This means that the cortex or hard outer shell of the bone was damaged all the way through in the area of the injury.  It was reported that Halle heard a “crack” & felt pain immediately shooting up her foot.  Because she was running on uneven terrain, it possible that Halle also sprained her ankle by rolling her foot.  While it has not been reported which metatarsal Halle broke, the fifth (or little toe metatarsal) is the most commonly fractured of the metatarsals in people above the age of 5.  In the instance of a 5^thmetatarsal fracture, it would be imperative to know exactly what position Halle’s foot was in and to have x-rays and other images taken to determine the location and characteristics of the fracture.  If she did in fact roll her ankle, she may not only have ligament and tendon damage, but the forceful stretch of tendon’s connecting to the bone may have pulled off, or avulsed a piece of the metatarsal causing the fracture.  Another scenario would be if she were propelling herself off the side of her foot, to run after a goat, she may have incurred a “Jones fracture”.  A Jones fracture not only disrupts the cortex of the bone, but also disrupts the blood supply to the bone that is crucial to its proper healing.  This type of fracture can require more serious treatment including surgery and longer periods of being non-weight bearing on the foot. 

The most important step in adequate healing of a fracture foot is getting the correct diagnosis in a timely manner.  Each of the different types of fractures described may have a slightly different course of treatment and identifying that course is critical to prevent delayed or improper healing or a longer course of foot pain for the patient.  Any actress, athlete or other individual who believes they may have a fracture or other foot injury should contact their podiatrist as soon as possible to ensure that they will be able to get back to chasing goats and all other fun activities as quickly as possible!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio  in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell. To schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio, near Tuttle Crossing Mall, please call 614-885-FEET (3338).

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

This past Friday, the Columbus Dispatch published a story in support of “Falls Prevention Awareness Day” in Ohio.  The article discussed ways for the senior citizen population of Columbus to prevent falls and the serious injuries and hospitalizations that can accompany them.  One crucial aspect of fall prevention not directly stated in the article is the importance of foot health in the elderly in maintaining good balance and stability. 

Feet provide the base of support for the body and in an older individual changes have often occurred that weaken that base.  Arthritis of the foot joints, foot deformities, muscle weakness and improper footwear can all play a role in changing the way that the foot keeps the body balanced.   Bunions, calluses, hammertoes, and ingrown toenails can all cause pain in the foot.  The body’s natural response is to avoid causing pain by changing the weight distribution on the foot so less pressure is placed on the deformity.  This change can alter the gait to be more unsteady and increase the chance that a fall may occur.  With a visit to your podiatrist there are many options to relieve these types of pain, and thus increase stability.  Calluses and ingrown toenails can often be removed at an office visit, while hammertoes and bunions can be treated with surgery or their pain can be lessened using nonsurgical methods.  Arthritis or other problems that may not allow the normal range of joint motion also can be treated with surgical methods, or with nonsurgical methods such as custom orthotics that can allow for better functioning of the entire foot while decreasing the pain of the afflicted joint.  Simple foot exercises can be used to maintain muscle strength against the loss of muscle mass that accompanies normal aging.  In the article in the Columbus Dispatch, this concept was being put to practice by the woman “tracing alphabet letters” with her toes.  One last tip is to ensure that shoes fit properly and that the shoe bottom is not slippery.  Shoes that do not fit properly can cause pain if they are too small or can cause tripping from the abnormally increased foot motion in the shoe if they are too large. 

By taking small measures to “fall-proof” your feet with the help of your podiatrist you can avoid the big health problems and expenses that come with a serious fall!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. To visit our podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio call 614-885-FEET (3338)

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Many diabetic patients may have heard warnings to look out for “charcot foot” but they may not know exactly what this means.  Different from diabetic charcot foot is an inherited disease with another characteristic foot type called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.  As a part of September’s Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease awareness month, it is critical for patients to understand the differences between these two neurological disorders. 

CMT

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is caused by a gene defect that is often inherited.  If CMT is seen in other family members, parents should be on the lookout for the development of slowly progressing muscle weakness in the lower extremities before age 20.  Individuals with CMT have nerves that lose their myelin covering, which normally allows signals to be sent to and from skin and muscles at a normal speed allowing sensation and muscle contraction.  Patients will not usually complain of any numbness because their sensation was likely never completely normal.  As a result of the weakness and loss of sensation, first in the legs then typically seen in the upper extremities, kids with CMT may seem clumsy and have difficulty walking without tripping or rolling their ankles. The feet will often have a high arch appearance and may be prone to ulcers from damage caused by lack of ability to sense pain. 

Diabetic Charcot Foot

Patients with diabetes need to be concerned about charcot arthropathy when they develop areas of the foot where they can no longer feel anything.  The combination of lack of sensation allowing damage to the foot that patient cannot feel and an increased blood flow supplying mediators of the inflammatory process allows a “charcot joint” to develop.  In the charcot joint, the repeated small injuries occurring cause bones to gradually fracture and dislocate.   This causes deformity (often an extreme flat foot) which typically places the diabetic patient’s foot at a greatly increased risk of developing ulcers and subsequent infection with severe consequences.  The most common signs of the development of charcot arthropathy are swelling and increased temperature of the affected area of the foot, redness, pain and the feeling of a “loose bag of bones” when the joint is moved. 

In both diabetes with loss of sensation, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth, foot self-exams are immeasurably important in preventing ulceration and further complications.  Protective shoe gear and custom made orthotics can provide additional protective measures for the foot.  As shown by these two disease processes, loss of sensation in the foot is a major problem that should always be evaluated by your podiatrist.  

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. To schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio, near Tuttle Crossing Mall, please call 614-885-FEET (3338).

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

There are a few things runners starting up running for the first time, or those more experienced runners who are upping their intensity should do to stay injury free.  Wearing the proper running shoe is absolutely imperative to avoiding injuries.  Shoes not only need to fit properly, but they should have the appropriate amount of support, stability and cushioning for your foot.  By scheduling a checkup with your podiatrist before you have begun purchasing expensive running sneakers, they can evaluate your type of foot and how it functions so that you can use that information to make an appropriate shoe choice.  Black toe nails can develop when shoes are too small from the foot jamming against the front of the toebox and causing bruising under the nail.  Shoes that do not fit properly may allow too much slippage or rubbing of the shoe against the skin causing calluses, and blisters.  A few good tips to help ensure you get the right fit of running shoe include trying on shoes at the end of the day when feet are slightly swollen and wear the type of socks you will be wearing when you are running.  Shoe types vary based on whether you tend to overpronate, and typically have a flatter foot, or supinate, in which case shoes tend to be more worn on their outer edge.  If a person has a severe enough problem with pronation, supination, or problems in foot function, a custom orthotic may be needed to allow the foot to function to the peak of its ability and to prevent injury. 

Along with proper shoes and orthotics, stretching and warming up are other simple ways to avoid two of the most common running problems: plantar fasciitis and shin splits.  Shin splints and plantar fasciitis are both inflammations at the point where the muscle and connective tissue, respectively, attach to bone.  Stretching, warming up and slowly increasing activity all help avoid the pain of shin splints by decreasing the chances of placing extra strain on the muscle attachment to the tibia, or shin bone.    Stretching the calf muscles can help to prevent plantar fasciitis by allowing for normal range of motion at the ankle joint and thus reducing the strain placed on the deep connective tissue, plantar aponeurosis that becomes inflamed and causes heel pain. 

Happy fall training to all the Columbus and Dublin area runners and remember that if you experience foot or ankle pain while running, do not wait to contact your podiatrist until a serious injury has already progressed!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. To schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio, near Tuttle Crossing Mall, please call 614-885-FEET (3338).

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

In July, we posted a blog on international tennis champion Rafael Nadal’s troublesome heel pain he was forced to play through at this year’s Wimbledon games.  In Nadal’s new memoir titled “Rafa” he discussed another foot problem that has worried him throughout his career and in 2005.  The pain caused by the problem was so severe that it almost caused him to give up on the game of tennis entirely and try his luck at professional golf instead! 

While plantar fasciitis, the likely culprit begind Nadal’s previous heel pain, is very common here in Columbus, OH and around the world, his 2005 foot problem was likely due to a much more rare condition called Kohler’s disease.  Nadal refers to his problem as a congenital condition in which the navicular bone of the foot did not harden completely and has caused him problems ever since.  Kohler’s disease is not truly thought of as a congenital disease, but develops in a child’s foot typically around ages 5-10 when a traumatic event has caused loss of blood supply to the bone before it finished ossifying.  While this type of blood loss causes similar diseases in other bones in kids, the navicular plays an important role in the support of the long and transverse arches of the foot and is the last foot bone to ossify.  A child with Kohler’s disease will normally limp on the affected foot; have pain over the middle side of the arch; avoid putting pressure on the middle side of the foot and redness and swelling will often be present.  Foot pain in a child should always be treated carefully to ensure that any problems with the growing and ossifying areas of bone are handled appropriately to ensure proper development.   As kids go back to school, it is important to keep this in mind that not only are the right shoes important to prevent injuries, but so is proper care when an injury or pain does develop!  While Kohler’s disease typically heals normally with no adverse effects later on, it seems that Rafael Nadal unfortunately did not find the best podiatrist for him until later on in his tennis career!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in near Lewis Center.

Looking for a podiatrist in Dublin, OH? Columbus Podiatry & Surgery's foot doctors are now in Dublin!

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

One of the most important parts for a child’s shoe is to make sure that the shoe fits correctly.  Because feet grow so quickly, it is very important to have both feet measured every time new shoes are purchased as a child is still developing.  Most stores selling children’s shoes have what is called a Brannock device that not only measures the length of the foot from heel to toe, but also the width of the foot and the length of the foot from the heel to the ball, which is actually the most important determinant in foot size.  Once the foot size is measured, this provides a general guide to what shoe size to try. Foot size and shoe size may not always be the same because different shoe companies’ sizes may vary.  Check to make sure the toes are not hitting the front of the toe box and that the ball, or widest part of the foot, lines up with the widest part of the shoe.  These simple measures can prevent painful foot problems for your child such as black toenails and calluses.  A properly fitting shoe also allows bones that are still growing and ossifying to develop in the correct position and prevent foot and ankle deformities.  More problematic feet may require orthotics or braces and a shoe with laces versus a slip-on should then be selected to accommodate these devices. 

Hand me downs and online purchasing for back to school shoes may seem like an enticing idea to any bargain hunter; however these practices should also be generally avoided.  Hand me downs can be problematic not only because of the possibility of foot fungus spreading, but also because the cushioned insole portion of the shoe tends to mold to the shape of the foot of the initial wearer.  When a younger sibling or other hand me down shoe “receiver” then wears the shoes, they will not mold to their foot shape and may lack support and cushioning in areas where it is needed.  Online shoe shopping does not provide the opportunity to make sure that shoes fit appropriately on a foot that may have grown a size or two since the last shoe purchase; so make sure the retailer has a good return policy just in case!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in near Powell. Looking for a podiatrist in Dublin, OH? Columbus Podiatry & Surgery's foot doctors are now in Dublin!

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

On Sunday August 21, Columbus, OH fans of the Cincinnati Bengals will have to travel all the way to New York City to see their team play the New York Jets.  The trip may be worth it to witness a Bengals win, which the odds are improved for by the fact that the Jet’s first string running back, Shonn Greene will be on the bench for the game.  Shonn Greene is not playing because team doctors recently caught the start of a skin infection in his foot and are now giving him time to recover while he takes antibiotics. 

While many people may think that skin infections of the foot only occur in people with diabetes, the elderly, or others with a compromised immune system, Shonn Greene shows that even a professional athlete at his peak level of health and fitness needs to watch for signs of infection in the foot and ankle. Shonn was receiving a local anesthetic to have a callus removed by the Jet’s team doctor when he pointed out another area of his foot that had been bothering him.  He was lucky for the callus bringing him in the presence of medical experts who were able to diagnose the painful area as a low grade skin infection.  For Shonn, increased pain was the first sign of an infectious process occurring.  As infection progresses, other common signs to watch for include: swelling, redness, tenderness, heat, and red streaks extending from the affected area.  Because his infection was caught early on, the Jets have made a statement that his infection is responding well to treatment and antibiotics.  Shonn’s infection also brought to mind for many teams, the importance of a clean training and locker room.  While the Jets believe that this was not the source of the infection, athletes must take extra care to keep their feet clean and dry.  Wearing shower shoes or flip flops when walking in moist areas where many other bare feet have walked such as locker rooms and public showers is also a good measure to avoid Athlete’s foot. 

A foot infection can spread quickly to become much more serious than just pain and swelling on the surface of the foot.  If allowed to progress, infections can reach the blood and bone, leading to osteomyelitis (a bone infection) or even worse can spread in the blood throughout the body leading to a bacteremia (blood infection) with systemic shock and possibly death.  Luckily, Shonn and hopefully anyone else with a suspicious wound or area of pain on their foot know to talk to an experienced podiatrist and get help immediately!  Prompt treatment of an infection can stop the infection before it gets to a more severe stage.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. To schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio, near Tuttle Crossing Mall, please call 614-885-FEET (3338).

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Although 2011 was not the year for an Ohio student to take home the win at the National Geographic World Championships, the event was  certainly very exciting for all students participating from around the globe.  The championships were made even more interesting this year when host Alex Trebek of Jeopardy hosting fame limped in to the set with a torn Achilles and a wild story of how he sustained the injury.  

At 2:30 a.m. the previous night, a woman broke into Trebek’s hotel room and supposedly attempted to steal $650 and a bracelet of Trebek’s that his mother had given him.  What happened next would deter anyone from messing with the game show host’s belongings again! Trebek awoke to his door being open and immediately began to chase the burglar!  Although the thief was eventually caught and charged with burglary, Trebek unfortunately ruptured or ripped his Achilles tendon in the heat of the chase. 

The Achilles tendon is the largest and also the most commonly ruptured tendon in the body.  The Achilles connects your calf muscles to the back of your heel and is crucial for normal walking and almost every other athletic activity.  Overuse of the calf muscles, a sudden increase in physical activity especially after a period of rest or inappropriate shoe gear can lead to Achilles tendonitis or a ruptured Achilles.  Serious Achilles tendonitis can occur for an extended period of time leaving the tendon irritated and making a rupture more likely.  With tendinitis, the heel pain comes and goes or may be chronically located in the same spot, pain is often noted during or a few hours after athletic activities, and ankle stiffness will decrease as the tendon warms up during use.  These symptoms and onset are different from the ruptured Achilles that Trebek suffered which is a more acute injury, resulting in the tendon quickly being severed.  The onset of severe heel pain is more immediate with a substantial amount of swelling often being present.  Trebek’s rupture likely occurred due to his sudden change from inactivity of the leg muscles while sleeping to a full out sprint trying to catch the thief. 

Because the Achilles is such an important tendon in the body, it is important to talk to your podiatrist about how to keep it healthy.  Many people have stiff calf muscles that lack flexibility and can increase the likelihood of Achilles injury.  When the calves are too tight, the foot is unable to lift off enough to clear the ground during normal walking and the feet are forced to use other means to compensate.  One of the ways of compensating is by overpronating, which can lead to a group of other foot problems including the development of flat feet.  Regular stretching is one way to increase flexibility and care for your Achilles. 

Trebek has now undergone Achilles surgery to repair his tear and hopefully will not have to chase down any criminals any time soon while he recovers!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. To schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio, near Tuttle Crossing Mall, please call 614-885-FEET (3338).

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

This past Sunday, the city of Columbus began working with the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance’s program to say “NOT ME” to diabetes.  As diabetes has become an epidemic in, programs such as “Not Me” are an important way to increase awareness about diabetes prevention and control.  The program involves a lifestyle coaching program to counsel those who are at risk for diabetes on making healthier choices involving diet and exercise. 

While this program provides useful information on how to take small steps towards a healthier life, it does not directly address how to prevent one of the scariest complications of diabetes:  amputation.  Diabetic individuals need to regularly see a podiatrist in order to receive proper foot care, keep a close watch on any changes in foot health that may indicate underlying pathological conditions, and to learn how to properly care for their feet on a day-to-day basis.  Diabetic patients should select podiatrists who are known for their excellence in diabetic wound care, such as those at the Columbus Podiatry and Surgery wound clinics located in both Dublin, OH and Columbus, OH. 

All diabetic patients should be educated on how to properly perform a self foot exam as one of the most important preventative measures to take to preventing major problems with the foot and ankle.  Overall skin health, adequate blood supply, and appropriately functioning nerves allowing for touch and pain sensation in the foot are three of the most important areas of the self exam.  While it may seem like a good thing to not feel pain in your feet, it is actually a very dangerous consequence of nerve problems from diabetes. Without the ability to feel pain, you would not be able to tell when tissue is being injured or destroyed in the foot.  Catching a small lesion before it develops into a non-healing diabetic ulcer is when self-exams and regular check-ups at the podiatrist can be a real limb-saver.  When lack of sensation is detected in areas of the foot, accommodative orthotics can be helpful in areas that can easily become irritated.  An accommodative orthotic for a diabetic patient is used to take pressure off and protect an area of irritation that could, unbeknownst to the diabetic unable to sense pain, develop into a dangerous wound. 

A custom-made accommodative orthotic is just one aspect of diabetic wound care and healthy preventative measures that a skilled podiatrist may need to utilize to avoid amputation for their patient.  Hopefully, with programs such as “Not Me!” and the work of all of the best podiatrists in the Columbus & Dublin, OH the diabetes epidemic will be slowed as people become more aware of healthy choices for their bodies and their feet to avoid serious complications or even the initial diagnosis of diabetes!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Although it seems far away, the November 2012 presidential election has candidates beginning to campaign near Columbus and across the country.  One interesting story related to feet about a candidate over the past few weeks were reports that Michelle Bachman supposedly noticed a link between wearing high heeled shoes and having migraines.   

While this may seem like a farfetched idea to those who are unfamiliar with severe headaches, it is actually very likely that not taking proper care of your feet can literally be a pain in the neck.  Migraines can be severely debilitating and caused by a variety of triggers.  Stress is one of the common triggers and it has been postulated that perhaps the reason Bachman linked her heels to her headaches was that she wore high heeled shoes to stressful events.

While the link to migraines is indirect, the most common type of headache called a tension headache can be directly linked to inappropriate shoe gear.  A tension headache is associated with a dull, aching head pain, a feeling of tightness across your skull, and tender scalp, neck and shoulder muscles.  These headaches can be so intense that they may resemble a migraine.  Poor posture is a trigger of a tension headache and can be caused by wearing shoes that create or amplify an unnatural curvature of the spine.  Along with high heels, other foot and ankle issues including limb length discrepancy, and lack of appropriate joint range of motion due to arthritis or limited flexibility can also cause back and neck pain. 

One relatively simple fix for many of these issues that can lead to a range of upper body problems are custom made orthotics.  Foot pain from arthritis can be lessened with an orthosis that limits the amount of painful motion and holds the foot in a more stable position.  Most people have a small difference in length between their two legs and may unknowingly compensate by pronating, or causing the longer limb to be flat-footed to equal out the length difference.  An orthotic can relieve this problematic compensation and prevent the limb length from causing pain further up the body.  Intense headaches should always be discussed with your doctor.  You just may end up finding that although the pain is at the top, relief can be found at the bottom – with proper foot care!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in Worthington.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

With the heat wave striking Columbus and much of the country this past week, many people may be sweating a bit more than usual.  However, for some people, this excessive sweating can continue to occur regardless of whether there are record high temperatures, or it is a snowy day in January. This is a condition called hyperhidrosis, which is actually an inherited medical condition that results in increased sweating. 

The feet are one of the most common areas that show an increase in sweat, along with the armpits and palms of the hands.  Sweaty feet from hyperhidrosis or just from high temperatures may not be as prominently on display to others as the palms or armpits, but they can lead to a variety of other problems.  Sweaty feet may cause embarrassment if the feet produce an unnatural odor as a result.  This occurs because bacteria thrive in warm, dark and damp conditions and increasing dampness by sweating will serve to make the foot a more ideal habitat for bacteria to grow.  The more bacteria present in these conditions, the more the foot will smell.  A more serious side effect is that fungus also thrives growing in these conditions, making a sweaty foot more likely to develop Athlete’s foot or a foot fungus.  If red, patchy, itchy areas of skin develop it is important to get your feet evaluated by a podiatrist.  If you do have a foot fungus, the more quickly it can be treated the less likely it will spread to the toenails or other areas of skin.  Fungal toenails are often more resistant to topical creams than a skin fungus, and may require the use of a quick laser fungal nails treatment or a much longer course of topical and oral medication. 

For anyone with sweaty feet regardless of the cause, it is important to change socks at least once a day to avoid staying in wet socks.  With sweat that has passed through socks causing shoes to be wet, it is also a good idea to alternate wearing different pairs of shoes every other day to give damp shoes a chance to dry out completely.  Non-medicated baby powder or foot powder can be dusted onto feet to help keep them dry.  It is also important to examine feet thoroughly for signs of infection, which can also present with a strange odor.  For individuals with hyperhidrosis, topical medications can be prescribed, a procedure called iontophoresis, or even surgery are options for treatment depending on the severity and responsiveness to treatment of the excessive sweating. 

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Lewis Center.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Earlier this week, Victoria Beckham, otherwise known as “Posh Spice”, gave birth to her fourth child.  After having three boys and one girl with husband David Beckham, Posh has been reported to be saying that her family is now complete and that she will not be having any more children.  Victoria also developed some painful bunions and back pain in this last pregnancy, making the thought of going through another 9 months of being with-child even less enticing.

Many women may not be aware of the possibility of developing a bunion or other foot problems during pregnancy.  Bunions are typically related to hallux abducto valgus, which is a condition where the top of the 1^stmetatarsal, which forms the base of the big toe, angles towards the other toes.  This causes the first metatarsal to protrude out towards the middle of the foot at the joint at the base of the big toe, often resulting in an inflamed bony or soft tissue outgrowth that is called a bunion.  Pain and irritation then occur when the bunion is under pressure and friction from a shoe.  Being flat footed, or overpronating often increases the likelihood that an individual will develop a bunion. 

In pregnant women, ligaments and soft tissues need to become more relaxed so that the baby will be able to fit out during birth.  The body naturally takes care of this by beginning to secrete a hormone called Relaxin that has proteases and collegenases to loosen up proteins and collagen fibers that would normally be taught.  It is believed that this hormone also contributes to the relaxation of foot ligaments and structures.  So while the foot ligaments are looser, more support may be required to maintain the normal anatomical position of foot bones and ligaments.  Wearing a stable, supportive type of shoe is best to maintain balance and foot health to avoid deformities when additional pressures are being placed on the feet during pregnancy.  Victoria Beckham may have caused her bunions to become more painful by continuing to wear the sky-high stilettos that she is known for during her pregnancy.  Along with wearing sensible shoes or athletic sneakers, taking time to elevate the feet and legs can help decrease swelling in pregnant feet.   

While conservative methods are available to lessen the pain associated with a bunion, surgery is the only way to truly cure the problem.  Now that Victoria Beckham is done having children, perhaps she will talk to her podiatrist about her foot pain, and choose what the best treatment route will be for her!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is now providing podiatry in Dublin near Tuttle Crossing Mall.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

When planning your summer trip flying out of the Port Columbus International Airport or any other airports, you may want to keep your flip flops and sandals packed until you have arrived at your vacation destination.  As airport security has intensified over the past years, flight passengers have been forced to sacrifice their shoes at security in the name of safer flights.  While this practice may make for smoother travels, it can make things rough on your feet!

In the winter, taking off shoes at the airport is less problematic because most people, or at least those coming from colder areas like Ohio, often have socks on to offer some foot protection.  In the summer however, taking off your sandals to walk in bare feet through security where thousands of other barefoot people walk every day can leave you exposed to catching a foot fungus or warts.  Because a wart is caused by a form of an infectious virus, any place that a person with a wart has walked without shoes or socks and shed tiny skin cells, can potentially spread the virus to other bare feet. 

Warts can easily be mistaken for a corn or callus, because all three can appear as a thickened area of skin where the foot makes contact with the ground.  Warts often are painful when pressure is placed on them, which can make walking or standing comfortably nearly impossible.  The color of a wart can vary with gray and brown being more common, and a dark center is often visible.  The core area of a wart can also bleed, making their transmission to a person walking barefoot at the airport even more likely. Warts are a very aggressive virus that can often seem to disappear, only to reappear shortly after.  While there are many old wives tales of duct tape and other remedies that will supposedly get rid of a wart, the best treatment can most easily be found by meeting with your podiatrist.  Depending on the severity of the wart, treatment options can vary from a prescription ointment to utilizing laser cautery.  Taking steps to avoid warts in the first place by simply wearing sneakers and socks on your summer travels to the airport may be the best option there is to keep your feet healthy!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Tennis enthusiasts at the Wickertree Tennis Club and Raquet Club of Columbus, as well as fans around the world are currently enjoying one of the biggest tennis tournaments of the year, the Championships at Wimbledon.  It is always interesting to follow the previous year’s champions to see how they will do.  It is even more interesting when last year’s champion is Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. 

This past Monday, June 27 in the 4^thround of Wimbledon, Nadal began having what appeared to be some very intense heel pain.    Nadal had trainers called onto the court twice to check where the pain was located around the back and sides of his heel.  Luckily, he was able to play through his pain to win and continue on to Friday’s match which he also won, beating out Andy Murray.  Although the injury has not yet been definitely diagnosed, Nadal is taking a risk to play out his last few games at Wimbledon before taking an already scheduled vacation. 

Heel pain can be debilitating to any athlete, especially for one playing at as a high level as Nadal.  The most common cause of heel pain on the bottom of the foot in athletes is called plantar fasciitis, or heel spur syndrome.  The plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue deep on the bottom, or plantar surface of the foot, that connects the heel bone, or calcaneus to the ball of the foot.  Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia has too much tension put on it and begins to pull at its attachment point on the heel bone, causing pain.  Pain associated with plantar fasciitis is often worse in the morning, when the individual first steps out of bed.  Individuals who overpronate, or have flat feet are at a greater risk for plantar fasciitis because of the extra tension placed on the plantar fascia when the arch is flattened and elongated.  Ultrasound can be helpful in diagnosing plantar fasciitis versus other causes of plantar heel pain such as a loss of the fat pad under the heel or a nerve entrapment.  If the diagnosis is plantar fasciitis, it can often be treated non-surgically.  More conservative methods that may be used include icing, rest, custom orthotics to relieve plantar fascia tension cause by overpronation, night splints and stretching.  If pain persists, many cases have been successfully treated by similarly non-invasive extracorporeal shock wave therapy. 

Although Nadal will have to work through his pain at Wimbledon, at least his injury at this point is not severe enough to force him to drop out altogether.  The promise of long break to rest your feet and get the best treatment and relief from pain in the near future can be a great motivator for anyone to make it through a tough time!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in Worthington, Ohio.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

It is that perfect time of summer to head from Columbus, Ohio to the nearby beach at Alum Creek State Park, or your favorite local pool.  While you may be looking great in your new bathing suit, you want your feet to also look healthy when your toes are on display for everyone to see. 

If your toes are not the translucent, shiny nails that you would want to see, and are instead are becoming thickened, and discolored this could be a sign that you have developed a fungus in your toenails. The nails will become brittle, flaky and chalky and the nail discoloration can range from yellow to brown or even black if the fungus developed after a nail was bruised. 

Especially in the summer, prevention is critical to avoiding a toenail fungus.   A toenail fungus can initially be picked up as Athlete’s foot or a foot fungus on the skin, before it invades the nails.  Fungus can be transmitted from skin cells that have been shed, which naturally occurs from both healthy and unhealthy skin.  Fungus also thrives growing in places that are damp, dark and warm.  Based off of these ways that a nail fungus is transmitted, it is important to keep you feet dry and clean and avoid being barefoot in wet areas where many other people are barefoot, including locker rooms, pools, and water parks. 

While some fungal infections can often be treated with over the counter creams, fungal toenails require seeing a physician for treatment that will actually get rid of the fungus before it becomes painful.  Because nails grow relatively slowly and to cure toenail fungus you want to make sure it is completely gone, prescription oral medications typically require being taken for at least 12 weeks, with some medications requiring even longer.  While often helpful in clearing up toenail fungus, patients should know that there are some possibly serious risks involved with taking an oral antifungal medication, including liver and kidney problems.  There is also a more recent FDA approved, less risky and less time-consuming way to treat toenail fungus called the Pinpointe Foot Laser.  Utilizing the Pinpointe Foot Laser to remove fungus from a toenail is painless, takes only 30-40 minutes and has no health restrictions or adverse side effects.  Whatever treatment option you choose, it is important to take care of your toes and call your podiatrist at the first sign of abnormal changes to keep your toenails healthy and ready to be shown off during summer and all year round!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

CALL 614-885-FEET (3338) for an Appointment with a Podiatrist in Columbus, OH

•   1-3    Nails   $500                                       
•   3-5    Nails   $600
•   6-10  Nails   $700

(COLUMBUS, OH 6/22/11) Columbus Podiatry & Surgery announced today that foot and ankle specialist, Sarah Newby, DPM, will be practicing at their Columbus, Ohio office. Dr. Newby specializes in the surgical and non-surgical treatments of the foot and ankle, including conditions such as foot and ankle trauma, sports injuries, heel pain and bunions. She received her DPM degree at Temple University in Pennsylvania and completed her surgical residency program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dayton.  Dr. Newby is trained in forefoot surgery, as well as reconstructive foot and ankle surgery.

 Dr. Sarah Newby provides foot care from pediatrics to geriatrics. She treats serious medical conditions like diabetes, arthritis, diabetic ulcers and foot and ankle deformities; to common foot problems such as general foot pain, ankle pain, neuropathy, plantar fasciitis, nail fungus, athletes foot, bunions, plantar warts and ingrown toenails. In an effort to teach others about preventative foot and ankle care, Dr. Newby has provided many presentations and educational videos.

At Columbus Podiatry & Surgery, Dr. Bhatia and Dr. Newby believe that a doctor and patient become a team throughout treatment and recovery. They want patients to be informed about podiatric problems and treatments, because informed patients make better decisions about their health and well being. “I look forward to seeing you in our office. Hopefully, I can give you the same support and treatment that my doctors were always able to give me. And I look forward to having you leave with a smile.” says Dr. Newby.

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery offers a number of advanced services beneficial to the community.  To name a few, they offer Digital X-Ray, Ultrasound, Vascular Diagnostic Testing, Electromagnetic Neurovascular Therapy, Digital Gait Scan, Custom Orthotics and a Laser for Nail Fungus. The PinPointe FootLaser offers a pain free option to treating nail fungus.  The Laser has been proven to be more successful than topical agents and safer than oral medications.

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is under the direction of Animesh (Andy) Bhatia, D.P.M., C.W.S. Dr. Bhatia is a licensed practicing Podiatrist in the state of Ohio. He has had extensive training in wound care and is Board Certified as a Certified Wound Specialist (C.W.S). Dr. Bhatia hopes, “The Surgical Suite in a pleasant new office environment helps ensure that patients have the best possible treatment experience at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery.”

The podiatrists at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery are proud to provide a wealth of patient education materials online at www.ColumbusFoot.com. If you or a loved one is suffering from foot or ankle pain and would like to visit a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio; please call 614-885-FEET (3338). Appointments can also be scheduled through www.ColumbusFoot.com/appointment.  

This past weekend around Columbus was the 30^thannual Pride Festival.  While there was a wide variety of unusual attire at this parade, shoes are one fashion accessory to choose carefully before heading out to any summer parade or festival.  While the look of the shoes may be of utmost importance to many fashionistas, choosing shoes that provide comfort can make your day much more enjoyable. 

Summer means more shoe options including flip flops and a variety of other sandals.  Knowing which type of shoe is healthies twas a topic of a recent article on Oprah’s website and can help to make better choices when shopping for new shoes.  Surprisingly, ballet flat shoes were ranked as the most dangerous type of shoe.  Part of the reason for this ranking is that many people would consider a flat to be more comfortable and healthy for feet than a higher shoe and they then over-wear them.  A flat has as little arch support as the similarly dangerous flip-flop, but ballet flats also put pressure on the sides of the foot, the back of the heel and the tips of the toes.  Extreme lack of any arch support in flip flops or flats can lead to foot pain in individuals with flat feet or overpronation.  Because they do not enclose the entire foot, flip flops can give some relief to those suffering from the pain of bunions or calluses rubbing against shoes.  Both ballet flats and similarly structured flat styles of sneakers such as “Chuck Taylors” that do enclose the foot will not only aggravate these conditions on the sides of the feet and toes, but their rigid heel areas can cause a Haglund’s deformity.  In this condition, a bursa over the heel bone or calcaneus becomes irritated from being rubbed against and causes pain. 

Of the elevated shoes discussed in the article, stilettos were not surprisingly chosen as the most dangerous.  A better choice for an occasion requiring a more formal shoe would be a wedge.  If the wedge has a cork or raffia sole, it will offer more shock absorption and thus can help prevent joint damage.  Wedges also offer slightly more stability than a stiletto, which can help to avoid ankle sprains.  While a properly fitted athletic shoe with adequate support will often be the optimal choice for foot health, wearing them at every occasion may not always be possible.  It is good to be aware and evaluate other shoe options to make healthy choices about your feet.  Orthotics can also be helpful in making an uncomfortable shoe more bearable!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville, Ohio.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

This past Tuesday, June 7, I read an article in the Columbus Dispatch about a local man who was successfully treated for sepsis at the Ohio State University Medical Center.  Sepsis is a concern for any doctor to watch for in his patients, but is especially important to watch for in a podiatric setting because it occurs more commonly in diabetic individuals and often involves the feet or legs.

Unfortunately for the man mentioned in the article, even though his life was saved he still lost parts of his hands and one half of each foot to gangrene.  In sepsis, a bacterial infection has spread through the body in the bloodstream.  This triggers a body-wide immune response that creates tiny clots, inhibiting blood supply to tissues that require blood to remain vital and functioning.  In diabetic patients, whose blood supply is often already compromised to their lower extremities, steps must be taken to prevent infections and thus sepsis and gangrene as well.  While the man in the article did not know where his infection came from and his first sign of an infection was a sore throat, hospitalized patients and those recovering from surgery are often at the highest risk for sepsis.  All patients, but especially diabetic patients, need to avoid any open wounds, cuts or lesions on their legs or feet.  If a wound goes unnoticed, it may become infected with bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus which can worsen and spread to become sepsis if not treated. 

To prevent wound infections and sepsis, self-foot exams are very important.  Identify any breaks in the skin as soon as possible.  Take proper care to clean and bandage wounds and watch for abnormal changes.  Pain, redness, swelling and discharge are all possible signs of infection that you should contact your podiatrist to examine immediately.  If you can visibly see an infection spread from one part of the foot to another, this is also cause for prompt medical attention.  If an infection is present and you develop a fever, elevated heart or respiratory rate this is indicative that the infection has spread to become sepsis and treatment becomes even more urgent.   The earlier an infection is stopped the better the treatment outcome will be for the patient.  Hopefully patient awareness will increase thanks to survivor stories such as the one featured in the Columbus Dispatch to prevent amputations and save lives!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

This past Wednesday, June 1, National Running Day was celebrating by runners of all levels across the country.  Only a few minutes from the office here at Columbus Podiatry and Surgery, there were meetings in both Worthington and Dublin, Ohio to have an extra celebratory run and train for upcoming races. 

All runners out there know that foot and leg soreness and sometimes pain can go along with running, but when pain becomes an aggravation to the runner, they need to contact their podiatrist to prevent more serious issues from developing.  One of the most common athletic injuries seen in both the foot bones and shin bone, or tibia is a stress fracture.  Stress fractures are a small crack in the surface of the bone caused by overuse.  Running is a common trigger for this type of injury because the repetitive motion of each stride on the foot can allow too much pressure to be absorbed by an area of bone.  This results in a fracture that can often be difficult to conclusively diagnose without taking an x-ray or bone scan.  By obtaining an image of the bone through one of these methods, a stress fracture in the shin can often be differentiated from an even more common, but less serious running injury called a shin splint.   In a shin splint, the bone itself is not damaged, but the area of muscle attachments on the bone has become irritated and painful. 

Runners should take measures, not only on National Running Day, but everyday to try to prevent stress fractures.  Properly fitting, supportive running shoes are a key to prevention.  Gradually building up your training and adding on miles slowly also can help in avoiding both stress fractures and shin splints.  If even with these measures you begin to feel a persistent, localized pain in your foot or leg, a stress fracture could be the culprit.   Taking recovery time from sports and icing the area can often help to lessen or alleviate more minor causes of pains.  If pain continues, it is important to remember that the earlier a stress fracture is diagnosed; the quicker the recovery will be and the better the chances are that it can be treated without surgery.  By taking proper care of feet and visiting a podiatrist at the first signs of injury, runners can limit what they often despise more than anything else: having to take time off from running!!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington, Ohio.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

As Columbus fans who attended Lady Gaga’s March “Monster Ball” concert at the Value City Arena can attest to, Lady Gaga is known for her wild fashion statements.  Although she may make walking in crazy shoes look effortless as she stomps across piano keys or performs on Saturday Night Live, it may be somewhat of a painful process to pull off that look.

Women everywhere know how painful wearing even moderate high heels can be on a day to day basis.  For Gaga’s “Bad Romance” music video off her last CD, the 12 inch tall Alexander McQueen shoes she chose to wear had been so troublesome to walk in that it is reported that three runway models had refused to wear them on their runway debut.  Based on Lady Gaga’s visit to “The View” this past Wednesday, it seems as though her affinity for hard-to-balance shoes has only grown with her latest release.  For some time she has been a fan of designer Noritaka Tatehana’s giant heel-less platforms that only offer support under the front, ball of the foot.  The similarly heel-less platforms she sported on “The View” had her towering over the hosts of the show with their insane height.  

 While she may be pushing fashion boundaries to the extremes, Lady Gaga is also pushing her feet to the extreme and is likely to incur some foot pain as a result of her shoe wear.  By not having any heel support at all, all body weight is shifted to put pressure on the front of the foot.  This can cause problems such as sesamoiditis, in which two small bones called sesamoids, at the base of the big toe become irritated and inflamed.   This is also a common injury in dancers who also place extra pressure on the front of their foot.  Standing on the front of the foot at such an extreme angle also makes calf muscles work extra hard to maintain balance.  Not only can this cause Achilles tendonitis and associated heel pain, but when that balance cannot be maintained falls, ankle sprains and ankle fractures are more likely.  Because the ankle joint involves the talus bone in the  foot and the tibia, with both the fibula and calcaneus, or heel bone, closely contacting the bones of the ankle joint, fractures can require serious surgery to correct and realign broken bones.  Even Lady Gaga has been spotted falling at the airport in her heel-less shoes and is lucky that she did not have any serious injuries!  Hopefully Lady Gaga takes care of her feet on a regular basis when she is not in public wearing crazy shoes and that she knows a good podiatrist to help prevent or treat any future problems! 

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

My name is Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia. I am a practicing Podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. In an effort to offer my perspective on healthcare to the general public, I blog through my website, www.columbusfoot.com.

During Foot Health Awareness Month, I posted an educational blog about the use of orthotics on April 17, 2011. I referenced Ohio State University Football’s Spring training and one of the players, J.B. Shugarts’ use of orthotics for foot pain. On April 21, 2011, I was sent/issued a Cease and Desist from The Ohio State University to remove my blog.

Isn’t this a David vs. Goliath situation?  Solo podiatrist vs. The Ohio State University.  I am disgusted that The Ohio State University Athletics Department would put forth the effort to issue a Cease & Desist to a small podiatry practice trying to educate the public about foot and ankle health. Is it okay for them to bully me, dictate what I blog about? As a blogger, am I not considered a recognized news entity? The information referenced about the player was released into the public domain by OSU themselves. Yet they asserted that somehow I was trying to benefit by using one of their players’ name. How is my blog considered advertising? 

There have been several press releases over the last year regarding J.B. Shugarts’ foot pain. I thought tying that with the use of orthotics would be of interest to others; therefore providing education to the public regarding orthotics’ use in treating common foot conditions by having someone to relate to. Please note that I have never had a patient seek out my services from reading my blog. I blog to provide patient education and public awareness about foot and ankle health.

To top it off, I got a comment from none other than from that player’s father! And he insinuated the same thing. And threatened to report it to OSU! It is of course understandable that he feels he should be the only one milking his son’s name for financial gain, and he can by all means do so. But OSU Athletics and Mr. Shugarts Sr. need to be educated that blogging is neither considered advertising, nor does it lead to more patients or any other type of financial gain. The whole world references people in the public eye in their blogs. I could mention, say LeBron James, or Tom Brady , or Paris Hilton, if they had a foot problem. The idea is to educate the public and inform them what a podiatrist does and how to take care of their feet. I have NOT had a single patient to date because of reading my blog, and I doubt if I ever will. People are smarter than that. But not according to OSU Athletics.

For a multimillion dollar program to try to intimidate me like that, they should be ashamed. The Cease/Desist was sent by Chris Rogers. Several other cronies were cc’ed in the email, I presume lawyers or others in the department with too much free time on their hands…as they draw unimaginable salaries from you, the public.

In an effort to appease The Ohio State University Athletics Department, I immediately removed J.B. Shugarts’ name and picture from my blog: http://www.columbusfoot.com/blog.html.

Brett Shugarts sent this comment about my blog:

Mr.

Re: Buckeyes’ Offensive Tackle Utilizes Foot Orthotics to Stay on his Feet and Knock Opponents off theirs!

By Bret Shugarts on 2011-04-19 14:38:01

“Since you are not my son's Dr. and have no knowledge of what his circumstnaces are but merely trying to benefit yourself by using Ohio State Football I suggest that you delete this blog. Ther Ohio State Atletic Dept will be notified as well.”

I have also blogged about Kobe Bryant, Wendy Williams - Dancing with the Stars, Scott Podsednik and Serena Williams. Oddly enough, they haven’t issued Cease and Desist orders. Their parents aren’t accusing me of benefitting from their children’s condition.

Here’s another  BLOG http://ernpolia.blogspot.com/2011/04/ohio-state-tackle-jb-shugarts-says-feet.html  that has a picture of Shugarts, his condition and quotes him, "I'll be fine," said Shugarts, who said he spent the off-season rehabbing his feet and getting new shoe inserts to help take the pressure off his feet. "They haven't bothered me at all this spring or this winter."

Were they issued a Cease and Desist? Are they advertising?

A few links on google-search- Shugarts foot & Shugarts Orthotics

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2011/04/post_44.html

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/10/29/foot-injury-shortens-shugarts-playing-time.html

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2010/Minnesota/shugartsfeet.htm

http://www.buckeyecountry.net/ohio-state-tackle-j-b-shugarts-says-feet-feel-good

http://ohiostate.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&sid=&script=content.asp&cid=1143906&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid=

http://ernpolia.blogspot.com/2011/04/ohio-state-tackle-jb-shugarts-says-feet.html

http://www.daylife.com/topic/J.B._Shugarts

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/04/16/offensive-linemen-trying-to-fill-many-holes.html?sid=101

http://www.topix.com/forum/sports/T64Q6S11C846IM0MK

http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/1907569-post824.html

http://www.scarletbuckeye.com/football-talk/8280-spring-ball-o-line-competition-3.html

http://localwireless.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=1087&nid=45674908&cid=19470&scid=-1&ith=1&title=OSU+Football

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=145&f=1079

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/SpringFootball/LastLineofOffense.html

http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2010/11/05/sports/doc4cd381ea176de630186370.txt

As I stated before, I posted my blog about orthotics on April 17^th. This article below was posted by the Columbus Dispatch on the 16^th.  

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/04/16/offensive-linemen-trying-to-fill-many-holes.html

Shugarts' foot feels fine

Last season, a chronically sore right foot forced Shugarts to the sideline for extended periods of several games.

The bright side of the situation was that it gave Norwell some valuable playing time as a freshman, but it's not something Shugarts wants to repeat this fall, in his senior season.

"My foot is doing great," he said last Saturday. "I had a great winter rehab. I got some new orthotics for my shoes and really put a lot of extra time and effort into (it). I've been fine all spring. (The foot) hasn't messed me up at all."

So… why come after me? Is there more to this than meets the eye? Maybe. I strongly believe this warrants an investigation by the media.  Should The Ohio State University be able to control what I blog about? Especially when all the other sources above have done the same thing with apparently no threats issued to them?

Best regards,

.

Last Friday, on “The Doctors” they featured what they described as an extreme cosmetic procedure where a woman had a toe shortening surgery to wear designer high heeled shoes with less pain.  While this may initially sound like a crazy procedure you would only see in Hollywood, it is actually done across the country and here in Columbus to correct a deformity of the toes that can disrupt the normal function of the foot and cause pain when wearing ANY type of shoe. 

Based on the images of the woman’s feet, it appears that she suffered from Morton’s toe.  This is actually a problem where the first metatarsal is shortened, which is called brachymetatarsia, making the second toe appear longer than normal.  In some cases, where the second toe is only slightly longer than the second this is a normal variation in the foot and will not cause pain.  However, in more extreme Morton’s toe, such as the woman on “The Doctors” had, the second metatarsal begins to bear all of the body weight that the thicker first metatarsal would normally bear.  Calluses and pain can develop in the ball of the foot in the area of increased pressure.  This painful condition is often referred to as metatarsalgia. Morton’s toe can also cause excessive pronation, or rolling in and flattening of the arch of the foot.  This overpronation contributes to the pains of metatarsalgia, as well as possibly affecting the individual’s stride enough to cause hip, back and neck pain by disrupting proper posture.  In the woman on “The Doctors” it is also likely that she would have had black or darkened toenails, causing by bruising under the nail from the long second toe hitting her pointed shoes. 

While “The Doctors” made this toe shortening surgery sound like a radical and extreme way to wear more attractive shoes, the real problem was that the woman was suffering from pain associated with Morton’s toe.  For this woman, surgery was her best choice to eliminate the symptoms and the underlying toe deformity causing her pain.  For others suffering from Morton’s toe, depending on the severity of their foot problems, there are also options such as padding under the second metatarsal to relieve pain or custom orthotics to help correct the problem.   

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Ohio’s Major League Baseball team, the Cleveland Indians, will not be facing the Yankees until July, but many fans staying updated on the future opponent may have heard about an interesting injury of Eric Chavez, the team’s backup third baseman.

On May 5^thwhile running the bases, Chavez began limping and was helped off the field to get x-rays.  The initial diagnosis by the Yankee’s team doctor was a small fracture of the 5^thmetatarsal of the left foot.  However, this week, it was discovered that Chavez’s bone was not broken, but he had suffered a less severe injury called a bone bruise. 

People may not be aware that you can bruise the outer lining of bone, the periosteum, resulting in a periosteal bruise.  A bone bruise can also be called a stone bruise, because patients will often describe it feeling as if they are stepping on a pebble or small stone every time they put pressure on the affected area of the foot.  A bone bruise, periosteal bruise & stone bruiseare all describing the same injury in which there is a trauma that damages this superficial bone layer and the blood vessels coursing through it that supply nutrients to the bone cells.  In many cases, including Chavez’s, the trauma is simply an excess of pressure hitting the bone while running.  Underlying causes of this excess pressure on the foot can be from overtraining, underlying bony deformities such as metatarsalgia, or flat foot, the wrong type of athletic shoes, or shoes that are worn out. 

Bone bruises should be treated to reduce the inflammation of the area which can often be swollen, tender, and painful.  Resting the affected area, icing it and possibly taking anti-inflammatory medication are all recommended as part of a successful treatment regimen.  Patients should consult with their podiatrist to ensure the most appropriate route of treatment depending on the severity of the bruise.  It is also important to eliminate the cause of the excess pressure before returning to activities.  This may be done by getting custom athletic orthotics, new shoes, or surgery in cases with severe underlying foot deformities. 

Luckily for Chavez, it seems as though the Yankees had him consult with a podiatrist and the team physician to obtain an accurate diagnosis.  It is always great news for any athlete to discover that an injury is less severe than initially believed, and that their shorter recovery period will allow them to get back in the game at an earlier date!

Please visit http://www.columbusfoot.com/ for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

As the 2010 Athlete of the World declared by the International Association of Athletics Federations, David knows that taking care of a foot pain in running as soon as it starts is the key to a quick recovery.  He is taking a week off of training after realizing he had peritendonitis in his foot.  Tendons, which connect muscles to bones, are surrounded by a sheath of connective tissue which can become irritated or inflamed in peritendonitis.  Tendons themselves also commonly become irritated leading to a similar painful condition called tendonitis.  Achilles tendonitis is a common ailment of athletes.  As David’s condition has been described as affecting the flexor muscles of the foot, it is likely that the Achilles, or other tendons coming down from the calf muscles to attach and flex, or push the foot downward are involved. 

Common symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include:

•   recurrent heel pain along the back of the foot where the Achilles tendon attaches
•  swelling near the back of the heel
•  stiffness in your ankle that lessens as you warm up for physical activity
•  

Runners suffering from tendonitis should make sure they are wearing running sneakers that are the best fit for their foot.  They may also want talk to their podiatrist about orthotics that could help alleviate the irritation of the tendon, and thus a possible part of the underlying mechanism of their tendonitis. The Achilles tendon is both the largest and the most commonly ruptured tendon in the body so it is especially crucial to identify and treat the cause of pain near it in the heel!  Heel pain can not only hamper running training, but it could indicate a more serious problem, such as a ruptured tendon, that would require more invasive treatment. 

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Just because April, or “Foot Health Awareness” month is coming to an end, doesn’t mean that people should stop paying attention to their feet! With summer around the corner, I have noticed local nail salons near the Columbus Podiatry and Surgery office appear to be extra busy beautifying people’s feet.  Both men and women indulging their feet with a little pampering need to be aware of the safety of their feet during a pedicure. 

While many people may know that they should pick a salon that properly sanitizes all pedicure instruments between each customer, there are additional lesser known tips recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association for a healthy and enjoyable pedicure.  While women may prefer not to have hairy legs when they know a spa employee is going to be touching them, they should try to refrain from shaving their legs before a pedicure.  Even if you do not see any cuts, shaving can create tiny tears in skin that allow for bacteria to gain access and cause infection more easily.  Also to avoid unnecessary cuts in the skin, never allow a spa to use a foot razor to remove dead skin from your bunions, heel calluses or other areas of the foot.  Along with causing an easy entry for bacteria, cutting too deep could cause permanent nerve or tissue damage.  The more commonly used method of dead skin removal at a spa by a pumice stone, foot file or exfoliating scrub after soaking the feet for a few minutes is a perfectly acceptable alternative. 

If you cannot be certain that a spa properly sanitizes its equipment, a safe bet is to always bring your own pedicure set.  This ensures that bacteria and foot fungus cannot be spread to your toes from a previous pedicure.  Emery boards especially should always be brought from home as they cannot be sterilized.  If you are having a manicure and pedicure in the same appointment, make sure a different set of tools is used for each.  By using different tools for each activity, you can prevent the transfer of foot fungus or infection to your hands, and vice versa.  Another way to avoid the spread of infection at the spa is to try to book your pedicure in the morning, when foot baths are typically cleanest, or to find a spa that filters and cleans its foot baths between each client. 

While these are good tips for everyone to remember when having a pedicure at a spa or at home, diabetic patients should consult a podiatrist first to ensure that their pedicure will be done in the correct manner for prevention of diabetic complications in the foot.  Patients with signs of fungal nails should also consult their podiatrist and not use nail polish until their potential fungal problem is resolved.  By staying aware during Foot Health Awareness month and all year long, people can have a pedicure experience that is both relaxing and safe for their feet!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885-FEET(3338)  to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

After a long winter here in Columbus, all of us are ready to pack away our snow boots and bust out our sandals for spring!  This may also be the time of year you notice that your feet aren’t looking quite as healthy as you thought they were.  In winter many people pay less attention to the health and care of their feet simply because with heavy boots and socks on, they spend less time looking at them every day!  With the end of the winter season, and the start of a very rainy spring, foot fungus may be an unpleasant surprise popping up.

Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis and fungal nails, or tinea unguium are the two fungal infections most commonly seen in the foot.  The reason that wet spring and a winter filled with boots bring on these organisms is that a fungus thrives growing in a warm, damp, dark, dirty place.  These growing conditions make the inside of a sweaty boot or a damp sock from stepping in a puddle ideal for a fungus to grow.  Once someone has a foot fungus, it can be transmitted to others by contact with the infected skin cells.  This is why it is recommended to wear sandals in a public shower or swimming area, as everyone naturally sheds skin cells.  The most important way to prevent a fungal infection is to keep your feet dry and clean, the opposite of the fungus’ growing conditions. Good ways to do this are by thoroughly drying in between the toes after bathing and changing out of dirty wet socks as soon as possible.

An infection of dermatophytes, the fungi that cause both Athlete’s foot and fungal nails, is characterized by itchy, scaly skin patches.  Athlete’s foot typically is first seen in the spaces between the toes, and if not treated can spread over the entire bottom surface of the foot or also infect the nails.  Fungal nails will typically appear thickened, brittle and discolored or with white spots that may spread to the entire nail being white.  In some cases, a black, bruised nail can also lead to nail fungus. 

Fungal treatment varies depending on the severity of the fungus, with nail fungus traditionally being more difficult to treat than Athlete’s foot.  A variety of different topical creams including Tinactin, and Lamisil can be used that cause damage to the cell membrane and thus kill the fungus.  Systemic drugs that you take orally are often needed in nail infections and can have a variety of adverse side effects throughout the body.  Treatment of fungus can last for an extensive period of time.   At Columbus Podiatry & Surgery, we offer the PinPointe Foot Laser as a preferred treatment method for toenail fungus, with no systemic effects and only about 30 minutes for a treatment.  

Remember to check your feet this spring and that the best plan for a foot or toenail fungus is to avoid one in the first place by keeping your feet dry and clean

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

The local favorites, the Buckeyes have begun their spring training for the upcoming fall’s football season.  Many people would have expected the Buckeye’s to be spending a little more time sulking, worrying and dealing with the controversy surrounding some of the players that has resulted in their suspension.  However, it seems that the ordeal has motivated the team to work together and show everyone what they are made of this upcoming season.  To start preparations, players have been working to be at their peak level of health and fitness.  One example of this, has been with an offensive tackle for the Ohio State University Buckeyes.  After suffering from foot pain for a good part of last season, the unnamed, OSU offensive tackle is utilizing specialized foot orthotics to keep him pain-free and on his feet this year. 

While the Unnamed Ohio State Football player was not especially clear on exactly what was causing his pain, it is clear that the orthotics he was trying out last season to initially combat the pain were not as effective as he had hoped and continued to suffer for an extended number of games.  While it is possible that he simply needed time off to recover from his foot injury, it is also possible that he may not have been able to get a custom foot orthotic quickly enough and was forced to use an over the counter version.  While an over the counter foot orthotic may be adequate for a minor issue with mild symptoms, in many cases they do not adequately adjust the foot to fix the specific issue in the patient.  There are generally two basic types of custom orthotics called accommodative and functional.  An accommodative orthotic adjusts the patient’s body weight so that it is no longer distributed over a painful area and is usually made of a softer material.  Accommodative orthotics are commonly used in diabetic foot care to adjust the patient’s body weight away from an area of increased friction in order to prevent development of an ulcer.  Functional orthotics place the foot in a corrected position to prevent the development of pain and deformities that result from walking with an abnormal foot position.  These are typically made of rigid or semi-rigid materials, depending on whether they are intended for everyday walking use, or for athletic activities.  Functional orthotics are also known as “arch supports” because they frequently are used in people with flat feet who require an orthotic to create an arch and prevent their feet from pronating, or rolling inwards.  The unnamed Buckeye would have greatly benefitted from a custom orthotic that had properties of both accommodative and functional orthotics last season in order to avoid pain by adjusting his body weight away from his injury, while also correcting the abnormality in foot structure that may have caused the injury in the first place. 

Orthotics offer a non-invasive treatment option for many ailments including bunions, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis.  When specially casted or designed to treat a patient’s specific foot problem, they can have significant pain relief and prevent future injuries and pains.  Hopefully the unnamed, offensive tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes has seen his podiatrist to get the custom foot orthotics that will allow him to help the Buckeyes football team to many victories in the Fall 2011 season!!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Ballroom dancing classes have experienced a jump in popularity in Columbus dance studios with the rise of “Dancing with the Stars” and other dancing programs on television.  Talk show host Wendy Williams, who was a competitor on the current season, tweeted a picture of her seriously beat up looking feet before she was eliminated on that night’s show!  The caption on the picture, which stated “Feet don’t fail me now!” indicates just how important foot health is in any athletic competition, especially one known for its glitzy high-heeled shoes!

Unfortunately for Wendy, her feet were apparently so painful from her bunions that she struggled with her ability to dance on the night she was eliminated.  Bunions on the middle side of each foot were located in the joint at the base of her big toe, which is a typical bunion location.  A bunion of the big toe, or hallux, is caused by “Hallux abducto valgus” which is basically when the tip of the big toe is angled in towards, and often overlaps the second toe, instead of lying straight as it should.  This inappropriate angling of the tip of the toe causes the base of the toe to protrude out from the foot more than normal.

The protuberances caused by bunions have resulted in immense pain for Wendy because of increased pressure and friction against where the shoe would normally just firmly contact the middle side of the foot.  This excessive pressure can cause the body to thicken the outer layer of skin cells as a way to protect the deeper layers of the foot.  These thickenings of the skin are called corns and calluses can cause pain.  Hammer toes, where the first joint in any of the small toes is bent abnormally, are also commonly seen as a consequence of bunions.  Hammer toes can result in increased pressure on the top of the toe and lead to more painful corns. 

There are a variety of bunion treatments as well as a variety of ways to be proactive in preventing a bunion.  Wendy Williams seems to have had a bunion removal surgery, or bunionectomy, several years ago, but has failed to take appropriate preventative measures to keep the bunion from reoccurring.  While bunionectomies can be extremely helpful for relieving the pain and other conditions caused by a bunion, it is important to take additional measures to get the best results from your surgery.  After a surgery, physical therapy and orthotics are often suggested to keep the big toe in its proper position.  For bunion prevention, before a bunion ever occurs or after bunion removal surgery, comfortable well-fitted shoes are key. 

Wendy’s tendency to wear ill-fitting, pointy high heels on a regular basis and even more so with her appearance on Dancing with the Stars may have lead to an exacerbation of her bunion pain and slight re-occurrence of her bunion.  Wendy should have contacted her podiatrist to take care of her bunions before it cost her her shot at the disco ball dancing trophy!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

APMA COMPONENTS IN THE NEWS

OH Podiatrist Appointed to AAPPM Board

The American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management (AAPPM) has announced the appointment of Dr. Andy Bhatia to its board of trustees. "Dr. Bhatia has been a strong lecturer at our seminars and brings to the Academy expert knowledge on DME and wound care," said Dr. Hal Ornstein, AAPPM Chairman. "His ability to explain proper utilization of wound care and DME integration into practices will help our members improve patient outcomes into their practices."

http://www.podiatrym.com/pmnewsissues.cfm?pubdate=04/05/2011

Diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent here in Columbus, and everywhere around the world.  The day a patient is diagnosed with diabetes can feel like a life sentence of future suffering from many serious medical issues.  However, a new study offers hope to diabetics who would like to avoid a life filled with surgeries, pills and potentially deadly foot ulcers. 

In this new research from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, a group of patients who have had type I diabetes for 50 or more years without any major complications were studied.  To have diabetes for this long a period of time without any eye, kidney, heart or nerve problems is considered a major feat.  This study group is especially impressive because at the time they were first diagnosed, many of the glucose meters and other technological and pharmaceutical advances used today to control diabetes were not available! 

Were these diabetics some sort of super humans able to magically control their diabetes without any work?  The answer, of course, is no.  Some members of the group were found to have a gene that reduced the number of molecules called “advanced glycation end-product” or AGEs, which are created in diabetics when excess amounts of sugar, or glucose, are in their blood for long periods of time.  These AGEs are what cause the nerve damage leading up to loss of sensation and eventually the diabetic foot ulcers seen and treated by podiatrists.  So, while a gene reducing this molecule was helpful in preventing some of the group’s diabetic complications, the main reason found for their success in fighting diabetes was good management.   

Along with managing blood glucose levels, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular foot checkups with a podiatrist should be a key part of every person with diabetes’ disease management plan.  With these visits and self-exams of the foot in between visits, life-threatening ulcers, bone disease known as “Charcot foot” and other serious problems can be largely avoided.  When examining your own feet, always be sure to check in between toes and on the bottoms of feet for any cuts, open wounds, or lesions.  While something as simple as a blister may be harmless to most individuals, to someone with diabetes it could develop into a serious problem if it goes unnoticed.  If sensation is lost in the foot and such a wound develops, the patient will not feel any pain and may continue to irritate the same area on a regular basis without noticing.  A larger, more serious open wound may develop, providing a route for bacteria to easily gain access into the body and cause potentially deadly infections.

The goal I have for all of my diabetic patients is to strive to be a part of the elite group of people like those in the study who avoid any ulcers or other major complications from their diabetes.  Making a dedicated effort to examine your feet and take other small measures along with regular visits to a podiatrist to keep feet healthy is definitely worth the benefit down the road of a long and healthy life!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Everyone in the Columbus area’s brackets were busted Friday night after the Buckeye’s surprising loss to Kentucky. It is tough to continue watching the March Madness tournament once your local favorite has been knocked out! Luckily, with opening day right around the corner, the Major League Baseball season offers a new distraction in the world of sports.

Stories of what player has what injury becomes top news for fans involved in making a fantasy baseball team.  One player who has made a lot of news for a very common foot problem lately is Scott Podsednik.  Scott is a veteran outfielder who has played for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago White Sox and is now attempting to make the roster for the Toronto Blue Jays this season.  However, Scott has been suffering from chronic pain heel pain in his left foot and was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis.  Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation at the attachment of a portion of the plantar aponeurosis, or plantar fascia, which is a deep connective tissue that is stretched across the bottom of the foot.  The portion that often becomes inflamed attaches to the middle part of the calcaneus, or heel bone.  Pain on the bottom of the heel is the main feature of this condition and the intensity of pain can vary from person to person.  Plantar fasciitis can affect anyone, but is more common in obese individuals, people who are on their feet a majority of the day, & those with limited ankle flexion.  As an outfielder, Scott is certainly on his feet for his job and his planter fasciitis has recently become so painful that it will likely cost him his position on the Blue Jays. 

A variety of treatments exist for lessening the pain of plantar fasciitis.  Conservative or minimal treatments including icing the heel, taking anti-inflammatory medications and stretching the plantar aponeurosis are good starting points to relieve pain.  If these treatments do not put an end to your heel pain, it is important to visit your podiatrist to correctly diagnose the cause of your pain.  Other than plantar fasciitis, heel pain can be caused by fractures, infections, nerve entrapments and a variety of other problems.  If the diagnosis is plantar fascitis, then orthotics or custom night-splints could be issued as the next step in treatment.  Physical therapy may also be recommended as part of a treatment plan.  More drastic routes of treatment such as casting or surgery can be taken if other methods are unsuccessful.   Scott ended up making the choice to have a cast on his foot for ten days and it was just removed this past Friday, March 25.  The choice to try a cast was likely after exhausting a variety of other treatment methods.  Hopefully for Scott and his fans, the cast will prove to have been effective in relieving Scott’s plantar fasciitis.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

As everyone in the Columbus area, and all around Ohio focuses on Ohio State’s win against University of Texas-San Antonio in the NCAA March Madness tournament, Kobe Bryant had a much less successful NBA game last Saturday.  Late in the third quarter, Kobe landed a jump and appeared to severely roll his ankle. 

For anyone watching the game it was clearly a painful injury and resulted in a sprained ankle.  Kobe’s sprain occurred when his foot was in the position most commonly associated with a sprained ankle, where the foot is “inverted”.  When this happens, the arch portion of the foot moves rolls upwards from the ground and the bottom of the foot faces the opposite foot.  This will overstretch or tear the ligaments located on the outer surface of the foot and result in a sprain.  Two of the ligaments that support and stabilize the ankle joint, the calcaneofibular ligament and the anterior talofibular ligament, are the two most commonly injured ligaments in an ankle sprain.

After rolling his ankle, Kobe immediately fell to the ground in pain and eventually struggled to stand up and call a timeout.  With a sprain, swelling, tenderness, pain and bruising around the ankle will occur immediately.  For a severe sprain, other immediate effects can include an inability to put weight on the affected foot, numbness, and stiffness.  Luckily, Kobe’s sprain may not have been as serious as it looked because he was able to get up and walk with only a slight limp. He even ended up reentering the game in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks. 

Ankle sprains and injuries are an especially common injury for basketball players to look out for.  Proper fitting basketball shoes that feature a high top or three-quarter top can help to give additional support to the ankle.  Ironically, in 2009, Kobe was featured in a viral video campaign for Nike jokingly selling “Ankle Insurance” against broken ankles to advertise for Nike’s “Zoom Kobe 4” basketball sneaker.  While the viral video may have been humorous, treatment of a sprained ankle, especially for an elite athlete is serious business.  Ankle surgery can be necessary in some sprains to ensure that the tendons are correctly aligned and attached to allow for complete and healthy healing of the ankle joint.  Even in sprained ankles not requiring surgery, the injured foot should at least be iced and elevated to bring down swelling.  A period of rest should also be allowed for the tendons to strengthen and re-grow.  This may be an issue for Kobe, who should have sat out for the entire rest of the game to allow the healing process to begin and not cause any further damage. 

Not properly caring for his ankle could lead down dangerous path for both Kobe and the Lakers.  If Kobe does not follow the proper course of treatment for the best healing of his ankle, he could end up experiencing chronic lateral ankle pain and ankle instability.  By allowing for the healing time recommended by a skilled podiatrist, Kobe will save himself future ankle sprains and extra recovery time down the road and thus get back to helping out his team more effectively!!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

It is known that smoking greatly increases an individual's likelihood of developing lung cancer and heart disease. However, many people may not realize how the chemicals taken in from cigarettes affect right down to the tips of your toes! A recent study done at the San Diego School of Medicine is being widely reported on that demonstrates a strong link between smoking, lung cancer and heart disease and toenails!

In the study, toenail clippings were tested for nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco products. It was found that men with the highest amounts of nicotine in their toenails were 10.5 times more likely to develop lung cancer and that women with the highest toenail nicotine levels had a 42% increased risk of developing heart disease. The interesting thing about this study is that it showed that toenails can show how much the person had been exposed to tobacco products over the 6 years before the toenails were clipped. Even in people who did not smoke, but were exposed to second hand smoke, nicotine levels in the toenails were quite high in some cases.

While these toenail tests are not yet being used to monitor the likelihood of cancer and heart disease, the toenails are frequently an area to watch for visible signs of problems. Changes in nail color, thickness, and smell can be signs of nail fungus, or onchomycosis. Nails are a good source of nutrients for several types of fungi, making them able to thrive while living there and even spread to other toenails. People with certain chronic diseases including diabetes, circulatory problems, and immunodeficiencies are more prone to developing a nail fungus. Because many smokers also often have circulatory problems, not only would they have displayed high nicotine in testing of their toenails, but odds are that smokers would also have a higher rate of toenail fungus than non-smokers. Keeping your feet dry and clean will make the environment of your toes less inviting to a potential toenail fungus. If you do observe changes in your toenails, it is important to call your podiatrist to avoid a secondary bacterial or yeast infection. A variety of treatments are available for a toenail fungus, including the highly successful PinPointe Foot Laser which we often use for patients here at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery. While oral medications can have side effects on your entire body, and topical creams or lotions such as Lotrimin and Lamisil need to be applied frequently for an extended period of time, the PinPointe laser typically treats toenail fungus without as extensive side effects and in only one quick office visit.

Once perfected for use in the future, toenail testing could be very useful. If a patient can be made aware of a heightened risk of developing lung cancer or heart disease, their likelihood of taking proactive measures such as quitting smoking, exercising, or changing their diet to include healthier foods may increase. For now, unusual changes in the toenails should be checked carefully to avoid toenail fungus!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

As an athlete, how you care for your injuries is critical to continued and future athletic successes, regardless of whether you are one of my favorite local OSU Buckeye teams, a "weekend warrior" athlete, or a high-paid professional athlete. Tennis star Serena Williams unfortunately seems to be learning this lesson the hard way. Not only has Serena's tennis career suffered this year, but this past week she had a much bigger problem when she developed a pulmonary embolism.

Back in July 2010, Serena was wearing sandals and stepped on glass at a restaurant in Munich. She did some pretty major damage and ended up having stitches in both feet. After returning to the U.S., an MRI was used to diagnose that the tendon of the extensor hallucis longus muscle in her right toe was torn. This muscle is important in lifting up the big toe and actually extends outside of the foot up the leg. Serena opted for surgery to repair the lacerated tendon.

After surgery, Serena was seen wearing a walking cast. This was an important stage in Serena's healing process. Before starting back into playing, Serena should have been sure to obtain a proper fitting tennis shoe to support the foot and avoid "tennis toe". This is where the toe jams against the front of shoe that is too small during the motions of tennis. While this can cause bleeding under the nail in a healthy foot, it could have been especially aggravating to the recently healed area of the big toe. Physical therapy and slowly easing back into tennis would have been the best route to Serena returning to tennis. However, three months later, Serena re-tore her tendon and had to have a second surgery. Being too eager to jump back into your sport can often result in the injury redeveloping or a new injury popping up from compensating for the not fully healed one.

Her two recent surgeries, and sitting on a plane for long periods of time as part of the celebrity athlete life were both factors leading up to a venous stasis and a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. This is a clot in the deep veins of the leg or foot after loss of proper function of veins, often by an "injury" to the veins, possibly Serena's initial injury. After surgery, such as the ones in Serena's foot, tissue debris could have become irritated and formed a clot if proper precautions were not taken. Swelling in the legs and feet, and tenderness in the calf can both be warning signs that a DVT has formed. This is a life-threatening situation because the clot can get free and travel to form a pulmonary embolism.

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs. When this artery is blocked, not only can the blocked lung become deoxygenated and die, but the entire body will receive much less of the oxygenated blood it needs to survive. Luckily, Serena's pulmonary embolism was caught early by her doctor and her life was saved.

Following your podiatric physician's directions after any surgery is critical for a healthy and speedy recovery, especially for an athlete who wants to get back to their sport! It is also imperative to go in for regular post-operative check-up appointments and to schedule an extra appointment if you notice something is not healing right.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

As February and heart health month ends, patients here in Columbus have probably been hearing a lot about keeping their heart healthy from all of their healthcare providers. As a podiatrist I want my patients to know that their feet are a key indicator of their overall health, and can often play an integral role in their heart's health!

A recent study by the American Podiatric Medical Association has found that 72% of Americans say that foot pain is preventing them from exercising. These foot issues preventing exercise are a huge setback that needs to be resolved for anyone looking to lose weight and improve their overall health. Orthotics, sometimes known as "arch supports" can be very helpful in relieving pain commonly experienced while exercising. An example of a common cause of pain in runners and other athletes is plantar fasciitis. Orthotics can help to combat the pain of plantar fasciitis which is related to inflammation of the ligament that stretches from the heel across the bottom of the foot, the plantar aponeurosis. Being able to exercise comfortably and without foot pain should be a goal for all patients visiting a doctor of podiatric medicine.

The feet should be examined to check for signs of heart disease. Swelling in the foot and ankle, called edema, is abnormal and can be a sign of congestive heart failure. When the heart is weakened and cannot pump as strongly as it should, blood will pool in the lower parts of the body, especially the foot and ankle. While this swelling can be a sign of heart disease, it can also indicate many other ailments including trauma, insect bites, medications and other circulatory problems such as venous stasis. Patients should try to relieve swelling by elevating the legs above the heart when possible, applying mild pressure with support stockings and possible trying a low salt diet to reduce the amount of fluid being held in the body. A podiatrist should be consulted if swelling of the feet persists, is painful or worsens.

It is also important when dealing with patients who have already had heart problems to be aware of possible implications in the foot of their medications and treatments. For example, congestive heart failure can cause swelling, but blood pressure lowering drugs often taken by heart patients can also cause swelling. Some drugs, such as Lisinopril, which is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure has an unexpected effect in the foot. It can not only cause swelling in the foot but can also rarely cause cases of gout. Gout is when the breakdown products of amino acids from proteins accumulate in a joint, typically the joint at the base of the big toe. A "gouty attack" is very painful and often occurs at night with the affected joint being tender, red and swollen.

It is important to always keep in mind that your foot health is a key component in having total health. Heart health and foot health are surprisingly intertwined and without healthy feet it can be difficult to achieve a healthy heart!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

A woman in Myanmar has recently been trying to help her infant daughter gain a world record for an unusual deformity called polydactyly. In the foot, polydactyly is a digital deformity where you have more than 5 toes, or digits. Polydactyly can also occur in the hand with extra fingers. While this may seem like a rare deformity that would only occur in far away parts of the world, polydactyly is actually a fairly common birth defect that can occur even here in Columbus!

The young girl in Myanmar was born with 12 fingers and 13 toes, tying the current world record. While the mother of the girl was excited that her daughter was displaying exceptional grip strength in her hands, the extra digits in her foot will likely cause foot pain and other foot problems if the toes are not surgically removed. It would be difficult to find shoes that would properly fit a widened foot with extra toes.

Any time a foot with extra toes, or even the usual number of toes, is crammed into an improperly fitting shoe pressure can push the digits together in an abnormal way. Pressure pushing the tips of the toes together and pressing on the side of the foot next to the big toe could lead to another common deformity called a bunion. A bunion is an enlargement in the joint, or sometimes the bone, at the base of the big toe. Because bunions can slowly develop when the first toe is overly angled toward the other toes, they can actually be prevented by avoiding shoes that would pinch your toes together. Even with preventative measures against bunions, people with flat feet or pronation syndrome are more likely to develop a bunion. Bunions can be painful when the enlargement on the middle side of the foot rubs against the shoe. The constant irritation of the area can even lead to arthritis in the joint at the bunion.

Babies are born with flat feet and the arch develops over time. Thus, in the child from Myanmar, the combination of flat foot and extra toes being pushed together lead to greatly increased chances of developing a bunion. To prevent other foot problems from developing, surgery would generally be the best way to deal with extra toes if they are causing pain. The only way to completely get rid of a bunion and all of its symptoms is also through surgery called a bunionectomy. Non-surgical methods are often tried first to relieve bunion symptoms and pain, but not the bunion itself. Some non-surgical treatments of bunions include: orthotics, specialized padding to relieve the pressure and thus constant irritation of the bunion, and night-time splints, which are most often used in young people whose bones are still developing. A skilled podiatrist can evaluate the bunion or polydactyl patient and recommend the best treatment to stop foot pain and prevent future foot problems! Hopefully the young girl in Myanmar will not only be included in the Guiness Book of World Records, but will also be added to the list of happy patients of podiatry and grow up with happy and healthy feet!!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

When I stopped at the Polaris Fashion Place a few minutes from the office the other day, I couldn't help but to notice how many different types of "toning" shoes have sprung up at shoe stores in the past year. Celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Kendra Wilkinson and Kelly Brook have all been seen wearing the Reebok brand "Easy tone" toning shoes that pledge to tone your legs and butt. Recently, several lawsuits have been brought against a few of the toning shoe companies. The individuals suing have claimed that the shoes do not live up to the toned results promised and, for a few people, their toning shoes lead to foot and ankle injuries. These individuals could have prevented their toning shoe woes by meeting with a podiatrist to find out what shoes were right for them and how to keep their feet and ankles healthy!!

It is important to remember when choosing any type of shoe, that the main purpose of the shoe is to comfortably support and protect YOUR foot and ankle. Everyone's feet are different and a shoe that makes one person feel great, might not work for you.

The general idea of the toning shoe is to create a slight instability, causing different muscles in the leg and foot to work harder than usual. While this does not replace a traditional workout as advertised in some toning shoe ads, it does tone muscles that would not typically be toned in normal shoes. Toning shoes can be used as supplement to good, ol' sweat-inducing exercise!

As with any new exercise routine, a physical exam and foot exam should occur before making the decision to use toning shoes. The type of toning shoe you choose should fit with the activity you plan on using it for. For example, toning shoes wouldn't be recommended for basketball players who need a high-top basketball shoe to protect their ankle from jumping and twisting motions. For many individuals with a normal foot type toning shoes can function well as a walking shoe. However, for anyone with a foot ailment or different foot structure, a toning shoe may not be the best option and these individuals should definitely consult with their podiatrist to see if they should be wearing a more corrective shoe type or possibly a prescription orthotic to wear in their toning and other shoes. Toning shoes featuring a high platform would generally be advised against. Flat shoes, with a height of 1 inch or less, are the healthiest shoes for feet. The platform can increase the likelihood of rolling or spraining an ankle, especially in people with poor balance. The American Podiatric Medical Association's list of approved toning shoes is a good place to begin researching some possible toning shoe options to discuss with your podiatrist at your next appointment.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

The temptation to try going barefoot is definitely there for runners looking to improve their performances; but there are some concerns to think about before tossing the old runner sneakers in the trash and hitting your toes to the pavement. In an article in "Runner's World Magazine", the famous runner Amby Burfoot interviews sports podiatrist-biomechanist and long-time runner Kevin Kirby, D.P.M. and barefoot running advocate "Barefoot Ken Bob" Saxton on the pros and cons of barefoot running (Runner's World Article - "The Barefoot Running Debate"). "Barefoot Ken" agrees with the ideas supported by the Tarahumara runners in "Born to Run" in that he believes that barefoot running feels more natural, naturally strengthens foot and leg muscles and thus prevents injury and improves running speed. Dr. Kirby agrees that occasional "barefoot" running with some type of protective shoes or on a safe surface could be beneficial to some people for strengthening leg and foot muscles and offering a change up while training.

However, both Dr. Kirby, D.P.M. and "Barefoot Ken" agree that runners need to proceed with caution when trying out this trend. In today's world running completely barefoot is often unsafe due to the surfaces most runners travel on. No one wants to take a barefoot jog and accidentally step on a sharp pebble or rusty nail on the sidewalk! Some type of protective covering must be worn over the feet. Several options include the "Vibram FiveFingers" (which are also mentioned in "Born to Run"), or the "Nike Free". Both of these shoes have minimal cushioning and attempt to allow the foot to act as though barefoot while still being somewhat protected from the elements. Runners should also make their transition to barefoot running a gradual or incomplete one. As previously mentioned, Dr. Kirby discussed his support for occasional barefoot running, but making a drastic transition to running barefoot could be dangerous and lead to injury. It is also important to consider that even doing a small amount of barefoot running can be harmful to some runners, as barefoot running may not be for everyone.

Currently, the American Podiatric Medical Association feels that more research is necessary to determine both the short term and long term effects of barefoot running (APMA Position Statement on Barefoot Running). So for now happy running, whether you run with or without shoes, but tread carefully!!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Unfortunately, however, the bitter cold of the Columbus area can have a variety of negative effects on the skin of those even without a legitimate cold allergy and can be especially troublesome in the foot! When the skin of the heel becomes overly dry a condition called a heel fissure can occur more easily. A fissure is a crack into a deep layer of the skin, below the superficial layer called the epidermis, and can occur anywhere in skin that is thickened or callused. Because the heel is generally the thickest skin of the foot, fissures can occur in the heel when it becomes dry. The fissure can bleed and be very painful. As with any open wound in the skin, this provides the potential for an infection to enter the body. Without regular self-examination of the foot and wounds, and knowing when to call a podiatrist, infections are capable of causing gangrene. Diabetic patients are especially at risk for gangrene, which is the death of tissues near the infection from loss of oxygen supply. You should immediately call a podiatrist if you suspect infection or gangrene near a heel fissure because it can spread through the body and cause tissue death in vital organs.

To prevent all of these problems, several steps can be taken to avoid heel fissures in the first place! One way to begin preventing a heel spur is to try to prevent any heel calluses from forming. Ways to do this would be to decrease the amount of friction and rubbing that your heel has to deal with by purchasing properly fitting shoes. Some calluses can also form as a result of an abnormal bony growth in the skeleton of the foot which may require orthotics or surgical correction in order to stop the development of calluses. Another step in heel fissure prevention, especially in the cold dry winter months, would be to properly moisturize the skin of your feet. So remember that even though it's still a few more months until it's time to bust out the sandals and flaunt your toes, moisturizing and taking good care of your feet is important all year long!!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Dancers are especially subject to injuries because of the thin, relatively unsupportive nature of their footwear. The type seen in the movie are a type of pointe shoe. These shoes allow the dancers to be "standing" completely on the tips of their toes. Just think about how badly walking around on the very tips of your toes would hurt after awhile, and now imagine leaping and spinning around on a hard floor with your foot in this position - Ouch!

According to an article on the complications caused by pointe shoes in ballet, lateral ankle sprains are the most common injury suffered by ballerinas. An example of a lateral sprain appears to occur in "Black Swan" when Nina is practicing her choreography on the tips of her toes, rolls her ankle out and hears a "pop" noise. Pain and swelling in the ankle also occur at this point. This is one example of when Nina may have wanted to call her podiatrist because serious ankle sprains can require surgery for proper healing.

Toenail problems are also commonly seen by dancers and appear in "Black Swan". Nina's mother is seen cutting her toenails to a painfully short length which increases the likelihood of developing an ingrown toenail. Combine too short nails and the pressure of dancing on the tips of your toes and you've got the perfect storm for the corner of the nail to grow into the skin surrounding the nail. This can be very painful and often occurs around the nail of the big toe. Ingrown toenails can lead to infection. A podiatrist can alleviate pain caused by the ingrown toenail, plan the proper course of treatment for healing of the ingrown nail and infection, and work to prevent future ones from occurring.

When watching this movie, aspiring ballerinas should not think that living with so many painful foot ailments is normal. All athletes (and non-athletes too!) need to recognize that their foot pain can often be relieved to drastically improve the quality of their athletic performance and everyday life by consulting a doctor of podiatric medicine. Nina was clearly CRAZY in more ways than one, but especially for not taking better care of the most important tool of a ballerina: her feet!!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Plantar warts most often develop on the weight-bearing areas of the foot -- the heel or the ball of the foot -- causing sharp, burning pain. They can appear as a single wart (solitary) or a cluster of warts (mosaic). Common symptoms may include:

• Pain or discomfort when walking or standing
• Thick, scaly skin that often resembles a callus
• Hard, flat growths with well-defined boundaries
• Tiny black specks (clotted blood vessels) that often appear on the surface of the wart

Most warts disappear with home care and do not require medical treatment. You can take steps to prevent and treat plantar warts, which include:

• Changing your shoes and socks daily
• Keeping your feet clean and dry
• Avoid picking at warts as the virus may spread
• Avoid direct contact with an individual who has plantar warts
• Checking your child's feet periodically
• Refrain from walking barefoot, especially in public areas like showers, swimming pools and locker rooms
• Never ignore skin growths or changes in your skin

You should always seek care from a podiatrist when warts interfere with your daily life, aren't responding to home treatments, or if you have circulatory disorders. Contact Animesh (Andy) Bhatia D.P.M, C.W.S. if your warts:

• Change color or shape
• Cause unbearable pain and discomfort
• Interfere with activities
• Multiply or reappear

Without treatment, plantar warts can grow, spread and prompt new warts to grow as fast as the old ones disappear. If you can't confidently identify a growth on your foot, visit Dr. Bhatia, a podiatrist in the Westerville, Ohio area to ensure a correct diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment from our Columbus OH office can decrease the risk of the wart spreading and multiplying.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Repeated strain on the plantar fascia can cause tiny tears in the ligament. As tension and tearing increases, so does inflammation and irritation of the affected area. Risk factors of plantar fasciitis include foot arch problems (flat foot and high arches); excess weight; running; and a tight Achilles tendon.
The most common complaint of plantar fasciitis is pain in the bottom of the heel that develops gradually. The pain is usually worse in the morning and after sitting or standing for a long period of time. For some, the pain subsides after walking or stretching.
To reduce pain associated with plantar fasciitis:

• Rest. Limit and/or avoid activities that make your heel hurt.
• Ice. Reduce pain and swelling by icing the affected area each day.
• Stretch. Stretch your heel throughout the day, especially when you first wake up in the morning.
• Footwear modifications. Wear shoes that provide good arch support and a cushioned sole. Ask your podiatrist about pads and shoe inserts to relieve your heel pain.

When conservative treatments aren't effective or your pain persists for more than a few weeks, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. A podiatrist can recommend an appropriate treatment plan for your individual needs. This may include, stretching exercises, shoe padding, orthotic devices, night splints or therapy. Most patients respond to non-surgical treatments, but for pain that won't go away, surgery may be considered.

With proper rest and treatment, recovering from plantar fasciitis can take just a few months. Visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Worthington, Westerville and Powell when you first experience pain for a proper diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan for your individual needs.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Fast, Effective and Pain Free Nail Fungus Treatment from Columbus Podiatry & Surgery

A new breakthrough in technology is making it possible to get rid of your nail fungus fast- a new procedure known as PinPointe FootLaser. The new, patented laser technology treats nail fungus safely and quickly with no drugs, no anesthesia and no pain. It's specially designed to penetrate your toenail, vaporizing the fungus embedded deep in your nail bed. Better yet, the powerful laser beam targets the infection only and has no effect on surrounding healthy tissue. In just one appointment at our Columbus Ohio podiatry office we can treat your nail fungus, and within months following the treatment, the toenail will replace itself with a healthy, clear, fungus free nail.

Avoiding Irritating Toenail Fungus

Prevention is key to avoiding a fungal infection. The following tips can help you avoid toenail fungus.

• Practice good hygiene and inspect feet and toes regularly
• Try not to injure your nail by cutting it too short, as trauma to the nail may lead to infection
• Wear moisture wicking socks
• Wear dry, proper-fitting shoes that allow air to circulate around your feet
• Wear shower sandals when you are at a public pool or shower

Left untreated, a fungal infection can spread to other toenails, the skin on the feet and even the fingernails. Severe cases can impair one's ability to walk or lead to painful ingrown toenails. It's important to seek care when you notice signs of infection.

If you're ready to eliminate your toenail fungus, contact our columbus office and learn more about the new PinPointe FootLaser. We can evaluate your fungal infection and make recommendations for best treating and eradicating your toenail fungus once and for all.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

There are typically no physical signs of Morton's neuroma, such as a lump or a knot. Instead, symptoms may include:

• A sharp, achy or burning pain in the ball of your foot
• Numbness, tingling, or cramping in the toes or forefoot
• Feeling as if you're standing on a pebble in your shoe

While the exact cause of Morton's neuroma is unknown, the growth of the neuroma seems to occur in response to injury, pressure or irritation to one of the nerves that lead to the toes. People with certain foot deformities - bunions, hammertoes and flatfeet- are at higher risk for developing a neuroma. Women are also more likely to develop this condition as wearing high-heels or narrow-toed shoes can increase pressure on the toes. Other potential causes are activities that involve repetitive irritation to the ball of the foot, such as running.

Morton's neuroma can make walking and performing normal activities difficult and painful. Treatment options vary with the severity of each neuroma, and identifying the neuroma in its earliest stage of development is important to avoid more invasive treatments or surgical correction. Left untreated, neuromas tend to worsen, so it's always best to visit our Columbus office at the first sign of pain.

Early treatments aim to relieve or reduce pressure on the area around the affected toes. Depending on the severity of your neuroma, a podiatrist may recommend:

• Modifications to footwear. Wide-toed shoes relieve pressure on the neuroma.
• Shoe inserts or padding to provide support for the arch of the foot, which removes pressure from the nerve.
• Anti-inflammatory medications can help ease any pain and inflammation. Ask your doctor first.
• Icing to reduce inflammation.
• Rest to lessen repetitive pressure on the neuroma.

In the most severe cases, surgery may be recommended for patients who do not respond to conservative treatments. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery can help you determine the best approach for your specific condition.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

• Sharp, aching or burning pain in the ball of your foot -- the part of the sole just behind the toes
• Pain that intensifies when you stand, walk or run
• Pain that radiates from the balls of the feet into the toes
• Numbness or tingling in the toes
• A feeling in your feet as if you are walking with a pebble in your shoe
• Pain that increases when walking barefoot

Sometimes a single factor can trigger metatarsalgia. More often, multiple factors contribute to the pain, including:

• Over-training or Over-activity. Extensive training and high-impact sports, especially running, places an abnormal amount of stress on the balls of the feet, causing irritation, inflammation and pain.
• Other foot disorders. High arches, hammertoes, bunions, stress fractures and Morton's neuroma can all trigger metatarsalgia symptoms.
• Poor-fitting footwear. High heels, narrow-toed shoes and shoes without adequate padding can all contribute to metatarsal problems.
• Excess weight. Extra weight places excess pressure on your metatarsals.
• Aging. The fat pads on the metatarsals thin out as a person ages, diminishing the ability of the metatarsal bones to protect themselves.

Although generally not serious, metatarsalgia can disrupt your day to day activities, and when left untreated can lead to additional pain in your unaffected foot, back or hips. Treatment to eliminate metatarsalgia symptoms can be as simple as resting, icing the affected area and wearing proper-fitting shoes to significantly reduce swelling and ease pain.

When conservative treatments aren't affective and pain persists, visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery for a full exam and a proper diagnosis. In most cases, metatarsalgia can be treated non-surgically. An experienced podiatrist at our Columbus office may prescribe specially-designed orthotics or shock-absorbing insoles and arch supports to prevent and minimize future problems with metatarsalgia.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

People develop ingrown toenails for various reasons. Poor nail-trimming is the most common cause, as this encourages the skin to fold over the nail. Other causes include trauma, such as stubbing a toe, or skin conditions, such as fungal infections or nails that are simply too large. In some cases, the condition may even be inherited. Poor-fitting shoes generally aggravate the condition, making it worse.

Many cases of ingrown toenails may be prevented by:

• Wearing well-fitted shoes and socks
• Protecting feet from trauma when possible
• Trimming toenails straight across and avoiding repeated trimming of the nail borders
• Keeping feet clean and dry to prevent infection

If an infection is not suspected of your ingrown, it can usually be safely treated from home by soaking your foot in warm water. Avoid "bathroom surgery" and repeated cutting of the nail as this will only make the condition worse.

When attempts to reduce your symptoms from home fail, or when pain, inflammation, swelling or discharge accompany your ingrown, the toenail is most likely infected and should be treated by a podiatrist at our Columbus OH office. People with diabetes, nerve damage or poor circulation should always seek care immediately if an ingrown nail is detected, regardless of the severity.

A podiatrist can examine the affected toe and determine the best treatment for your condition. For an infection, an antibiotic may be prescribed. Other treatments may involve trimming or removing the infected nail with a minor in-office surgical procedure.

Ingrown toenails may be annoying, but rest assured that they can easily be prevented and treated with the help of your podiatrist. If you think you have an ingrown toenail, visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery for quick and easy treatment.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

The most common cause of hammertoe is a muscle imbalance. Tight-fitting and high-heeled shoes often aggravate the condition, crowding your toes forward. A hammertoe can also be the result of injury in which you break or jam the toe, or from conditions like arthritis or stroke that affect nerves and muscles. In some cases, hammertoes may even be inherited.

Because of their clenched, claw-like appearance, hammertoes will generally be visibly present. Other signs and symptoms include:

• Difficult or painful motion of a toe joint
• Redness or swelling at a toe joint
• Development of calluses and corns
• Open sores in severe cases

The foot and ankle professionals at our Columbus OH office recommend the following for preventing and reducing the symptoms associated with hammertoe:

• Wear comfortable, proper-fitting shoes that provide support and allow enough room for your toes
• Avoid high-heeled or narrow-toed shoes
• Stretch your toe muscles to relieve pressure and pain
• Apply splints, cushions or pads to relieve pressure
• Moisturize with cream to keep the skin soft

Generally, a modification of footwear will reduce the symptoms associated with hammertoe. Other non-surgical treatment includes padding to shield corns and calluses and orthotic devices that are placed in the shoe to help control muscle imbalance. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery can help you determine the best treatment for your symptoms. Severe cases that don't respond to conservative measures may require surgery to restore your toe's flexibility and eliminate the pressure.

Hammertoes are progressive - they don't go away by themselves and the condition usually gets worse over time. Once a podiatrist at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery has evaluated your hammertoe, a treatment plan can be developed that is suited to your needs.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Growing pains are often characterized by a sharp, throbbing pain in the leg muscles, usually occurring during the night and sometimes late afternoon without an apparent cause. The nighttime pain can be so intense that it is enough to wake the child from sleep. While there is no evidence that a child's growth is painful, these pains often occur during an active day of running, jumping or swimming.

Whenever a child is afflicted by episodes of recurrent leg pain, it is always best to have them evaluated by Columbus Podiatry & Surgery. Other foot and leg conditions should be ruled out before a diagnosis of growing pains is made. If the examination is normal, with no redness, tenderness, swelling, or limitation of movement, then it is generally safe to say the child is suffering from growing pains.

Consult with a physician or a podiatrist at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery if aching legs are a chronic complaint or if the pain is so severe it interferes with the child's daily activities. Persistent pain and other unusual symptoms may indicate a more serious problem. The following symptoms are not due to growing pains and should be evaluated by a doctor:

• Persistent pain
• Swelling or redness in one specific area or joint
• Limping
• Fever
• Loss of Appetite
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Abnormal behavior

There are no treatments or medications available for growing pains, but parents can help ease the pain with simple home remedies.

• Massage and rub the child's ache until the pain passes
• Stretch your child's legs throughout the day and before bed
• Heating pads or warm baths can help soothe sore muscles
• Over-the-counter pain relievers (always consult with physician first)

While growing pains are commonly seen in young children during the growth and development years, lower extremity pain can also be caused by mechanical misalignments and structural imperfections. A thorough evaluation is crucial in order to determine the exact cause of your child's leg pain. If growing pains are the cause of your child's discomfort, rest assured that the pain is only temporary and will pass with time.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Foot odor is a common problem, especially among those who perspire excessively, but it can be both embarrassing and physically uncomfortable. If you suffer from foot odor, rest assured that simple lifestyle changes and improved personal hygiene can help reduce and eliminate the smell.

Easy Ways to Eliminate Foot Odor

Since most foot odor is caused from excess sweat and the growth of odor-causing bacteria, it's relatively easy to control and reduce foot odor on your own. Start by taking the following preventative steps:

• Keep your feet clean by washing them with an antibacterial soap on a regular basis to minimize bacteria.
• Keep feet dry as moisture enables the growth of bacteria.
• Alternate shoes and avoid wearing the same pair for multiple days in a row.
• Choose open shoes such as sandals when possible, allowing air onto the feet which evaporates sweat and slows the growth of bacteria.
• Wear cotton socks which whisk away moisture and absorb perspiration.
• Apply foot sprays and powders to the feet. Ask Columbus Podiatry & Surgery for recommended products.
• Disinfect, wash and discard foul smelling shoes as necessary.

The causes of foot odor are typically not harmful to your health, but do create an environment for the growth of fungus and bacteria. It's not unusual for infections such as toenail fungus and athlete's foot to develop as a result.

When improving your foot hygiene doesn't help reduce the smell, you may need to visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery, as persistent foot odor can indicate an infection or a severe case of hereditary sweating. In these cases, a prescription ointment may be required to treat the problem. Visit our Columbus office and we'll work with you to determine the cause and most effective treatment for your condition.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

A Runner's Road Block

While many running-related foot injures can result from a fall or twisted ankle, most running injuries are caused by overuse, meaning the majority of runners experience foot and ankle pain because they do too much for too long. Runners should be aware of the signs of foot problems that can slow them down if not treated promptly. Common foot and ankle injuries experienced by runners include:

Achilles Tendonitis: Achilles tendonitis and other calf-related injuries are prevalent in runners. Poor training, overuse and improper footwear are the three most common reasons for this condition. A sudden increase in distance or pace can strain the muscles and tendons in the foot and ankle, causing small tears within these structures that result in pain and inflammation. Appropriate shoes and training are the most important steps to preventing Achilles tendonitis. Conservative treatment includes, rest, ice, stretching, and sometimes orthotics or physical therapy.

Heel Pain: Runners develop heel pain more than any other foot-related injury. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain, which is the result of excess stress placed on a ligament in the bottom of the foot. Rest, stretching and support are the best ways to ease the pain and inflammation. Reduce your mileage and avoid hill and speed workouts. Stretch before and after you run, and ice your heel after each workout. Special splints and shoe inserts from Columbus Podiatry & Surgery may also provide support and relief for your heel pain.

Stress Fractures: Stress fractures are small cracks in the surface of a bone. Runners generally notice gradual muscle soreness, stiffness, and pain on the affected bone, most often in the lower leg or the foot. Early diagnosis is critical as the small fracture can spread and eventually become a complete fracture of the bone. Stress fractures are typically caused by an increase in training that occurs more quickly than the body's ability to build up and strengthen the bone. If you have symptoms of a stress fracture, you should stop running immediately and see a podiatrist at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery. This injury can keep a runner off the roads for several weeks and is not an injury that you can run through. Depending on the severity of the stress fracture, a cast may be necessary.

If you experience chronic foot pain from running, make an appointment with a podiatrist at our Columbus podiatry office. Leaving foot injuries untreated could result in more serious conditions, ultimately keeping you from your best performance. Keep in mind that these are not the only foot ailments caused by running, and when at-home foot care isn't effective, you'll need to be evaluated by a podiatrist. As in most cases, prevention is your best treatment. Good footwear, proper training and recognizing a problem before it becomes serious are your keys to staying on the road and avoiding foot injuries.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Read the original article online here | Download PDF version here

LANCASTER, Ohio (TBD) - Recently, Dr. Animesh Bhatia was named Fairfield Medical Center's Assistant Medical Director of the Wound Clinic located in Lancaster.

The Wound Clinic at Fairfield Medical Center specializes in healing chronic wounds. The clinic's team of board-certified physicians and wound certified nurses dedicate themselves to treat hard to heal wounds that may be a result of diabetes, poor circulation, trauma, surgery or other conditions. Many of the patients are completely healed after suffering for months or even years after previous treatments failed. The Wound Clinic at FMC, under Medical Director Andrew Murry, M.D, offers state-of-the-art equipment, treatments and advanced wound therapies and is conveniently located at 135 N. Ewing Street in Lancaster.

Dr. Bhatia now joins Dr. Murry as the new Assistant Medical Director. Dr. Bhatia has been in private practice for over ten years as the CEO of Columbus Podiatry and Surgery in Columbus, Ohio. He serves as a wound consultant for 3 other area hospitals and over 25 acute and long-term care facilities in the Central Ohio area. He is a Certified Wound Specialist, also a Fellow of both the American Professional Wound Care Association and the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management.

Dr. Bhatia looks forward to his new role at the Wound Clinic, noting, "I am honored to now serve as the Assistant Medical director for the Wound Clinic, and be able to help patients who may sometimes have been suffering for years with their condition."

For more information about the Wound Clinic at Fairfield Medical Center, please call (740) 689-6430.

One common type of flatfoot is adult-acquired flatfoot. It is caused by overstretching the tendon that supports the arch. Flexible flatfoot is also common and occurs when the foot is flat when standing, but returns to a normal arch in non-weight-bearing positions.

Factors than increase your risk of flat feet include:

• Excess weight
• Age
• Injury to your foot or ankle
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Pregnancy

When to See Your Columbus Podiatrist

Most adults with a fallen arch experience little to no pain. For these patients, treatment is rarely necessary. A painful flatfoot, however, may be the sign of a congenital abnormality or an injury to the muscles and tendons of the foot. Pain can be severe, making it difficult to walk, wear shoes and perform simple every day tasks. More than achy feet, flatfoot can also lead to other, more serious problems and pain for your ankles, knees, back and hips.

Common symptoms associated with flat feet include:

• Swelling along the inside of the ankle
• Feet that tire easily or ache after standing for an extended period of time
• A lack of mobility in your foot and difficulty standing on your toes
• Sore, swollen feet; especially in the heel or arch of your foot

Steps Away from Flatfoot Pain Relief

If you are experiencing pain caused by flatfoot, visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery for an evaluation. We can identify the cause of your pain and recommend the best treatments for your type of arch.

Talk with your podiatrist about the following treatment options:

• Shoe inserts/ Orthotics
• Shoe modifications
• Rest and ice
• Stretching exercises
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
• Surgery

Whether you were born with flat feet or you acquired fallen arches over time, if your flat feet are causing you pain or interfering with your day to day activities, visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery. We can work with you to determine the best treatment options to eliminate the pain, improve your mobility and get you back to the activities you love.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Foot Care for Diabetics

Simple daily foot care can help prevent serious health problems associated with diabetes.

At Columbus Podiatry & Surgery, we recommend the following tips for keeping your feet healthy and preventing foot complications:

• Wash feet daily. Keep feet clean with mild soap and lukewarm water, and dry thoroughly.
• Moisturize. Moisturize daily to keep dry skin from cracking, and avoid putting lotion between your toes as this may cause infection.
• Trim your toenails carefully. Cut straight across, avoiding the corners; visit our office for assistance
• Never treat corns or calluses on your own. Visit your podiatrist for treatment.
• Protect your feet from hot and cold.
• Keep the blood flowing in your feet and legs. Elevate your feet when sitting; don't sit cross-legged; and stay active.
• Inspect your feet every day. Check your feet for cuts, redness, swelling and nail problems. Contact Columbus Podiatry & Surgery if you notice anything unusual- even the slightest change.
• Avoid Smoking. Smoking restricts blood flow in the feet
• Wear comfortable, supportive shoes and never walk barefoot
• Visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery for regular exams. Seeing a podiatrist at our Columbus, OH office regularly can help prevent diabetic foot problems.

At Columbus Podiatry & Surgery, we understand that living with diabetes can be challenging. Let's discuss simple ways you can reduce your risk of foot injuries. We'll work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and gets you back on your feet so you can enjoy the things you love. Remember to inspect your feet every day. If you detect an injury- no matter how small- come in for an exam right away.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Identifying a Corn or Callus

Corns and calluses are similar in nature, but differ in size and location. Corns are smaller than calluses and usually have a hard, thickened center surrounded by red, inflamed skin. They typically develop on the tops and sides of your toes and can be painful when touched. Calluses generally develop on your heels and balls of your feet. They vary in size and shape, although almost always larger than corns.

For most people who develop calluses or corns, eliminating the source of pressure is usually enough to make the thickened skin disappear. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery recommends the following for treating corns and calluses:

• Wear comfortable shoes and socks. When footwear fits properly, there is less opportunity for friction and rubbing to occur.
• Soak your feet in warm, soapy water to help remove corns and calluses. Rub the thickened skin with a pumice stone to remove toughened layers more easily.
• Keeping your feet moisturized with foot cream or lotion will help improve the quality of your skin and rid your feet from calluses or corns.

When to Seek Care from Columbus Podiatry & Surgery

When corns and calluses don't respond to conservative care, contact our Columbus, OH office for a careful evaluation. We can investigate the possible causes of your corn or callus, safely remove the thick, hardened area of skin, and recommend appropriate footwear and treatment, including padding and inserts. Never attempt to cut away a corn or callus on your own, especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation. Instead, seek advice from Columbus Podiatry & Surgery for careful removal and proper care.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Bunions develop due to prolonged abnormal pressure or motion on your big toe joint, most often caused by inherited structural defects, poor-fitting shoes, foot injuries, or congenital deformities. Women are generally more prone to bunions because of the shoe types typically worn, such as high-heels and narrow-toed shoes.

Bunion pain can range from mild to severe, often making it difficult to wear shoes and perform normal activities. You should contact our Columbus office if you notice the following symptoms:

• An enlarged, visible bulge on your big toe joint
• Restricted movement of your big toe or foot that prevents you from performing normal activities
• Irritation, corns or calluses caused by the overlap of the first and second toes
• Frequent pain, swelling or redness around your big toe joint

Treatment for a bunion will vary depending on its severity. Identifying the condition in its early stages is important to avoid surgery, with the main objective of early treatment being to relieve pressure and stop the progression of the deformity. Many times conservative treatments, such as padding, modified footwear or orthotic devices can be highly effective for preventing further growth and reducing the pressure and pain.

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery recommends the following for reducing pressure and pain caused by bunions:

• Wear comfortable shoes that don't cramp or irritate your toes and avoid high-heeled shoes
• Apply ice to reduce inflammation and pain
• Our podiatrists can show you how to apply padding to your foot to place it in its normal position and reduce stress on the bunion

When early treatments fail or the persistent pain associated with your bunion is interfering with your daily activities, a surgical procedure may be recommended as a last resort to realign the toe joint and alleviate the pressure. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery can advise you on the best treatment options available to relieve pressure on the bunion and slow the progression of the joint deformity.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Causes of Bone Spurs in the Feet

When your feet are repeatedly exposed to excessive pressure and stress, a bone spur can form as a result of the body's normal response to repair itself. The following activities and conditions are also common causes of bone spurs in the feet:

• High-impact activities, such as running
• Excessive weight
• Poor-fitting footwear
• Tightening of the plantar fasciitis due to excessive stress
• Aging

Because there are no obvious symptoms associated with bone spurs in the feet, diagnosing the disorder can be difficult. Some people experience unbearable pain in particular areas of their foot when exposed to pressure, which prompts them to seek medical care. Other people can go long periods of time without realizing they even have a bone spur. An x-ray can identify a bone spur in your foot, but if it isn't causing you pain, damaging other tissues or restricting your movement, treatment probably won't be necessary.

Identifying the cause of your bone spur, such as poor-fitting shoes or weight gain, is often times enough to reduce the pressure that is causing the pain.

Conservative treatments for bone spurs include:

• Change in footwear
• Weight loss
• Padding or insoles
• Deep tissue massage and stretching

If you're experiencing chronic foot pain, schedule an appointment at our Columbus, OH office. At Columbus Podiatry & Surgery we'll carefully examine your feet and evaluate your symptoms to better understand your condition. If you've developed a bone spur, we can work with you to create a treatment plan that best fits your needs and puts an end to your frustrating foot pain.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Tips from Columbus Podiatry & Surgery for avoiding Athlete's Foot:

- Keep your feet dry, allowing them to air out as much as possible
- Wear socks that draw moisture away from your feet and change them frequently if you perspire heavily
- Wear light, well-ventilated shoes
- Alternate pairs of shoes, allowing time for your shoes to dry each day
- Always wear waterproof shoes in public areas, such as pools, locker rooms, or communal showers
- Never borrow shoes due to the risk of spreading a fungal infection

Treatment

A mild case of athlete's foot will generally clear up on its own with over-the-counter antifungal creams and sprays. But since re-infection is common due to its contagious nature, many people require prescribed anti-fungal medication to effectively treat the infection. Generally, it's always best to consult with Columbus Podiatry & Surgery before choosing a treatment.

Mild cases of athlete's foot can turn severe and even cause a serious bacterial infection. If you notice your rash has become increasingly red, swollen and painful or you develop blisters and sores, call our Columbus office right away. Athlete's foot left untreated could eventually spread to other body parts and infect other people around you.

With the right treatment, you'll be cured of your athlete's foot in no time, which means the sooner you can enjoy the activities you love without pain and irritation!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

After extensive research and new advances in podiatric technology, there are now faster and more accurate ways to asses a patient's feet and administer the most appropriate treatment. In fact, many foot problems can be treated most effectively by addressing their mechanical function, and at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery, we offer our new Computerized Gait Analysis technology that helps us identify biomechanical faults faster and more accurately than ever.

Assessing Your Gait

Our Computerized Gait Analysis is an advanced method used to assess the way an individual walks or runs to highlight biomechanical abnormalities. While many of these common problems are treatable with modern medicine, assessing motion, and more specifically how you walk, has always been limited until the recent development of the Computerized Gait Analysis.

The Procedure

A Computerized Gait Analysis uses pressure mapping technology to identify pressure points in the feet as a patient walks or runs. Dr. Animesh Bhatia and Dr. Sarah Newby can observe and analyze the way an individual moves, looking in particular at the feet, ankles, knees and hips to determine the problem. This can then be relayed to a computer screen where slow motion and freeze frames can be used to carefully assess your running or walking style. By assessing the condition in the actual environment that causes that particular problem, we can actually identify what is happening while you walk and give you the best treatment for your condition based on this data.

By analyzing the mechanics of a patient's stance, postural alignment, and flexibility of the hips and back, recommendations can be made for orthotics, shoe modifications or a course of physical therapy designed to strengthen core muscles. Many times, with the right treatment, surgery can be avoided, thus diminishing the recovery time from a variety of injuries or disorders. With the new foot pressure measurement technology, our Columbus office can identify foot abnormalities more accurately than ever before.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

The good news is that a custom-made orthotic in Columbus from Columbus Podiatry & Surgery can relieve your chronic foot pain by supporting the bone structures of your feet, allowing these structures to work together properly. Orthotics help correct structural problems and conditions such as heel pain and plantar fasciitis; arch pain; pain related to diabetes or age; and many other foot pains related to bunions, sprains and other conditions.

State-of-the-Art Foot Scanners from Columbus Podiatry & Surgery

Now when patients come into our Columbus office, we can use our state-of-the-art foot scanner to provide a dynamic, biomechanic assessment of the foot. Our new foot scanning technology offers precise mapping of the contours of the feet, resulting in a more accurate orthotic fitting for each patient. The process is extremely fast and accurate, and using this advanced technology, we can create the most comfortable and suitable solution for the correction of your feet.

If you are experiencing foot pain or instability, visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery for a thorough biomechanical assessment. After an evaluation of your foot, we can use our advanced foot scanning system to manufacture the best orthotic specifically for you and your feet.

If your feet hurt, your entire body hurts. At Columbus Podiatry & Surgery our goal is to design and fabricate the most effective custom orthotic devices to help relieve your pain and get you on the road to recovery!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

While people around Columbus may feel as though they have difficulties finding comfortable shoes, one man from Rochester, Minnesota has truly not had a pair of properly fitting shoes in six long years.  Igor Vovkovinskiy is the tallestman in America at 7 feet 8 inches tall.  His feet are so large that no shoe template existed for the estimated size 26 extra wide shoe he would need.  Because of this, the $16,000 price of the shoes posed a major barrier to Igor’s foot health, until he reached out via the internet to ask for donations.  He has now surpassed the $16,0000 goal and has various shoe companies offering to produce the shoes. 

Like Igor, people suffering from a variety of diseases or congenital deficits may also require a custom or modified shoe in order to maintain good foot health.  Nerve disease is one condition that can result in the need for custom shoes.  When loss of sensation occurs in the feet, bony changes can occur that result in arthritis.  This arthritis resulting from nerve disease is called neuropathic arthritis.  Individuals with diabetes represent a major portion of the population who develop neuropathic arthritis in the form of Charcot foot.  In Charcot foot, damage is inflicted on the foot bones as the individual continues to walk on damaged tissue because they are unable to feel pain from the damage.    The bone fragments into pieces, and then coalesces and reforms into an extremely misshapen foot.  A Charcot foot is typically very wide with complete collapse of the arch by the time bone remodeling is complete.  The combination of foot deformity with inability to feel is a potent combination leading to the development of dangerous ulcers for a diabetic patient. 

Luckily, custom shoes can be found with much less work than Igor had to put in to obtain his, simply by visiting your podiatrist.   Charcot and other complications of diabetes can frequently be avoided through regular podiatric care.  It is believed that the biomechanical condition called “equinus” where the foot is unable to lift off the ground, which can result from overpronation, contributes to the development of Charcot foot and ulcers in patients with diabetes.  Your podiatrist at Columbus Podiatry and Surgery can create individualized custom orthotics using a digital gait scanner to correct these biomechanical abnormalities.   Unlike Igor’s $16,000 extremely large shoes, many insurance companies recognize the need and offer coverage of custom shoes and orthotics for diabetic patients meeting specific criteria.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-859-FEET (3338) for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

While it has not become a craze in Columbus yet, a new cosmetic surgery craze in Great Britain has begun making headlines in the US over the past few weeks.  Dermal filler is being injected into women’s feet to provide additional cushioning in areas that are placed under excess pressure by wearing extreme high heels.  The surgery has been nicknamed a “Loub job” in reference to the French shoe designer Christian Louboutin who has been quoted that he does not care if his shoe creations are uncomfortable.  With unpleasant thoughts of wearing painful heels to upcoming graduations and graduation parties for their kids at Westerville South High School, Beechcroft High School or any of the other schools in the Columbus area, women should be pleased to know that less extreme measures can offer great pain relief!

While it would be ideal for optimal foot health to completely eliminate high heels and stilettos from a woman’s shoe choices, it is understandable that there are occasions where dressing up is necessary.  When choosing a dress shoe there are a few things women can do to decrease the pain and potential for injury or deformity caused by the shoe.  Selecting a shoe with a wider toebox versus a pointy toe can limit the development of painful corns and calluses as well as bunions and hammertoes.  If possible, choosing a lower height heel can also decrease the extreme amount of pressure placed on the ball of the foot. 

Certain areas of the foot are affected worse than other when wearing heels.  These areas include the ball of the foot, the bottom and back of the heel and the toe pads, which are some of the areas where dermal filler is being injected in the cosmetic surgery “Loub job”.  High heels are notorious for causing a painful bony bump on the back of the heel in women that is called a “Haglund’s deformity” or “Pump Bump”.  This bump develops from the excess irritation caused by the rigid structure of a pump or high heeled style shoe.  Changing the shoes and adding a heel grip device to the shoe to provide a cushion in the painful aspect are options to decrease the symptoms.  Surgery offers the ability to completely remove the painful bump.  Metatarsalgia, or pain in the ball of the foot, is another issue being targeted by these injections.  There are many custom padding options that your podiatrist can create that will offer the extra cushioning, without having to go through an injection.  It is also important to realize that pain in the ball of the foot may be occurring for reasons that will not be cured by increasing the foot’s cushioning.  For example, neuromas are seen with increased frequency in women who wear heels but often require surgery or injections to remove the irritated nerve in order to alleviate the pain.  For this reason, it is always crucial to have a thorough appointment with your podiatrist to correctly diagnose a problem before self-treating or selecting a treatment from another health professional if they have not identified the underlying cause of the pain. 

Talk to your podiatrist to discuss all the options to enjoy and show off your toes at graduations and spring events without suffering through foot pain!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET(3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-859-FEET(3338) for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

If you are trying enjoying the nice spring weather coming up in Metzger Park, Sharon Woods Park or Highbanks Park, you might notice the skin on your feet is a little itchier than usual this time of year if you suffer from eczema.  This disease can be extremely irritating on the feet and elsewhere on the body.  Even Kate Middleton has told stories of being bullied for the rashes of eczema on her skin. 

Atopic dermatitis becomes worse in the spring because spring is also the season when allergies are at their peak.  This skin condition is seen most commonly in children.  Children affected will frequently have other signs of inherited allergies including runny nose and itchy eyes.  Allergens cause a sensation of intense itching but do not cause the actual skin appearance seen in eczema.  The visible rash, small blisters or skin thickening that occurs in eczema is actually caused by the intense itching and scratching as the individual tries to achieve relief.  On the affected child’s foot, it is commonly seen as redness and scales and possibly even fissures, or cracks in the skin from the extended itching.  Darkening of the skin or hyperpigmentation can also be seen after extended periods of itching in the affected area.  The area around the ankle where the top of sneakers may rub and cause friction is a frequent area of involvement.  When cuts or fissures do develop from itching, parents should watch carefully  for any signs of infection of the foot.  If pain, swelling, or pus appear at the affected area, contact your podiatrist as soon as possible so that antibiotics may be prescribed. 

Eczema is treated by both lessening the allergic sensation of the foot being “itchy”and by decreasing the habitual itching that develops as a result of the condition.  Moisturizing creams, topical corticosteroids and medications commonly used for allergies, such as anti-histamines, are used to suppress the sensation of itchiness.  Removing external irritants, such as a high top sneaker that rubs against the irritated ankle would also be utilized to decrease the appearance of rashes.  

Many different skin conditions can affect the foot and ankle.  For this reason it is critical to obtain a correct diagnosis from your podiatrist before beginning treatment of a skin condition.  Dry scaly skin may just be a sign of eczema, or it could be athlete’s foot, in which case applying a moisturizing cream could do more harm than good.  Many skin cancers of the foot can also mimic less sinister skin lesions including athlete’s foot or an eczematous rash.   

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see apodiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Women around Columbus took part in a variety of activities celebrating National Women’s Health Week over the past week.  Local YMCA branches offered free health screenings, and events promoting a healthy lifestyle including a “Fitness Friday”.  Feet play a huge role when it comes to screening for health problems and maintaining good health for women. 

According to the American Diabetes Association, 10.8% of women over 20 years of age have diabetes.  This means that teaching women with diabetes how to care for their feet is a huge focus in women’s health.  In people with diabetes, their elevated blood sugars impair the function of white blood cells which are responsible for fighting off infection.  Because of this, serious infections can happen more easily in people with diabetes.  Foot infections are the most common infection individuals with diabetes develop.  Women with diabetes should schedule annual podiatric exams and always call their podiatrist at the first signs of infection in their feet.  The cardinal signs of infection to watch for are swelling, pain, redness, increased warmth of the skin around a wound, and loss of the normal function of the foot.  Foot health during pregnancy should always be monitored as it can be an important indicator of health problems, but pregnant women also need to focus on preventing the condition called “gestational diabetes”.  Women who develop this pre-diabetes condition during pregnancy are at a greatly increased risk of developing full blown diabetes type 2 and the foot and ankle complications it brings with it.

With summer on the horizon, many women will want their feet and toenails to look nice so they can wear their tall sandals out or go to the beach without feeling embarrassed by their toes.  One of the most important things women should do to care for their feet in the warm weather is to always apply sunscreen to the tops of the feet anytime the skin will be exposed, including when wearing strappy sandals.  This is one of the most missed areas for sunscreen application and creates high risk of developing malignant melanoma, or skin cancer in the foot.  Before summer, many women would like to get rid of dry scaly skin, and unattractive, thick, crusty toenails.  If your dry skin does not improve with moisturizing lotion, it can be a sign of a fungal infection or athlete’s foot and you should contact your podiatrist to receive anti-fungal medication.  Thick, discolored nails are also a sign of fungal infection.  Toenail fungus is very difficult to treat in the short period of time left to be ready for beach season, unless you choose to undergo treatment from the PinPointe Foot Laser.  Normally, when nails are infected with a fungus, nail polish should not be worn on the toes because it covers the fungus and allows it to continue growing and thriving.  However, with the PinPointe system, immediately after the treatment nails can be painted over and ready for your next pool party!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia