How your podiatrists in Bozeman, MT, can help when you have an ingrown toenail.
Ingrown toenails are both ugly and painful. They can make it difficult to put on shoes and walk around. Fortunately, you can do a lot to prevent ingrown toenails, and if you develop an ingrown toenail, your podiatrist can help your toe heal.
Dr. Dallin Greene and Dr. Nathan Judd at Big Sky Foot and Ankle Institute in Bozeman, MT, offer a wide range of podiatry services, including treatment of ingrown toenails.
Ingrown toenails can be caused by:
- Cutting your toenails too short
- Having toenails that naturally curl under
- Wearing shoes that are too narrow and crush your toes together
- Experiencing an injury to your toes or toenails
- Having a fungal or bacterial infection underneath your toenail
You will know you have an ingrown toenail if your toe is:
- Swollen and painful
- Red or purple and looking bruised
- Developing blood or pus underneath the nail
There are several ways to prevent an ingrown toenail. Remember to:
- Avoid cutting your toenails too short
- Always cut your toenails straight across, with no rounded corners
- Wear shoes with plenty of room for your toes
Home remedies can give you some relief from an ingrown toenail. You can try:
- Soaking your toe in warm water daily
- Placing a piece of dental floss under your toenail to help the toenail grow away from your skin
- Wearing sandals or open-toed shoes until your toe heals
If home remedies don’t help and your ingrown toenail is getting worse, you need to visit your podiatrist. Professional treatments for an ingrown toenail include:
- Using oral and topical antibiotic cream to eliminate infection
- Removing the ingrown part of your toenail
- Removing the entire toenail so a healthy toenail can grow
To find out more about the causes and treatment of ingrown toenails, call Dr. Dallin Greene and Dr. Nathan Judd at Big Sky Foot and Ankle Institute in Bozeman, MT. You can reach them in the office by calling (406) 782-2278, so call now.
Pounding pavement, intense box jumps, PR deadlifts…we couldn’t do the activities and exercise we love without healthy feet and ankles. Of course, feet and ankles are also prone to injury. The good news is that there are strategies and tips you can follow to proactively keep your feet and ankles healthy to reduce your risk for sports-related injuries.Choose the Right Shoes for the Job
There’s a reason there are shoes just for runners, shoes for weightlifters, and shoes for soccer players. Every sport requires its own shoes that provide just the right cushioning, stability, and support for the feet and ankles. Wearing the right shoes for your chosen sport is imperative to providing your feet with exactly what they need whether it’s ankle stability for those quick side-to-side movements or added cushioning for power jumps.
Rotate Socks and Shoes Regularly
As you work out it’s natural for your feet to sweat; however, the last thing you want to do is leave your feet in sweaty shoes and socks. That’s why it’s always best to carry at least another pair of socks with you and to swap them out after exercise to prevent blisters or a nasty fungal infection. Always choose moisture-wicking socks to help wick away some of the sweat.
Know When to Get Rid of Your Shoes
No shoes are designed to last forever. While you may simply love your sneakers you have to recognize when to part ways and get a new pair. After all, shoes wear down over time and they are less likely to cushion or absorb shock, which can leave you prone to injuries. Shoes are only designed to last about 300-500 miles. If you see that the treads are wearing out this is a clear sign that it’s time to invest in a new pair of sneakers.
Train and Condition Regularly
It’s important that you condition your body and train even off-season so that your body is primed and ready once the season begins. Conditioning the body including the feet and ankles gets them prepared for activity, and it also means that you can increase intensity and duration gradually to reduce your risk for injury. Make sure that you are training throughout the season, even off-season.
Even if you aren’t dealing with foot or ankle problems, if you are physically active or an athlete, having a podiatrist that you turn to regularly for care and advice can go a long way to preventing injuries and other problems.
A blister can be a real nuisance. It can make it uncomfortable to walk around, let alone try to go on your run. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to reduce your risk of developing blisters. Take care of your feet and they will take care of you. Of course, if you have diabetes or nerve damage in your feet and you do find yourself dealing with a blister, it’s important to always turn to a podiatrist right away for care.Wear the Proper Shoes
Whether you’re hiking, running, or simply walking to work, it’s important that you are wearing the appropriate shoes for the job. Shoes that don’t provide your feet with enough cushion and support, especially when pounding the pavement, can leave you dealing with blisters, calluses, and other foot injuries. Make sure that you are also getting shoes that provide the ideal fit. Shoes that are too tight or loose can rub against the skin and result in blisters.
Apply Padding
There are blister pads on the market for a reason! Even if you are wearing properly fitted footwear, you may still find that you need a little added protection for your feet. A blister pad can be used to protect a blister that you have or it can be used in places that are prone to blisters.
Wear the Right Socks
The socks that you wear are just as important for maintaining healthy feet as the shoes that you wear. Choose socks that wick away moisture and consider doubling up on socks if you are getting ready to participate in an activity that increases your chances of developing a blister. The added layer can provide more protection for your feet. If your socks become wet or moist, it’s important that you change your socks right away.
Use a Lubricant Before Exercise
Shoes and socks that rub against the feet can lead to blisters, so it’s important to reduce this type of friction by keeping feet lubricated. This is particularly important for runners or hikers. Apply petroleum jelly to the feet so that they are more likely to slide rather than rub against shoes and socks.
A podiatrist can recommend the appropriate footwear for you, provide custom orthotics and ensure that you provide your feet with the support and cushioning they need for all of your activities to prevent blisters from happening to you. If blisters are a common problem, talk with your podiatrist about how you can prevent this from happening.
Find out what our podiatrists can do for you and your foot health.
Whether a foot or ankle injury or problem has already occurred, or you’re simply looking for ways to prevent problems from happening, you may be interested in turning to our Butte and Bozeman, MT, podiatrists Dr. Dallin Greene and Dr. Nathan Judd for care. Here at Big Sky Foot and Ankle Institute, we provide a full range of foot and ankle care to patients of all ages.
Detect Foot Problems Early
One of the benefits of turning to our Bozeman, MT, podiatrists for care is that we can easily detect foot injuries and problems that maybe you haven’t even noticed, whether this is an ingrown toenail, plantar wart or a developing bunion or hammertoe. By catching these problems early, we can provide you with the specialized care you need to get these problems under control and to prevent progressive conditions such as deformities from getting worse.
Treat Foot and Ankle Problems
Our podiatrists are specialists, so we have more extensive knowledge and can provide more extensive care for foot and ankle problems than primary care doctors or your regular physician. We understand the complex inner workings of the foot and ankle, from the tendons and ligaments to the muscles, nerves and bones, and can provide you with the best treatment options.
Analyze Your Gait
How our feet strike the ground when we walk and run is important to the overall function and health of our feet and ankles. By analyzing your gait we analyze how the muscles, ligaments and joints move and work together to pinpoint problem areas in the feet, ankles, legs, hips and even lower back. After all, when one area is tight or isn’t functioning properly other areas have to work harder, which can lead to foot and ankle problems.
Provide Healthy Recommendations
From preventing toenail fungus to determining whether you could benefit from custom orthotics, our podiatry team loves to provide you with advice and tips for how to keep your feet and ankles healthy. If you have questions about caring for your feet and ankles, we are here to help.
Prevent Foot Injuries
Another benefit to turning to our podiatrists is that we can educate you on the do’s and don’ts for foot and ankle health to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. If you are an athlete, overweight or have been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be more at risk for foot injuries, and it’s important that you turn to our Bozeman, MT, podiatrists for preventive options.
Are you interested in scheduling an appointment with our Butte and Bozeman, MT, podiatrists? If so, all you have to do is call Big Sky Foot and Ankle Institute at (406) 782-2278.
Fallen arches, better known as flat feet, are more common than you might realize. While many people have flat feet and don’t even know it, others are dealing with regular aches and pains in their feet due to fallen arches. If you think this could be you, a podiatrist can quickly diagnose this problem and provide you with effective strategies to keep fallen arches from also causing you pain.What are some complications of fallen arches?
Some people have fallen arches but never experience any issues; however, sometimes fallen arches can lead to,
- Foot, heel, and arch pain, particularly when standing or walking
- Muscle pain
- Leg cramps
- Shooting leg pains that start at the soles of the feet
- Swelling of the feet or tenderness in the soles
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shin splints
- Bone spurs
- Arthritis
- Bunions
- Lower back pain, hip pain, or knee pain
What causes fallen arches?
Arches develop around the age of 2 or 3 years old; however, sometimes arches never develop. Genetics can increase your risk for flat feet. Sometimes injuries or other foot problems can cause flat feet to develop as an adult. Certain conditions can also increase your risk for flat feet including,
- Diabetes
- Cerebral palsy
- Achilles tendonitis
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Rheumatoid arthritis
If fallen arches do not cause any problems then you don’t really need to do anything about them; however, it is important to recognize whether certain issues you’re dealing with could be the result of fallen arches. If so, your podiatrist may recommend a wide range of nonsurgical treatment options including,
- Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Orthotics and arch support
- Stretching exercises
- Bracing
- Custom shoes
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