Blog Archive
You wake up in the middle of the night to find your big toe red and throbbing with pain. What’s going on? Most likely, you’re dealing with one of the 100-plus forms of arthritis, specifically, with gout. While gout can affect any joint, it most commonly starts in the big...
An ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries. It affects athletes, couch potatoes, children, and the elderly. It’s an injury whereby one or more of the ligaments in the ankle are stretched or torn, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. Some people try to treat it on...
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of each foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. Plantar fasciitis commonly causes a stabbing pain in the heel that accompanies your first steps in the...
Nail fungus, medically termed onychomycosis, is a common infection of the fingernail or toenail, though it’s more common in the latter. It starts as a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of the nail. As the infection goes deeper, the nail may turn yellow or brown, thicken, and start...
The high blood sugar levels of diabetes cause many different problems throughout your body, including with your feet. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our board-certified podiatrists understand the impact diabetes can have on podiatric health, which is why we offer diabetic foot care for our patients in and around Chicago,...
Bone spurs (medically termed osteophytes) are smooth, hard bumps of extra bone tissue that form on the ends of bones. They commonly appear in the joints, the regions where two or more bones meet. Bone spurs can form on numerous body parts, including your: Hands Shoulders Neck Spine Hips Knees...
A fracture is a partial or complete break in one or more of your bones. Which bone is broken and the severity of the injury help determine how we treat the injury. Some breaks are mild and only require rest and over-the-counter medications, but some are severe and require a...
Gout is a type of arthritis, once called the “disease of kings” because it was often triggered by rich food and drink that only the wealthy could afford. It occurs when uric acid, a normal waste product, isn’t properly excreted in the urine but builds up as crystals within the...
The heel bone at the back of your foot (calcaneus) is where you might feel a sharp, stabbing pain. Before we explain why, you should know that the Achilles tendon reaches down from the calf muscle and attaches to the back of the calcaneus. You should also know the plantar...
Toenail fungus is just what it sounds like — a fungal infection of your toenails. While it can also affect fingernails, it’s more likely to go for the toenails. The infection starts when fungi get between your toenail and the nail bed (tissue directly below the nail). This happens when...
You’ve checked your shoe a dozen times, but nothing’s inside. You could swear, though, that there’s a pebble under your toes — you can feel it, and it’s painful. Here at Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our board-certified podiatrists understand what you’re feeling — and why. It’s called Morton's neuroma, and...
Ankle sprains occur among people of all ages and at all activity levels and are the leading reason for missed participation in athletics. As you probably know, your ankle is a joint, which means it houses bones, ligaments, cartilage, muscles, and connective tissue. A sprain occurs when the ligaments supporting...
Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled blood sugar levels. There are a number of different forms, but they all tie back to too much sugar in the blood. Normally, the beta cells in your pancreas produce the hormone insulin in response to ingestion. It helps the body’s cells...
Gout is one type of the over 100 forms of arthritis, a disease characterized by inflammation of the joints. Gout was once called the disease of kings, because only the rich could afford the alcohol and rich meats that appeared to accompany its development. The two most common forms of...
When your foot or ankle is out of alignment, or when you need additional support for your arches and your heels, you may need prescription orthotics. These medical devices not only ease your foot pain, but they also help improve your biomechanics. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our team of...
Humans are bipedal, having evolved over the millenia to walk and run effectively on the ground while upright. To do so, humans developed arches in their feet, which aren’t characteristic of other primates. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our team of experienced podiatrists loves to see perfectly formed arches, but...
Ingrown nails, where the skin grows over the nail or the nail grows into the skin around it, mostly affect the toes, especially the big toe, because of the pressure of the body’s weight. Regardless of the cause, you end up with a painful, hard, red swelling at the nail’s...
Gout is one of the 100-plus forms of arthritis. This disease was once called the disease of kings, because only the wealthy could afford the rich meats and spirits that seemed to accompany its development. Like the other types of arthritis, gout causes inflammation in the joints, but the underlying...
Most people aren’t aware of their plantar fascia until they develop the characteristic pain under the heel of their foot. The fascia is a tough band of tissue that stretches from the heel bone at the back of the foot to the toes, and it helps create your arch. Unfortunately,...
A bunion is a misaligned joint at the base of the big toe. Your big toe has two joints. The larger one is the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. It gets its name from its location: where the first metatarsal (long foot bone) meets the phalanx (first toe bone). The MTP joint...
Medically called onychomycosis, toenail fungus affects as many as 10% of all adults in Western countries to some degree, and that increases to 20% for those over 60. Nail fungus causes the nails to become thick, discolored, and crumbly at the edges. And while you can get an infection in...
If you have foot problems, custom-made orthotics might be able to ease your pain or correct the condition. Orthotics are medical devices made for your feet and designed to support and comfort them. They’re only manufactured after your podiatrist has evaluated and measured your feet, ankles, and legs. That’s because...
Bone spurs are smooth, hard bumps of bone tissue that develop on the end of a bone, such as your heel. They appear like small hooks on an X-ray, but they're not necessarily visible when you look from the outside. Bone spurs often crop up in joints where bones come...
Gout is a form of arthritis, one that can be triggered or helped by certain foods and drinks. Like the other 100-plus forms of arthritis, gout causes inflammation in the joints. Its underlying cause, though, differs from the most common forms: osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear of the joint tissues) and rheumatoid arthritis...
Gout is a form of arthritis once called the disease of kings, because only royalty could afford the rich meats and wine that seemed to lead to its development. Like the rest of the more than 100 forms of arthritis, gout causes inflammation in the joints, but the underlying cause differs...
Plantar fasciitis is a relatively common podiatric problem, causing heel pain in some 10% of the population, but many cases are preventable. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our board-certified podiatrists diagnose and treat plantar fasciitis for our patients in and around Chicago, Illinois. While the condition can stem from a number of different causes, today...
When you have diabetes, your body can’t control the level of sugar in your blood, which affects all aspects of your health, including your feet. Normally, the hormone insulin transports glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells, but with diabetes, either you don’t produce enough insulin (Type 1) or...
Bone spurs, aka osteophytes, are smooth, hard bumps of extra bone tissue that form on the end of a bone. They usually appear like little hooks on an X-ray, but they're not obvious when you look from the outside. Bone spurs often crop up in joints, where two or more...
Whether you’re a pro athlete, a weekend warrior, or just like a pickup game, getting sidelined by an injury is the last thing you want. And one of the first questions you probably ask your doctor is “When can I return to my sport?” At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our...
Gout is a form of arthritis once called the disease of kings, because people associated it with the rich meats and wine only the wealthy could afford. Like all other forms of arthritis, gout causes inflammation in the joints, but the cause is different from the more common forms, osteoarthritis...
A fracture occurs when you partially or completely break one of the bones in your body. There are many different types of fractures, and your feet and ankles are prone to this type of injury, as you’re constantly using them to walk, run, and jump. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle,...
Every mile you walk places 60 tons of stress on each foot. It may seem like a lot, but your feet can handle it. Too much stress, though, can lead to a damaged, painful heel, the most common problem affecting the foot and ankle. If you continue activity despite a...
Steroid injections are a staple for treating many kinds of foot and ankle pain. Also called cortisone shots, they work by relieving inflammation, thereby decreasing pain and allowing your body to start the healing process. “Steroid” is short for corticosteroid, a synthetic version of the cortisol your adrenal gland normally produces....
The medial longitudinal arches on the bottom of your feet help distribute body weight across your feet and provide a springiness to each step. The arches must be both sturdy and flexible to adapt to different surfaces and stresses. People who have flat feet have either a very low arch or no...
If you have diabetes, you no doubt know that it’s a disease that elevates your blood sugar levels. Normally, the beta cells in the pancreas produce the hormone insulin to break down sugar into usable energy. Type 1 diabetes occurs because your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Type 2 occurs...
When your foot or ankle is out of alignment, you may need prescription orthotics. These devices for your feet can ease the pain and help improve your biomechanics. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our team of board-certified foot and ankle specialists and surgeons regularly prescribe orthotic devices for our patients with a range of foot...
Plantar fasciitis and tarsal tunnel syndrome are two foot-related conditions that cause pain along the soles of your feet, but they’re two different problems with two different causes, so it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis before you start treatment. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our board-certified podiatrists diagnose and treat both plantar fasciitis and tarsal...
Your grandmother probably complained about her bunions, but the fact is, anyone can develop this misaligned and swollen joint at the base of the big toe. Your big toe contains two joints. The larger one is the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, located where the first metatarsal (long foot bone) meets the...
You love the way high-heeled shoes make you look, but you probably don’t like what they’re doing to your feet, legs, and even your posture. High-heeled shoes are responsible for a number of podiatric and mechanical problems that should give you pause. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, board-certified podiatrist Dr. Robert Sheffey and...
You may have heard that you can get warts from touching toads, but that’s not true. Warts are the result of an infection from certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that produces noncancerous growths in the topmost layer of your skin. Warts are classified by where...
Playing sports can be good exercise and lots of fun. But it’s not much fun when you sustain an injury, especially to your foot or ankle. Up to 25% of sports injuries affect the ankles and feet. There are steps you can take, though, to prevent injuries. If you’re looking...
Ankle sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries. A 2019 research review indicated about 2 million acute ankle sprains occur every year in the United States. Like most injuries, you need a period of rest and rehabilitation before you can return to your normal activities. But that same review...
A stress fracture is a repetitive motion or overuse injury in the weight-bearing bones of your body that produces a hairline crack. Left untreated, such an injury can weaken your feet and ankles and put you at risk for a more serious fracture. At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our team...
Ingrown nails mostly affect the toes, especially the big toe, because of the pressure of the body’s weight. A nail becomes ingrown either because the skin grows over the nail or the nail grows into the skin around it. Regardless of the cause, you end up with a painful, hard,...
Gout is a form of arthritis once referred to as the “disease of kings,” because people erroneously associated it with the savory meats and wine only the rich could afford. It causes inflammation in the joints like any other form of arthritis, but the causes are different than osteoarthritis (wear...
A hammertoe is a deformity of the second, third, and/or fourth toes on either foot. The toe bends at the middle, or proximal interphalangeal (PIP), joint, so the whole toe takes on a hammer-like appearance. Hammertoes can be flexible, which are easily correctable, or rigid, which require surgery. At Chicagoland...
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the cord-like tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of your foot and supports the arch. About 2 million people a year seek treatment for it. But if you have plantar fasciitis, you may also...
Diabetes is a common disease, becoming more common as Americans become more overweight and less active. It’s a condition where blood sugar levels remain elevated due to a lack of the hormone insulin (Type 1) or a resistance to insulin’s effects (Type 2). About 34.2 million Americans have diabetes, including...
An ankle fracture consists of one or more bones in the ankle joint suffering a partial or complete break. Fractures primarily occur when the ankle rolls either inward or outward. Many of our patients mistake a fracture for a simple sprain, but they’re entirely different conditions that require an early...
The plantar fascia ligament starts at the calcaneus bone at the back of your heel, stretching like a bowstring to the front of your foot and helping to maintain your foot arch. When the fascia becomes inflamed, the condition is called plantar fasciitis, and it often comes with a characteristic...
About 8 million Americans suffer from the sudden painful symptoms of gout. The excruciating and immobilizing pain that occurs with this condition is so severe that Hippocrates called gout “the unwalkable disease.” Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that results from hyperuricemia, a condition that occurs when too much...
A hammertoe (also called a mallet toe) is a condition that results in an unnatural bend in one or both joints of an affected toe. It is often related to an imbalance in the ligaments, tendons, or muscles that bend your toe and keep it straight. The condition causes the...
Ingrown toenails cause swelling, redness, and pain. In mild cases, you can relieve your symptoms by soaking your feet in a warm bath with Epsom salts. Ingrown toenails can also sometimes grow out on their own, especially if you trim your toenails correctly. However, in some cases, you need medical...
A stress fracture is one of the most common overuse injuries related to exercise and sports. Though this condition is typical among athletes, a stress fracture can affect anyone who participates in repetitive or high-impact activities. Almost 50% of all sports injuries are overuse injuries. A stress fracture in your...
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtually everyone’s lives have changed in significant ways. The rapidly spreading virus has also greatly impacted how people go about seeking medical care and the ways medical professionals tend to patients’ needs. Throughout this unprecedented time, your foot and ankle health remains important,...
When you have diabetes, you have a lot to manage. From eating a healthy diet to remembering to take your medicine and scheduling regular doctor appointments, it can get overwhelming. Your feet may not seem like a priority, but foot problems are common among diabetics. This is explained by the...