Dallas (214) 340-8885
Athens (903) 677-9090
Gun Barrel City (903) 887-4341
Dallas (214) 340-8885
Athens (903) 677-9090
Gun Barrel City (903) 887-4341
A relatively common affliction that affects many people is heel pain. As with most other ailments, celebrities are no exception. Victoria Beckham, former Spice Girl and wife to international football star David Beckham, suffers from bunions and chronic heel pain as a result of her disdain for flat shoes and refusal to wear any other shoes apart from high heels.
High heels are one likely cause for heel pain, but there are many reasons why people might experience discomfort in the heel area.
Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in helping people with chronic heel pain and other types of foot conditions.
What Causes Heel Pain?
One of the primary reasons for heel pain is Plantar fasciitis, which can often be caused by inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toe, clinically called the plantar fascia. This tissue runs across the bottom of your foot to create the arch.
Another reason why you might experience pain in the heel area is Achilles tendinitis, which can be diagnosed by your doctor via an MRI or an ultrasound. If you experience discomfort alongside the back of your help, that is a common symptom of Achilles tendinitis, but if the pain is on the bottom of your heel, you’re more likely to have Plantar fasciitis.
How can I prevent heel pain?
The foot contains 26 bones, the largest bone of which being your heel. However, if you take proper precautions in your day to day lifestyle, you can avoid discomfort and pain.
How is heel pain treated?
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX, we specialize in helping people suffering from chronic heel pain. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
Arthritis is a medical condition that affects the joints. It can happen anywhere in the body but occurs more frequently in the joints of the feet. Our feet contains more than 30 joints each responsible for normal foot movement. These are constantly exposed to wear and abuse not only from running or jumping but also from the constant pressure of carrying our body weight.
Cartilage acts as a natural bone cushion. It gives joints that extra level of flexibility. Arthritis is a degenerative disease that eats away at our cartilage. And when this is lost, bones rub causing a great degree of pain.
There are different types of arthritis affecting the joints of the feet and toes. Visit a podiatrist to understand the different types of arthritis and how it affects your feet. Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in helping people with foot disorders.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the hyaline cartilage which is responsible for keeping the joints moving freely. It can also cause bony spur formation at the base of the big toe. Osteoarthritis can lead to the development of bunions a painful foot deformity. People suffering from osteoarthritis in the feet can feel pain and discomfort when walking.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating joint disease that can cause foot deformities. Severe cases can lead to hammertoes, bunions and claw toes. This type of arthritis causes joint inflammation at the ball of the foot. Affected bones can push against the kin. This causes wounds and ulcerations at the ball of the foot. Ulcerations at the bottom of the feet makes standing or walking a painful experience.
Gout
Gout is the result of uric acid crystal deposits around the joints. Deposits are commonly found at the base of the big toe. Gout occurs more frequently among men than women. A bony protrusion can develop due to continued crystal deposits. This can cause bruises and ulcerations as the toe rub against the shoe.
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
Are you currently experiencing heel pain? It wouldn’t come as a surprise as a study conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), found that this was one of the most common foot ailments affecting 16% of the American population.
Heel pain can be caused by your feet coming into contact against hard surfaces when playing sports or simply wearing poor fitting shoes. While most of us might shrug off heel pain as something trivial, this could also be a symptom of a serious foot injury. And if left untreated, we could quickly aggravate the injury.
Heel pain can be caused by many factors or foot injuries. When pain becomes chronic or intensifies, consult a podiatrist. Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in helping people with bunions and other foot conditions.
Plantar fasciitis – this foot condition occurs when the ligament (plantar fascia) that supports the arch of your foot becomes strained. The pain is usually located under your heel. Pain starts as something mild but eventually worsens especially when you take your first steps in the morning or after a long period of rest.
If left untreated, plantar fasciitis can become difficult to treat. Treatment options include pain medications, orthotics, injections, immobilization and physical therapy.
Achilles Tendinitis – this can be the result of excessive use of your Achilles tendon. This tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. Other causes include tightening of the calf muscles, age, injury, bone spurs and basic tendonitis.
Achilles Tendinitis should be treated as quickly as possible. This can result to a ruptured tendon or tendonosis which is a chronic condition and produce scar tissue formation.
Fat Pad Thinning – your fat pad thins through walking or running on hard surfaces, age and obesity. This condition occurs on the fleshy ball of the heel of your feet. This can be caused by aging and when this happens it is best to consult your podiatrist. Treatment and management of fat pad thinning includes the use of special foot wear or wearing supportive insoles.
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX, we specialize in helping people with foot injuries. Toschedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
Being a diabetic can bring many limitations and requires extra attention to your foot’s health. But with proper foot care and the right attitude keeping complications can be easy.
A major concern for any diabetic is keeping their feet healthy. This can lead to serious complications which requires amputation. However, this can easily be prevented with the help of your doctor and a podiatrist. Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in helping diabetics with foot conditions.
Orthopedic shoes can be a big help in keeping your feet healthy. A podiatrist may recommend this footwear to help you prevent serious foot conditions.
Custom-made shoes: If you have severe deformities, custom-made shoes may be prescribed to help you deal with those deformities. Custom-made shoes can also help if your foot is casted since it can be made to give way and provide area for the cast.
Shoes for healing: As the term suggests, healing shoes are used for healing which are usually used after a surgery or diabetic ulcer treatment. This is not permanent, you can resume wearing regular shoes once you have recovered from the surgery and treatment.
External modification of the shoes: Modifications may be necessary to help accommodate your condition. This may include adding stabilizing and shock-absorbing materials or to completely alter the foot sole of your shoes.
Orthoses and shoe inserts. This helps relieve pressure on your feet as well as help in shock absorption. Most diabetic patients are prescribed to use orthoses and shoe inserts because not only are they medically useful, they also provide you with more comfort than regular shoes.
These orthotic shoes are prescribed to meet several goals that will definitely help you in the process of your condition. The aims of these orthotic shoes are:
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
Talipes equinovaros or more commonly known as club foot is a type of foot deformity. Clubfoot is a birth defect that affects s 1 in every 1,000 newborns. Clubfoot a defect for small babies which makes them has smaller toes than the regular babies.
Once you notice that the calf and leg are shorter than normal and there is an inward twisting of the heel and toes, your child may probably have a clubfoot. Though painless, it is still a need to treat clubfoot because leaving it untreated will make it remain twisted for life. Once clubfoot is suspected, make sure to contact your podiatrist for help and possible treatments. Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in helping people with club foot and other foot deformities
HOW TO TREAT CLUBFOOT IN BABIES?
A treatment for clubfoot must start as soon as possible so that the baby may have stable feet by the time she or he is ready to walk.
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS
Casting: This is done by positioning the foot in the right position and immobilize it through casting until the next treatment. This is done every 1-2 weeks for 2-4 months.
Traditional casting - one position of the foot is being corrected by casting one at a time.
Ponseti (Iowa) method - two foot position problems are being corrected both at the same time. The front part of the baby's foot is being turned in and up to the correct position.
SURGICAL TREATMENTS
Surgical procedures are done to lengthen the tight soft tissue structures as well as ligaments and tendons to the right position. Most often, it involves the use of small wires to keep hold of the bone and are only removed after 4-6 weeks. Casting or splinting will also be done after the surgery to keep the position of the foot in place while recovering.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical therapy may be required after a surgery procedure to ensure that the function of the foot is well and maintained.
To help your child better and prevent the condition of clubfoot which makes his/her toes small, it is best to undergo these steps as soon as possible while it is still easy for the doctors to correct the damage.
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX, we specialize in helping people suffering from foot conditions. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
Heel pain in children is often caused by the inflammation of the heel growth plates. This is caused by repeated abuse of the heels from sports activities. This is common in child athletes who have underdeveloped heel growth plates. This foot condition is also medically referred to as Sever’s disease or calcaneus apophysitis.
Sever’s disease is common among adolescents who are currently undergoing growth spurts. However, this disappears as the heel becomes fully developed.
Causes of Sever’s Disease
Rapid bone growth occurs in the feet during childhood. The heel bone in particular undergoes major development which outpaces surrounding ligaments. This results to high tension in the ligaments which can easily be injured during high impact activities. Heel pain is caused by injuries resulting from repeated stress on the Achilles tendon which over time can damage the heel growth plate.
Wearing footwear that provide additional support for the heels can help reduce the risk of developing Sever’s disease in children. Children with previous history of heel pain or Sever’s disease are also advised to refrain from participating in sports activities. Consult a podiatrist if your child is experiencing chronic heel pain. Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in helping children suffering from Sever’s disease.
Symptoms of Sever’s Disease
Pain and tenderness in one or both heels is a possible indication of the disease. Pain is usually felt at the back of the heels but can also radiate to the sides and bottom of the heels. Children with Sever’s disease can also experience these symptoms.
Diagnosis of Sever’s Disease
Severe cases of Sever’s disease can cause tenderness and swelling in the heel area. But for those with milder symptoms a physical examination by a podiatrist can confirm if your child is suffering from the disease. An X-ray can also be used to rule out other foot injuries such as a broken bone or fracture. Children are also advised to wear footwear which provide additional heel support.
Consult a podiatrist if heel pain persists even after treatment. Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX, we specialize in helping children with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
Are you experiencing difficulty in lifting your foot? If this is the case then it might be possible that you are suffering from a medical condition known as a foot drop.
Foot drop is described as difficulty in lifting the front foot. This condition makes the person drag his foot and toes on the ground while walking. To avoid dragging the person with a foot drop condition must lift the knee higher than usual. Consult a podiatrist if you notice this change. Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in foot care and treating foot disorders.
Foot drop is not a disease but rather a condition that is caused by certain diseases. If you want to know what treatments are needed to be done by your podiatrist, you might find this information helpful.
Lightweight braces - these braces are used to support your leg.
Foot drop braces and splints - these are used to stabilize your ankle and foot which will be a big help to assist you in walking normally and on an even gait.
Physical therapy - therapy is essential for strong foot and leg muscles. Constant physical therapy helps in improving your ability to walk again as it includes gait training. Sometimes, therapists even use electronic devices for nerve stimulation.
Surgery - your doctor will result to surgery as the very last option in treating foot drop. A surgery is only done if all treatments fail. It helps repair the damaged nerve as well as treat those conditions that are permanent. Whenever a foot drop is permanent, your doctor might opt for a surgery that fuses foot or ankle bones or a surgery that alters a working tendon to a different position.
Since foot drop increases your danger of tripping and falling, it is essential to make necessary arrangements and changes around the place where you are always staying like your house. You may do these certain precautions to ensure your safety:
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX,, we specialize in helping people suffering from foot drop and other foot injuries. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
One of the top ten diseases in United States is diabetes. Over 29 million Americans suffer from diabetes, with a few more famous diabetics being novelist Anne Rice, Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor and pop culture icon, Nick Jonas.
Diabetic foot care is of critical importance, since diabetes can cause lack of blood flow in the legs and feet, resulting in numbness and loss of feeling. Due to the numbness, cuts and sores go unnoticed, which leads to infection. This means that diabetics need to spend a little extra time paying attention to their feet so they can remain healthy.
How do I take care of my feet if I am a diabetic?
Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in diabeticfoot.
Wash and dry your feet on a daily basis
Wash your feet gently in warm water using soap and mild water, but don’t soak them, since that will dry the skin on your feet. Use lotion on the bottom of your feet to prevent cracking and for preventing infectionsbetween your toes, using talcum powder generally works well .
Keep your feet covered at all times
People with diabetes need to make sure not to go barefoot- it is important to always wear shoes and socks, since diabetics cannot necessarily feel if they step on something sharp. Make sure your shoes are empty before putting them on- look in them to ensure that no foreign objects are in there that could possibly cut you.
Trim your toenails regularly
If you can comfortably see and reach your feet, keep your toenails trimmed. However, if your toenails are thick or yellowed, if you cannot reach your feet, or if you cannot feel your feet, have your podiatrist cut your toenails for you.
Keep the blood flowing to your feet
Don’t wear socks or shoes that cut off your circulation to your feet and legs or are too tight. Do not cross your legs for extended periods of time, and keep your feet elevated when sitting down.
Check your feet every day
Make sure you examine your feet every day for infected toenails, swelling, cuts or sores. If you have difficulty seeing your feet, use a mirror or ask a family member/caregiver to help you out.
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX,, we specialize in helping people suffering from diabetes. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
Bunions are a common ailment, especially for women. Hallus vaxus, or bunions are a bump at the base of your big toe caused a combination of genetics and poor shoes.
Wife of famous soccer star David Beckham, Victoria Beckham suffers from severe bunions caused by many years of wearing high heels, both on and off the red carpet Beckham had a bunionectomy to remove the bunions and realign her toes.
Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in helping people suffering from Bunions.
How do I get bunions?
Although experts debate the causes, it seems that there are several ways that bunions can develop. It has been proved that wearing pointy-toed shoes is possibly a factor in the inflammation of the joint. Recently, certain studies have shown that the affliction might hold some genetic roots in it, since girls whose mothers had bunions seem to be more likely to develop the disorder.
What can I do to treat my bunions?
A simple examination by the doctor is usually enough to diagnose bunions, but most often, there will be an X-Ray to confirm the diagnosis.
There are several remedies that are available to those who have bunions. Depending on the severity of the condition, there are both surgical and non-surgical remedies available. For select patients, orthotics that help distribute pressure evenly across your feet and elevate your arches might be beneficial.
Avoiding uncomfortable shoes can prevent unnecessary confinement that can further irritate bunions. If you apply ice to the bunion, it can provide a temporary sense of relief by reducing inflammation and soreness.
For patients suffering from more severe bunions, a bunionectomy might be the best course of treatment. There are a few different options when looking at surgery to treat bunions, a few of which include:
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX, we specialize in helping people suffering from bunions. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
One of the top ten diseases in United States is diabetes. Over 29 million Americans suffer from diabetes, with a few more famous diabetics being novelist Anne Rice, Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor and pop culture icon, Nick Jonas.
Diabetic foot care is of critical importance, since diabetes can cause lack of blood flow in the legs and feet, resulting in numbness and loss of feeling. Due to the numbness, cuts and sores go unnoticed, which leads to infection. This means that diabetics need to spend a little extra time paying attention to their feet so they can remain healthy. Dr. Jonathan Kletz is a podiatrist who specializes in helping people with diabetes.
How do I take care of my feet if I am a diabetic?
Wash and dry your feet on a daily basis
Wash your feet gently in warm water using soap and mild water, but don’t soak them, since that will dry the skin on your feet. Use lotion on the bottom of your feet to prevent cracking and for preventing infections between your toes, using talcum powder generally works well.
Keep your feet covered at all times
People with diabetes need to make sure not to go barefoot- it is important to always wear shoes and socks, since diabetics cannot necessarily feel if they step on something sharp. Make sure your shoes are empty before putting them on- look in them to ensure that no foreign objects are in there that could possibly cut you.
Trim your toenails regularly
If you can comfortably see and reach your feet, keep your toenails trimmed. However, if your toenails are thick or yellowed, if you cannot reach your feet, or if you cannot feel your feet, have your podiatrist cut your toenails for you.
Keep the blood flowing to your feet
Don’t wear socks or shoes that cut off your circulation to your feet and legs or are too tight. Do not cross your legs for extended periods of time, and keep your feet elevated when sitting down.
Check your feet every day
Make sure you examine your feet every day for infected toenails, swelling, cuts or sores. If you have difficulty seeing your feet, use a mirror or ask a family member/caregiver to help you out.
Texas Foot Works located in Dallas, Athens and Gun Barrell City, TX, we specialize in helping people with diabetes. To schedule an appointment, call 214-340-8885.
