A middle-aged man came in for a check-up. He mentioned that he had a sore on his third toe, which healed on its own. The dry scab visible was not of concern to me.

    Three weeks later, he returned to the office for an unrelated issue.  I looked at the toe again. This time I saw a bump which looked like it was about to explode; not a huge bump, but the skin was clearly stretched and tense. I told him: “This looks like a ganglion cyst.” And it was. Here are the details:

    Ganglionic cysts are non-cancerous fluid or gel-filled lumps which most commonly arise from tendons or joints. They may develop suddenly. These cysts are usually painless except when they put pressure on a nerve or restrict motion at a joint. The initial treatment usually consists of removing the fluid from within it. Surgical excision of the cyst may be required if it recurs after aspiration.

    Please don’t try the “home remedy” of smashing the cyst with a heavy object. This can damage surrounding structures in your foot. Also, don't try to "pop" the cyst by puncturing it with a needle or sharp object. This is unlikely to be effective and can lead to infection. Call us.


   

A staggering 72 percent of Americans say they do not exercise because foot pain prevents them from doing so, according to a recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). This finding, when viewed in light of the soaring rates of US obesity as reported by the Centers for Disease Control, makes visiting a podiatrist and addressing foot pain critically important.

The study surveyed 1,000 US adults, ages 18 and older, to gain public opinion on attitudes toward foot health and foot care. Results showed that Americans view their feet as the least important body part in terms of their health and well-being. However, feet were the number one body part to experience pain, even more so than the teeth or skin. As foot pain contributes to a variety of negative health consequences, it is important that Americans seek the care of a podiatrist immediately if problems arise.

The physicians at Affiliated Podiatrists, Ltd. feel that podiatrists should be part of everyone’s health-care team, but it is especially important for those experiencing foot pain. A podiatrist can not only help ensure Americans are able to exercise, but also help catch signs of diabetes, arthritis, nerve and circulatory disorders.

Fifteen per cent of people with diabetes are affected by foot ulceration at some time in their life. Debridement is an intervention intended to quicken ulcer healing. It involves the removal of devitalized tissue and contaminated or foreign material from the wound, until surrounding healthy tissue is exposed. Once healthy tissue is exposed, weight may be redistributed by padding the foot in order to take pressure off of the wound, permitting it to heal fully. Eventually, an orthotic may be prescribed and fabricated for placement within a patient's shoes for prevention of recurrences.

Effective management of the diabetic foot is generally regarded as requiring a multidisciplinary approach with good communication between the podiatrist, the internist and the patient.

A popular New Year's resolution is the desire to lose weight. While many people are eager to get started, first it is important to be fitted with the correct exercising footwear for the physical activity recommended in the weight loss program.

In an article cited in the Chicago Tribune, foot and ankle surgeons predicted an increase in foot pain during the month of January as people try to keep fitness resolutions. It was further suggested that the most common problems for those who go from couch potato to high intensity work-outs are sore Achilles tendons, heel pain and pinched nerves.

The physicians of Affiliated Podiatrists are committed to supporting a patient's desire to meet one's goals. Assuring proper fit of shoes and qualifying activities suitable for foot types is commonly performed in our office during a scheduled appointment.

The PinPointeTM FootLaserTM was recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of nail fungus, a condition estimated to affect more than 10% of the U.S. population - or 35 million Americans. People with chronic diseases including diabetes, circulatory problems or immune - deficiency conditions, are especially prone to nail fungus.

We, at Affiliated Podiatrists, were the first and are still the only providers of PinPointe in the city of Chicago. Without pain, without pills and without loss or damage to the nail, this treatment is performed in one treatment session.