common ailments treated at dePalma podiatry
PLANTAR FASCIITIS:
Plantar fasciitis, or inflammation of the plantar fascia, is the most common cause of heel and arch pain.
The plantar fascia is a flat, fibrous band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the base of the toes and supports the arch of the foot.
When this tissue is irritated and becomes inflamed, it causes pain in the heel or arch of the foot when standing and/or walking.
This pain is usually worse when first on the feet and after being on feet for an extended period of time.
NEUROMA:
A neuroma is a painful condition caused by a non-cancerous nerve tumor (most commonly found between toes 2 and 3 and toes 3 and 4).
This benign growth or inflammation of the nerve tissue leads to pain, a burning sensation, and/or numbness/tingling between the toes and in the ball of the foot.
In addition to pain and numbness, it can also feel like walking on a stone or small lump.
INGROWN TOENAILS:
An ingrown toenail occurs when the side of the nail begins to grow downward into the skin.
Ingrown toenails are often caused by ill-fitting shoes or improperly trimmed toenails, though often times ingrown toenails are hereditary.
Toenails that grow downward into the skin cause pain as well as swelling, redness, and occasionally pus.
WARTS:
Plantar warts, or verrucas, are caused by some strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and effect around 10% of the US population.
Warts are various sized growths which are usually raised and often have small black dots towards the center.
Pressure on or around the area is usually painful and a hard layer of skin may form over the wart.
FUNGAL TOENAILS:
A fungal infection of the nails, or onychomycosis, is the most common disease of toenails.
Common symptoms are a thickening and discoloration of the toenails.
Advanced infection may cause the nails to become brittle or crumbly.
Onychomycosis can cause pain or discomfort.
CORNS & CALLUSES:
Corns and calluses are areas of thickened, hard skin.
They form to protect skin from pressure and friction and are usually on tops of toes or bottoms of feet.
Calluses on the feet are most often found on the ball of the foot, heel, and under the big toe.
Corns are usually found on the tops of toes or between the toes when they rub together.
Both corns and calluses can become painful with direct pressure.
ATHLETE'S FOOT:
Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal skin infection.
The fungus grows in areas that are warm, dark, and moist like the skin between the toes.
Skin between the toes can be white-ish or raw looking and small fluid blisters can form on the bottoms of the feet.
Affected areas are usually itchy and may have drainage.
TENDONITIS:
Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon.
This inflammation is usually caused by overuse, but can also result from an injury, and results in pain.
Plantar fasciitis, or inflammation of the plantar fascia, is the most common cause of heel and arch pain.
The plantar fascia is a flat, fibrous band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the base of the toes and supports the arch of the foot.
When this tissue is irritated and becomes inflamed, it causes pain in the heel or arch of the foot when standing and/or walking.
This pain is usually worse when first on the feet and after being on feet for an extended period of time.
NEUROMA:
A neuroma is a painful condition caused by a non-cancerous nerve tumor (most commonly found between toes 2 and 3 and toes 3 and 4).
This benign growth or inflammation of the nerve tissue leads to pain, a burning sensation, and/or numbness/tingling between the toes and in the ball of the foot.
In addition to pain and numbness, it can also feel like walking on a stone or small lump.
INGROWN TOENAILS:
An ingrown toenail occurs when the side of the nail begins to grow downward into the skin.
Ingrown toenails are often caused by ill-fitting shoes or improperly trimmed toenails, though often times ingrown toenails are hereditary.
Toenails that grow downward into the skin cause pain as well as swelling, redness, and occasionally pus.
WARTS:
Plantar warts, or verrucas, are caused by some strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and effect around 10% of the US population.
Warts are various sized growths which are usually raised and often have small black dots towards the center.
Pressure on or around the area is usually painful and a hard layer of skin may form over the wart.
FUNGAL TOENAILS:
A fungal infection of the nails, or onychomycosis, is the most common disease of toenails.
Common symptoms are a thickening and discoloration of the toenails.
Advanced infection may cause the nails to become brittle or crumbly.
Onychomycosis can cause pain or discomfort.
CORNS & CALLUSES:
Corns and calluses are areas of thickened, hard skin.
They form to protect skin from pressure and friction and are usually on tops of toes or bottoms of feet.
Calluses on the feet are most often found on the ball of the foot, heel, and under the big toe.
Corns are usually found on the tops of toes or between the toes when they rub together.
Both corns and calluses can become painful with direct pressure.
ATHLETE'S FOOT:
Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal skin infection.
The fungus grows in areas that are warm, dark, and moist like the skin between the toes.
Skin between the toes can be white-ish or raw looking and small fluid blisters can form on the bottoms of the feet.
Affected areas are usually itchy and may have drainage.
TENDONITIS:
Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon.
This inflammation is usually caused by overuse, but can also result from an injury, and results in pain.