What Is Shockwave Therapy?

If you are struggling with a chronic foot condition or chronic foot pain in general, then one of the treatment options that your podiatrist may suggest is called shockwave therapy. The procedure can offer many benefits over other non-surgical options in the treatment of chronic foot pain, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendinitis, among others. If you would like to learn more about how shockwave therapy can help you can reach out to Dr. Mukesh Bhakta and Dr. Anam Ali of the Prince William Foot & Ankle Center in Gainesville and Dulles, VA.

Inflammation

Medical conditions that end in "-itis" typically refer to a problem related to inflammation, as is the case with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis, which affect the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon respectfully. Your podiatrist can offer a variety of treatment options for these and other similar conditions, but if these don't prove successful and before surgery becomes a necessity shockwave therapy can help.

How It Works

During the procedure your doctor uses a medical device that transmits radial shockwaves onto the affected area, these waves have multiple effects as they pass through your tissue. They safely stimulate the reversal of chronic inflammation as well as help to induce the body's natural healing processes. These waves can increase the activity of mast cells, which play a large role in the body's inflammatory process, and can assist with collagen production.

Shockwave Therapy in Gainesville and Dulles, VA

Shockwave therapy can be used to treat severe pain associated with the above and other foot conditions, although its use is usually reserved for those who've experienced chronic pain for a number of months and who have not shown success with other treatment methods alone, such as the use of custom orthotics and physical therapy.

If you are seeking relief from chronic pain and wonder if shockwave therapy is right for you, you can schedule a consultation today with Dr. Bhakta and Dr. Ali of the Prince William Foot & Ankle Center in Gainesville in Dulles, VA, by dialing 703-753-3338.

Know when it might be time to turn to a podiatrist for foot and ankle care.

Your feet and ankles are two of the hardest working parts of the body, so it’s no surprise that you may find yourself dealing with issues at some point. Since you rely on your feet and ankles for everyday movements, it’s important to turn to our Gainesville, VA, podiatrists  Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, and Dr. Anam Ali when issues arise. Here are the most common reasons to turn to our team for care,

You Have Diabetes

Diabetic feet require extra special care, like those with diabetes are more at risk for nerve damage, and ulcers. If you notice any changes in your feet, no matter how minor (even mild redness or swelling), it’s important that you call us right away for an evaluation. Even if you aren’t dealing with issues, you should still have your feet checked out by our team at least once a year.

You Have an Infected Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail is typically a minor nuisance for healthy individuals, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still deal with an infected toenail. It’s important to spot the signs of an infection, such as increased redness, swelling and pain, and pus or drainage coming from the nail. If you notice any of these symptoms, you’ll want to call our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist as soon as possible.

You Have Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus can be downright challenging to treat, especially on your own, but leaving toenail fungus untreated can lead to permanent nail damage. If at-home or over-the-counter treatments aren’t working for you, our team can provide you with effective medications or laser therapy to destroy the fungal infection.

You Are Dealing with New or Worsening Foot Pain

While not all aches and pains warrant turning to our team, it’s important that any new, worsening or severe pain is evaluated by our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist to find out what’s going on and know how to treat it properly. After all, not all foot and ankle conditions are treated the same way, and you want to make sure your feet are getting the right care.

Your Everyday Routine is Impacted

Suppose you find that foot or ankle problems impact your daily routine and make it difficult to do everything from run errands to workout. In that case, you may want to schedule an appointment with us to find out what’s going on and to get the customized treatment you need to get back on your feet again.

If in doubt, don’t hesitate to call Prince William Foot & Ankle Center in Dulles and Gainesville, VA, at (703) 753-3338 to schedule an appointment with our podiatrists Dr. Bhakta and Dr. Ali. We provide full-spectrum foot and ankle care to patients of all ages.

Are your nails thick and yellow due to toenail fungus? Laser nail treatment offered by your Dulles and Gainesville, VA, podiatrists, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta and Dr. Anam Ali of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, is the ideal solution if you have a stubborn fungal infection.

Why toenail fungus is so difficult to treat at home

Drugstore anti-fungal products only reach the first few layers of your toenails. No matter how often you apply the product, it will never penetrate deep inside your nail or reach the nail bed. If you don't treat those areas, the fungus will never go away. Although over-the-counter products might help if you only have a mild infection, they're much less effective at treating severe infections.

Treating toenail fungus is important

Toenail fungus isn't just an appearance issue. If the fungus thickens your nails, you may be more likely to develop ingrown toenails. As the fungus works its way through the nail, the nail could loosen and may even fall off. If you have diabetes, it's particularly important to treat toenail fungus promptly. An untreated fungal infection could increase your risk of cellulitis and other infections that could harm your health.

Laser nail treatment offers an effective way to treat fungus

Laser nail treatment in the Dulles or Gainesville, VA, podiatry office targets the pigments that give the fungus its color. The laser light heats the pigments, killing the fungus. During the treatment, your doctor uses short bursts of laser lights that heat the nail without making your toe uncomfortably hot. In fact, you may only feel a slight warmth or mild tingling sensation when the laser is activated. As soon as the treatment is over, you can resume your normal activities

When you'll see a difference in your nail

Laser nail treatment immediately kills toenail fungus, but it can't immediately make your yellow nails look clear. As the nail grows over the next few months, you'll notice the bottom part of your nail is no longer discolored. As the discolored part of the nail grows out, your entire nail will eventually become clear again.

Although laser nail treatment is very effective in treating toenail fungus, it won't prevent new infections. Fortunately, following these recommendations will help you avoid another infection:

• Don't walk barefoot around pool areas and locker rooms
• Avoid sharing shoes and socks with friends or family members
• Wear shoes made of breathable materials
• Change your socks and shoes when they get sweaty
• Use anti-fungal shoe spray

Would you like to finally get rid of your toenail fungus? Schedule a laser nail treatment with your podiatrists in Dulles and Gainesville, VA, Dr. Bhakta and Dr. Ali of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, by calling (703) 753-3338.

How your podiatrists in Gainesville, and Dulles, VA, can help you get rid of foot warts

Foot warts can be ugly and embarrassing. When you have foot warts, you may not want to take off your socks and shoes. Fortunately, they are easily treatable by your podiatrist.

Dr. Mukesh Bhakta and Dr. Anam Ali at Prince William Foot & Ankle Center offer a wide variety of foot and ankle services, including treatment of foot warts. They have two convenient office locations in Gainesville, and Dulles, VA, to help you.

Foot warts are caused by a virus, and they can:

• Look like a callus
• Appear as rough, scaly bumps
• Have small black dots in the middle of them
• Form on your toes, heels, soles, or forefeet
• Develop into open sores if they are in the ridges and lines in your feet

Children and teenagers are at a higher risk of developing warts, but adults can develop them too. Your risk of developing warts also increases if:

• You have a compromised immune system
• You walk barefoot in public areas like showers, locker rooms, or gyms

For small foot warts, over-the-counter wart removal solutions may offer some relief. For stubborn warts that don’t respond to over-the-counter medications, it’s best to visit your podiatrist, who can help you get rid of foot warts permanently.

Professional treatments to remove warts include:

• Applying topical stronger acid solution to remove the wart layer-by-layer with aggressive debridement
• Prescription topical medications and compounding ointments
• Using liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart
• Using laser therapy to kill the virus and the cells forming the wart
• Oral medications in children for stubborn warts

Foot warts can be unsightly and uncomfortable, but you don’t have to put up with them. Your podiatrist can help you get rid of warts permanently.

To learn more about the treatment of foot warts, call Dr. Mukesh Bhakta and Dr. Anam Ali at Prince William Foot & Ankle Center. You can reach them in the Gainesville, VA, or in the Dulles, VA, offices by calling (703) 753-3338. Call today.

We tend to ignore them until something goes wrong, but our feet deserve as much attention as any other part of our body. We depend on them for everything, and whether it's an injury, discomfort, or a chronic condition, our Gainesville, VA, foot doctor can help. Learn more by reaching out to Dr. Mukesh Bhakta and Dr. Anam Ali of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center.

Injuries

Foot and ankle injuries are a common reason why many of us end up making a visit to our podiatrist's office. At-home treatment for these injuries can relieve some discomfort and inflammation, something that is key at the early stages, but it is no substitute for a thorough examination from your doctor. Ingrown toenails are a great example of this, when they first occur, if not too much tissue is compromised, the nail can often be cut and the problem prevented with less constrictive shoes. But we should avoid risking further harm by prying too much into an already infected nail.

Foot Pain

Not all foot pain stems from an injury, at least not in the sense with which we're familiar. Underlying foot conditions can make us more prone to complications like bunions and heel pain simply by walking, especially in improper footwear. Your doctor can often address these problems with conservative treatments such as custom-made orthotics but can prescribe surgery in the rare events where this is necessary.

Diabetes

Diabetes and associated chronic diseases require regular examinations from your podiatrist. These conditions can make injuries and lesions in the lower extremities not only much more difficult to notice, but also negatively impact the healing process making infections and other severe complications very likely.

Foot Doctor in Gainesville, VA

There are many ways your foot doctor can help improve your quality of life, by proactively working with you to prevent discomfort, or to alleviate it when it's already present. Whatever your need, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Bhakta and Dr. Ali of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center in Gainesville, VA, by dialing 703-753-3338.