Toenail fungus is hard to get rid of -- even drugstore topicals may not treat them. It can cause your toenail to thicken and become painful, making it hard to wear shoes and socks. If you are ready to explore laser toenail treatment, contact Dr. Mukesh Bhakta at Prince William Foot and Ankle Center in Gainesville, VA.

Are you sure it is toenail fungus?

Nail fungus is a persistent, unsightly condition that usually affects the nail beds of the toes. While there are many over-the-counter treatments available for those with these symptoms, they sometimes aren’t as effective as one would want. Another option is laser toenail therapy.

Getting laser therapy

Laser toenail therapy is an FDA approved medical treatment for those with toenails that have fungal infections. Carbon dioxide lasers to heat and kill the fungus underneath the nail. The procedure also encourages the cellular turnover of the skin cells on the nail bed, which helps the toe slough off the damaged nail and formerly infected skin.

Studies have shown that laser treatment is not only safe but effective. Your doctor may encourage you to use a topical antifungal to speed up the healing process and ensure that the infection does not return.

Keeping your feet fungus free

After you have gotten your laser therapy, there are a couple of things you want to do afterward:

• If showering at the gym, pool, or some other moist place, be sure to wear shower shoes to protect your feet.
• Take care to make sure that your feet are clean and dry at all times. Inspect your feet daily for too much skin, hangnails, and other things that can make your feet susceptible to fungus.
• Wear clean socks and shoes at all times, and avoid wearing someone else’s shoes.

Call Dr. Bhakta today for more information or to set up an appointment in Gainesville, VA, to see if laser therapy treatment for foot fungus is right for you. Our number at Prince William Foot and Ankle Center is 703-753-3338. See you soon!

If you are one of the unlucky ones susceptible to warts on your feet, then you know just how painful they can feel. Caused by a virus, they can pop up anywhere on your skin, including the skin on your feet. Those on the bottoms of your feet, called plantar warts, are usually the most painful. If you are suffering from warts on your feet, don’t try to treat them on your own. Call the Prince William Foot & Ankle Center in Gainesville, VA, to make an appointment with Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, a foot doctor who can diagnose and treat these agonizing growths.

Not All Warts Are Created Equal

While most warts are harmless, when left untreated they can grow and multiply, causing you more discomfort and pain. These clusters of warts form when you touch or scratch them. Untreated warts also can bleed. Although warts sometimes disappear on their own, they often reoccur in the same locations. Perhaps most distressing of all, plantar warts are so painful because they can grow on the weight-bearing areas of your foot, leading to a sharp, burning pain when you stand.

Don’t Treat Warts On Your Own if you have risk factors

Your Gainesville foot doctor does not recommend using over-the-counter products to treat warts if you have diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, or an active infection. 

Instead of self-treatment, consult your Gainesville-area foot doctor if you detect any suspicious growth on your foot. While people often mistake warts for corns or calluses, skin abnormalities sometimes pose a more serious concern, including carcinoma or melanoma.

Your Gainesville Foot Doctor Can Help

Once a wart diagnosis is made, your foot doctor will determine the best treatment for you. He may suggest prescription ointments or medications. However, in some cases, your wart may be removed using laser cautery, a procedure that burns and destroys the wart tissue.

Whether you think you have a wart or some other suspicious growth anywhere on your foot, call Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, your Gainesville, VA, foot doctor, today at Prince William Foot & Ankle Center at 703-753-3338. He will determine the best treatment plan for you.

Like every single bone in your body, your ankle is subjected to external influences that could negatively impact its ability to keep you upright and moving as well as its structural integrity. Heel pain, oftentimes bothersome but in some cases disabling, could develop in the bottom, back, or front of your heel.

Here at the Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, your podiatrist, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, can take a look at your affected heel in our Gainesville VA office and give you proper treatment recommendations to ease your pain.

Common Heel Pain Causes

Various things could cause heel pain. It is, however, generally caused by walking gait irregularities or malfunctioning biomechanics that put excess pressure on the heel bone as well as its attached soft tissues. This pressure might be due to a bruise or injury, excess weight, or wearing ill-fitting or poorly made footwear. Other common heel pain causes include heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, excessive pronation, bursitis, and a bone contusion or bruise. Talking to your Gainesville podiatrist is the best way to figure out what is going on.

Professional Treatment for Heel Pain

If your symptoms—pain, inflammation, heat, swelling, and redness—persist or worsen even with home treatments and ample rest, it’s best to consult with your Gainesville podiatrist.

Early treatment typically involves injectable or oral anti-inflammatory medicines, proper footwear recommendations, exercises, physical therapy, orthotics, as well as strapping or taping. Strapping or taping helps support the affected help, putting stressed tendons and muscles in a restful state.

Your podiatrist may likewise recommend the use of a functional orthotic appliance to control excessive pronation, fix biomechanical imbalances, and support the tendons and ligaments attached to your affected heel bone. In some individuals, wearing the proper orthotic device can resolve heel pain without resorting to surgery. Radial Pulse Shockwave Therapy may also be recommended by your Gainesville podiatrist to improve blood flow and hasten the healing of the affected heel.

It’s also crucial to point out that surgery and other advanced procedures are reserved for heel pain cases that can’t be corrected with more conservative pain treatments. In case, surgery is needed, it might entail removal of a soft tissue growth like a neuroma, bursa removal, spur removal, or plantar fascia release.

For Concerns or Questions About Heel Pain, Contact Us

Arrange a visit with your podiatrist, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, by calling our Gainesville VA office at (703) 753-3338.

Here are the best strategies to follow to achieve a full recovery from a sprained ankle.

A sprained ankle is incredibly common and can happen to anyone. Whether you stepped off the curb awkwardly or you twisted your ankle while running, there are many reasons that you may find yourself dealing with a sprained ankle; however, it’s important that you don’t just ignore your symptoms. Here’s when to treat an ankle at home and when you should visit our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, for a proper evaluation.

Treating Your Ankle Sprain at Home

As you might expect, you want to reduce pain and swelling as quickly as possible after an ankle injury. Practice the RICE method to do so:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

Rest is, by far, the most important thing you can do to help your ankle heal quickly. Avoid putting weight on the ankle and keep your ankle elevated above your heart while sitting down (this can reduce swelling). You should also wrap an ice pack (or a frozen bag of a pea, if you don’t have an ice pack) with a towel and apply it to the ankle for 15-20 minutes up to five times a day. Icing the ankle can temporarily numb the pain and reduce swelling.

When to See a Podiatrist

If you’ve never sprained your ankle before it’s probably a good idea to see a medical professional who can properly diagnose the injury. After all, you may think it’s just a sprain, but it could actually be a more serious condition. It’s important to rule out other problems such as fractures or dislocations.

You should see a podiatrist right away if:

• Pain and swelling are severe
• You are unable to put weight on the affected ankle
• There is a visible deformity in the ankle after injury
• You heard a popping sound at the moment of impact or injury
• There is tingling, numbness, or weakness in the foot or ankle

Since a sprained ankle is more at risk for future sprains, it’s important that you follow your podiatrist’s treatment plan exactly. Our team can provide a variety of stretching and strengthening exercises designed to retrain the muscles, ligaments, and tissues within and around the ankle to prevent future injuries.

If you are dealing with urgent problems or a foot infection, our podiatrist is still providing immediate and emergency care to patients living in and around Gainesville, VA. We are also offering telemedicine visits for patients who are dealing with non-urgent issues. To schedule an appointment, please call Prince William Foot & Ankle Center at (703) 753-3338.

Sometimes certain foot problems and symptoms require an expert’s opinion.

Our feet work so incredibly hard for us each and every day and yet we don’t often recognize all that they do until they start to cause us problems. Before we know it everyday activities like going upstairs or enjoying your morning run cause you pain. Our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, provides individualized foot and ankle care to patients of all ages. Whether you are dealing with simple problems like ingrown toenails or more serious matters like diabetes here are some instances in which you should turn to our podiatrist for care.

Pain and Swelling

There are many injuries and conditions that can lead to foot pain or swelling. While more minor conditions can be treated with rest and home care, it’s important to know when to see a podiatrist. If the pain and swelling is severe, if the pain gets worse or if these symptoms impact your ability to walk normally then it’s time to see a doctor.

Numbness and Tingling

While you may notice your feet “going to sleep” when sitting in a certain position if you notice recurring numbness, tingling or weakness that affects the whole foot this could be a sign of something more serious such as neuropathy (nerve damage). This requires immediate medical attention.

A Lump or Deformity

There are many types of lumps and bumps that can form on the feet; however, we are talking about the lumps and growths that don’t seem to go away such as bunions, warts, or neuromas. While most of these problems are benign, it’s a good idea to find out what’s going on, especially if you are experiencing any discomfort.

You Have Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes it’s important that you add our Gainesville, VA, foot doctor to your team of doctors so that we can provide you with customized care and treatment when you need it. After all, diabetes can greatly impact the health of your feet and even small problems like cuts, blisters, and redness can lead to more serious complications. Having a podiatrist you trust is crucial for people living with diabetes.

If you have any concerns about the health of your feet or you are dealing with problems that give you pause, our team at Prince William Foot & Ankle Center can provide you with the answers and care you need right here in Gainesville and South Riding, VA. Call our office today at (703) 753-3338.