Should you turn to a podiatrist if you are experiencing heel pain?

Heel pain is one of the most common foot problems our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist Dr. Mukesh Bhakta sees. In fact, heel pain impacts more than 2 million men and women in the US each year. While minor heel pain may go away with rest and proper care, it’s also important to recognize when you may need to turn to a foot care professional for treatment.

If you are dealing with heel pain you may think you can handle it on your own, and if the pain is minor you may be able to; however, you should turn to our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist right away if you are experiencing any of these symptoms,

• Severe heel pain
• Severe swelling
• Issues moving or bending the foot
• Difficulty walking or you’re unable to put weight on the foot
• Numbness of the foot
• An open sore that won’t heal

Any heel pain that occurs as a result of an injury or accident requires immediate attention from a qualified foot care professional. While you won’t require urgent care, it’s still a good idea to see us if your heel pain persists even at rest or if you are dealing with heel pain for several days and it doesn’t seem to be alleviated with rest and home care.

What will a podiatrist do?

We will first examine the foot and ask you questions regarding the pain. Your answers will provide us with insight into what might be going on. In most cases, an inflammatory condition known as plantar fasciitis if often to blame. While this condition isn’t usually a cause for concern, it can become chronic if left untreated or if not properly treated, which is why it’s always best to turn to our podiatric staff for immediate care.

Once we’ve determined the cause of your heel pain we can provide you with a variety of treatment options. Some ways to ease heel pain include,

• Limiting activities and getting ample rest
• Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers
• Steroid injections (for more severe cases)
• Physical therapy
• Orthotics & orthopedic shoes
• Shockwave therapy
• Ultrasound therapy
• Surgery (only in rare cases)

If you are dealing with severe or recurring heel pain, we have an offices in Gainesville, VA, to better serve you and your foot needs. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bhakta at Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, call (703) 753-3338.

If you notice an abnormal-looking callus on your foot it could be the sign of plantar warts, otherwise known as foot warts. Often these warts are mistaken for corns or calluses by the untrained eye. However, if you learn how to identify foot warts you will be better prepared to treat them. In some cases, warts can disappear on their own, but your Gainesville, VA, podiatrist Dr. Mukesh Bhakta could help you treat them faster and more effectively. Visit Prince William Foot & Ankle Center to treat your foot warts today!

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) which infects the outer layer of your skin. Foot warts specifically have a distinct appearance. They appear flat, unlike other warts which are usually raised. This is because the skin of the foot is thicker than other parts of the body. You may also notice that warts have a rough texture. Plantar warts can also be characterized by the black dots near the center which are its blood supply. If you are still unsure if your wart is a callus or not compare these identifying features.

Warts

• Painful when squeezed on the sides
• small black dots (blood supply)
• Interrupts the skin lines

Callus

• Painful when pushed into directly
• No sign of black dots (no blood supply)
• Skin line continues through the dead skin

 
Warts can be painful, especially when a large cluster forms on your sole. It can be difficult to treat these clusters so seek help from your Gainesville, VA, foot doctor at Prince William Foot & Ankle Center. Sent Treatment can involve OTC salicylic acid or cryotherapy. Warts can be contagious with direct contact. They can also become infected if they break the skin. If you want to treat warts right away call Dr. Bhakta for help. He uses multiple methods of treatment with aggressive acid cauterization, prescription medications, laser treatment, alternative methods, and surgical excision as a last resort.

Now that you know what foot warts look like you are prepared to handle them. You don't have to wait for them to go away, ask your podiatrist what treatment options could help you.

If you have foot warts call Dr. Bhakta at (703)753-3338. You can also visit Prince William Foot & Ankle Center in Gainesville, VA, for all your foot-related needs. Schedule an appointment today with our friendly and highly qualified podiatrist!
 

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.