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2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 25
Crofton, MD 21114

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Posts for: August, 2014

By Brad Toll
August 10, 2014
Category: Amputation

On their return from a comedy club in New Jersey, Tracy Morgan (longtime star of NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ’30 Rock’ with Tina Fey) and his companions were struck by a truck Saturday evening. The crash was fatal for one member of Morgan’s crew, and resulted in the critical injury of two others. Morgan himself sustained numerous injuries including broken ribs, nose, and a severely broken leg. Authorities believe that a driver of a Walmart truck hadn’t slept in over 24 hours, and in an attempt to avoid a collision with another car swerved into the back of the Morgan’s limousine.  Following these news reports, rumors quickly spread across twitter and other social media outlets regarding Morgan’s need for a lower extremity amputation.

While now proven to be a complete fabrication, this erroneous rumor is more real than the pranksters likely believe. Currently, there are nearly 2 million people living with limb loss in the United States1. Half of these amputations are due to traumatic injury; however, the other half is due to complications of medical diseases such as vascular disorders or diabetes mellitus. Despite our best efforts at prevention, diabetic foot ulcers still precede nearly 84%2 of all nontraumatic amputations in diabetic patients in the US. 

This is why I stress to all of my patients at Crofton Podiatry that they take extreme caution and care with respect to their foot health. Our feet endure tremendous amount of forces throughout the day. However, in the presence of chronic diabetes, our bodies become less able to alert us to problems, and recover from this damage. The development of peripheral neuropathy (or lack of sensation in our feet) renders us vulnerable to the repetitive damage of walking, and may facilitate the silent formation of a diabetic foot ulcer (or wound). 

If you have diabetes, current American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines state that you should be seeing a podiatric specialist at least once a year to prevent the development of a diabetic foot ulcer. In many cases, certain risk factors may make this minimum visitation interval even more frequent. Whether you’re in Crofton or not and are concerned about your overall foot health, make an appointment with a local podiatrist to get the best and most up to date care information tailored to your body and lifestyle.

By Brad Toll.

 

References:

1: ‘Limb loss statistics’. Taken from the Limb Loss Resource Center via www.amputee-coalition.org  Accessed on 6/7/2014

2: Boulton AJM. The diabetic foot: from art to science. The 18th Camillo Golgi lecture. Diabetologia. 2004;47(8):1343-1353.


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By Brad Toll
August 03, 2014
Category: Foot Odor

Simply stated, our feet smell because we keep a massive amount of our bodies sweat glands buried beneath our socks and shoes throughout the day.  Feet have more sweat glands than any other party of the body, with nearly 3,000 glands per square inch.  While your feet are encased in your shoes, sweat is unable to evaporate creating the perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth. Feet begin to smell as this perspiration interacts with the bacteria that live on our skin and in our shoes and socks.

Foot odor is a considerable problem for many of my patients at Crofton Podiatry, many of whom have been life-long sufferers of this embarrassing condition.  A persistent foot odor may indicate the presence of an infection, and excessive sweating may increase your chances of developing a foot ulcer.  Additionally, certainprescription medications, hormonal changes, and high levels of stress may increase your sweat levels; therefore, a simple check with a podiatric specialist in the Gambrills and Annapolis area may be able to resolve your issue.

Because excessive foot odor is mainly the result of excess odor-causing bacteria, it can typically be controlled with a few simple lifestyle and hygiene changes.  If you suffer from embarrassing odorous feet, start by following the steps I give my patients below, then come in and see me for more personalized advice.

General tips for reducing foot odor:

  • Wear clean socks every day.  Cotton tends to absorb moisture and stay wet, seek out sock materials that breathe and are the right fit for you. - If needed, change into clean socks at the midpoint of the day.
  • Clean your feet daily with antibacterial soap to reduce bacteria
  • Alternate shoes between uses, only wear shoes that are dry.
  • Wear comfortable and well-fitting shoes, if possible consult a footwear specialist when purchasing new shoes.
  • Do not walk around barefoot as this exposes the feet to possible injury and new bacteria.
  • Apply foot sprays and powders as recommended by a professional
  • Monitor your feet daily and consult a professional if you suspect fungal infections


By Brad Toll.


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2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 25
Crofton, MD 21114

Podiatrist - Crofton, Crofton Podiatry, 2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 25, Crofton MD, 21114 (410) 721-4505