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Crofton, MD 21114

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August 12, 2019
Category: Foot Care
Tags: foot doctor   Foot Pain   foot care   treatments  

Among the usual treatment podiatrists employ, Crofton Podiatry also offers the following which you may not know about. They are Cryotherapy, Iontophoresis, Neurolysis, and Extracorporeal Shockwave.

Each has their specific uses and applications, but all, if used as designed, can help alleviate many of the problems podiatric patients suffer from. They are:

  • Cryotherapy – it’s the use of cold to freeze off warts. Some treatments call for immersion in a cold cryotherapy bath while others only apply the freezing temperatures to the face or other affected areas. We use a cotton swab to apply liquid nitrogen to the affected area.
  • Iontophoresis - it is used to treat excessive sweating and employs a machine which passes a mild electrical current through a pan of water in which your feet are submerged. This can also be used for other parts of the body. There are no known long-term side effects and has been found to be very effective.
  • Neurolysis is used to treat neuromas or pinched nerves. Neurolysis requires the application of a chemical to eliminate the affected nerve. Several treatments are recommended.
  • Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy uses shockwaves to treat inflamed areas usually in the heel. This treatment is used for the more serious conditions of Plantar Fasciitis which may have not responded to more conservative treatments. Sound waves are applied outside the skin and act to heel the aggravated material within the foot.

While we strive to provide the most effective treatments for foot concerns, doing so requires keeping up on the latest procedures. Each of the above treatments are designed to be applied to specific foot issues and only a trained podiatrist can determine what treatment is best for you. Please know we are dedicated to providing only the best service to our patients.

If you believe you have any of the above maladies or have any other concerns about your feet, make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas. 

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By Crofton Podiatry
July 10, 2019
Category: Arthritis
Tags: Gout   obesity   uric acid   high blood pressure  

One of the more painful conditions a person can have is a condition called Gout. Gout is the buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. Uric acid contains knife-like crystals that embed themselves in the soft parts of your joints. Often found in your toes or ankles, gout can also occur in your hands and wrists. The pain can be described as having a throbbing broken bone. Gout makes joints so sensitive that the weight of a bedsheet can cause extreme and excruciating pain.

One of the main causes of gout is the consumption of food rich in uric acid, otherwise known as purine rich foods.

These include:

  • Shellfish – shrimp, lobster, crab
  • Red, uncooked meat
  • Sardines, Anchovies, Mackerel
  • Liver, Kidney – organ meats
  • Beer
  • Nutritional and brewer’s yeast
  • Sweetbread
  • Venison
  • Veal
  • High fructose foods

Risk factors for gout include:

  • Poor diet – consumption of the high purine foods above
  • Obesity – can contribute to the development of gout
  • High blood pressure – meds taken to great HBP can cause gout
  • Certain diuretics – can happen with anti-rejection drugs
  • Genetics – runs in the family
  • Age – men develop gout usually between 30 and 50. Women after menopause
  • Sex – men usually have higher uric acid levels

The best treatment for gout is a healthy diet. Foods such as fruits, complex carbs, vegetables, or a low fat protein which can include lentils. Avoid naturally sweetened fruit juices. Drinking water is also important as it helps flush out the uric acid. Treatments for gout besides a better diet include:

  • Ibuprophen – treats pain and swelling – can damage kidneys if taken excessively
  • Colchicine – good for acute attacks
  • Allopurinol – also known as an oxidase inhibitor - helps reduce uric acid output
  • Medications that help remove uric acid levels – known as a uricosuric

If you believe you have gout or have any other concerns with your feet, make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will assess your feet and find the proper treatments. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas. You can also visit our website at www.croftonpodiatry.com.

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June 11, 2019
Category: socks

Do your feet ever seem sweaty or dry? Or do you ever have the urge to go sockless when it comes to wearing your shoes? It may seem that doing so would air out our feet, but this is not the best thing to do.

There are several reasons to wear socks whether it’s for business, casual use or athletic competition and they include:

  • Cushioning – Socks add another layer to our feet when we walk
  • Moisture absorption – keeps our feet dry
  • Prevents the accumulation of bacteria- helps prevents the creation of fungus and athlete’s foot
  • Warmth – helps circulation during cold months
  • Prevents blisters, corns and calluses – prevents undue rubbing and therefore irritation against your skin
  • Can aid in sleeping – may help regulate body temperature and signal the brain it’s time to sleep
  • Prevents Raynaud’s disease – Helps regulate blood flow in your foot

Not all socks are the same though. Many are designed to fit the foot with careful attention to structure and support.  Socks often cushion the ball of the foot and the heel where much of a person’s weight is applied. Here too, extra stitching may be found to add strength to the sock.

What material is used is also important as not all provide the same benefits. Common fabrics used in socks include:

  • Merino wool – a natural product good for providing warmth and allowing for breathability
  • Cotton – most likely the least expensive, but your feet will sweat in them
  • Polyester – breathable, light and strong and good for all around use
  • Olefin – a strong and durable synthetic fabric which is excellent for repelling water
  • DryMax – another excellent synthetic fabric that has an anti-microbial treatment that helps prevent the accumulation of odor 
  • Coolmax – a strong synthetic fabric that keeps warmth and is excellent for athletics

Of course, size is also important whether you have a small or extra-large foot. Make sure your sock fits your feet. Too small and too large a sock, are both very uncomfortable and a waste of money and time. Regarding sock height, choose one that feels the most comfortable and fits your style.

If you have any questions about choosing the proper footwear or have any other questions about your feet call our office and make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will assess your feet and make the appropriate suggestions or find the appropriate treatments. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas. 

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By Crofton Podiatry
May 08, 2019
Category: Foot Pain

While many of us work at desk jobs, many others do not. Still, it is not uncommon for us to develop sore feet not from a callus or other medical malady, but from simple overuse. Careers that require long periods of standing or walking such as construction, sports, medicine or education see tired feet as a normal, but not welcome part of the job. So how do we deal with this? I suggest the following:

Ways to Soothe Tired and Achy Feet:

  • Soak your feet – soak your feet in a tub of warm water mixed with Epsom salt. Soak for about 20 minutes. This can relieve sore muscles and reduce swelling. 1 cup of Epsom salt to a tub of warm water.
  • Stretch – slowly stretch your foot muscles including your toes and ankle careful not to over extend each. Slow, steady pressure in one direction will gradually loosen tight muscles and promote the free flow of blood in your circulatory system replenishing all important red blood cells.
  • Get a foot massage – sit and rub the bottom of your feet careful to treat the whole sole. Include your toes and calves.
  • Soak in ice – with painful and swollen feet you can also soak them in a combination of ice and water. 
  • Cushion your feet – use an insole or orthotic to properly support and/or cushion your feet.
  • Proper fitting shoes – check your footwear to make sure they are the proper size and provide proper support especially in the arches. If not, get new footwear. Your podiatrist can make suggestions.

Sore feet are a common occurrence and are a valid reason to see your podiatrist. Doing so will ensure that the problem is relatively minor unless other conditions are contributing to your discomfort.

If you’re suffering from sore feet or have any other concerns about your feet, make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas. 

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By Crofton Podiatry
May 01, 2019
Category: toe deformities

If you’ve ever looked at your feet and notice your toes bending at the joints, you may have hammertoes. Hammertoes is a condition caused by an imbalance of the muscles, bones and ligaments that keep your toes straight.

Causes may include:

  • Improper footwear – not wearing proper fitting shoes
  • Genetics – foot issues can be passed down from other relatives
  • Foot diseases – People with arthritis and diabetes can develop hammertoes
  • Toe length – a longer toe may be bent by hitting the front of the shoe
  • Sex – women tend to get hammertoes more than men
  • Age – Hammertoes is more prevalent as people get older
  • Sudden trauma – an injury can cause the toes to bend at the knuckles.

Indications of Hammertoe include:

  • Pain and swelling – the bending of the toe will result in irritation and pain
  • Inability to move the toe – with swelling it will be difficult to move or straighten
  • Corns and/or calluses – constant wearing of skin against another toe
  • Open sore – if enough contact is being made a sore may develop

There are a few things you can do short of surgery including stretching your toes before you put your shoes on, making sure you have proper fitting shoes, using a store-bought insole, adding padding and taking a pain med like Tylenol. A podiatrist can administer a cortisone shot for pain.  Your podiatrist can also fashion a custom orthotic for you.

If none of them help, then you may need surgery. If so, you podiatrist will confirm this with you. Surgery could include the following:

  • Arthroplasty – removal of a half of the joint
  • Arthrodesis – removal of a whole joint
  • Basal phalangectomy - removing the base of the bone under the big toe

If you believe you have hammertoes and they ate bothering you or have any other concerns about your feet, make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas. 

 

 

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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