Items filtered by date: April 2018

Plantar warts are small rough skin growth caused by a viral HPV (human papillomavirus) infection, which is the most common viral infection of the skin. Walking barefoot is a risk factor since the virus enters the skin often on the heels or soles of the feet through thin breaks or cuts on the feet. They often appear to be similar to other skin lesions such as small calluses or porokeratosis. However, warts differ in the clinical presentation of having no skin lines, a peppered grainy appearance, and black pinpoint deposits or bleeding when debrided. These wart lesions may also be tender when located on plantar weight bearing surfaces.  It is best to have your podiatrist diagnose and treat a plantar wart to efficiently remove the wart as self-wart removal may do more harm than good and may also reoccur.

Most plantar warts are harmless and may have spontaneous remission within a year or two. When warts are painful/spread/reoccur it is best to treat them by completely removing the wart.

The following are various treatments that your podiatrist may consider which may also require repeated treatments:

• Cryotherapy (with liquid nitrogen) at 2 and 4 week intervals. The freezing destroys the cells that contain the virus and also stimulate an immune response to fight the viral warts.
• Salicylic acid or acetic acids – a peeling medication that removes the skin layers containing the wart.
• Cantharone (Cantharidin) every 2 weeks for a total of 4 applications.
• Electrcodesiccation and curettage – this minor surgery requires local anesthetic and may also leave a scar as it involves cutting away the wart.
• CO2 laser – burns the wart off and may also cause scarring of the skin.

Remember to take preventative actions for plantar warts by avoid walking barefoot especially in public area such as the pool or shower rooms. Some warts may be treated with over-the-counter treatments but they often reoccur or do not work. If you notice that you are having these stubborn painful plantar warts, call your podiatrist today to step in the right direction of becoming wart free!

Please visit our website for more information or call 614-885-3338 (FEET) to schedule an appointment with us at our Columbus or Gahanna office

Unlike obvious acute injuries, stress fractures have a more insidious and subtle onset. Stress fractures are small hairline cracks cause by microtrauma from overuse or repetitive normal cyclic loading on the bone. Some risk factors are a change or increase in physical activity, and even a change in shoe gear can contribute to a stress fracture. Stress fractures most often occur in the second and third metatarsal bones in the foot as these are commonly thinner and longer than the first metatarsal and so has a greater reactive force against the ground. Other common locations are the calcaneus bone in the heel and the navicular bone in the midfoot.

If stress fractures remain untreated, the condition can worsen especially during weight bearing activity so it is important to notices the signs of a stress fracture.

The followings are common symptoms to look out for in a stress fracture:

• A non-distinct, deep, and dull achy pain
• Pain relieved with rest and brought on by activity
• Tenderness at the stress fracture site
• Pain that progressively worsens
• Swelling in the affected area

Your doctor may order x-rays to help confirm the diagnosis of a stress fracture; however, it is important to note that the stress fracture may not be seen on an x-ray early on as the fracture is so thin and minute. Other imaging studies can be ordered such as an MRI or a bone scan to further help detect a stress fracture earlier as these are more sensitive than an x-ray. Some treatments your doctor may recommend are NSAIDs, rest, ice, and elevate your foot as well as discontinuing any high-impact physical activities. Your doctor may also dispense a stiff-soled shoe or a CAM boot and have you use crutches if walking is too painful. Surgery is not routine for stress fractures as conservative treatments are often sufficient with the recovery process of 6 to 8 weeks for the fracture to heal. Call your podiatrist today for your best chance of a full recovery and restart your activities pain free after a stress fracture!

Please visit our website for more information or call 614-885-3338 (FEET) to schedule an appointment with us at our Columbus or Gahanna office