What is a Bunion?

What Causes Bunions?

How a Podiatrist Can Help

Prevention is Key

You may think of an ingrown toenail as a pesky, minor problem, but for some patients it could cause a more urgent condition. For instance, patients who need diabetic foot care or have circulatory disorders must avoid ulcers or wounds on their feet. Find out how a podiatrist at Idaho Foot & Ankle Associates in Nampa, Meridian, and Boise, ID, can help you with your ingrown toenails.

What Causes Ingrown Toenails?

A normal toenail grows outward over the surface of the skin. An ingrown toenail pushes down into the skin, causing pain and discomfort. It is sometimes caused by cutting the nails too short, or wearing snug shoes that put too much pressure on the nails. Some patients are more prone to this problem due to genetics, as it can run in families. In some cases, ingrown toenails can develop after a foot injury, like stubbing the toe on a piece of furniture. People who play sports may have frequent problems with their toenails.

Treating Ingrown Toenails

The basic treatment for an ingrown toenail is to have the nail clipped carefully by your Nampa, Meridian, and Boise, ID, podiatrist. In some cases, the nail may have to be surgically removed. If there is a wound left behind, it may require antibiotic therapy and wound care. See your foot doctor immediately if the area becomes red, swollen, and infected.

An Annoying but Manageable Foot Problem

If you tend to develop ingrown toenails, rest assured that this is a foot condition that is relatively easy to manage. Here are a few tips for how to ensure that your toenails grow properly:

• Clip your nails straight across, a couple of millimeters above the line where the skin and nail meet.
• Smooth out the edges of each nail with a file regularly so that they won’t be sharp or jagged.
• Keep your feet moisturized and clean throughout the day.
• Get rid of tight, pointed shoes and replace them with shoes that are square or round at the front.

Keep Your Toenails Healthy

Your toenails provide much-needed protection for your toes, so it’s important that you keep them healthy and well-maintained. If you need help avoiding ingrown toenails, call Idaho Foot & Ankle Associates in Nampa, Meridian, and Boise, ID, today to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist.

Are your ankles in pain? Are you dealing with some sort of ankle trauma? If you are having trouble with your ankle(s), your Boise, Nampa, and Meridian, ID, podiatrists can help.

Here's some information you need to know:

Ankle Injuries:

People visit their podiatrist when they twist their ankle inward, underneath their leg, which may occur while:

• Playing sports
• Stepping off of a curb
• Missing a stair
• Walking on uneven surface

These common ankle issues can lead to more detrimental issues if they're not dealt with.

What to do if you injure your foot according to your Boise, Nampa, and Meridian podiatrists:

• If you sprain your ankle and there are visible deformities to your leg, ankle, or foot, then you need to go to an emergency room immediately. 
   
• If, however, there's no serious damage, then you should begin home therapy with PRICE treatment (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation).
   
• Fractures can develop at the ankle and foot. If you aren't able to put weight on the injured ankle or foot the next day, you will need to seek medical attention to make sure you aren't suffering from fractures in your foot or ankle.
   
• The doctors will perform a physical exam and take X-rays to evaluate the severity of your injury.
   
• If your podiatrist confirms there is no fracture but there's a sprain, they may supply you with a brace or walking boot to help and protect your ankle.

More on Ankle Injuries:

Twisting or rolling your ankle can lead to sprains and fractures in the foot and ankle.

An ankle sprain occurs when one or more of your ligaments get stretched or torn. The most common ligaments that get injured are your lateral collateral ligaments.The deltoid ligaments (the inside of your ankle) or your syndesmosis (ligament that connects the two bones of your leg just above your ankle) are less likely to be sprained.

When these ligaments are injured, you may find swelling, bruising, or pain. If you experiencing any of these symptoms, follow the instructions provided above or call the podiatrists of Idaho Foot & Ankle Associates in Boise, Nampa, and Meridian, ID, for more information.

Are your feet ready to take on the thrilling ski season ahead? Let’s find out.

Ski season is upon us and perhaps visions of powder-white trails have you beaming ear to ear. We understand the excitement. Of course, our Boise, ID, podiatrists want to make sure that you have an enjoyable and safe ski season ahead. It’s time to ponder whether your ski boots are providing you with the proper support you need or whether your feet could benefit from custom orthotics.

There is a variety of conditions that can plague your feet if you don’t wear the proper ski boots or if you don’t offer your feet the support and stability they need to play hard but safely on the ski trails.

Once feet are situated within the ski boots they should be locked in place; however, if the foot is able to move around this can lead to heel pain or other complications in the future (e.g. hammertoes; bunions). To combat these issues you will want to consider getting custom ski orthotics from our Boise podiatrists.

Everyone who is hitting the slopes can benefit from custom orthotics. Not everyone gets properly fitted ski boots and boot issues can quickly set in. In fact, it’s not uncommon for properly fitted ski boots to flatten the arches of the feet, which can lead to muscle and tendon strain, as well as foot pain.

When you come in for custom ski orthotics we will mold and shape the accommodative device to your specific foot’s shape and to provide additional support, stability and control whenever you are wearing your boots. By placing these customized shoe inserts into your boots before activity it can provide the feet with the cushioning and molding they need to prevent the boots from forcing your arches into a flattened position, which means that you are now fully equipped to enjoy an injury-free ski season.

If you are interested in finding out whether custom orthotics could be what you need to keep sporty feet feeling their best then turn to the foot specialists at Idaho Foot & Ankle Associates in Boise. Whether you are a winter sports athlete or you just love sports all seasons of the year, let our podiatrists provide your feet with the care they need to keep you moving.

A painful, sore, red bump on at the base of your big toe--it's most likely a bunion, a common deformity of the foot. Your Nampa, Meridian and Boise, ID, podiatrists at Idaho Foot & Ankle Associates see plenty of these annoying and sometimes debilitating foot problems. They offer treatment options that make sense for you, your lifestyle and yes, your unique feet. What can your foot doctor do for you?

Why people get bunions

Most commonly, you'll develop a bony prominence at the metatarsophalangeal joint because:

• You are a middle-aged female (men and children get them less often)
• You wear shoes that are too tight, have high heels or a narrow toe box
• You are overweight
• Your family members also have bunions
• You overpronate your feet
• Flat arches have plagued you for years.
• You walk and stand on your feet a lot throughout the day

Besides the obvious disfigurement, bunions make the big toe turn in toward the second toe and sometimes, the second toe toward the third and so on. Hammertoes also develop as can thick corns and calluses.

What you can do about bunions

Padding and moleskin relieve the friction between the shoe and toe joint. Stretching exercises help alleviate arthritis associated with the joint. Unfortunately, though, most home remedies do not help more extensive bunions. That's where your podiatrist in Nampa, Meridian and Boise comes in.

They will perform a complete foot exam, including X-rays. The doctor may recommend at-home treatments as needed, but also may prescribe:

• A change in footwear (the American Podiatric Association says low-heeled shoes with a wide toe box are best)
• Shoe inserts, or custom-made orthotics to cushion the foot and to correct problems with gait
• Splints worn at night
• Bunionectomy

Bunionectomy is a specialized surgery which should be performed by a board-certified foot surgeon such as those at Idaho Foot. The procedure often involves reshaping the metatarsalphalangeal joint and re-aligning the connective tissue in the toe. More extensive treatments include fusing or pinning the toe joint or even inserting an implant.

Do you have a bunion?

Find out for sure, and get some relief for your discomfort. Contact Idaho Foot & Ankle Associates for an appointment with one of our caring doctors. In Boise, call (208) 327-0627. In Nampa, phone (208) 463-1660, and in Meredian, call (208) 888-9876.