Living in Florida, our climate is a great incubator for fungs.  It seems to be everywhere. Some people are more susceptible than others to acquiring fungus, and some have a more difficult time gettng rid of it!  Toenails are a good example of a spot that fungus especially likes to invade.  Treatment for toenail fungus varries.  With options from topical antifungals to oral medications (like Lamisil or Sporanox) available.  Some of the most successful treatment options are the newest technology – laser.  Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida offers FDA-approved laser treatment for your nail fungus.  A great option for getting rid of the toenail fungus and getting your toenails – summer-ready!

From time to time, my patients complain about night time foot cramps.  These are occasional discomforts and are usually easy to fix.  Most often, the cause is an electrolyte imbalance or side effects from medications they are taking.  Usually drinking some Gatorade, (sugar-free for diabetic patients) or some quinine water does the trick.  If that does not work and the night foot cramps continue, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Dr. Joanne Balkaran and her staff from the Mt. Dora Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida donned their walking shoes to support the March of Dimes walk in Tavares.  The group was blessed by walking to promote such a worthy cause.  "Many families are helped by the March of Dimes," stated Gina, FAAF Patient Care Representative, "It was fun to walk for those babies!"
 

Dr. Curtis Wagner and FAAF staff were proud to support "Healthy Kid's Day" at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA Family Center on April 28th. Families and kids of all ages, participated in fun, games, and all types of activities promoting positive health habits. 

Dr. Wagner, a Y-member, participates in the Masters Swimming Program.  He witnesses first-hand the benefits of YMCA memberhip.  "I have come to know and appreciate he extraordinary people that work there," stated Wagner.  Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida supports various YMCA programs throughout Central Florida and acknowledge the importance of scholarships that are availalbe to familites that otherwise could not afford to belong.  "The Y system is a wonderful community asset that keeps families involved through exercise and sports programs," commented Wagner.
 

     The American Podiatric Medical Association states that the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, which will add up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime.  That's more than 4 times the circumfernce of the globe!  That's a lot of walking.
     Did you know that there are 26 bones in the foot, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles & tendons, 3 major arteries and over 7500 nerve ending? 
     Over 75% of us will have a problem with one or more of these in our lifetime!  Use the "contact us" form on our website to ask a question about your feet.  Or better yet, if you are experiencing foot pain, make an appointment to see a APMA-member podiatrist today.
    We are here to help!
 

    Sunday, February 19th. dawned windy and overcast, but that did not deter the eager runners ready for the signal to "start the race."  Nearly 200 runners, including Dr. Joanne Balkaran, Foot and Ankle Associates of Florida podiatrist, were lined up to test their skills.  Many runners were there to qualify for future events, while some were looking to best their personal time.  
    Proceeds from the event goes to support Florida Hospital Waterman's Mission Team annual project.  This year's mission trip will go to Ethopia.  Some mission team members will work in the Summit Clinic while others will work at the Learning Village, an elementary school outside Addis Ababa.  
    Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida Mt. Dora office was pleased to be a water sponsor for the race.  Dr. Balkaran also answered foot or ankle-related questions and provided complementary foot checks to runners after the race.

Last week, I blogged about ingrown toenails, a common condition that causes people to seek podiatric care.  Today, I want to talk about treatment options.  There are a variety of treatments for ingrowns, ranging from simple soaks and antibiotics to the removal of the problematic portion of the nail plate.  Removal involves taking out a tiny portion of the nail that is causing the problem.  Usually it is not necessary to remove the total nail.  If ingrown nails become a constant problem, your podiatrist can permanenty keep the small portion of the nail from growing back by destroying the nail root.  Patients are amazed how quickly they feel relief once the offending ingrown nail is professionally taken care of.

Post your questions under the "Comments" section of our blog and I will be happy to answer them!

One of the most common acute foot conditions that people suffer with, is the ingrown nail.  Ingrown nails can be caused by trauma, tight or loose shoes, fungus, your parents (genetics), or even the local nail salon.  An ingrown nail, or what we call Onychocryptosis in the biz, is basically the nail growing down into the skin on the side of the toe or the skin growing up over the nail.  Either of these causes can lead to pain and infections.  Infections wll cause the toe to become red and have drainage from the side of the nail.  One of the best ways to prevent ingrown nails is to cut the nail straight across and avoid cutting the nail too short.  Once an ingrown nail has started it is best to go see your podiatrist.  Next week I will be discussing several of the treatments that the poditrists at Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida prescribe for their patients.

This week end I will be at the Forest Lake Church Health Fair on Sunday 2/12/12 from 11:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m.  Event will be in the gym at Forest Lake Academy – 500 Education Loop, Apopka, FL  32703.  Stop by and ask your foot or ankle questions!

Heel pain – plantar fascitis, often strikes when you take your first steps as you get out of bed in the morning.  There are multiple ways to treat this condition.  The easiest way to help with the pain is by STRETCHING!  Stretching prevents the tightening of the connective tissue in the foot and aids in the prevention of heel pain.  Stretching the foot in the morning, after resting, or before walking will help with the first few steps which are often the most painful.  Freezing a plastic water bottle and rolling it gently back and forth under the arch of your foot can also prove beneficial.

Taking an anti-inflammatory medication can not only decrease the pain, but will also help with inflammation.  Additional treatment ranges from local and systemic cortisone therapy or in a few cases, surgery to lengthen the fascia may be needed.  Contact your local podiatrist for an evaluation of your feet and additional ways to prevent or treat your heel pain.

Having pain in your heel?  Today we are going to briefly discuss one of the most common problems presented to a podiatrist – heel pain.  Heel pain can be caused by numerous problems, ranging from simple trauma to complex bone deformities.  The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fascitis.  Plantar fascitis is imflammation to the connective tissure that holds up our arch and supports our feet.  Usually the pain is felt on the bottom of the foot toward the heel after periods of rest.  Most notably on the first steps out of bed in the morining.  There are multiple ways of treating this condtion.

My next blog post will discuss some of those ways.

    We are pleased to welcome Dr. Jason Luttrell to the FAAF family. Dr. Luttrell studied at Barry University, graduating with his DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) in 2008. He continued post-gradute training by completing a 3-year surgical residency in South Florida.
    Dr. Luttrell is excited about joining Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida where he hopes to continue learning by the side of some of the "best podiatrists in Central Florida." His goal for his patients is to treat them with kindness and respect while utilizing the best treatment options availalbe to help them overcome their foot or ankle complaints.
    When not in the office, Dr. Luttrell loves spending time with his wife and his animals. He enjoys outdoor activities and states that, "playing any sport with a ball" is where you will find him.
    Dr. Luttrell will be sharing his thoughts from time to time through our blog.  Be sure to visit our website regularly to see what's on his mind.

The holidays came early to Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida this year!  Someone must have been "extra nice."  We purchased a new laser system.  This system can be used to treat a multitude of different conditions.  Treatments range from eliminating fungal nail problems to getting rid of pesky toe/foot hair.

This laser targets the blood source (hemoglobin) not the melanin in the body.  Thus making the procedure safe for all skin types.  The laser produces a flat beam which allows for even heating which greatly reduces any risk of a burn.  A special plus is the cooling feature (a hand held unit that the patient can control themselves.)  The long pulse delivery allows a precise amount of heat directed to the desired location.

Check it out!  We will be happy to show you before and after pictures of different procedures.  Let the skilled podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida care for all of your foot or ankle problems in the New Year!

Foot & Ankle Associates of Florida is pleased to support Boy Scout Troop 408 during their Fall Food Drive.  Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the FAAF Altamonte Springs office (661 E. Altamonte Drive, Suite 210).  All donations will benefit H.O.P.E., a Central Florida Charity with a mission to prevent and reduce homelessness in Central Florida by equipping individuals and families to become self-sufficient through HOUSING – OUTREACH – PREVENTION – and EDUCATION.  To learn more about H.O.P.E. or to find a list of needed food items, visit www.hopehelps.org.

Yesterday we talked about some of the ways to enjoy wearing flip-flops and prevent foot predicaments by remembering some helpful tips when purchasing and wearing flip-flops.  Today, let's look at some of the DON'TS:
DON"T wear your flip-flops year after year.  Inspect your older pairs for wear – throw away any that show severe wear.
DON'T ignore any irritation between your toes where the toe thong fits.  Irritation can lead to blisters and possible infections.
DON'T do yard work while wearing flip-flops.  Always wear shoes that fully protect your feet while doing any type of yard chores.
DON'T wear your flip-flops while playing sports.  Wearing your flip-flops while engaging in these activities can lead to twisting your foot or ankle, even sprains and breaks.
If you have any foot / ankle concerns, be sure to contact your podiatrist.  Remember, foot pain is not normal.