Foot care (2) Posts

Charcot foot, pronounced "shar-kō," is a condition where your foot becomes red, then swells, and turns painful. It is not exclusive to diabetic patients, but its effects can be worse if you have metabolic disease. That's why when you have common diabetic symptoms such as loss of sensation and numbness, it's crucial to check your feet daily to lower the risk of complications, such as Charcot foot.

Until recently, ankle replacements were not that common. However, active people want to stay active, and with advancements in technology, total ankle replacement, also called total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), has become more common. 

What causes ankle pain? 

The first question patients tend to ask is why they have pain. There could be many reasons. You feel pain when there is friction between your ankle bones when  moving. If you have arthritis, it can rob your body of cartilage that helps make movement smooth and pain-free. Though injury, infection, an active lifestyle, or the wear and tear of a life well-lived, your body's cartilage grows thinner and provides less protection. 

Total Ankle Replacement - also known as a Total Ankle Arthoplasty - is a surgery used to treat advanced ankle arthritis or pain and deterioration due to normal wear and tear or a previous injury. 

Tendons connect muscle to bone and often connect near a joint. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. When the tendon becomes strained or torn, it can cause pain, swelling, and make it difficult to move the joint normally. It is not unusual for athletes or runners to have tight Achilles tendons. How do you know when the issue is something that warrants a call to the doctor?

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in a joint that can cause sudden, severe episodes of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling. It most often affects the joint of the big toe but it can affect other joints as well. The Arthritis Foundation states that gout affects nearly 4% of Americans and is more common in men than women. Yet few people understand what gout is and what to do about it.