Having Foot Pain? Come and See Us First!
Are your feet a real pain? Did your ankle swell after twisting it in the game, or is your big toe red and uncomfortable? Maybe you just can’t shake your athlete’s foot, or you’re wrestling with a stubborn wart. COME AND SEE US! We are trained, skilled professionals and we can take care of you and your family’s foot troubles.
As your primary foot health care provider, we handle emergencies, but we can help you with uncomfortable, everyday problems too. We insist on high quality care and service.
When you visit Dakota Foot & Ankle Clinic, we give you a thorough exam. First, we review your medical history and look carefully at your feet. We check the blood flow to your feet, the skin color, and pulse. Finally, we may try to see if your ankle, knees, and hips are adding to your foot problems.
But we keep more than just your feet in mind. When we do your checkup, we look for signs of other health problems like anemia, arthritis, kidney troubles, and diabetes. Your overall health is important to us too.
When we finish examining you, we explain what’s causing your problems, and outline your treatment options. If you need a referral, we can recommend someone.
So, before you even think about going somewhere else, call us and let us pencil you into our schedule.
Team Approach to Control Diabetes
Managing diabetes requires careful attention to the disease. A balance of medication, diet, and exercise must be reached to keep blood sugar in check. Controlling diabetes is a lifelong challenge requiring the care of a team of healthcare professionals.
Our podiatric office plays a crucial role in that team…charged with helping protect your life and limbs from the effects of diabetes.
There are many reasons that diabetes results in amputations, including:
- SKIN DRYNESS-Diabetes leaves the skin of your feet dry and scaly, making them more susceptible to infection.
- CIRCULATION PROBLEMS-The narrowing and hardening of blood vessels in the feet make it difficult to fight infection and heal wounds.
- NEUROPATHY-When the nerves of your feet are damaged, you ability to feel pain is impaired, and you may not feel an injury until infection has set in.
THESE PROBLEMS CAN LEAD TO THE LOSS OF A LIMB IF DIABETES GOES UNCHECKED!
Podiatrists have achieved much success in helping prevent amputations. When we see you at least yearly, we track the progression of your disease. Diagnostic tests we may perform include measuring of blood flow to check circulation, and light and deep touch tests for sensitivity.
You are a crucial part of your diabetes management team, since your performance makes or breaks our chances of success. The following recommendations are essential to caring for your feet.
- Inspect feet daily for wounds, blistering, or redness.
- Never go barefoot.
- Never immerse feet in hot water.
- Avoid over-the-counter products for calluses or corns.
- Wear comfortable, well fitting shoes and socks.
- Don’t smoke.
REPORT CHANGES IN YOUR FEET TO OUT OFFICE IMMEDIATELY. WE’LL HELP KEEP YOU ON THEM FOR YEARS TO COME.
Board Certification: What does it mean?
A board-certified podiatrist has completed professional study and training beyond the four years required to earn the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine(D.P.M.).
To be eligible for Board Certification, the specialist in podiatric medicine must complete advanced courses, usually in a residency program.
In addition, the podiatrist seeking board certification must have several years’ experience as a practitioner of podiatric medicine after receiving the D.P.M., and must document performing a required number of procedures.
Finally, the doctor takes a comprehensive written exam on all phases of podiatric medicine and surgery, as well as a a thorough oral test on patient care. A panel of experts oversees the examining process, ensuring that the doctor who successfully completes the board-certification process has attained the highest level of professional skills. Board certification symbolizes our commitment to providing you with the best possible podiatric care.
What is Your Arch Type?
ARCH TYPE
This may sound complicated, but there is a very simple way to determine your arch type. It’s called the “wet foot test.” You’ve probably done the steps involved in this test many times, but you not have taken the time to really look at the results.
To take the “wet foot test,” begin by getting your feet wet. Next, walk across a surface that readily shows your foot prints-concrete is a good choice. Now, once you’ve left several prints take a good look at them.
FLAT FEET
Your footprint will resemble the full print of a flat foot. People with flat feet often suffer form problems associated with overpronation. This means that they tend to walk on the insides of their feet. Flat feet are more susceptible to injuries, such as plantar fasciitis and stress fractures.
HIGH ARCHES
High arches are rare. Very high arches will show only a thin band running between the heel and forefoot. The problem with this kind of foot is that there is less shock absorption. A shoe with extra cushioning and support is a smart choice. Stress fractures and Achilles tendonitis are common ailments.
NORMAL ARCHES
People with this type of footprint generally have a reduced incidence of foot trouble. Their arches are less likely to suffer from injuries associated with biomechanical problems. However, no matter what your arch type, quality shoes with adequate support and foot protection are still a must.
Bunion Treatment
Bunions are painful. They erupt from the inside of the foot near the big toe, resulting in deformities. In addition to the bunion itself and its effect on the big toe, this ailment can also cause calluses, hammertoes, and pain in the arches. The mechanical instability in the foot that leads to bunions is often inherited. A bunion is a misalignment of the bones which causes the big toe to point toward the smaller toes and sometimes even overlap them.
In the past, bunion surgery had to be done in a hospital, using general anesthesia. It required a lengthy recovery and sometimes included casting. The patient spent several months wearing special shoes and doing very little walking. The time between surgery and the patients return to normal activities was significant. The new technique requires only local anesthesia and is performed as “day” surgery. Patients will need to wear special shoes, but only for a few weeks.
A NEW SURGICAL SYSTEM
What’s different about this surgery is the surgical engineering technique that’s employed. The method uses screws, which are placed under the skin, to restore the proper alignment of the bones and allow the foot to function correctly. Not only does the technique maintain the correction, but it means a minimum of discomfort for the patient and a speedier recovery.
BETTER, FASTER HEALING
Because of the strength of the surgical screws, the bone heals more quickly, and faster healing rate means that you’ll be back on your feet sooner. The screws hold the bone in the correct position to provide stability for the foot.
