February 2022

Broken toes, while painful, are typically not serious and have a good prognosis, with most injuries healing within four to six weeks. In addition to pain, symptoms of a broken toe include swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking on the affected toe. Severe breaks, which may involve the bone sticking out at an angle, a visible deformity of the toe, or the bone breaking through the skin, should be treated by a medical professional immediately. A mild injury can be treated at home while you wait to see your podiatrist. If you suspect your toe may be broken, rest and elevate the affected foot on cushions, apply ice wrapped in a towel to the toe, and take over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and swelling. If symptoms do not improve within a few days, it is strongly suggested that you see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

Broken toes may cause a lot of pain and should be treated as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Gregory Rorick, DPM from Rorick Podiatry, PC. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is a Broken Toe?

A broken toe occurs when one or more of the toe bones of the foot are broken after an injury. Injuries such as stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it may cause a toe fracture.

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Swelling
• Pain (with/without wearing shoes)
• Stiffness
• Nail Injury

Although the injured toe should be monitored daily, it is especially important to have a podiatrist look at your toe if you have severe symptoms. Some of these symptoms include worsening or new pain that is not relieved with medication, sores, redness, or open wounds near the toe.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in New York Mills, Utica, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

If you have heel spurs, bony outgrowths on the heel bones that can poke against the soft tissues in the heels and cause pain, doing simple foot stretches regularly can be very helpful for symptom relief. Before getting out of bed and taking your first steps of the day, try doing ankle pumps by sitting on the edge of your bed with your feet flat on the floor and then lifting your toes upwards while keeping your heels on the ground. Then bring the toes to the floor and lift your heels up. Repeat 15 times for best results. For more information about treating heel spurs, please consult with a podiatrist.

Stretching the feet is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns with your feet consult with Gregory Rorick, DPM from Rorick Podiatry, PC. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Stretching the Feet

Being the backbone of the body, the feet carry your entire weight and can easily become overexerted, causing cramps and pain. As with any body part, stretching your feet can serve many benefits. From increasing flexibility to even providing some pain relief, be sure to give your feet a stretch from time to time. This is especially important for athletes or anyone performing aerobic exercises, but anyone experiencing foot pain or is on their feet constantly should also engage in this practice.

Great ways to stretch your feet:

• Crossing one leg over the others and carefully pull your toes back. Do 10-20 repetitions and repeat the process for each foot
• Face a wall with your arms out and hands flat against the wall. Step back with one foot and keep it flat on the floor while moving the other leg forward. Lean towards the wall until you feel a stretch. Hold for 30 seconds and perform 10 repetitions for each foot
• Be sure not to overextend or push your limbs too hard or you could risk pulling or straining your muscle

Individuals who tend to their feet by regular stretching every day should be able to minimize foot pain and prevent new problems from arising.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in New York Mills, Utica, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Even though we depend on our feet to get us around all day, it is easy to forget to give them the care they need. Selecting appropriate shoes to keep the feet healthy and safe is important. First and foremost is choosing shoes that fit well, give proper support, and will help to keep you from slipping and falling. Pay attention to the cushioning inside your shoes, especially if you spend a lot of time standing. Arch supports can help distribute the weight so the pressure is not all on the heel and ball of the foot. High heels can cause all kinds of problems, including hammertoes, bunions, calluses and corns, as well as negatively affecting your posture and alignment. It is particularly important to wear the proper shoe for each activity, paying attention to support, cushioning, width and stability. If your feet change in shape or color, begin to hurt, or feel sore on a regular basis, it is a good idea to visit a podiatrist for a complete examination to determine whether you may need custom orthotics or other treatment.

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Gregory Rorick, DPM from Rorick Podiatry, PC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in New York Mills, Utica, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Pain under the heel, especially if you are a jogger or runner, may be a sign that you have plantar fasciitis. This condition affects the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of your foot. It is more common with older people, especially women, but can also be the result of repetitive stress, which causes inflammation. This results in pain that may feel worse if you stand a lot or put pressure on your heel. Being overweight also contributes to the discomfort. One thing you can do is cease the activities that are likely causing or aggravating the condition. Taking anti-inflammatory medication may help to dull the pain. Several stretches can help reduce or alleviate the symptoms. For severe cases, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist who can prescribe custom orthotics, administer injections to the affected area, and offer other solutions, such as ultrasound therapy or even surgery. 

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that is often caused by a strain injury. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Gregory Rorick, DPM from Rorick Podiatry, PC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. When this ligament becomes inflamed, plantar fasciitis is the result. If you have plantar fasciitis you will have a stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As the day progresses and you walk around more, this pain will start to disappear, but it will return after long periods of standing or sitting.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Having high arches in your feet
• Other foot issues such as flat feet
• Pregnancy (due to the sudden weight gain)
• Being on your feet very often

There are some risk factors that may make you more likely to develop plantar fasciitis compared to others. The condition most commonly affects adults between the ages of 40 and 60. It also tends to affect people who are obese because the extra pounds result in extra stress being placed on the plantar fascia.

Prevention

• Take good care of your feet – Wear shoes that have good arch support and heel cushioning.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• If you are a runner, alternate running with other sports that won’t cause heel pain

There are a variety of treatment options available for plantar fasciitis along with the pain that accompanies it. Additionally, physical therapy is a very important component in the treatment process. It is important that you meet with your podiatrist to determine which treatment option is best for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in New York Mills, Utica, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.