Let This Year Be The End Of Your Foot Pain

As we welcome the new year, many feel motivated to take steps towards self-improvement. Some may begin by improving their daily routines, including increased healthy exercise habits. If you start a new fitness routine, be gentle with yourself, be consistent, and start slowly. Occasionally, heel pain can intensify when you begin a new exercise routine. Don’t let heel pain prevent you from moving forward with your 2023 fitness goals!

Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) may be one of the most common issues seen by podiatrists today. It’s a condition in which the band of tissue that stretches from your heel bone to your toes becomes inflamed, torn, or otherwise stressed from overuse. It is vital to get a complete exam and proper diagnosis if you experience heel pain.

Our specialists recommend using the following methods to resolve foot pain during the new year

• Follow simple stretches and exercise routines to strengthen the foot.
• Wear proper fitting shoes with arch and ankle support.
• Ice your heel several times a day to reduce uncomfortable inflammation.
• Rest your lower extremities.
• Use custom orthotics to alleviate chronic foot pain.
• Use an anti-inflammatory drug such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen to help with the pain.
• Call a podiatrist.

Certain people have an increased risk of developing plantar fasciitis or foot pain. Those people are:

• Between the ages 40-60
• Carry extra weight
• Have predisposed hereditary conditions
• Have tight Achilles tendons
• Wear non-supportive shoes or high heels
• Have an occupation that causes you to be on your feet for extended periods

The longer you have been experiencing the pain of plantar fasciitis, the longer it may take to help resolve the pain. To better determine the source of your heel pain and the best course of treatment, schedule a comprehensive foot examination with Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center podiatrist, Dr. Jon M. Sherman, at our Montgomery office. To schedule your appointment, please call our office at (301)-825-9697.

Diabetes Awareness and Education

Did you know that more than 29 million Americans have diabetes? Even more frightening, one in four of those individuals are unaware of their condition.

Diabetes is a complex disease that requires daily self-management – making healthy food choices, staying physically active, monitoring your blood sugar, and taking medications as prescribed. Healthy lifestyle adjustments for individuals with diabetes can also help non-diabetic people transform their lives and increase overall health and wellness while also helping prevent a variety of health conditions later in life!

What is diabetes?

There are three main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes – This is when your body does not make insulin to take the sugar (glucose) from the foods you eat and turn it into energy for your body. If you have type 1 diabetes, you need to take insulin every day to live.
• Type 2 diabetes – This is when your body does not make or use insulin well. You might need to take pills or insulin to help control your diabetes. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes.

Why is diabetes serious?

Diabetes can cause health problems such as heart attack or stroke, eye problems, nerve damage, kidney problems, foot problems, and teeth and gum problems. People with diabetes need to make healthy food choices, stay at a healthy weight, get physical every day, and take their medicines even when they feel good. It is a lot to do. It’s not an easy lifestyle for some, but it’s worth the benefits.

Diabetes and Your Feet

Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage, which is most often called neuropathy. This can cause tingling, pain, or weakness in the feet. It can also cause loss of feeling in the foot, so you could possibly injure it and not even know it. Poor blood flow or changes in the shape of your feet or toes may also appear. It is especially important for diabetes patients to take good care of their feet and see their doctor right away if you see any signs of foot problems.

If you are experiencing chronic foot pain or discomfort in your lower extremities, call our Montgomery office at (301-)825-9697 and schedule an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist Dr. Jon M. Sherman or visit our website for more information. Please note that our office is currently open Monday, 10am-5:30pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-5pm.

What Is a Podiatrist?

Around the world, podiatrists pursue the advancement of the Podiatry field for everyone’s benefit, and, to better serve those who suffer from ankle and foot conditions. Your feet are vital to your everyday life. They permit you to walk 150,000 miles in your lifetime, which is equal to walking around the world six times! Foot issues can be debilitating; therefore, it is important to take care of your feet.

People may wonder why there is a branch of medicine that deals strictly with feet. It’s because foot problems are very common. A few of the most common issues people have with their feet include:

• Bunions
• Athlete’s foot
• Ingrown toenails
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Plantar fasciitis
• Corns
• Heel spurs
• Blisters

Education and Awareness

Our team of experts at Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center strive to elevate awareness about the importance of proper foot health. That is one of the reasons we wanted our patients to be able to access reliable and accessible information that pertains to the lower extremities. If you would like to get involved, you can help spread the word about podiatry and important foot health tips! When you’ve learned more about proper foot health, you can begin spreading the word and educating others. Start here:

• Read up on health conditions related to the feet, including information on keeping your feet healthy.
• Proper daily foot care involves activities like caring for your toenails and wearing the right shoes.
• Learn to maintain good foot health
• Have an in-person conversation or by using social media to discuss podiatry and foot health.

When To See a Podiatrist

Anytime you experience foot or ankle discomfort, changes in the appearance of your feet, abnormal growth(s), or have an underlying medical condition that affects your feet or ability to function. Symptoms are not always obvious and may even continue unnoticed. If you or anyone you know is experiencing one or more symptoms, it is time to see a podiatrist.

Schedule An Appointment

If you are experiencing chronic foot pain or discomfort in your lower extremities, call our Montgomery office at (301-)825-9697 and schedule an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist Dr. Jon M. Sherman or visit our website for more information.

Preparing For Your Next Appointment

A doctor visit can be nerve-wracking, especially if this is your first time at a podiatrist’s office. But with some simple preparation, you can limit the anxiety you feel prior to your appointment and make the most out of seeing your specialist. At Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center, we take extra care in making sure your visit is as comfortable and helpful as possible! Below is a useful guide to help you prepare for your next appointment.

Before Your Visit

It might be helpful to make a physical or mental checklist of some important information to make your podiatrist’s questions easier to answer, such as:

• The symptoms you’re experiencing
• Any medication you’re taking
• Relevant lab test results
• Allergies they should know about
• Previous surgeries
• Any questions or concerns you have for your doctor

During Your Visit

• Expect your podiatrist to go over all the information listed above
• Be sure to ask for any clarification if you’re unclear with what your doctor is saying
• Take notes if you find it helpful
• If you’re attending a virtual appointment, be sure you arrive to your appointment on time and check that your technology is working properly

After Your Visit

• Make sure you follow your podiatrists’ recommendations for healing and recovery
• Pick up any medication your doctor may prescribe and take them as instructed
• Schedule a follow up appointment if necessary
• If your doctor has not gotten back to you with test results, give them a call
• Reach out to your podiatrist if you have any follow up concerns or questions

Schedule A Visit

It is recommended that you visit your local podiatrist once a year for an annual checkup. If you’ve been experiencing any foot or ankle pain, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist so they can examine and treat any problem you might be facing. To schedule an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist Dr. Jon M. Sherman, at our Montgomery County office, call (301)-825-9697 or visit our website for more information.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month and it is also the perfect time to think about how much we count on our feet each day, and how important it is to develop healthy habits to keep them free of pain. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population has at least one-foot problem annually. At Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center, our podiatrist, Dr. Jon M. Sherman, is Board Certified in Foot Surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. Dr. Sherman is also a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, all of which set him apart from other podiatrists.

Fun Facts About Feet

• Each foot is composed of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles and tendons.
• Together both feet contain 1/4 of the bones in the entire body.
• The average person, over their lifetime, will walk approximately the same distance as if they had walked around the earth 4 times.
• 5 times a person’s body weight is transmitted through each foot with every step!

How To Maintain Healthy Feet

Do:

1. Try foot massages or reflexology.
2. Soak your feet in Epsom salt if they are sore.
3. Change your socks daily.

Don’t:

1. Share footwear
2. Wear poor-fitting shoes
3. Try “DIY” fixes for your foot problems

When To Visit a Podiatrist

The field of podiatry strives to improve the overall health and well-being of patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions associated with the foot and ankle. It is time to see a podiatrist anytime you have foot or ankle discomfort, changes in the appearance of your feet, abnormal growth, an injury, or a medical condition that affects your feet. It is also very important to have an annual check-up with your podiatrist to maintain healthy feet.

To schedule an appointment at our Gaithersburg, MD office, please call (301) 330-5666 or visit our website for more information.