Items filtered by date: October 2016

Monday, 31 October 2016 11:12

Lamarcus Joyner Suffers Broken Toe

foot care7Lamarcus Joyner has managed to play most of the Rams first two games despite having a broken toe. Joyner injured his toe at the start of the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. In regards to the injury, Joyner said, “his left foot felt as if it was asleep and that he could not move his second toe.” He also said that he initially didn’t want to tell the team about the injury, because he knew the defense was depending on him.

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Rosa Roman of Ankle & Foot Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

  • throbbing pain
  • swelling
  • bruising on the skin and toenail
  • the inability to move the toe
  • toe appears crooked or disfigured
  • tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bloomfield, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about a broken toe.

Published in Blog

foot surgery3Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers was expected to undergo surgery on his broken foot. He was expected to be out for three months, which would push his NBA debut into 2017. Simmons fractured his fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a team practice. There has been speculation that the injury may be a result of Simmons’ recent weight gain, since he gained over 30 pounds of muscle during the summer.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to fix a foot ailment. To learn more, contact Dr. Rosa Roman of Ankle & Foot Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain free and on your feet.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to help with the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary are:

  • Removing foot deformities like bone spurs and bunions
  • Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
  • Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

  • Bunionectomy for painful bunions
  • Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
  • Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in Bloomfield, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about foot surgery.

Published in Blog
Monday, 17 October 2016 11:23

Stress Fracture Injuries in Young Athletes

feet6It is important for parents and coaches to not allow their young athletes to “play through” foot injuries. It’s possible that a nagging heel pain experienced by a young player could be a stress fracture. Stress fractures do not always show up on x-rays, so it is very likely for them to go undiagnosed. However, playing sports while having a stress fracture in the foot can make the injury worse.

Making sure that your children maintain foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Rosa Roman of Ankle & Foot Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet in childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care from birth to school-age.

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

  • Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet
  • Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’.

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet

  • Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus
  • Be watchful of any pain or injury
  • Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible
  • Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in Bloomfield, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about Keeping Children’s Feet Health

Published in Blog
Monday, 10 October 2016 02:59

Playing Through Sports Injuries

runners20It is important that parents do not allow their children to “play through” a foot injury while engaging in sports. Young athletes who complain of foot pain may have a stress fracture. Stress fractures do not always show up in x-rays, so it is important to be careful when dealing with these foot injuries. Physical therapy, rest, and immobilization are key in terms of alleviating the pain caused by foot injuries.

Playing with a sports injury can cause many problems later on. To learn more about this trend, contact Dr. Rosa Roman of Ankle & Foot Center. Our doctor will explain the facts of barefoot running and help you decide if it’s a practice you’d like to take up.

Playing Sports with Foot Injuries

Many types of foot injuries affect athletes over the course of their athletic career. Despite their setbacks, many of these athletes will continue to play with mild foot injuries and attempt to ‘push’ through the pain. In order to be able to prevent injuries, it is important to stretch before any activity, wear proper footwear and replace shoes as needed. Some of the foot injuries athletes are at risk for include:

  • Turf toe- upward bending of the big toe outside normal range of motion
  • Stress Fractures
  • Overpronation- excessive foot movement during gait
  • Plantar Fasciitis- swollen ligament in the foot’s base
  • Strains

For more serious injuries it is recommended to consult with a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist as fractures and other serious conditions may require surgery.

If you have any questions, please contact our offices located in Bloomfield, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Playing Sports with Foot Injuries

Published in Blog

foot injuryAccording to Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, quarterback Russell Wilson sustained a sprained ankle in early September. Wilson suffered the injury playing in the third quarter in the 12-10 win against the Miami Dolphins, when defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh accidentally stepped on his right ankle. “You can hardly tell anything’s wrong with him. We’ll help him in practice during the week to make sure we take care of him, but he’s planning on playing,” said Carroll.

Ankle sprains are common, but need immediate attention. If you need your feet checked contact Dr. Rosa Roman of Ankle & Foot Center. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

How Does an Ankle Sprain Occur?

Ankle sprains take place when the ligaments in your ankle are torn or stretched beyond their limits. There are multiple ways that the ankle can become injured, including twisting or rolling over onto your ankle, putting undue stress on it, or causing trauma to the ankle itself.

What are the Symptoms?

  • Mild to moderate bruising
  • Limited mobility
  • Swelling
  • Discoloration of the skin (depending on severity)

Preventing a Sprain

  • Wearing appropriate shoes for the occasion
  • Stretching before exercises and sports
  • Knowing your limits can aid in prevention

Treatment of a Sprain

Treatment of a sprain depends on the severity. Many times, people are told to rest and remain off their feet completely, while others are given an air cast. If the sprain is very severe, surgery may be required.

If you have suffered an ankle sprain previously, you may want to consider additional support such as a brace and regular exercises to strengthen the ankle.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bloomfield, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about ankle sprains.

Published in Blog