July 2021

The metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints connect your toes to the long metatarsal bones located near the middle of the feet. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can wear away at the MTP joints, causing pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of motion. The MTP joint in the big toe is frequently affected and can become permanently stiffened or deformed. When conservative treatment measures, such as exercise and anti-inflammatory medications, do not sufficiently reduce symptoms, surgery may be warranted. During MTP joint replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the joint are removed and replaced with prosthetic joint implants. If you are suffering from joint pain in your feet, it is suggested that you seek the care of a podiatrist.

In certain cases, in which the patient suffers from extreme pain or damage in a joint, joint replacement surgery may be deemed useful. If you have constant pain in a foot joint, consult with one of our podiatrists from New Tampa Foot & Ankle. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Joint Replacement Surgery?

Over time, joints wear down; this can be exacerbated by diseases and conditions. Joint replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is when a damaged joint is surgically removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Prostheses, which can be made of ceramic, plastic, or metal, act as joints in lieu of an actual joint. One of the most prevalent causes for joint replacement is arthritis.

Arthritis in the Foot

Arthritis can occur in any joint in the body, including in the feet. Common types of arthritis in the foot are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. The big toe is usually where arthritis occurs in the foot; this is known as hallux rigidus.

Joint Replacement Surgery in the Foot

The most common form of joint replacement in the foot is a first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint placement. MTP joint replacement surgery is designed to treat hallux rigidus. Surgery is not intensive, and recovery occurs within one to two months after the procedure has been done. Overall, joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective way to treat pain in the joint of the foot.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Wesley Chapel, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

The summer months are the time when many people expose their toes to the world, walking barefoot on the beach and at the pool. But all of this barefoot walking can unfortunately increase your risk of developing a fungal infection of the toenails. Toenail fungus usually presents as thickening and discoloration of the toenails. It is highly contagious, and can spread from an infected surface or person to you. To minimize your risk of contracting this difficult-to-treat infection, it is suggested that you wear shoes when frequenting public areas, especially if those areas are warm, humid, and moist - think public pools, showers, and locker rooms. You should also avoid sharing personal items, such as shoes, socks, and towels, with other people. Toenail fungus infections can affect anyone, but are generally more common in older individuals and those with nail injuries, weakened immune systems, or diabetes. If you are suffering from toenail fungus, a podiatrist can help you treat this condition. 

If left untreated, toenail fungus may spread to other toenails, skin, or even fingernails. If you suspect you have toenail fungus it is important to seek treatment right away. For more information about treatment, contact one of our podiatrists of New Tampa Foot & Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Symptoms

• Warped or oddly shaped nails
• Yellowish nails
• Loose/separated nail
• Buildup of bits and pieces of nail fragments under the nail
• Brittle, broken, thickened nail

Treatment

If self-care strategies and over-the-counter medications does not help your fungus, your podiatrist may give you a prescription drug instead. Even if you find relief from your toenail fungus symptoms, you may experience a repeat infection in the future.

Prevention

In order to prevent getting toenail fungus in the future, you should always make sure to wash your feet with soap and water. After washing, it is important to dry your feet thoroughly especially in between the toes. When trimming your toenails, be sure to trim straight across instead of in a rounded shape. It is crucial not to cover up discolored nails with nail polish because that will prevent your nail from being able to “breathe”.

In some cases, surgical procedure may be needed to remove the toenail fungus. Consult with your podiatrist about the best treatment options for your case of toenail fungus.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Wesley Chapel, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

It is common for people who are new to running to skip warming up, while increasing mileage and intensity. This can lead to possible foot conditions developing, which can cause severe pain and discomfort. It is beneficial to start an effective warm up by walking for several minutes. Additionally, it may help to incorporate cycling with a light jog, and this may adequately prepare the body for an intense run. Maintaining cardiovascular health can be accomplished by alternating challenging workouts with lighter ones, which may give the body appropriate recovery time. Ankle sprains and torn ligaments may be avoided when a proper warm up and cool down is frequently performed. If you would like more information about how the feet can be affected by running injuries, please speak with a podiatrist.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists of New Tampa Foot & Ankle. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.

What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.

Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Wesley Chapel, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Because the feet are made up of 26 bones, 30 joints, and almost 100 muscles and ligaments, there are a variety of issues that can lead to foot pain. Pain at the bottom of the foot can indicate problems such as Plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, or neuropathy. Plantar fasciitis is the result of the plantar fascia, the band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes, becoming inflamed. Metatarsalgia generally refers to any painful condition that affects the metatarsal region, or ball of the foot. However, the pain is normally caused because the metatarsal heads (ball of the foot) become inflamed and put more pressure on the bones at the front of the foot. Lastly, neuropathy is a result of nerve damage in the feet that can lead to a tingling, burning or stabbing sensation. If you are struggling with foot pain, consulting with a podiatrist is important in order to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for the issue.  

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from New Tampa Foot & Ankle. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Wesley Chapel, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.