Common Podiatric Conditions

Did you know that the average American walks between 1,300 and 1,500 miles each year?  With so much traveling to be done, the importance of taking proper care of your feet cannot be overstated.  At CEC Health Center, our team is well versed in all of the most common podiatric conditions a patient can face.  If you begin to face any of the foot problems we go on to list, our podiatrist on Long Island that accepts Medicaid will be able to help.

Athlete’s Foot

As the name would suggest, this condition is common in athletes.  However, they are not the only ones that suffer from it. Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that affects the skin of the feet, usually between the toes.  The main symptoms of this infection include itching, cracking, blistering, and peeling of the skin. A prescription-strength topical cream can be used to help combat this condition.  To prevent this condition from ever occurring, our podiatrist on Long Island that accepts Medicaid recommends avoiding the following:

• Walking around barefoot in communal showers, gyms, or pools.
• Wearing socks and shoes that are warm and damp.
• Neglecting to thoroughly wash your feet after athletic activity.

Ingrown Toenails   

Though they are more common in children, ingrown toenails can affect anyone and any age.  An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of a nail begins to grow into the surrounding skin.  This incorrect growth of the nail can lead to pain, inflammation, and in some cases, infection.  Wearing poorly fitting shoes, incorrectly trimming the toenail, and having a family history of suffering from ingrown toenails all increase the likelihood of them taking place.  If you’ve noticed the development of one, consider utilizing the following methods of treatment and prevention:

• Washing feet with antibacterial soap and keeping the toes clean and dry.
• Don’t cut nails in a rounded pattern.
• Wearing shoes that fit well and have ample room in the toebox.

Plantar Fasciitis 

If you’ve been dealing with heel pain, there is a high chance you’re currently being affected by plantar fasciitis.  The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. When this tissue becomes irritated and inflamed, it is known as plantar fasciitis.  Experiencing heel pain, especially in the morning when getting out of bed or during physical activity, is the most common symptom of this condition. While the exact cause of this inflammation is unknown, risk factors that increase its likelihood include the below:

• Carrying extra weight
• Having a high arch
• Having tight calf muscles
• Participating in activities that repeatedly put stress on the heel           

Bunions

Also called hallux valgus, bunions are abnormalities of the feet that cause a bump to develop at the base of your big toe joint.  Bunions are often caused by wearing tight/narrow shoes too often, however, they can also be caused by rheumatoid arthritis and trauma that occurs to your feet.  When you begin to experience the following symptoms, be sure to reach out to our podiatrist on Long Island that accepts Medicaid to help:

• Difficulty moving your big toe
• A visible bump that takes place at the joint of your big toe
• Redness and tenderness around the bump
• Corns or calluses on the bones of your big toe
• Pain when walking

Heel Spurs

Heel spurs are bony calcium growths that take place between your heel bone and the arch of your foot.  The development of these growths is caused by a long-term strain that is placed on muscles and ligaments around this area.  Risk factors such as being obese, having arthritis, and continuously wearing worn-out shoes also play a role in the formation of heel spurs.  While some patients are lucky enough not to face any symptoms as a result of these growths, others are subject to mass amounts of pain and inflammation. Though they are sometimes difficult to detect, our team at CEC Health Center will be able to properly diagnose your heel spurs and move forward with the form of treatment that will yield the optimal results. 

Contact Our Podiatrist on Long Island that Accepts Medicaid

Here at CEC Health Center, we are committed to providing the typically underserved members of the community with the healthcare services they need.  As a multidisciplinary facility, we help patients overcome a wide range of medical issues. Our podiatrist on Long Island that accepts Medicaid has years of experience with treating common podiatric conditions and will help you overcome yours.  To schedule your appointment for foot care, contact us today!