Tag: foot

24/07/2017
Cranbourne Podiatrist

We have recently moved into a bigger and better clinic located at Cranbourne Park Health and Wellness Centre, 24 Mundaring Drive, Cranbourne 3977. We are located within short walking distance of Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre and there is ample off-street parking available right in front of our clinic.

With this exciting move, we can offer more open hours and a broad range of services. Our podiatrists can help you with all your footcare needs including:

  • Nail and skin care
  • Corns and callouses
  • Ingrown nails
  • Diabetes footcare
  • Sports injuries
  • Video gait analysis
  • Children’s feet
  • Moonboots and casting
  • EPC Plans

Cranbourne Park Health and Wellness Centre also provides other allied health services including:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Dietitian
  • Psychology
  • Audiology
  • & more

Our team of professionals are ready to help you from head to toe!

You do not need to have a referral, just call us on 1300 847 226 or book an appointment online.

16/09/2016
Morton

What is a Morton’s neuroma?

The name Morton’s neuroma is probably known by many. It is the common name given to repetitive compression of a plantar digital nerve found in the ball of the foot. Constant pressure and irritation of the nerve by surrounding structures can cause a neuroma to form. The body tries to protect the nerve by increasing the thickness of the nerves insulating sheath.
A Morton’s neuroma commonly forms between the 2nd-3rd or 3rd-4th toes.

How did I get this?

Common causes of a Morton’s neuroma include; abnormal foot motion. This can forefoot increase friction or foot instability. Footwear! Pointed shoes or high heels can increase pressure across the forefoot.

If I had a Morton’s neuroma, what would it feel like?

You may feel a burning discomfort, shooting or sharp pain, numbness or pins and needles near the toes or under the ball of the foot. Pain is usually felt when wearing tight or narrow shoes and may disappear when they are removed.

What do I do next?

Should be treated conservatively initially to address the causative factors.
  • Ice to the area
  • Again ladies – avoid high heels!
  • Check the width of your footwear. Try wearing wider shoes with a lower heel. Tighter or narrow footwear can compress and bunch the toes together. Your podiatrist can help you with footwear assessment and recommendations.

 

The exact cause of Morton’s neuroma can be different between patients. An accurate diagnosis can be made by a podiatrist.

  • You may require orthotics to alleviate the forefoot pressure and mechanics in combination with metatarsal padding.
  • Additional, ultrasound imaging maybe required to consider other diagnostic possibilities (as mentioned in first post).
  • In more serve cases a course of anaesthetic and cortisone injections.
  • Surgical removal of the neuroma as last resort.

 

Don’t forget, a neuroma is a result of a nerve that is being traumatised by a poorly functioning foot or footwear and treating the cause of this condition is paramount.

Please contact our team at The Podiatry Group to have an assessment on 1300 847 226.
19/08/2016
Metatarsalgia – Ball of Foot Pain

Metatarsalgia – Ball of Foot Pain

So many foot problems can occur in our forefoot. As podiatrists we treat a wide range of problems associated with forefoot pain and deformity. Metatarsalgia is a non-specific term or general umbrella term if you will, for pain in the forefoot or ball of the foot.

Discomfort is usually located beneath the balls of our feet and is typically a result of increased forefoot pressure.

Bunions, hammertoes, short metatarsal bones, stress fractures, plantar plate disruption, Freiberg’s infarction, capsulitis, intermetatarsal bursitis and Morton’s neuroma area some possible causes of metatarsalgia.

Today we are talking about intermetatarsal bursitis.

Intermetatarsal bursitis

What is bursitis? 

An inflammation or irritation of the bursa. A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that provides cushioning and reduces friction, between and around the joints of the forefoot. Irritation of the bursa can cause swelling and pain (bursitis). The intermetatarsal bursae are located on the bottom of the foot near the base of the toes.

Bursitis can also affect other parts of the body – back of the heel/Achilles tendon, the knee, hip, shoulder and elbow.

How did I get this? 

Generally, bursitis can occur through injury or repetitive motion causing irritation and inflammation. They can become irritated when one metatarsal bone takes more load than others.

Wearing narrow or excessively worn footwear during the day and different sporting activities can increase your chance of developing bursitis. Other factors can include;

  • Overuse or excessive pressure on the forefoot
  • Stress from abnormal foot mechanics
  • Injury from a fall or hit to the area
  • Less commonly due to certain types of arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis

If I had bursitis, what would it feel like? 

Friction can cause the space between the tendon, bone and skin to become inflamed – causing swelling, pain and possibly redness of the surrounding area.

Irritation and restricted movement of the affected joint may be evident and certain footwear or activities may exacerbate pain.

What do I do next? 

  • Apply ice to the area – this can help reduce inflammation
  • Rest and avoid painful activities
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories  if advised by your pharmacist
  • Orthotics
  • Footwear changes, avoid high heels!
  • Reduce the amount of pressure being place placed on the bursa through off loading
  • In chronic cases, injections of local anaesthetic and corticosteroid may be required in combination with padding

 

It’s important to attend a podiatry consult for assessment to determine the root cause, as other injuries can produce similar symptoms. Podiatrist may advise you on appropriate shoes and can also add padding to off load the pressure, prescribe orthotics and refer for any imaging that may be needed to rule out other conditions.

 

Contact us on 1300 847 226 or make an appointment online to speak with one of our friendly podiatrists about helping you get back on your feet sooner!

 

17/03/2016
Welcome to the team. Podiatrist joining The Podiatry Group

Welcome To The Team!

Welcome to the newest member of our podiatry team: Tanya Contis.

Tanya grew up in country Victoria, and graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Podiatry. Since then she has been growing her career in private practice and enjoys working across all areas of Podiatry, in particular general podiatric care, diabetic foot management and prevention, injuries and paediatrics.

Tanya takes a very holistic approach to foot care, acknowledging that happy feet go foot in foot with a healthy you.

For a number of years, Tanya worked in a technical footwear store run by podiatrists and has a strong appreciation for and extensive knowledge in footwear fitting and footwear education.

When Tanya is not in clinic, her own feet are leading her far and wide, down many European cobble-stone streets and up many beautiful mountain sides of New Zealand and beyond.

To book an appointment with Tanya or one of our friendly podiatrists please click here.

11/09/2015
Diabetes TPG

Online Bookings

Online bookings are now available at The Podiatry Group.

 

For your convenience we have online bookings available across our Warragul, Drouin and Cranbourne clinics.

 

Your step towards better foot health is just one click away. Click  here to book now.

 

20/08/2015
Skin-and-Nails

New Cranbourne Clinic

We are excited to announce that we have expanded to our new Cranbourne clinic. We are located at The Family Care Clinic http://www.familycareclinic.com.au/ and will be working closely with the Cranbourne doctors to ensure that your feet are well looked after.

Our new site offers all of the state-of-the-art technology that we offer across our other locations. The Podiatry Group are happy to assist our new catchment of patients residing in Cranbourne and other South East suburbs. Our goal is to assist  our patients in all of their lower leg and foot care needs.

Contact us on 5995 3700 for an appointment.

Family Care Clinic. 24 Mundaring Drive Cranbourne, VIC 3977.