We Answer Your Top Questions About Podiatry and Physical Therapy

Podiatry Associates NurseHave questions about bunion removal, orthotics and more?

When you live in constant pain, you have questions about what causes your pain and how you can get the relief you crave. Get the answers you need from our podiatrists and physical therapists.

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  • How can I speed up my recovery after surgery?

    Stretching to speed up surgery recovery!Lots of factors impact your recovery after surgery, including how you clean and care for any incisions. Some simple factors include eating well and staying hydrated, participating in any physical therapy, taking your pain medication, preventing infection, and walking as soon as you’re able to. One new way to improve your healing, however, is a few sessions with the MLS pain laser.

    The MLS pain laser uses multiple wavelengths of intense light to both alleviate immediate pain and stimulate healing in tissues. This includes post-surgery swelling. One of the wavelengths encourages the body to absorb fluids in the tissues, reducing swelling. It also discourages inflammation. The same beam increases circulation as well, which helps with the overall healing process. The other wavelength more directly affects your pain. It induces “analgesia,” which means it temporarily “turns off” your pain receptors. This provides prompt relief.

    If you’re looking for more ways to speed up your surgery recovery and get back to doing what you love best, let our foot doctors at Podiatry Associates, P.C. help you. Make an appointment with us or request more information from us online. You can also call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment at our offices in Chery Creek, Parker, Denver, and Castle Pines, CO.

  • How does MLS laser treatment help?

    Laser treatment helps you heal!The MLS laser is a unique tool to treat pain throughout the body. It’s quick, painless, and has no known side effects. More importantly, though, it both stimulates healing and alleviates discomfort right away. This sets it apart from other pain lasers that are available. It’s able to do this with its synchronized multiple-wavelength lasers.

    Different wavelengths of laser light accomplish different kinds of pain relief. A continuous beam from one wavelength stimulates the body to reduce inflammation and swelling, as well as improves circulation, helping the tissues repair themselves. However, it takes a little while to feel the relief. A pulsed beam from another wavelength quickly alleviates discomfort by interrupting the process that sends pain signals to the brain, but it isn’t as effective for the inflammation and swelling. By synchronizing these together, the MLS laser is able to combine their effects for better healing. Not only do you experience pain relief fairly quickly, you also stimulate healing in the body.

    If you’d like to know more about pain lasers and how they could help your chronic or acute discomfort, or even be a part of your physical therapy, contact the foot doctors at Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines, Parker, and Denver, CO. You can use our website or call (303) 805-5156 to reach us.

  • What can I do to successfully quit smoking?

    How to quit smoking and enjoy your lifeIt’s hard to quit smoking, but it isn’t impossible. People tend to be most successful at quitting when they do it in stages and have a whole support team to walk with them through the process. A first step that you might take for granted—but absolutely shouldn’t overlook—is knowing why you want to quit. Many people choose to do it to treat a health problem, protect children, or just live more healthily. Think through your reason carefully. It will help motivate you through the process.

    Then, work on getting rid of all your cigarettes and ashtrays and set a date to quit smoking. Don’t keep anything smoking-related. Tell friends, family, and people you trust when you plan to quit and ask for their support. Medical professionals, including our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. can help you with quitting products to make the transition smoother, too. Once you’ve quit, avoid “triggers” including drinking alcohol and being around others who are smoking. If you’d like to know more about quitting, or you’d like help to do so, contact our offices in Castle Pines, Parker, or Cherry Creek in Denver through our website. You can also call (303) 805-5156. 

  • Can damage from smoking be reversed?

    Reverse the effects of your smoking habitSmoking damage can definitely be reversed—and the positive effects begin immediately. Once you quit, your heart rate and blood pressure start to drop from abnormally high to healthier levels. The carbon monoxide in your blood slowly decreases, allowing your blood cells to carry more and more oxygen. After a few weeks, your circulation will begin to improve as your arteries heal. You’ll also cough or wheeze less. Your heart function will improve and you won’t feel out of breath so easily. Your lung function will improve even more after several months of being smoke-free.

    Improved circulation and breathing are good for your whole body, and they also help your feet. They boost your immune system and decrease your odds of developing vascular diseases that contribute to foot ulcers. The longer you stay away from smoking, too, your risks for more serious problems like heart disease, stroke, and cancers drop dramatically. All of this is good news for your health. If you want to reverse smoking damage, let the Podiatry Associates, P.C. team help you. Use our website or call our Parker, Castle Pines, and Cherry Creek in Denver offices at (303) 805-5156.

  • Are there safe sugar substitutes for those with diabetes?

    Safe sugar substitutes for diabetesAdded sugar is bad for a diabetic diet, since it loads up carbs and can spike your blood sugar. You don’t have to give up sweet foods altogether, though. Safe sugar substitutes can be used in place of natural sugar, keeping things sweet without adding calories or carbs. Like everything else in life, of course, you’ll still need to eat or drink these things in moderation, but they can help you enjoy desserts or just a sweeter meal without risking dangerous spikes in your blood sugar levels.

    There are six (6) FDA-approved sugar substitutes: acesulfame K, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, neotame, and advantame. You can buy foods that use these ingredients instead of regular sugar, or you can get them for your kitchen and use them yourself. Keep in mind, they are extra sweet, so they should be used sparingly. In baking, they’re often combined with real sugar for better baking effects. If you’d like help figuring out sugar substitutes in your diabetic diet, let us know at Podiatry Associates, P.C. We’re happy to help. Call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment at our Parker, Castle Pines, or Denver offices.

  • What are the best foods if you have diabetes?

    Diabetic-friendly fruits and vegetablesThere are many different foods that are good for diabetes. Fresh, frozen, and even canned vegetables without added salt or fat are very good for you. Non-starchy veggies are best. This includes asparagus, artichoke, broccoli, cucumbers, leeks, onions, beans, peppers, and squash, among other things. Whole grains are much better for you than any refined flours or grains. Look for whole-grain varieties of bread, crackers, cereal, pasta, and so forth. Lean meats and beans are your best sources for proteins. This includes fish and soy-based products. For poultry and other meats, remove the skin and cut away fats. Eat fruit in moderation to add some sweetness to your meal. Select low-fat dairy products and look for low-sodium options as well.

    If you’re struggling to find foods that fill you up when you’re accommodating your diabetes, let us know at Podiatry Associates, P.C. We’ll help you figure out menus that fit your needs and help keep your whole body as well as your feet healthy and strong. Call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment at our Cherry Creek (Denver), Castle Pines, or Parker offices. You can also use the website to reach out to us.

  • Do I need special shoes if I have diabetes?

    Special shoes for diabetesWhen you have diabetes, you do need to invest in shoes that fit correctly and appropriately support your feet. For some people, this can simply mean sneakers. For others, this does mean “special shoes” like prescription diabetic footwear. Typically people who need this special, custom footwear have developed problems in their lower limbs that make wearing regular shoes uncomfortable or more likely to create ulcers.

    There are several different types of diabetic footwear. In-depth shoes accommodate changes like hammertoes or allow for custom orthotics. Special healing shoes cushion the lower limbs as you recovery from surgery or a diabetic wound. Custom shoes work well if you have developed a more permanent deformity that needs accommodation. Our foot doctors at Podiatry Associates, P.C. will help you decide what footwear best fits your needs. Just call (303) 805-5156 or use our contact page to make an appointment at our Castle Pines, Parker, or Denver, CO office locations.

  • Can compression socks help with diabetes?

    Compression socks can help with poor circulationCompression socks can be a great help for diabetes. In fact, they can do a lot for your lower limbs, depending on the sock type and on your needs. Diabetes damages your blood vessels, leading to circulation trouble—which can spawn a whole host of other problems. The compression in diabetic socks helps improve your circulation by supporting the veins and allowing their valves to function properly. This also prevents blood from pooling in your lower limbs. This way they discourage edema, or swelling, that you may develop.

    There are different degrees and types of compression socks, each designed to work slightly differently in your lower limbs. Socks that are too loose won’t help enough. Socks that are too tight could cut off your circulation and make things worse. The key to getting the right pair is having your feet and ankles carefully examined before deciding on anything. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. will help you determine whether or not you’d benefit from this type of hosiery, and which kind is best for you. Use our online forms to reach us. You can also call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment with one of our foot doctors in Castle Pines, Parker, or Denver, CO.

  • Can a physical therapist help me manage my diabetes?

    Physical therapy for diabetesPhysical therapy can actually play a very important role in managing diabetes safely and healthily. Exercise is a key component in controlling your blood sugar levels and maintaining healthy circulation, both of which are important for diabetic care. It helps your body handle the sugar in your blood, as well as forces your heart to pump more strongly, improving its flow to places like your feet and toes. The right kind of exercise can help you stay in shape as well, even if you’re dealing with diabetic complications. A physical therapist can adjust your exercises to accommodate problems like peripheral neuropathy, so you have a lower risk for foot injuries.

    Physical therapy is just one aspect of your health care that should be worked into your diabetes management. You’ll still need to make dietary adjustments, protect your feet, get regular check-ups, and possibly take medication to manage the disease. Still, physical therapy can be a valuable part of your management overall. If you’re living with diabetes and need help managing it, let us know at Castle Pines Physical Therapy and Cherry Creek Physical Therapy in Denver, CO. We’ll help you establish a care plan. Just call (303) 805-5156 to reach us.

  • How often should I see a podiatrist if I have diabetes?

    Checking a diabetic footWhen you have diabetes, you should actually see a podiatrist like Dr. Cynthia Oberholtzer-Classen on a regular basis to make sure your lower limbs are healthy and head off potential problems. You should have a full foot exam at least once a year to check everything over. You may want to have smaller appointments periodically to take care of calluses, nail problems, or any other minor but important foot care work. If you notice any changes to your feet when you perform your daily checks, have them checked right away to prevent problems from getting worse. If you develop an ulcer, get emergency care for it within 24 hours.

    If you have diabetes, you really should see a podiatrist whenever you’re concerned about your feet. Because of how complications with diabetes can suddenly change, you shouldn’t wait if you’re at all worried about your lower limbs. Our team at Podiatry Associates will make your diabetic foot care a priority. Call our Castle Pines, Cherry Creek or Parker, CO, offices at (303) 805-5156 for an appointment.