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.

  • Page 15
  • How is a heel spur treated?

    Heel spurA heel spur may or may not need treatment, depending on how much it contributes to your foot’s discomfort. They don’t always cause pain. Generally speaking, though, a spur on the heel bone is related to a chronic and painful condition like plantar fasciitis. Conservative treatment that reduces the pressure on the heel and alleviates inflammation can be very helpful for minimizing and eliminating pain.

    Shoe changes and orthotics are among the most common treatments. Start wearing footwear with plenty of cushioning under the heel and adequate support through the arch. Orthotics can help provide extra padding and support for the foot. They can also correct any biomechanical issues that may have contributed to the problem. Icing the painful area may reduce inflammation in the soft tissues around the spur. Stretches can help minimize the pressure on the foot as well, which may help the discomfort. Only rarely does a spur need to be removed to deal with the problem. If you have chronic heel pain, let Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines, Parker, and Cherry Creek, CO check for heel spurs. Make an appointment through our website or by calling (303) 805-5156.

  • How do you treat a stress fracture?

    Recovering from a stress fractureStress fracture treatment is fairly simple, but it does take time. Overuse and pressure caused the problem, so completely resting the foot will heal it. You’ll need to take a break from all hard-impact activities to give your foot time to recover. In some cases, you might need to wear a splint, special boot, or walking cast to help alleviate the pressure on the affected bones. Ice the painful spot to reduce swelling and inflammation so the tissues can repair themselves, too.

    Once the bones are mostly mended, you’ll be able to put more weight and pressure on the foot. At this point, you’ll begin to rehabilitate the foot to handle the stress of your normal activities. This will mean slowly getting back into your regular routines and building up to the intensity and duration you were used to before your injury. Moving slowly conditions your foot so you’re less likely to develop a stress fracture again. Let Podiatry Associates, P.C. help you treat cracked bones in your feet. Call (303) 805-5156 to reach our Parker and Castle Pines, CO, offices for an appointment.

     

  • How do I know if I have a stress fracture in my foot?

    Ankle x-raySometimes it can be hard to tell that you have developed a stress fracture in your foot. The symptoms, however, should be telling enough to convince you that something is wrong with your lower limbs. Cracks in your bones are quite painful, especially under pressure. Since this is an overuse injury, the discomfort develops slowly, increasing with time as the condition worsens. Often your foot feels better when you rest. You might notice some swelling around the cracked bone. Most likely that spot will be tender to the touch as well. In some cases, you may even notice bruising.

    The only way to be sure you have a stress fracture is to have the problem diagnosed. Our team will carefully examine the injury. Typically we use diagnostic images to get a clearer picture of any damage, as well as to rule out other possible problems. If you do have a stress fracture, we’ll move forward with treatment. Don’t wait to have your symptoms investigated! Contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. for an appointment. Call (303) 805-5156 to reach our Parker and Castle Pines, CO, offices.

     

  • Are there different types of physical therapy?

    Type of physical therapyPhysical therapy is a broad field. Of the different types of physical therapy, Dr. Jennifer Molner and our team work with post-surgery rehabilitation, injury prevention, and one-on-one care to meet your individual recovery goals. Therapy can be used for sports injuries, diseases, disabilities, pain management, and improving your movement and independence. Generally this falls into the category of orthopedic therapy. However, this is by no means the only kind. Geriatric, which addresses common issues with aging; neurological, which benefits problems of the nervous system; and pediatric, which addresses childhood disorders, developmental issues, and congenital diseases, are all types of therapy.

    What you need for your pain management and general recovery will depend on your specific condition and personal needs. Our team at Castle Pines Physical Therapy will do everything we can to help you meet your goals for healing. Stretches, exercises, modalities, tissue manipulations, and preventative care are all available to help you. Just contact our office in Castle Pines, CO or our asssociated location in Cherry Creek, for more information or an appointment to get started. You can reach us by calling (303) 805-5156, or through the web request form.

  • How can physical therapy address my specific needs?

    Physical therapyPhysical therapy can meet your needs in many different ways. Stretches and exercises can help reduce pain in soft tissues and improve flexibility and range of motion. They can also build up your muscle strength and improve joint stability. If you’ve injured yourself, this process can help your tissues heal correctly and then re-condition them to handle your activities. In some cases, physical therapy can help prevent injuries as well. Sometimes chronic conditions can make daily life uncomfortable, but the right therapy can help you live more comfortably with them.

    How your therapy helps you will depend entirely on your needs and your condition. Our team will work carefully with you to determine what is wrong and identify how to address it to meet the demands of your lifestyle. Don’t just accept pain or weakness—let us help you restore your strength and range of motion, as well as alleviate your discomfort. Contact Castle Pines or Cherry Creek Physical Therapy for an appointment to take care of your body. Use our online form or call (303) 805-5156 to reach us.

  • What causes gout?

    Cause of goutGout is a type of arthritis caused by crystalized uric acid accumulating in your joints. When the level of uric acid in your blood gets too high, sharp urate crystals can form. These typically settle in the space between two moving bones. There the crystals grind in the joint, causing painful inflammation and damaging the soft tissues.

    Your body makes uric acid when it breaks down purines in your food. Normally the acid dissolves in your blood and then gets filtered out through your kidneys so it can be expelled from the body. Sometimes, however, your body produces too much uric acid, or it doesn’t filter enough out. This can allow the substance to build up in your blood and potentially form damaging crystals. Fortunately, since purine breakdown is influenced by the foods you eat, making some diet and lifestyle changes can help you control the condition. Let Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines, Cherry Creek in Denver and Parker, CO, help you accurately diagnose your arthritis so you can get the right treatment. Use our online request form to reach us. You can also call (303) 805-5156.

  • What foods should I avoid if I have gout?

    How to Avoid Gout AttacksCertain foods can contribute to a gout attack, so eating less of them—or cutting them from your diet altogether—can help prevent a painful gout flare-up. The uric acid that causes the painful problem comes from breaking down purines in foods. Some foods are high in these purines, while others are much lower. Avoiding the high-purine foods can help you control the condition and prevent repeat attacks.

    Here are common high-purine foods to limit or avoid: meat, fatty fish, shellfish, saturated fats, alcohol, and high-fructose corn syrup. Try cutting back on the animal proteins you consume and supplementing your protein intake with plant-based foods, like legumes and beans. Stick to low-fat dairy products to limit your saturated fats. Drink water instead of alcohol, soda, or even fruit juices with added sugar. Also, eat more vegetables, whole grains, and regular fruits. If you’d like help establishing a gout-safe diet, contact us at Podiatry Associates, P.C. We’ll help you make a plan to manage your condition. Call (303) 805-5156 or use our online form to make an appointment with us.

    Photo Credit: CC0 Public Domain via Pixabay.com

  • Where in Colorado can I get urgent foot care?

    Urgent care is a great way to receive high-quality, emergency foot care outside of normal doctor’s office hours without going to the hospital. While there are plenty of generic urgent care centers in Colorado, when your feet are in trouble you need to see a podiatrist and not a general care physician. That’s why Podiatry Associates, P.C. now offers evening and Saturday hours for urgent care services. If you break a bone, sprain your ankle, cut your foot, step on a nail, discover a diabetic ulcer, develop a gout attack, or realize you just can’t wait anymore to deal with your ingrown toenail pain, you can now get emergency help after regular office hours.

    When you call in, we’ll determine if the problem really does need immediate care, or if you can wait until morning. We will do whatever we can to make sure you get the prompt care that you need. Don’t wait to seek help. Contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines, Cherry Creek or Parker, Colorado, for an appointment or more information today. You can use our online contact form, but if you truly have an emergency, call us directly at (303) 805-5156.

  • Can a podiatrist treat my broken ankle?

    When you have a broken ankle, you need good foot care fast—both to relieve the pain and to make sure your body starts healing it correctly. Expert podiatrists like Dr. Cynthia Oberholtzer-Classen and the rest of our team will carefully examine your ankle and use X-rays to identify the fracture. From that our team can determine how serious the problem is and what you will need for treatment. If the bones are not aligned, the X-rays will help us see how to put the fractured ends back in the correct position so they can heal. Then your whole foot and lower leg will need to be immobilized and off-loaded to allow your joint to recover.

    Don’t wait to get help for a broken ankle. This injury needs prompt treatment, which is why Podiatry Associates, P.C. now offers evening and Saturday hours for urgent care. If you have an emergency outside of normal office hours that can’t wait for the next day, like a broken bone, contact our Castle Pines or Parker, CO, offices. Just call (303) 805-5156 to reach us.

  • How does diagnostic ultrasound for the feet work?

    Diagnostic ultrasound for foot conditions is done in a similar way to ultrasounds for monitoring pregnancies or for identifying gall bladder stones. It bounces high-frequency sounds waves off your soft tissues, creating a picture from the reflected waves.

    The whole process is simple and takes place in the office. One of our specialists will apply special gel to your foot to help the sound waves transmit smoothly. Then we will touch the probe to your skin and manipulate it so it “sees” the whole area being tested. The waves pass through the skin and bounce off the soft tissues at different times. The probe then receives these reflected sound waves and translates them into a picture that we are able to “read” on a monitor.

    This is particularly useful for torn connective tissues, tumors, swollen nerves, and thickening in places like the plantar fascia, since these issues are hard to see on other images, like X-rays. Let us help you by accurately diagnosing your foot condition. Call (303) 805-5156 or make an appointment online to visit our Castle Pines, Parker, or Cherry Creek, CO office.