If you are having heel pain that seems to continue to get worse every day; you may be suffering from a common foot condition called Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the tendon that runs along the bottom of our foot. Patients that come into our office at Midtown Podiatry usually complain that the pain begins with slight heel discomfort and then becomes very painful as days go by.

Plantar fasciitis is usually associated with foot deformities such as high arches and flat feet. External factors such as walking (which can easily affect New Yorkers that spend their days walking around), running and exercising with non-supportive or worn out shoes, and slight sudden weight gain can cause sudden inflammation of the plantar fascia. Eli Manning, the quarterback of the New York Giants, has been diagnosed with this painful condition back in 2009 in his right foot due to his intense exercise regimen.

This condition can be easily corrected with proper treatment.  Initial treatment for plantar fasciitis consists of cortisone injections, padding and strapping, stretching and strengthening exercise, ice therapy, taking anti-inflammatory medication, proper orthosis (insert), shoe gear and physical therapy. For very painful and long-standing plantar fasciitis we do Radio Frequency Treatment.

If you are experiencing discomfort due to a heel pain, it is time you called Midtown Podiatry in New York City. You can meet with our physicians in one of our offices in Midtown, Gramercy Park, Union Square, Wall Street or Glen Cove.

By: Ameneh Aminian, DPM

In terms of podiatry, NYC is a strange population. Some citizens of the Big Apple, like Lady GaGa, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Eli Manning are extraordinarily contentious about caring for their feet, and others wouldn’t know a podiatrist if they tripped over one. In order to promote general foot health in the concrete jungle, our podiatrists put together these helpful tips to keep city-bound feet at their best:

• Get professional help determining your shoe size once a year. Contrary to what people believe, your feet do continue changing shape as you age, even once you reach adulthood, and having shoes that don’t actually fit your feet is horrible for your posture and future foot health.
• Cut your toenails. Don’t try to round them at the corners — that’s begging for an ingrown toenail. Cut them straight across, even if it’s less cute.
• Keep your feet dry and clean. Pay particular attention to drying between your toes, a common place for fungus to take hold.
• Use a powerful moisturizer on your feet on a regular basis. Our podiatrists at Midtown Podiatry NYC office can recommend a good one for you. Make applying moisturizer a part of your nightly bedtime routine.
• Look at your feet. Too often, at Midtown Podiatry, with locations in Gramercy Park, Midtown, Union Square and Wall Street, NY, we see many people who focus on things only above their deskline and ignore everything below — but the foot can offer significant early warning signs of disease. Check for abnormal discolorations, numbness, ulcers, peeling between the toes, and temperature sensitivity, all of which can be indicators of severe underlying problems.
• Change your socks! It sounds disgusting, but old socks rapidly become breeding grounds for swarms of bacteria and fungus. Put them up. As in, relax and put your feet up. Nothing to do with the doctor here, just some good all-around advice: de-stress to keep your feet healthy — and the rest of you, too.

Of course, if anything even slightly out of the ordinary is causing you any concern, come see a podiatrist at Midtown Podiatry, with locations in Gramercy Park, Midtown, Union Square and Wall Street, NY,immediately. Attempting to self diagnose a health problem in your feet is a recipe for disaster; the foot is so small and complex that almost any symptom can have multiple potential causes, and treating yourself for the wrong cause can mean the right cause goes untreated and wreaks havoc on your body.

By:  Paul J Betschart, DPM, MS, FACFAS