Podiatric physicians have been essential in allowing many to begin, or continue, their exercise regimen. Many individuals, especially seniors, utilize walking as their primary form of aerobic exercise, obtaining many health benefits in the process. But what do you do when your favorite pursuit causes pain? Consulting with the appropriate health care provider is important to attain optimal health status.
Read MoreRegular readers of this column will be well acquainted with the topic of diabetes, and especially some of the lower extremity complications. These facts bear repeating, partially because diabetes is now epidemic, but also because some of the most harmful and dangerous effects of this disease are preventable. I am referring specifically to lower extremity amputations, a life-changing event, in more ways than one.
Read MoreNo one thinks about walking. Walking is an incredibly complex act, that requires little to no conscious thought, but does demand the work of many muscles, the motion of hundreds of joints
in the body, and the stretching of ligaments throughout. Walking is the primary means of exercise for many individuals, but it’s a delicate balance of bone and muscle allows us to stand and walk with ease, and without pain.
Each era of medicine brings new advances. One of the most recent hot topics is wound care, which is the study and treatment of wounds that don’t heal in a normal and timely fashion. This frustrating and often painful condition is far more common than many realize, since it is almost always covered and out of sight. Intensive research has revealed much about wound care, including new and exciting ways to treat them.
Read MoreAhh, the poor, lowly shoe. It has been blamed for so much over the years. The source of much misery and pain, they protect our feet like nothing else can, allowing us to walk on the worst surfaces, protected from the elements, and humanity’s debris. But too often, they are held responsible for a painful toe or an ingrown nail.
Read MoreThe Charcot foot is one example of some of the strange diseases that can befall the human body. It is characterized by the sudden development of a severely deformed foot, without any history of trauma. And it is accompanied by no pain whatsoever!
Read MoreHave you ever been burned by a hot pan? Can you imagine having that feeling from your whole foot? It’s called diabetic neuropathy, and it’s what some diabetics have to endure. Their nerves stop working correctly when their sugar levels rise high enough, and for long enough. Numbness is the most common sensation experienced, but there can also be tingling, “pins and needles”, or the aforementioned burning.
Read MoreSpring is upon us! And if you are like most, getting outdoors, and getting active, are priorities. A sudden increase in activity levels, whether it’s jogging, walking, or mountain biking, can cause a variety of injuries. Quite common is a muscle strain due to over-use.
Read MoreOne of the most dangerous effects of diabetes is on the ability of the foot to detect various types of trauma. Some of the nerves in the feet are responsible for producing pain in response to injury. This is an extremely important sensation. When the nerves stop working well, the afflicted individual may feel some things well, but might not be alerted to other things, like a scrape, blister, or some other minor trauma to the skin. When combined with a diabetic’s reduced ability to fight bacteria, it is understandable that diabetics suffer from a higher incidence of serious, limb-threatening infections.
Read MoreDiabetes appears to be nearing epidemic proportions. Because this particular disease produces a constellation of problems, there will be a tremendous strain on our health care system in the years to come. Of course, these financial expenditures are secondary to the suffering and disability that will result.
Read MoreDid you hear about poor uncle Steve? He cut himself while trimming his toe nails. So you might ask: “What’s the big deal“? Steve wasn’t concerned. In fact, it didn’t hurt at all, so why would he worry? Even though the cut didn’t heal in the usual time, he didn’t give it a second thought. That changed when he developed an infection, and he ended up losing his leg.
Read MoreHave you ever been burned by a hot pan? Most of us have, but can you imagine having that feeling from your whole foot, persisting, without let-up? That is what some diabetics have to endure. It’s called diabetic neuropathy, and many individuals with diabetes have a greatly reduced quality of lifebecause they suffer from this problem. It all stems from the imbalance in glucose metabolism that is seen with this disease.
Read MoreIf you are looking for help with a foot or ankle problem, then look no further: welcome to the practice of Dr. Conway McLean, DPM. This practice has been providing podiatric care in Marquette, MI for over two and a half decades, first with Dr. Ken Tabor, and now with Dr. McLean.
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