If you have a condition like diabetes, keeping your feet warm can be vital to the overall health of your feet. In Berwyn, IL, and Wheeling, IL. Dr. Paul Potach has many years of experience and assists those who have trouble with their circulation, feel better. Let’s look at some of the techniques that you can use to keep circulation going and your feet comfortable.

Keeping Your Feet Warm During Winter

Thick Socks.
Many companies offer socks that are much thicker than your average sock. These socks are best with boots and other duty footwear designed to maintain body heat. Not only are these socks excellent at keeping your feet warm, but they also offer plenty of plush comforts that can help prevent corns and other foot concerns.

Changing Your Footwear
For those of us that have sweaty feet, changing your footwear is a great solution to keep the feet dry, which makes it easier for your body to keep your feet warm. Keeping your feet dry can also involve the use of powder or baking soda to help absorb some of the sweat or other moisture in your feet.

Wearing Serviceable Shoes
So many of us have things that we use until they fall apart. Sometimes that is okay, but often, wearing comfortable shoes means that our feet are dry. Making sure your shoes have no holes are a sure way to keep your feet warm during the winter.

Need more ideas on keeping your feet warm? Dr. Potach will be able to assist you in maintaining a simple, yet effective regimen in Wheeling, IL, or Berwyn, IL. We are here to help you. Call the Wheeling, IL office at (847) 215-1525 or our Berwyn, IL location at (708) 484-3338 to make an appointment.

Heel pain can interfere with your ability to easily move about and perform routine activities, such as walking or standing. A common cause of heel pain is a foot condition known as plantar fasciitis. Left untreated, plantar fasciitis can get worse over time and lead to additional foot problems. There are things you can do for your heel pain. Dr. Paul Potach, the knowledgeable podiatrist at our office in Wheeling, IL can alleviate your heel pain with a treatment approach that is right for you.

Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis

Heel pain can develop for various reasons, such as a foot injury, joint inflammation, or Achilles tendonitis. One of the most common reasons for heel pain is plantar fasciitis. It is a condition in which the band of plantar fascia tissues that run along the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed and irritated. The tissues connect the heel bone to the toes and when they are inflamed, pain can be felt at the bottom of the heel and along the arch of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis often develops in individuals who overpronate. When a person overpronates, the foot rolls inward each time they take a step. As the foot rolls inward, the arch flattens and causes the band of plantar fascia tissues to lengthen and stretch out. When overstretched, the tissues can become inflamed and cause heel pain and discomfort. The pain can become progressively worse over time without treatment.

Treatments Options

If heel pain is minor, it can possibly be treated at home by resting the foot and limiting physical activity. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can also provide relief. Wearing footwear with extra cushioning and support is a good idea as well.

Professional treatment should be sought for chronic or severe heel pain. Some of the methods used for treating heel pain at our office in Wheeling include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Custom orthotic devices
• Stretching exercises
• Physical therapy

Custom orthotics are especially beneficial because they help correct foot alignment when stepping and can address issues such as overpronating. Orthotic devices also provide additional support, stability, and cushioning. They help alleviate pain, while making it possible to stand, walk, or run more comfortably and efficiently. Since custom orthotics are tailor-made for your feet to address your specific issues, they deliver exceptional results.

Many treatments are available for alleviating heel pain and our podiatrist can recommend the right options for you. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Potach to discuss treatment of your heel pain by calling our office in Wheeling, IL at (847) 215-1525 or our Berwyn, IL location at (708) 484-3338.

Have you or a loved one experienced an ingrown toenail? If so, you know the pain this simple podiatric condition causes. In Wheeling, IL, Dr. Paul Potach cares for ingrown toenails and he shows patients ways to prevent them.

What is an ingrown toenail?

The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) says that ingrown toenails, or onychocryptosis, usually develop on the big toes. Simply put, the nail is cut too short at the corners.

As it grows, it invades the surrounding skin, often causing infection, pus, redness and pain. A severe case impacts how well the sufferer walks. Plus, in a diabetic, onychocryptosis is dangerous.

Some mild cases of onychocryptosis may be treated at home with warm soaks and better-fitting shoes. Others, however, require careful intervention by the podiatrist in his Wheeling office.

Treating an ingrown toenail

In his office, Dr. Potach will examine your foot, noting your symptoms. He may trim the ingrown nail straight across or, as needed, actually remove part of the nail right down the affected side. He may even apply a medication to destroy the nail plate so the nail does not grow back. This partial nail avulsion and chemical matrixectomy resolve symptoms permanently. Your foot doctor may prescribe antibiotic medication to heal infection, too.

Preventing ingrown toenails

Keep this problem from developing on another nail by:

• Wearing shoes which are roomy in the toes
• Cutting your nails with clean clippers, trimming them straight across and not too short
• Washing your feet daily with soap and water
• Changing your socks every day
• Avoiding trauma to the nail by wearing protective shoes on the job
• Looking carefully and frequently at your feet to notice any signs of friction, swelling or nail changes

Great nails and happy feet

Dr. Paul Potach and his team take both seriously. If you start having nail problems, don't wait. Call our office in either Wheeling or Berwyn for a consultation with this experienced and caring foot doctor. Ingrown toenails are no fun, but we'll help you manage them. Call our Wheeling office at (847) 215-1525, and in Berwyn, IL, phone (708) 484-3338.

What carry you everywhere but maybe the last things on your mind? They're your feet. To keep them functioning well, take care of them. Dr. Paul Potach is your Wheeling, IL, podiatrist. He wants you to avoid ingrown toenails, deformities such as bunions, and the problems of wear and tear and systemic disease.

Your wonderful feet...

They each have 26 bones and a network of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. Because they're in constant use, your feet are stressed. Walking, running, jumping, and simply standing exert tremendous pressures. Add the friction of shoes and socks, or worrisome health issues such as diabetes, and you end up with painful, poorly functioning feet.

What should you do? If you are over 40 or have underlying health problems, see your podiatrist in his Wheeling or Berwyn office. He'll do a complete podiatric exam, looking for skin, gait, structural, and nail issues (such as ingrown toenails). Then, he'll put together a care plan to optimize your podiatric health.

Common sense foot care

Dr. Potach and the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) recommend the following:

1. Inspect your feet daily, looking for cuts, pressure points, and sores. This is particularly important for diabetics and patients with peripheral circulation problems.
2. Wash your feet every day, and dry them completely with a clean towel.
3. Moisturize the skin at least once a day.
4. Wear well-fitting, moisture-wicking socks.
5. Wear quality shoes that have plenty of room in the toe boxes. Make sure you have sufficient arch support if you are a runner or a worker who stands a lot.
6. Avoid high heeled shoes.
7. Trim all nails with a sharp, clean clippers. Cut straight across to avoid ingrown toenails.
8. Rest your feet by elevating them above heart level. A foot massage promotes comfort and circulation.
9. Keep your feet warm in winter and cool in the summer.
10. Avoid injury and fungal infections, such as Athlete's foot, by not going outdoors barefoot.
11. Exercise. A good rule is three to five 30-minute walks each week.

Feel good and stay mobile

And, remember, your foot doctor, Dr. Paul Potach, is available for comprehensive foot care in two convenient locations. Call us for an appointment! For the Wheeling, IL, office, phone (847) 215-1525. For Berwyn, call (708) 484-3338.

How your podiatrist in Wheeling and Berwyn, IL, can help if you have plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition among runners, but you don’t have to be a runner to suffer from plantar fasciitis pain. After all, anybody who regularly puts stress on their feet can end up developing this problem.

Fortunately, Dr. Paul Potach, your podiatrist in Wheeling and Berwyn, IL, can help you find relief from plantar fasciitis.

More about Plantar Fasciitis

So, how do you know if you have this condition? If you feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your heel and running along the side of your foot, you could have plantar fasciitis. If your pain also increases in the morning when you try to stand and put weight on your feet, this is also a common symptom.

The pain of this condition is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue that runs across your heel. There are many factors that can make you more prone to plantar fasciitis, including:

• Overpronating or rolling your feet when you walk
• Standing or walking on hard surfaces for long periods of time
• Having flat feet and carrying excess weight

If you are suffering from plantar fasciitis, you can try a few simple remedies, such as:

• Taking over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications
• Placing an ice pack on your heel several times each day
• Doing arch stretches several times each day
• Changing to more supportive shoes

For stubborn, severe plantar fasciitis symptoms, it’s best to visit your podiatrist. Dr. Potach may recommend:

• Custom-fit orthotics and footwear to provide support
• Prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medication to decrease swelling and pain
• Physical therapy and stretching exercises to maintain flexibility

Concerned? Give Us a Call

You don’t have to suffer from plantar fasciitis pain when relief is just a phone call away. To find out more about plantar fasciitis treatment and other footcare options, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Paul Potach in Wheeling, IL, at (847) 215-1525 or at his office in Berwyn, IL, at (708) 484-3338. Call now!