Calluses happen when there is constant pressure being applied to a localized area of the foot. This action produces dense layers of dead skin that form this condition. They can occur when shoes are too tight because the shoe tends to rub against the skin of the foot in a forceful manner. It’s also important to understand that the hardening of the skin is in response to the friction to protect it. Although there is a good purpose behind their creation, they can, however, get painful. If the skin of the callus begins to break down, infections can occur through that opening and will have an optimal place with which to thrive due to the dark and moist conditions inside shoes. Other factors that can lead to the formation of calluses are deformities, wearing high-heeled shoes and using socks that do not fit correctly.

Treatment for calluses involves:

• Shaving down layers of dead skin by a medical professional so as to avoid any complications such as a bacterial or fungal infection.
• Utilizing salicylic acid to chemically burn off layers of dead skin without having to use a sharp instrument to cut them off.
• Orthotics are helpful for reducing pressure.
• Antibiotics to kill off infections.
• Surgical procedures may also be helpful if the above methods are not successful. This can be accomplished via correcting areas where bones are protruding or fixing other deformities.

Calluses can be hard to get rid of if they are allowed to develop into thick layers of dead skin. Once that dense area becomes infected, it can be difficult to treat. Therefore, please contact us when you start to notice their formation so that we can treat them before they become painful. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC located in Cromwell, CT, podiatrist Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M. can assist you with eliminating your calluses. Please make an appointment today by calling our office at (860) 632-5499. Our Patient Education section is another resource you can look into to learn more about this and many other feet and ankle conditions!

Calluses are areas of rigid and thick growth that generally develop on the ball of the foot, as repeated pressure and friction are applied to them. They can become a disturbance to your general foot health and should be treated in due course. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., has many years of experience with treating this condition at the Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT. Please call our offices at (860) 632-5499 or visit the Patient Education section of our website to find out more about this condition.

A callus can present itself in different colors, such as white, yellow or even brown. They happen to be more common in women due to the fact that they are caused more often by friction, which high heels and women’s shoes tend to cause. The skin thickens to form a callus as a protective mechanism. However, infected calluses can be painful and might bleed. Calluses that happen on the portion of the foot that bears the most weight can also be extremely painful. Yet calluses must be distinguished from other conditions which also cause hardening of the skin in the same areas of the foot, such as inherited disorders which may present themselves as calluses to the untrained eye, but could nonetheless be a symptom of something different or more serious.

Treatment for this condition is most effective when it reduces friction. Eliminating badly fitting shoes and placing strategic padding on the area will allow calluses to heal. Combining these methods with medications will be the best form of initial treatment. If an infection occurs in an area of the callus, there may need to be a removal performed by a medical professional to prevent any additional complications. Antibiotics will likely be prescribed thereafter to kill off the infection and to prevent it from spreading.

Calluses can be taken care of at the very beginning through self-treatment; however, they can become painful and lead to unnecessary infections if neglected. Please contact our office today to give your feet the best chance they have of making sure your calluses are removed efficiently and remain gone!

Neuromas are disrupting to the general health of your foot and ankles. When they occur, the outer nerves in your feet feel numb. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., can successfully treat this condition if you are experiencing it. You can visit Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT.     

The pain caused by neuromas is very noticeable and can feel like you're standing on a pebble, a feeling of hot discomfort in the ball of your foot that can extend to your toes or a numbness in your toes. Neuromas can be very serious and are benign growths of nerve tissue generally located between the third and fourth toes, caused by the frequent rubbing of the toes against each other. Dropping heavy objects on the toes or severe trauma may also cause damage to the nerve, causing inflammation of the damaged nerve. It’s important to avoid trauma to the toes as it can be a precursor to a neuroma when recovery is not handled correctly. Surgery may be required as treatment to remove the nerve in question. Other types of treatment are orthotics or ultrasound. Massaging the ball of the foot is comforting, as is soaking in hot water followed by ice treatment. 

The usual complaint with neuromas is pain occurring between the toes when walking. The best form of relief for those experiencing this pain is to stop walking, remove your shoes and massage the area in pain. The ball of the foot should always be massaged since this action could help reduce pain. Hot water, followed by rubbing the foot and subsequently treating it with ice can be used to treat neuroma symptoms. Surgery may be required in severe cases to eliminate the neuroma by removing the enlarged nerve. Patients with diabetes must be especially careful because symptoms intensify due to nerve complications.

Neuromas can become a serious problem when not treated right away. Numbness and burning sensations are common. Please contact us online or call us at (860) 632-5499 to make an appointment as soon as possible. Take this opportunity to get the best treatment offered by Dr. Mucinskas now.    

Ingrown toenails are not to be taken lightly. They can be painful and unsightly. They may require treatment by our podiatrists if not managed correctly. Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., can treat this condition if you happen to be experiencing it. You can visit Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT.     

Ingrown toenails can happen when toenails grow into the surrounding skin, causing the skin to swell. This happens because the toenail grows in a curved shaped and digs downward into the skin surrounding the nail. Infections happen when the skin breaks because of the nail digging into it, which can be painful. 

Ingrown nails can be caused by any of the following:

• Inheritance (genetics).
• The result of dropping heavy items on the toes.
• Toe nails being cut very short.
• Tight fitting shoes.
• Infections caused by Fungus.

Natural treatments include having your feet soaked in warm salt water while simultaneously rubbing the side of the infected and ingrown nail. It’s best not to cut the nail if it’s infected. If the nail is not infected, refrain from cutting them too short, wear shoes that are not tight or loose and wear supportive and comfortable socks.

If natural treatments do not work, our podiatrist can prescribe an antibiotic if there is an infection and thereafter perform surgery to ease the pain and remove the infected nail. Some of the surgeries offered as treatment can be the following:

• A procedure where an angled nail is cut to the corner of the nail.
• A procedure where a partial portion of the nail is trimmed down to the root when there is an active infection, allowing drainage and removal of the nail.
• Total removal of the nail for situations where it is required to completely dispose of the infection and prevent a reoccurrence of the ingrown toenail.

These procedures can require a varying amount of recovery times, from weeks to months.

Adequate dressing of the surgical site and medication will help to speed up recovery. Comfortable shoes that prevent pressure should be worn to prevent recurrence. 

The earlier ingrown toenails are treated, the less likely surgery is required. However, if you have ingrown toenails that are significantly reducing foot motion and causing pain, don’t hesitate to contact us online to make an appointment as soon as possible. Take the opportunity to get the very best treatment offered by Dr. Mucinskas today and your pain will fall flat!

Flat feet can be a common yet unfortunate condition. Proper support for your feet can make a lasting difference because without it, your knees and ankles can suffer due to a chain effect. There are arches on the insoles of your feet that normally develop due to a tightness in the tendons that hold the foot together. Flat feet occur when these tendons do not develop at all. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., can treat this condition if you happen to be experiencing it. You can visit Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT.     

When flat feet occur, the tendons as mentioned above, do not develop correctly and the foot is left without a proper arch. The foot therefore presses against the floor in a flat manner, without any tendon support. In some other adults, the tendons that once properly formed can loosen later in life, causing flat feet. Flat feet can make walking or running extremely painful because people with this circumstance tend to roll their ankle inwards right after the heel touches the surface. Abnormal angles in joints thus occur. As you can see, flat feet make routine tasks more difficult than they have to be.

Treatment for flat feet can include the use of arch support orthotics, special shoes that provide extra arch support or physical therapy to help correct the incorrect walk caused by flat feet. Our use of state of the art technology allows us to provide your feet with a custom solution that will act to minimize pain caused by flat feet. By using our services, you will help to minimize pain brought about by an unequal stride. However, arch supports may require investing in new shoes since you may require the extra space to accompany them.

For those experiencing flat feet, contact us online to make an appointment as soon as possible. Take the opportunity to get the very best treatment offered by Dr. Mucinskas today and your pain will fall flat!