People often think that podiatrists only deal in feet but, the truth is, here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists we look at your lower limbs as a whole. This includes ankle injuries and chronic ankle problems. As football season rages on, we see headline after headline of players benched due to ankle injuries. A big reason athletes suffer from chronic ankle issues is that they can’t take the time away from the game to allow their ankle to completely heal – their teammates need them, but so does their health!

We see plenty of patients here with chronic ankle pain and instabilities who are not professional athletes. Often their issues are due to old ankle injuries that weren’t properly rehabilitated. When you sprain your ankle, your ligaments overstretch or sometimes even tear. When the pain subsides, many patients consider themselves healed and resume their normal daily activities. Unfortunately, retraining and rehabilitating that damaged tissue and building supportive muscle up around it takes more time.

Chronic Ankle Condition Symptoms

If you’ve suffered multiple ankle sprains in your life, you might have chronic ankle conditions. Other indicators include:

• Pain and tenderness in your ankle
• Wobbly feelings in your ankles
• Swelling in your ankles
• Constantly twisting your ankle when playing sports, walking on uneven surfaces, or even standing still.

We Can Help Improve Ankle Stability

If you’re dealing with any of the above symptoms or if you have a sprain that you think might not be fully healed, call our office today. Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas will examine your ankle, checking your range of motion and asking questions about pain, swelling, or other sensations. If needed, x-rays or other internal imaging will be ordered to more closely examine your ankle’s condition.

Once Dr. Mucinskas has determined how extensive your ankle problems are, he will discuss all of the non-surgical treatment options available. These options include:

• Medication to help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation
• Braces or orthotics
• Physical therapy to help repair any ligament damage and build muscles to prevent future sprains

If you’re suffering from painful ankles, make an appointment today at Feet First Foot Care Specialists! Dr. Adam Mucinskas keeps up-to-date on all the latest podiatric health issues and utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment techniques. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

Each of your feet has 33 joints, each of which can be afflicted with arthritis. Arthritis is a disease that can greatly impact your feet and your quality of life. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we answer tons of questions about arthritis. Many people consider it to be a disease that only comes on with aging. The truth is, of the 50 million adults who suffer from arthritis, two-thirds are under 65 years old. There are also about 300,000 children in the U.S. with arthritis. We thought we’d take the time to address any other arthritis questions with this blog.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease – it’s not just one single disease. Over 100 kinds of arthritis exist. The two most common types are:

• Osteoarthritis – this “wear and tear” arthritis occurs as the lubrication and cartilage in your joints wears down.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – this is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain.

Who is at risk for arthritis?

Arthritic disorders can afflict anyone, regardless of their age, race, or gender. Here are a few factors that put people at a higher risk though:

• Genes – arthritis can be hereditary.
• Previous joint injuries – if you’ve hurt a joint in the past, it will more likely develop arthritis as you age.
• Weight – obesity puts extra strains on your joints, which can accelerate arthritic conditions.

How will I know if I have arthritis and what should I do?

If you have pain, stiffness, swelling, or redness in your joints, or decreased range of motion, you likely have arthritis. If you are experiencing any of these conditions, it’s time to give us a call today. Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas will examine your feet and ankles using x-rays, MRI’s, or other imaging studies and laboratory tests. This will help him determine the type of arthritis you’re suffering from. The earlier you catch arthritis, the better the treatment will be.

If you’re suffering from painful joints, call our office here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists! Dr. Adam Mucinskas keeps up-to-date on all the latest podiatric health issues and utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment techniques. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

If you have pain in your feet and ankles, there’s a good chance it is affecting more than just your feet and ankles. Often when our feet hurt, we put some ice on it, take a quick break, and then get right back to what we were doing. We even just ignore the pain and hope it will subside on its own. Unfortunately, this can have lasting consequences on not just your feet and ankles, but also your hips, back, neck, and even your head. Here are some foot and ankle issues that can affect your whole body and vice-versa:

• Incorrect gait – The way you walk is called your gait, and your walking pattern affects your whole body. If you have a limp or are distributing your weight unevenly, the pain can quietly travel up to your knees and eventually your back. An incorrect gait can also up the risk of rolling or twisting your ankle. Get your gait assessed by your podiatrist. A fix could be as simple as slipping a custom orthotic into your shoes.
• Pinched nerve – A compressed nerve in your back can cause pain in many different parts of your body, sometimes even evading the area where the nerve is pinched! If you notice shooting pain or tingling randomly occurring in your feet and/or your back, get it assessed as soon as you can.
• Foot drop – If you are physically unable to lift your foot up to walk, this could be an ankle or back issue. If you are also experiencing pain radiating from your calf to the top of your big toe, it is most likely something going on in your back.
• Inability to walk on tip-toes – Tip-toeing is something you learn to do at such a young age that you might not realize how many parts of your body work together to make it happen. Your leg, ankle, and feet need the strength, stability, balance and flexibility to sustain it. Back pain could be contributing to this issue. It might not seem like an obvious connection, but tell your podiatrist if you are unable to stand on your tiptoes.

Are you experiencing pain in your feet and ankles that might stem from back pain? Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help answer any questions you might have about your feet and ankle health. We feature innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (860) 632-5499.

Ankle Sprains occur when ligaments extend beyond their natural limitations. This condition is common because there are multiple ligaments that hold bones in the feet together. In particular, the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are predisposed to sprains. The ligaments on the inside of the ankle are sturdier and do not sprain as easily.

The rough part about spraining the ankle is the sudden nature of its occurrence. The ankle generally twists from a quick movement whereby the ligament surrounding it is injured or sprained. Those who participate in high-intensity activities that involve frequent jumping can often incur ankle sprains. With a minor sprain, you can return to routine activities within several days. For more severe sprains, it may take a lengthier period to recover. Moreover, ankle sprains happening higher up on the ankle can take even longer to cure.

Treatment for this condition involves:

• Raising the foot to keep it elevated to decrease swelling associated with the sprain.
• Wrapping the ankle to reduce pressure from swelling. Bandaging is especially beneficial in keeping the ankle in the right position during recovery and is also needed when returning to sports.
• Ice pack therapy to reduce inflammation.
• Resting to allow the ankle to quickly heal.
• Physical therapy to assist the ligament with a speedy recovery.
• Exercising such as proper physical therapy after sustaining this injury is imperative since a lack of appropriate care can result in chronic pain to the ankle.

This condition can lead to significant complications if not treated timely. An improperly healed ankle may become prone to becoming sprained easily. Appropriate treatment can help to avoid this situation. Please contact us to start proper treatment after you sustain this injury. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC located in Cromwell, CT, podiatrist Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M. can help alleviate your ankle sprain discomfort and give you the best chance of making the injured ankle strong again. So, please make an appointment today by calling our office at (860) 632-5499. Our Patient Education library may also be a helpful resource for your research into maintaining the best possible foot and ankle health.

Sprained ankles directly affect the ligament that connects the bones to the joint in your foot. As you can imagine, this type of injury can be painful. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., can treat this condition and help to alleviate your pain. You should contact us right away if you believe you’ve suffered a sprained ankle.

Ankles are joints where the tibia, fibula and talus connect. Ankles sit on top of the heel bone. They are very important to the overall mobility of the foot since they allow the foot to turn at a moment’s notice. Moreover, tendons connect muscles and move the ankle joint. Ligaments are tough structures that surround joints. When any of these three are damaged, the ankle suffers and a sprain may result. 

When sprains happen, the ankle joint is suddenly compelled to move outside its typical range of movement. This can happen from an abnormal step or a sudden twist by the foot. Ankle sprains that involve injuries to the ligament incur damage when they are over-stretched. When an ankle ligament is damaged due to stretching or tearing, it can swell and bruise, causing severe pain. 

The majority of sprains should heal after a few weeks; however severe sprains may take much longer. The severity depends on the level of the stretch. Tears will generally require an extended recovery time due to the nature of injury.

To prevent ankle sprains, you should perform exercises that strengthen your ankle and the surrounding muscles around it since they stabilize the ankle and help with balance. Stability and balance will help to prevent ankle sprains from occurring at the most vulnerable parts of the ankle. If an injury does occur, the general treatments to be utilized first are plenty of rest, use of ice, compression and raising the ankle. Furthermore, use of heat, strenuous exercise or massages should be avoided during recovery. 

Call our offices for an appointment at (860) 632-5499 at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT. We will ensure that your ankle stays in top shape throughout the recovery process.