A blister is a patch of skin filled up with clear fluids that occur on your heels, toes, or anywhere else on your foot. By themselves, they’re not necessarily dangerous unless they become infected. One way that people often introduce infection is through popping. That’s why we here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists recommend you leave blisters alone!

What causes blisters?

Blisters can be caused by rubbing or friction and form as the result of your skin trying to protect itself. When something begins to run against your foot and damage it, your skin reacts by creating a protective barrier from the friction element. Friction can start between your feet and socks or shoes, or something else like sports equipment. For instance, a bike pedal can cause a blister during a long ride.

If you notice that the skin on your foot is red and warm, that’s a good indicator that a blister is about to form there. Next, a bump will form and fill with fluid.

How do I prevent blisters?

• Synthetic socks that are designed to wick away sweat and other moisture can help.
• Always ensure you have properly-fitting shoes. Friction and rubbing from shoes that are too tight or too loose can easily cause blisters.
• Tape up your toes that seem to get blisters frequently before starting a sport or activity.

How do I treat blisters?

The best thing to do is leave it alone. Keep a close watch on it, but leave it alone as much as possible. If you notice that the skin surrounding the blister is red, warm, and tender, or if you notice red streaks leading to or from the blister, you likely have an infection. Give us a call as soon as you can if you notice these symptoms.

When the blister does break on its own, use warm water and soap to clean the area. Try not to remove the patch of skin that burst, since that patch is protecting the new skin growing underneath. Dab on a little antibiotic ointment and a bandage, and you’re good to go!

If you’ve got a blister that is large and painful or seems infected, 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.

Varicose veins are often seen as mostly a cosmetic issue, but they can come with a whole slew of other problems. As the weather gets colder, here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists we see an increase in the number of patients who are dealing with varicose vein issues. There are plenty of myths that prevent patients from seeking varicose vein treatment when they should. That’s why we put together these facts about varicose veins.

What causes varicose veins?

When blood leaks from a weakened valve and pools, it causes a vein to swell. If you’re someone who is on your feet all day, gravity can play a part in exacerbating it. This is because it strains your veins to pump blood up to the heart from your legs and feet.

Myth #1: Varicose veins never hurt.

Many of our patients with varicose veins do not experience any uncomfortable symptoms, but for a lot of people these veins can cause:

• Pain
• Aches
• A tired or heavy sensation in your legs
• Dry and itchy skin surrounding the varicose vein

These are the symptoms that most often bring patients in to see a podiatrist. Dryness caused by cooler weather or pain caused by long hours on your feet can make these symptoms even worse.

Myth #2: Varicose veins are just a cosmetic issue; they’re not actually harmful.

While it’s true that varicose veins are completely harmless for most people, they can often signal a circulation or blood flow issue in the body. Diabetes and other diseases often have associated circulatory issues that can present as varicose veins. A foot doctor can help examine your varicose veins and see if there is a link to a more serious medical issue.

Myth #3: You can’t treat varicose veins.

There are actually a number of ways you can relieve the symptoms of varicose veins. Try some of the following:

• Avoid wearing tight socks or stockings.
• Change your position frequently – go from sitting to standing a couple times a day; take walks or sitting breaks.
• Exercise regularly to improve circulation and maintain a healthy weight.
• In severe cases, a minor surgical procedure can help to eliminate a varicose vein.

If varicose veins are vexing you, 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 diagnostic 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.

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.

We talk about the importance of wearing the right kind of shoes often, but did you know that laces are an equally important part of keeping your feet safe? There are so many ways to mix and match shoelace colors, styles, shapes, and sizes to add some flair to your feet. But did you know that proper lacing can help prevent foot and ankle injury?

Shoelace tips

• Loosen your laces before slipping your foot in. You can stress your foot trying to contort it into a too-tight shoe. It can also wear down your shoe faster.
• Lace starting from the holes closest to your toes up. This will ensure stability and a solid fit.
• Pull laces tightly after lacing through the eyelets. Leave no excess lace so that the shoe fits nice and snug.
• More eyelets generally mean a better fit for the shoe.

Lacing tips for narrow feet

If you have narrow feet, you should lace your shoes using the holes farthest away from the tongue of the shoe. This will provide solid fit and stability.

Lacing tips for wide feet

If your feet are on the wide side, utilize the inner eyelets to lace up your shoes. It tightens the shoe closer to the center and prevents any rubbing and chafing on the outside of your feet.

Why should I bother lacing right?

Lacing right can help alleviate or prevent foot pain and injury. It’s extra important to utilize all of the eyelets provided when you lace your shoes up. Make sure you lace anything closest to the heel the tightest. If you are experiencing Achilles tendinitis or plantar fasciitis, this will help to mitigate any pain you are experiencing in your heel and provide stability and support throughout your day.

Have your shoes been laced up incorrectly causing you a foot or ankle injury? Call our office here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists! Our Podiatrist, 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.