(860) 632-5499
Podiatrist - Cromwell
162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416
We have moved!
Stop by and see our new office!
At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know that our Middlesex County patients will be focusing on gratitude this week during the Thanksgiving holiday. Although our holiday gatherings may be a little less traditional this year, one thing that remains the same, the season is an opportunity to express gratitude for our many blessings—one of which is your feet!
Your feet are pretty incredible. They contain 52 bones—nearly a quarter of all the bones in your body, 66 joints, 214 ligaments, and 38 muscles. It’s because of your feet that you can stand, walk, run, dance, bend over and reach high. Most of us, however, tend to take our feet for granted until they have a problem. Please take a moment during this time to consider one of these suggestions for showing your gratitude for all they do.
Some studies estimate that up to 90% of people wear shoes that are the wrong size for their feet. Get your feet professionally measured. Your foot can get larger as you age. It’s also not unusual to find that one of your feet is larger than the other. Always buy shoes that are comfortable for the larger foot. Look for good-quality shoes made of soft, flexible material. Be sure they have adequate arch support, a cushioned insole, and a non-slip tread. Your shoes are one of the primary factors in determining the health of your feet.
Being proactive in the care of your feet doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Merely washing your feet every day (and drying completely), applying foot powder if you tend to sweat excessively, and moisturizing at night before bed is an excellent basic routine. Healthy lifestyle choices like maintaining an appropriate weight and exercising will also improve the health of your feet.
There are several benefits to getting a checkup for your feet. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can diagnose and treat all chronic pain or foot discomfort you are experiencing and offer tips on preventing many common foot problems. He’ll also get your medical history, which can help analyze your risk for foot disorders that can be hereditary. Contact our Cromwell office today for an appointment by calling: (860) 632-5499.
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Season to all our patients!
For our Middlesex County patients with diabetes, we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists know that even minor cuts or common conditions like athlete’s foot can prove dangerous. Diabetes limits blood flow to the legs and feet, making it harder for wounds and infections to heal. Nerve damage (or neuropathy), often associated with diabetes as well, can reduce feeling in your feet and increase the likelihood of an injury or infection going unnoticed. With proper care, however, you can greatly reduce the risk of harmful foot problems from diabetes.
Do: remember, your podiatrist is your partner in diabetic foot care. Talk to our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, about the best ways to be proactive about your foot health. Schedule regular podiatric checkups and report anything unusual—skin rashes, bumps, bruises, cuts that seem slow to heal, etc.—as soon as you notice them.
Don’t: Expose your feet to open flames or space heaters. Avoid electric blankets and check the temperature of bathwater with your hand or arm before stepping in. Neuropathy may impede your ability to perceive heat accurately.
Don’t: wear shoes that are too tight in the toe box or rub at the heel. It’s also best not to wear footwear made of rigid, stiff material. All of these can cause blisters to form or exacerbate toe deformities like bunions and hammertoes.
Do: keep toenails trimmed appropriately. Cut straight across, not too short, and with no rounded edges. This will help prevent ingrown toenails from developing.
Do: make healthy lifestyle choices that will enable you to control your diabetes better. These may include a regular exercise routine, a healthy meal plan, and managing other health conditions that may be related to diabetes, such as hypertension.
Don’t: smoke. It impedes circulation.
Do: keep feet dry. Change socks at the first sign they feel damp. Sitting in moist socks can lead to blisters and fungal infections.
Don’t: attempt any “self-doctoring.” Do not try to file down or remove corns or calluses on your own. Do not use medicated pads or other products designed to eliminate warts. These can cause injury or harm to your feet, which is particularly dangerous if you have diabetes. Instead, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 and let the podiatrist handle.
Have you noticed pain in your heels that has been getting progressively worse over the last few months? Do you experience severe or stabbing pain when you first get out of bed? Do you see any swelling on the bottom of your heel? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be suffering from a complaint many Middlesex County patients bring to us at Feet First Foot Care Specialists: plantar fasciitis.
The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that stretches along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. Initially, it may become irritated and then inflamed, causing both heel and arch pain. Most frequently, this condition’s cause is a defect in the structure of the foot, such as overly high arches or flat feet. But other factors can increase your risk for plantar fasciitis:
If you are suffering from heel pain, don’t delay. Make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499. If our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, diagnoses plantar fasciitis, several treatment options are available to help relieve pain and correct the problem. These include:
If conservative measures are not successful, the foot doctor may recommend surgery. Non-invasive measures are always the first line of treatment, however. If you believe you may have plantar fasciitis, contact us at your earliest convenience for an evaluation.
November is National Healthy Skin Month, and at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know the skin on your feet has some special needs, and taking good care of it is very important. Skin disorders on your feet can make it challenging to get around. They can also signal trouble in other parts of your body. But often people don’t think to look at their feet! So, the first tip is to get in the habit of inspecting your feet regularly, and if you notice anything abnormal or concerning about the skin on your feet, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 promptly. That way, our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can take a look and determine if a skin issue is developing that needs treatment.
Wear shoes that fit correctly. If your shoes are too small or stretched and worn out, you have an increased chance of irritating your skin and causing blisters to form.
Wash your feet every day. It will go a long way toward lowering your risk of infections.
Keep skin dry. Feet stuck in wet socks and shoes are the perfect breeding ground for fungal infections like athlete’s foot. Consider using a foot powder or antiperspirant on the soles of your feet if you tend to sweat profusely. Keep an extra pair of socks with you and change whenever you notice your feet feel damp.
Don’t ignore toe defects. Patients with bunions, hammertoes, and other abnormal toe structures are more likely to develop corns and calluses on the skin of their feet. These are progressive conditions. Get them treated in their earliest stages to prevent skin and other foot problems.
Keep feet covered. It is particularly important in public places with lots of foot traffic like community pools, gyms, and nail salons. Don’t share items that touch another person’s feet. It will significantly lessen your chances of getting warts and other foot infections.
Moisturize your skin after you shower. It will help lock moisture into the skin on your feet and prevent peeling and skin cracks.
For more information on foot skin conditions and how to prevent them, contact us, Feet First Foot Care Specialists (860) 632-5499.
Questions or Comments?
We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.
162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416