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Podiatrist - Cromwell
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Cromwell, CT 06416

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
October 02, 2019
Category: arthritis

During the month of October, we recognize World Arthritis Day. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we want patients to realize that arthritis isn’t inevitable and there are steps you can take to reduce symptoms.

There are several misconceptions patients have about arthritis. The first is that arthritis is a single disease. It is actually an umbrella term that includes more than 100 disorders that affect the joints. Another misconception is that arthritis is a natural part of getting older that just has to be accepted. That couldn’t be further from the truth! Although osteoarthritis, the most common type, occurs as joints and cartilage wear down, your lifestyle choices can play a key role in determining whether you develop arthritis and its severity. Some ways to reduce your risk and your symptoms include:

  • Eating a healthy diet. Being overweight dramatically increases your risk of developing arthritis, especially in your feet and ankles. There are 33 joints in your feet, and they carry the weight of your entire body. Excess weight means excess strain and pressure on those joints. You can also help your bones and joints by ensuring you get enough calcium and vitamin D and avoiding fried foods and those high in sugar as these are known to cause joint inflammation.
  • Stay active. Regular exercise, particularly weight-bearing activities like walking, increase joint strength and help you maintain flexibility and full range of motion. You’ll also burn calories which will help keep your weight in check.
  • Be safe. Arthritis often sets in at the site of an old injury. Don’t take unnecessary chances. Practice ladder safety, drive carefully and take precautions to avoid sports injuries to reduce your chances of developing arthritis as you age.

Take Early Action

Recognize the symptoms of arthritis:

  • Joint stiffness, particularly first thing in the morning
  • Pain or tenderness in a joint
  • Limited range of motion
  • Swelling
  • Skin changes such as redness, warmth, rashes or growths

If experience any of these, don’t delay. Make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, will examine your feet and ankles and determine the source of your joint discomfort. Treatment in the early stages of many types of arthritis can significantly slow its progression and increase your mobility.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
September 11, 2019
Category: foot deformities
Tags: corns   calluses   arthritis   Hammertoe   orthotic device  

Do you notice that your second, third or fourth toe appears to be bending at the middle joint? This can be an early sign of a deformity known as hammertoe. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we want patients to better understand this condition and the importance of seeking treatment early.

What Causes Hammertoes?

Hammertoes are the result of an abnormality in the balance of the muscles in the toes. Factors that can increase the risk of a hammertoe developing include:

  • Improperly fitting footwear—particularly shoes that are too tight in the toe box
  • Heredity
  • Trauma
  • Arthritis

Treatment Options

As the toe becomes more bent, the pain from walking and pressure from shoes increase. Secondary problems like corns and calluses may also develop on the affected toe. In addition to pain and discomfort, however, an even greater reason to seek treatment is to prevent the toe from becoming permanently rigid in that position. Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas will prescribe the treatment that is best for you. Some possibilities for relief include:

  1. Change your shoes—choose footwear made of soft material with roomy toe boxes.
  2. Stretch it out—exercises can be done to stretch the toe and strengthen surrounding muscles.
  3. Add some padding—nonmedicated gel cushions and pads can be applied to ease pain and provide a barrier between your foot and your shoe.
  4. Put it on ice—applying an ice pack to the hammertoe several times a day can reduce inflammation, swelling and pain.
  5. Ditch high heels—get rid of anything over 2-inches high, because they put too much pressure on your toes. Discard styles with narrow, pointy fronts as well.
  6. Tape it up—the foot doctor may use taping to correct the imbalance of the muscles in the toe.
  7. Go custom—an orthotic device prescribed by the podiatrist is made according to a model of your unique foot. The orthotic can help with the muscle imbalance and redistribute weight to relieve pain and inflammation.

A last resort, if conservative measures don’t bring relief, is a surgical procedure to correct the hammertoe.

If you believe you have a hammertoe forming, contact our Cromwell office for an appointment by calling: (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
May 29, 2019
Category: bone health

Did you know that nearly a quarter of all the bones in your body are found in your feet? While many of them may be tiny, they all play a critical role in carrying your body where you want to go and performing everyday activities. In recognition of National Osteoporosis Awareness Month, we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists want to offer patients information about this crippling disorder that affects bone strength.

Recognizing Bone Density Problems

About 54 million Americans have osteoporosis. Unfortunately, you can’t feel your bones getting weaker and many patients don’t get diagnosed with this condition until they break a bone. That’s one more reason why it’s important to not put off getting foot pain diagnosed. Stress fractures may only exhibit annoying pain and swelling that’s not constant. Anytime you are experiencing foot or ankle pain, it’s critical that you make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can examine your foot and determine if a fracture has occurred.

Assessing Your Risk

The foot doctor will also get a complete medical history from you and can help identify other risk factors for osteoporosis. In addition to being over the age of 50, these include:

  • Excessive or extreme dieting in the past
  • Family history of osteoporosis
  • Certain diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, breast or prostate cancer, sickle cell or Parkinson’s disease to name a few
  • Being very thin and having a small body type
  • Post-menopausal
  • Some medications, such as certain chemotherapy drugs, steroids, lithium, thyroid hormones and a few anti-seizure medications

Making Choices for Healthy Bones

Fortunately, there are many ways you can build stronger bones:

  • Get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Although milk and dairy products are the best- known sources, you can get calcium from other foods like canned fish, leafy greens and seeds. You can also try foods and beverages that are fortified with calcium and vitamin D and/or take a supplement to reach the desired daily intake.
  • Don’t smoke.
  • Exercise regularly. Giving your bones a regular workout keeps them strong. Choose muscle-strengthening and weight-bearing types of activities.
  • Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.

If you have concerns about bone strength or are experiencing foot pain, contact us today.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
May 08, 2019
Category: joint pain
Tags: arthritis  

Did you know that you have 33 joints in each of your feet? That’s a good reason for us at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC to recognize National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis afflicts nearly 54 million adults and 300,000 youth in our country. It is the top cause of disability. Protecting the health of the joints in your feet and ankles is an important component of living an active life. Food choices can play a big role in both preventing and reducing arthritis symptoms.

Weighty Matters

One significant way you can help prevent arthritis and also lessen the pain it causes in your feet and ankles is by maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight puts extra strain on the joints of your lower extremities and can accelerate the degeneration of the cartilage that cushions the joints. It’s also easier to be active and participate in fitness and sports activities if you are at a healthy weight. This, in turn, also improves joint health by helping to maintain flexibility and range of motion.

Building Bone Strength

Increasing bone strength is beneficial for your joints. Getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D (which is necessary for calcium absorption) in your diet is essential. Low-fat dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and milk are all excellent sources. If you are lactose intolerant, you can also look to get your calcium from leafy greens and fortified juices and cereals.

Fighting Inflammation

There are several kinds of food that have been found to have the ability to help fight inflammation and reduce an inflammatory response in the body. These include: fish high in omega 3 fatty acids such as salmon and mackerel, olive oil, cherries, strawberries and avocado, to name a few. Talk to your doctor about which foods may best help you if you are suffering from joint disease.

Treatments for arthritis are most successful when they begin in the earliest stages of the disease. If you start to experience joint pain or other symptoms in your feet or ankles like stiffness, swelling or difficulty bending or flexing a joint, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499. Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas will evaluate your feet and ankles and determine the source of your symptoms, as well as the best treatment.

 

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
April 24, 2019
Category: heel pain

Is heel pain making it difficult for you to stand, walk and perform basic daily activities? At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we urge patients to not put off getting heel pain evaluated. There are many possible causes of heel pain and nearly all of them will only get worse – not better – without treatment. Below are some of the more common sources of heel discomfort:

Faulty Foot Mechanics

Frequently, a defect in the biomechanics of the feet is the root source of heel pain. An abnormal gait may result in too much pressure and stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues surrounding it. Muscle and ligament imbalances can cause conditions such as plantar fasciitis, flat feet and heel spurs which can cause severe pain in the heel.

Overuse

Another common cause of heel pain is overuse. Starting a new fitness program or sport too intensely or neglecting to schedule rest days into your workout regimen can result in heel trouble. In children and teens, a condition known as Sever’s Disease results in inflammation of the growth plate area and is caused by too much repetitive stress due to sports. Excessive and repetitive force on the heel can also create a stress fracture in the heel bone or cause another acute injury to the heel.

Disease

There are also a number of diseases and conditions that can contribute to heel pain, including:

To determine the source of heel pain and, subsequently, the correct treatment, you need to schedule an appointment at our Cromwell office so that our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, will be able to examine your foot. Imaging studies such as x-rays or MRI’s may be ordered to give a more detailed picture of your heel. Once a cause is found for your pain, the foot doctor will prescribe the best treatment for you. Contact us today for an appointment by calling: (860) 632-5499.

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416