At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we hope that you are planning to get away at some point this summer. Wherever your summer vacation destination is, there are some items you should take with you to ensure the health and safety of your feet. Below are our suggestions for what to pack:

1. Comfortable walking shoes—even if your plan is to lie out on the beach all day, you’ll need to get to and from your vacation destination. Travel days tend to be tough on the feet as you rush to catch flights or haul luggage in and out of the car. Walking shoes that have good arch support and that you’ve worn many times already will also be helpful for sightseeing and shopping days.
2. Moleskin—sweating creates friction and can increase the risk of developing blisters. A small piece of self-adhesive moleskin applied to a sore spot can stop a blister before it starts, and allow you to continue enjoying your vacation in comfort.
3. Flip-flops—although not recommended for all-day use on your vacation, a pair of flip-flops or shower shoes are the best way to protect your feet from athlete’s foot and other fungal infections at the pool or in ocean or lakeside changing areas and restrooms.
4. Orthotics—if our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas has prescribed a custom orthotic to correct a foot problem, don’t take a holiday from wearing it while you’re away. Leaving your orthotic at home may result in a painful vacation for your feet.
5. Water bottle—excessive amounts of walking and warm, humid weather can lead to edema or swelling of the feet and ankles. Swelling can be very uncomfortable and also makes your shoes tighter, which means a greater likelihood of blisters. Drinking lots of water is one of the easiest ways to eliminate excess fluids from your body and it’s good for you too!

If despite all your best efforts you return from vacation with foot or ankle pain, a rash or other suspicious symptom, contact our Cromwell office for an appointment by calling (860) 632-5499.

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, we often hear from our patients that they didn’t know if their foot condition was really anything serious, and so they weren’t sure if they should “bother us” for an appointment. Unfortunately, by the time we hear this, the problem has usually progressed to a severe stage which now requires longer and possibly more invasive treatment. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, would much rather you come into our Cromwell office and find out there’s nothing wrong instead of waiting until you are in excruciating pain or having other difficulty walking.

Questions to Help You Decide

If you’re still undecided about whether or not to call us, below are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Does it hurt? Pain is your body’s way of sending you a message that something is wrong. Often patients make the mistake of thinking that unless it’s severe and constant pain, it can’t be anything serious. Stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis and heel pain are three of many common conditions that may start out with just intermittent pain or discomfort when exercising or doing particular activities. If these conditions are diagnosed early, the foot doctor can prescribe treatment and/or preventive measures to keep the problem from becoming seriously disabling.
2. Did it look like that before? We recommend that patients get in the habit of regularly inspecting their feet to look for changes that can signal a problem. Rashes, bumps, bruises, growths and changes in the skin or toenails can all be the beginning of a podiatric disorder. If you have diabetes, it’s particularly important that you contact us as soon as you notice anything out of the ordinary, since even minor foot problems like athlete’s foot and blisters can rapidly turn into serious health problems.
3. Do you feel something different? Does your foot feel numb? Or, maybe you are noticing a tingling or burning sensation in your feet. These can be a sign of neuropathy or another nerve issue.
4. Is it infected? A wound that begins to feel warm, has red streaks around it or is showing any discharge or pus may be infected. If you notice any of these symptoms, particularly if you also have a fever, contact us immediately by calling: (860) 632-5499.

If you have diabetes, you are probably already aware of the importance of being proactive in the care of your feet. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we are your partner in helping you maintain good foot health.

Below are 5 recommendations to help avoid potentially dangerous podiatric problems for patients with diabetes:

1. Manage your diabetes. Follow all your doctor’s instructions for keeping your blood sugar levels where they should be. This, in turn, will lessen the problems associated with the disease that can negatively impact the health of your feet.
2. Avoid walking barefoot. Even in your own home, it’s easy to step on a pin or sharp object and cut your foot. Loss of sensation (or neuropathy), which is often a symptom of diabetes, can make it difficult to detect an injury on the bottom of the foot until it has become infected.
3. Inspect your feet regularly. Common foot conditions such as athlete’s foot, warts and blisters can result in big problems for those with diabetes. Circulation difficulties and immune system dysfunction often associated with diabetes means that foot conditions and injuries can be difficult to treat. An infection can have very serious consequences. Look for any signs of injury or unusual changes in your toes, feet and ankles. If you find anything suspicious, contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can examine your foot and head off any potential problems.
4. Wear good shoes. Choose styles with a cushioned sole and slip-proof tread. Be sure the toe box is wide enough to avoid squeezing toes together. Check the material inside the shoe to be sure there are no rough spots that could create friction and cause a blister on the skin.
5. Do not expose your feet to direct heat. You should also not use electric blankets or foot warmers. You may not be able to accurately gauge how hot the temperature is and could burn your feet.

If you have questions regarding the best ways to care for your feet if you have diabetes, contact us today.

Here’s a surprising statistic: According to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, 9 out of 10 women wear shoes that are too small for their feet and 8 out of 10 women say their shoes hurt. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, we want our patients to know that too-tight shoes can lead to a myriad of foot issues. Here are a few of the common foot problems we see due to improperly-fitting shoes:

• Ingrown toenails – if shoes are too tight in the toe box, toes get cramped in together. This greatly increases the chances of getting an ingrown toenail. A jagged-edged nail or one that is too short being shoved into the skin around the nail can start growing back into the skin. Ingrown toenails can be incredibly painful and can lead to infection if the skin is penetrated and bacteria enter the wound.
• Athlete’s foot and toenail fungus – fungi and bacteria absolutely love damp, dark places with little or no air circulation. That sounds exactly like the environment created inside a shoe that’s too small!
• Bunions, hammertoes, or other deformities – when toes are forced into an unnatural position over and over, such as being crammed together in a small shoe, they can eventually work themselves out of their normal position. As displacement progresses, bones can become deformed, causing permanent disabilities as a new toe position can be painful and change a person’s gait.
• Corns, calluses, and blisters – these three issues are caused by friction or pressure being applied to an area of the foot repeatedly.

The best way to avoid any and all of these issues is to shop for shoes properly! Always have your feet measured by a professional when you shoe shop. Age or life conditions such as pregnancy can change your foot size and shape. If you know you need new shoes, try to go out shopping for them at the end of the day when your feet are their most swollen.

If you’ve got questions about fitting shoes, or if you’re dealing with any of the above-listed foot issues, give us a call today. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help to answer any questions you might have. He’s got years of experience to diagnose and treat any foot or ankle issue and get you back on your feet quickly. Our conveniently-located office serves the Cromwell, Connecticut area. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (860) 632-5499.

We are all incredibly busy people – especially now around the holidays! Our busy schedules often see us shirking other routine things, or pushing them further to the bottom of our to-do list. One incredibly important item that should stay constant on that list is foot care! During the holidays, feet can often feel neglected! Considering how important and complex your feet are, however, it’s incredibly important to keep them happy and healthy! Through the holiday season and any time of the year, a great idea is to get in the habit of performing regular foot self-examinations.

What is the best method of examining my feet?

Whenever it fits in your routine, use your eyes and hands to check over and feel all the surfaces of your feet and ankles. Make sure you check between each toe and under the heel. If you need help checking a certain area of your feet, grab a hand mirror, or ask a friend or family member.

What should I be looking for?

• Redness. Color change, especially redness, could be a sign of decreased circulation, an infection, a rash, or too much pressure in an area from your footwear.
• Toenail issues. Your nails are prone to fungal infections, and if they’re not properly cut, you could suffer from a painful ingrown toenail.
• Swelling. If you notice swelling out of the blue, or if swelling has increased in an area since previous checks, or if it is only one foot, those are causes for alarm.
• Blisters. Friction or pressure from ill-fitting shoes can often cause blisters. These can lead to painful ulcers or dangerous infections, especially if you are a patient with diabetes.
• Cuts, scratches, bleeding, or abrasions. Breaks in the skin can quickly lead to infections. If you notice a cut that is not healing, it could be a sign of a something bigger going on internally.

Everyone can benefit from foot self-exams! For people with poor circulation, neuropathy, diabetes, or compromised systems in any other way, self-examinations should be done frequently and should be coupled with annual visits to the podiatrist.

If you notice any of the aforementioned issues or anything else out of the ordinary during a self-examination, it’s time to give us a call! Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC 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.