If you’ve been experiencing heel pain lately, you’re not alone. Most people who experience heel pain might not even notice it or may write it off as a normal part of life after a long day! This leads a lot of heel pain sufferers to go undiagnosed and untreated for their heel problems.

What sort of diagnoses can arise from talking to Dr. Adam Mucinskas about your heel pain?

Achilles tendonitis - this is a condition affecting the band of tissue stretching from our calf muscles to our heel bones. Arising from several causes, such as overuse, injury, or as a secondary symptom of other conditions like flat feet, Achilles tendonitis makes it painful to run, jump, climb stairs, or stand on your toes.

Plantar fasciitis - perhaps one of the most common issues seen by podiatrists today is a condition affecting the band of tissue that stretches from your heel bone to all of your toes. It’s primarily responsible for the healthy arched shape of our feet and, when damaged, can cause debilitating pain for the sufferer.

Flat feet - speaking of conditions that go unnoticed in most people, flat feet (or fallen arches) happen when the natural arch of our feet loses its pliability and flattens out. This causes several issues due to our feet losing the support of this arched tendon and can lead to developing plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis.

There are several other issues that can arise as a result of frequent or chronic heel pain. The first step is getting scheduled to see a podiatrist at Feet First Foot Care. From there, your experiences and symptoms will be thoroughly assessed and you’ll be provided the highest quality care in the Cromwell, Connecticut area. Don’t wait another day - call us today at (860) 632-5499 to schedule your appointment with us!

Your foot is entirely unique to you, so solutions for any pain you’re experiencing should be unique too. That is why here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, we offer orthotics that are custom-designed for only your feet. Orthotic devices comfort and support your feet and can help to alleviate a myriad of common foot issues.

Why should I choose orthotics?

Orthotics are custom-made to fit only your foot. They are designed to alleviate your diagnosed condition. That’s what makes them different from shoe inserts you could buy at a drug store. Those inserts might provide temporary relief, but they can’t cure chronic foot issues or biomechanical foot problems. Custom orthotics are also more durable than over-the-counter inserts because they’re made of top-quality materials. They should last years with proper care! Orthotics should be kept in good shape by regularly washing them with lukewarm water and mild soap. Always dry them thoroughly afterward.

What can orthotics help with?

Dr. Adam Mucinskas routinely prescribes orthotics to help patients with foot pain, including those with:

• Bunions
• Corns or calluses
• Plantar fasciitis
• Flat feet
• Tendinitis
• Hammertoe
• Clawtoe
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• General foot or ankle pain
• Degenerative diseases
• Misalignments

How do they custom-make orthotics?

The first step to addressing foot pain is to visit a foot specialist. The foot doctor will examine your feet, ask you your history, check your gait – the way you walk – and could possibly take x-rays or complete additional diagnostic techniques. Once your podiatrist has found the root of your foot issue, they might recommend orthotic devices. Using innovative technology, your foot is then scanned to get a computerized foot analysis. The analysis ensures that the orthotic device fits your foot and gait perfectly and will address your unique foot condition. Sometimes a mold from a plaster cast will be made to ensure a perfect fit.

Have you been suffering from foot or ankle pain? It might be time to give us a call. Our podiatrist here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can help to diagnose and treat any foot or ankle issue you might be experiencing. Our conveniently-located office serves the Cromwell, Connecticut area. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (860) 632-5499.

The condition of flat feet is characterized by a disappearance of your arch when you put weight on your feet, and the return of the arch when you remove that weight. Flat feet often start in childhood and typically affect both feet. If left untreated, there are many severe complications that could arise as the child grows into adulthood.

Common Flat Feet Complications:

• Achilles tendonitis – the Achilles tendon, which runs from your calf muscle along the back of your heel, can stiffen due to flat feet. This can turn into a nasty injury.
• Soft tissue injuries – your arch’s ligaments and soft tissues become stretched and inflamed and occasionally will tear due to flat feet. This can be extremely painful.
• Deformities of the feet – bunions and hammertoes are likely to develop when the foot’s arches are not supported sufficiently.
• Pain and discomfort – the tendons along your arches, ankles, and heels can become strained and very painful.
• Pain in other areas – overpronation that comes with flat feet can lead to complications in your knees, hips, and your back.
• Shin splints – untreated flat feet will lead to a higher occurrence of this painful condition that occurs in the shin bone area.

Flat Feet Treatment

Due to the wide range of severity and symptoms associated with flat feet, the condition must be thoroughly checked out by a podiatrist. For pain, NSAIDs can be taken under a doctor’s direction. Our office can also produce custom orthotics that will support your arches and realign your foot. Orthotics not only help to relieve pain, but also can correct issues with your knees, hips, and back. In severe cases of flat foot, surgery might be the best method to repair the foot. After surgery, the doctor might require physical therapy and immobilization with a boot.

If you’ve noticed flat feet in your child or if you’re having complications yourself, call our office today. 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.

Feet are so cool! Obviously, we believe that here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists. We talk about feet nonstop! Mostly though, we talk to our patients about how to prevent and treat the foot woes that they are currently dealing with. Today, we thought we’d share some lesser-discussed foot facts with you. Here are four fun things about feet that you might not have known:

1. Each of your feet has over 250,000 sweat glands that produce sweat! Collectively, that means our feet can produce up to a half of a pint of sweat each day. That might seem gross to you, but it’s fascinating to us! It’s also a great reason to bring a pair of socks to change into in the middle of the day. Just think of that next time you’re thinking about walking barefoot on a gym locker-room floor!
2. Standing for an hour can actually make your feet feel more tired than if you were walking for the same amount of time! This is because standing uses just a few muscles, which means that the muscles being used are being used in an extra concentrated manner. They are working hard to compensate and balance your weight. This can be exacerbated by improper footwear or any pre-existing foot condition.
3. Everyone suffers from foot issues! Up to 5% of Americans have developed corns, calluses, fungal infections, or ingrown toenails. These are all issues that your podiatrist is trained and equipped to help you handle if you’re dealing with any of them.
4. Some people are born with flat feet. We know that our feet sometimes lose arches over time as we age or if we put on too many pounds, but some people are naturally born without that arch. If you notice this issue in your child, it can often be corrected using custom orthotics.

Like I said, we love feet! If you have any foot issues you need to talk about, Dr. Adam Mucinskas here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists is here to help. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

Foot reconstruction is an important and necessary procedure once the foot has become nonresponsive to conservative forms of treatment in certain situations. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., will help to develop the best reconstruction treatment plan for your feet at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT. Call our offices at (860) 632-5499 and review the Patient Education library on our website for more substantive information about this procedure.  

Foot reconstruction surgery is a huge procedure and is therefore undertaken as a last option. When foot deformities produce discomfort, and have you struggling when walking, other complications such as corns, calluses or other wounds may result. Significant deformities are usually caused by flatfeet, high arches, arthritis or severe traumatic events.

Conservative treatment for many foot conditions includes orthotics, wearing proper shoes and using other foot support devices. Reconstructive surgery, if elected, will involve moving bones into optimal locations, lengthening or relocating tendons and the fusing of bones. Complications that may eventually lead to this procedure are:

• Bunions.
• Pediatric defects.
• Flat feet.
• Foot fractures.
• Injuries sustained during high intensity activities.
• Heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis.
• Heel Spurs.
• Infections.

This procedure’s main goals are to reduce severe pain and to once again reestablish a normal foot function. The type of reconstruction surgery to be utilized is determined by age, the specific complication and the advancement of symptoms. For example, a form of surgical reconstruction involves cutting the heel bone to reposition it in the best location via a screw mechanism. This type of surgery can help to place the heel bone in the best position to support the arch. Metal plates may also be used to increase the arch. Due to the seriousness and the many positive benefits that foot reconstruction surgery can have on your feet, please contact our offices to receive a comprehensive consultation and a potential reconstruction treatment plan. We can help restore your normal foot functions and get your feet back on the road to being the way they once were!