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Podiatrist - Cromwell
162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416

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Posts for tag: foot conditions

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
October 12, 2020
Category: Foot Care

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know it’s the time of year when ghosts and goblins appear, and scary images abound for Halloween. However, when it comes to caring for your feet, fear shouldn’t be a factor. With podiatric issues, the trick is not waiting to seek evaluation and treatment. If you see something unusual happening to your feet or you experience any pain or discomfort, it’s essential you contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 for an appointment.

Below are some conditions with names that might sound scary but can easily be treated by our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas:

Xerosis—is not uncommon as we get into the colder weather months we see patients with this condition, which is very dry skin. The heat in our homes, cars, and offices dries the skin. Frequent hot showers and the type of soap you use can also play a role. Most of the time, the diligent application of a rich moisturizer to the feet several times a day will take care of xerosis. Less frequently, however, intensely dry skin can be a sign of another problem such as diabetes. For this reason, it’s best to let the foot doctor take a look.

Onychomycosis—yikes! You might be concerned if the foot doctor delivered this diagnosis. That is until you learn this is the medical term for toenail fungus. Although this condition may be stubborn and take some time to clear up, it is rarely a serious problem if treated promptly. The podiatrist will determine the best way to deal with your fungal infection and may use topical or oral medications or a procedure known as debridement, which removes the infected area of the nail.

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome—many of our Middlesex County patients have started running or walking to stay in shape safely during the pandemic. And this means an increase in the number of cases of this condition—more commonly known as shin splints—that we expect to see in our office. Pain on the sides of your shin bones, which may be accompanied by swelling and tenderness, can be caused by arch problems, a muscle imbalance, or even improper footwear.

No foot condition is too scary for us! If you have a foot or ankle problem, contact us today.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
July 27, 2020
Category: foot surgery

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we always exhaust conservative treatment methods for our Middlesex County patients before considering surgery. When a condition fails to continue to respond or improve using non-invasive options, however, surgery can provide the permanent correction to an ongoing foot or ankle problem.

Some examples of podiatric problems where surgery may be indicated include:

Sometimes even seemingly minor problems like corns, calluses, warts, and ingrown toenails may require surgery if they are recurring and unable to fix with other treatment methods. You should consult with our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, to determine if surgery is the right choice for you at this time.

Paving the Way for a Smooth Recovery

Once the decision for surgery has been made, it’s time to take steps to ensure your procedure and recovery will go as well as possible with few or no surprises. Below are some tips to help:

  • Start by making sure you fully understand the procedure you’ll be undergoing. Ask the foot doctor questions about where the surgery will be performed, whether it will be outpatient or require a hospital stay, how long it should take, and what type of anesthesia will be used.
  • Schedule all pre-tests and other appointments necessary before surgery.
  • Find out how long the foot doctor expects your recovery to take and plan to take an adequate amount of time off and re-schedule any significant family events. Don’t short-change yourself on recovery time! Bearing weight on the affected foot or beginning to drive before the podiatrist gives the go-ahead can slow or inhibit your recovery and possibly cause re-injury.
  • Determine if you will need special equipment such as a scooter, crutches, etc. and rearrange your living space to accommodate their usage if necessary. Find out if you will need physical therapy, or other follow up treatments post-op and schedule,le those.
  • Finally, enlist help from family and friends to ensure that you can rest and recover worry-free. Meals, rides for your children, and offers to run errands or grocery shop will make it possible for you to focus on the work of healing.

If you have questions about an upcoming surgery, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Adam Mucinskas and our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
July 13, 2020
Category: shoes

You may not want to hear this: flip-flops are really bad for your feet! At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know for many of our Middlesex County patients, flip-flops are the footwear of choice, especially during the summer months. What could possibly be the harm in these oh so easy to wear summer favorites? Below are five reasons why flip-flops are really just a flop: 

  1. Increased risk of hammertoes. Think about what your toes have to do to keep your flip-flops on. They have to grab the front of the shoe to keep your foot from slipping off. This action, repeated over a long period can cause your toes to start to deform into the characteristic hammer shape, causing pain and disability.
  2. Most likely to contract a foot infection. The majority of fungal, viral, and bacterial foot infections are spread by coming in direct contact with them. Ever notice how dirty your feet are after wearing flip-flops? They provide no protection from coming in contact with the sources of athlete’s foot, warts, fungal toenails and the potentially more serious staph infection. Chances are even higher if you have any cuts or open sores.
  3. Hello injuries! The complete lack of structure of a traditional flip-flop, combined with the extra effort to keep them on your feet, means you have a much higher chance of twisting an ankle, falling, or crashing into a hard or sharp object that can cut or bruise your foot.
  4. Your heels say “ouch!” With only a thin piece of foam or rubber separating your heel from the ground, you subject this part of your foot to an excessive amount of impact and pressure. This in turn can lead to sore heels. In addition, the complete lack of arch support invites inflammation of the plantar fascia—another source of heel pain.
  5. You burn fewer calories. Flip-flops slow you down. You can’t walk at any kind of pace safely and consistently. One study actually found that flip-flop wearers take smaller steps than people who are wearing sneakers.

If you still can’t bear to part with your flip-flops, at least look into purchasing a pair that has some design and construction improvements for the health of your feet. Several companies have begun producing flip-flops with better arch support and cushioning that can help mitigate some of the negative factors of this type of shoe. If you are currently experiencing foot or heel pain (whether from overuse of flip-flops or another reason), contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can examine your feet and diagnose the source of your discomfort.

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By Adam Mucinskas, DPM
October 14, 2019

It’s officially boot season! At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we want to help our patients avoid podiatric pain and problems by giving some tips on how to find boots that are not only fashionable but good for your feet.

Below is a checklist of features to look for:

  • Roomy toe box—boots that are pointy and narrow squish toes together and increase the risk and severity of conditions like bunions and hammertoes. If your toes are squeezed up against each other for long hours, you are also more likely to develop ingrown toenails.
  • Good arch support—oftentimes, we see patients in our Cromwell office complaining of heel pain during the winter months. The cause turns out to be fashion boots that have little or no arch support. Proper arch support keeps your plantar fascia—the long band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot—happy, which in turn reduces pressure and pain in both your arch and your heel.
  • Cushioned insoles and heel cups—think of how many steps you take each day. The constant pounding of your feet against the ground can result in foot pain and tendon inflammation. Thick cushioning in the inside of your boots will act as a shock absorber, protecting your feet and increasing comfort.
  • Ankle protection—when conditions get slippery, ankle sprain risk skyrockets. Be sure your boots fit your ankles securely and avoid thin, high heels that are unstable by design. Look for a gripping tread on the boot as well to further reduce your risk of trips and falls.

Once you’ve found a boot that meets the above qualifications, get a proper fit. Have your foot professionally measured. If our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas has prescribed a custom orthotic device for you to wear, be sure to bring it with you and try it on with the boots you are considering. Shop at the end of the day—it’s when your feet are at their largest and most swollen.

If you have additional questions about shoe styles that are best for your feet, contact us by calling: (860) 632-5499.

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416