(860) 632-5499

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

We have moved!

Stop by and see our new office!

My Blog

Archive:

Tags

My Blog

Posts for tag: foot pain

September 13, 2021
Tags: foot pain   heel pain   bunions   Fall Footwear  

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know as our Middlesex County patients switch from summer sandals to fall footwear, the transition may not go as smoothly as we like. Summer shoes tend to be more open and not as constricting as closed styles which become the norm in the fall.

Three common podiatric problems you may see in the fall and what to do about them:

Problem: Athlete’s foot. shoes invite fungal and bacterial infections. With all the barefoot traffic summer sees around swimming pools and in seaside changing areas and restrooms, infections are prevalent. If you’ve started back to the gym, there’s a high likelihood infection is present in communal showers and locker rooms. These dark, moist spaces are the perfect breeding ground for athlete’s foot and toenail fungus.

Solution: Foot infections spread by direct contact. Keeping your feet covered in public places will help prevent you from getting one. Try not to wear the same pair of shoes multiple days in a row. Allow a day or two in between uses for shoes to air out. Choose shoes made of natural, breathable materials.

Problem: Heel Pain. If one of the reasons you hate to see summer end is because you love living in flip-flops, there’s a good chance your heels will be hurting once you go back to regular shoes. That’s because traditional flip-flops do not provide any arch support. It, in turn, aggravates the plantar fascia—a long band of tissue along the bottom of your foot—and causes your heels to hurt.

Solution: Try to gradually transition to traditional shoes, wearing them a few hours a day and increasing usage slowly. You may also need to do some stretching exercises to help decrease inflammation in the plantar fascia.

Problem: Bunion Pain. Ah, it was so nice to wear open-toed shoes that didn’t press on your bunion and make it hurt! Going back to closed-toe styles may mean an increase in the pain and discomfort you experience from your bunions.

Solution: Some additional padding may help to protect a sensitive bunion. You may also have to consider shoes that are a little larger or at least designed with a roomier toe box. It may also be time to have the podiatrist check to see if your bunion progresses to a point where a different treatment plan is necessary.

With all of the above foot problems and any new uncomfortable symptoms you develop, if they persist, it’s best not to put off making an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling 860-632-5499. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, will examine your feet and track down the source of your discomfort as well as the best solution to bring you relief.

0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
July 27, 2021
Category: arthritis

July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we want to inform our Middlesex County families about this condition, manifesting in the joints of the feet and other parts of the body in young patients. Below are some facts about Juvenile Arthritis.

FACT: Juvenile Arthritis (JA) affects nearly 300,000 children in the U.S. under the age of 16.

FACT: Arthritis—for both children and adults—is not just one disease. It is an umbrella term that covers over a hundred conditions that affect the joints.

FACT: In children, most kinds of JA are autoinflammatory or autoimmune diseases. It means the immune system gets mixed up and releases inflammatory chemicals that attack healthy cells and tissue rather than foreign elements like germs and viruses in the body.

FACT: While most types of JA do cause joint inflammation, some varieties do not show signs of pain or swelling in the joints but rather exhibit symptoms in the skin or internal organs.

FACT: Common symptoms of JA accompanying joint pain, stiffness, and discomfort, may include chronic eye inflammation; skin rashes; lung, heart, or digestive disorders; fatigue; loss of appetite; high, spiking fever.

FACT: The causes of JA are not precisely known. Researchers have found that genes may be a factor or it’s possible that the disease develops as the body’s response to a bacteria, virus, or other external factors. Exactly why it occurs is not known.

FACT: JA is a chronic condition. It can last for a few months, years, or an entire lifetime.

FACT: Treatment for JA has multiple goals: relieving pain and other symptoms, slowing or stopping the progression of the disease, preventing joint and organ damage, preserving mobility through adulthood.

FACT: There are many treatment options including medication, massage, mind-body therapies, and acupuncture. Healthy lifestyle choices such as regular exercise and nutritious eating habits can also aid in the management of JA.

FACT: If your child exhibits any signs of joint pain in their feet or ankles, you should make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling 860-632-5499 to get their symptoms evaluated promptly by our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas. The foot doctor will determine if your child’s discomfort is due to a podiatric problem or potentially arthritic.

0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
June 21, 2021
Category: Foot conditions
Tags: foot pain   heel pain   Bursitis  

You notice the back of your heel hurts when you’re walking or running. It’s also a little bit swollen, red, and warm. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we recognize these as potential symptoms of bursitis. Many of our Middlesex County patients are not familiar with this condition and how it can affect your feet. Below is some helpful information you should know.

Bursitis Defined

Bursas are tiny, fluid-filled sacs located near a joint, tendon, or bone. Their purpose is to provide some cushioning by reducing friction and acting as a lubricant to the area. Bursitis occurs when the bursa in a particular spot becomes inflamed or irritated. Common areas where bursitis develops in your feet in addition to the heel are the ball of the foot, toes, near the base of your Achilles, or on a bunion.

Causes

Most often, bursitis is the result of repetitive motion or pressure to the affected area. Other contributing factors may include:

  • Improperly fitting shoes
  • Not warming up and stretching sufficiently before exercise
  • Haglund’s deformity (also known as “pump bump,” a bony enlargement that forms on the back of your heel)
  • Underlying medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, gout

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you suspect you may have bursitis, it’s important you make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling 860-632-5499. The symptoms of bursitis are also typical of other podiatric disorders. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, will want to conduct a complete physical examination and get your medical history to rule out other possibilities. To confirm a diagnosis of bursitis, the podiatrist may order imaging studies such as x-rays, an MRI, or ultrasound. Sometimes a small amount of fluid will be drawn from the bursa and sent to the lab to be analyzed.

The good news is most patients with bursitis recover using conservative treatment methods. The foot doctor may recommend rest from the activities that are aggravating your bursa. Icing and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed to relieve pain. Physical therapy and stretching exercises may also be prescribed.

Don’t suffer unnecessarily. If you are experiencing any pain or other unusual symptoms in your feet, contact us today, 860-632-5499.

0 Comment(s) Permalink
May 24, 2021
Category: senior foot care

During May, we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists celebrate Older Americans Month. We are pleased to offer excellent foot care to Middlesex County patients of all ages. One issue that is of particular importance to our senior patients is preventing falls. It’s estimated one in four Americans over the age of 65 falls each year. Falls can have devastating consequences that extend way beyond the injury itself. Studies show patients who suffer a fall may lose confidence about going out and participating in activities they previously enjoyed out of fear of falling again. It can lead to isolation and a loss of independence.

Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to decrease your risk of falling.
Here are five steps to consider:

  1. Stay Ahead of Foot Pain—believe it or not, one of the most frequent causes of falls is foot problems. When your feet hurt, you tend to change the way you walk to prevent the pain. It, in turn, can throw you off balance and cause a fall. Treat foot pain promptly! Contact our Cromwell office by calling 860-632-5499 and arrange an appointment with our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, to diagnose and treat any podiatric problems you may be experiencing.
  2. Get Rid of Worn-Out Shoes—another hazard that leads to trips and falls is wearing shoes with holes, stretched-out heels, and worn treads. When buying new shoes, get your feet professionally measured and try on both shoes to make sure they fit comfortably.
  3. Safeguard Your Home—more than half of all falls happen at home. There are several measures you can take to decrease fall risk at home, including:
    • Remove torn or frayed carpeting, throw rugs and mats.
    • Add extra lighting to entrances, hallways, and staircases. Be sure you have a well-lit path to the bathroom at night.
    • Put anti-slip strips on the floor of your tub or shower. Install grab bars around the toilet.
    • Rearrange shelves and cabinets so frequently used items are within easy reach.
  4. Periodically Review Medications—ask your doctor or pharmacist to look at all the medications and supplements you currently take to ensure there are no interactions that could cause dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness.
  5. Stay on Schedule with Eye and Ear Exams—decreases in vision or hearing increase your fall risk. Annual checkups for your eyes and ears will detect loss of vision or hearing promptly.

If you have questions about how to care for your feet as you age, please contact us by calling 860-632-5499.

0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
April 26, 2021
Category: exercise

As we slowly but surely emerge from COVID lockdowns and restrictions, we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists know many of our Middlesex County patients are experiencing unexpected foot pain as they begin to be more active. Your podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can help you make the re-entry into a more active lifestyle smoothly and pain-free.

Start with A Checkup—the first step is to schedule a podiatric checkup at our Cromwell office by calling 860-632-5499. The foot doctor will give your feet and ankles a thorough examination and look for any developing problems. If you have a chronic foot problem such as bunions or flat feet, the podiatrist will assess their progression and decide if your treatment plan needs to be updated.

Get the Right Shoes—did you know the foot doctor can help you with proper sports shoe selection? Your podiatrist can analyze your gait and tell quite a bit about how your unique feet work by examining the wear pattern on your current fitness shoes. Shoes designed to accommodate your specific foot care needs for the sport or activity you plan to engage in can increase comfort, safety, and performance. The foot doctor can also make recommendations on proper fit, sock choice, and lacing technique to give you the best shot at a successful fitness program.

Practice Injury Prevention—many injuries that are commonly associated with sports ranging from blisters and shin splints to plantar fasciitis and ankle strain. While the podiatrist can treat all of these conditions, he would much rather help you prevent them! Proper stretching techniques before and after exercise can help. Choosing a program that suits your current fitness level and allows you to progress gradually to more strenuous exercise is also a must.

Regular exercise has many benefits to your feet and the rest of your body. If you experience pain or discomfort at any point during or after working out, be sure to contact us promptly, 860-632-5499.

0 Comment(s) Permalink


Contact Us

 








 

 

Questions or Comments?
We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.

Call Today (860) 632-5499

162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416