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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
March 15, 2021
Category: foot pain

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we are seeing an increase in Middlesex County patients' visits with unexplained foot pain. Patients are particularly puzzled because many of them have been doing very little except working from home and have severely limited their activities due to the COVID restrictions. If you're one of these people, we have one question for you: Are you wearing shoes when you're at home? If you answered no, that might be the cause of your foot pain.

The Problem of Going Barefoot

It’s a common habit for many people to come home at the end of the day and kick their shoes off. Going barefoot or wearing your favorite cozy slippers may seem natural and relaxing, but what about when you’re not “coming home?” If you never leave the house and barefoot has become your daily “shoe” of choice, you may notice your feet don’t feel so good.

Some podiatric disorders that can result from too much time out of shoes include:

  • Plantar Fasciitis—pain in the heel caused by inflammation of the long band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from the heel to toes
  • Metatarsalgia—a sharp or burning pain in the ball of your foot
  • Achilles tendonitis—usually identifiable by pain, aching, or soreness in the back of your lower leg anywhere from the calf to the top of your heel

Why Wearing Shoes Helps

One of the most important ways shoes help prevent the above conditions is by providing your foot with arch support. When your arch flattens as it tends to do when you walk barefoot or wear shoes like slippers or flip flops with no arch support, it places strain on other parts of your foot and leg. It, in turn, leads to inflammation and pain. Besides helping prevent the above conditions, wearing shoes also protect your feet and toes from getting stubbed or banged on hard objects and from cuts or puncture wounds.

If you’re experiencing pain in your toes, feet, ankles, or legs, make an appointment at our Cromwell office for an appointment today by calling 860-632-5499 so our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can examine your feet and get to the source of your discomfort. In the meantime, put on a good pair of shoes—even if you’re staying home!

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
October 26, 2020
Category: foot health

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists one of the conditions we see frequently in our Middlesex County patients is the ingrown toenail. Many people mistakenly ignore the first signs of pain associated with a nail that starts to grow down and back into the skin surrounding the nail. However, it quickly progresses to a condition that is incredibly painful. The toe becomes red, swollen, and very tender to the touch and makes wearing shoes and walking extremely difficult. Left untreated, an infection can also set in.

Common Causes of Ingrown Toenails

The most frequent reason ingrown toenails develop is improper nail care. Nails that are cut too short are more likely to grow into the skin. Rounding the edges with a nail file can also encourage ingrown nails.

Other risk factors include:

  • Wearing shoes and socks that are too tight
  • Heredity
  • Fungal infection
  • Faulty foot structure

Getting Relief from Ingrown Toenail Problems

At the first sign of a nail becoming ingrown, soak your foot in warm, soapy water several times a day. This will soften the skin and enable you to massage the skin and hopefully work the nail out. Usually, our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas sees ingrown toenails when they have reached the excruciating stage and patients can’t stand it any longer. The foot doctor will gently numb the affected nail and remove the corner of the nail that is ingrown. For some patients, ingrown toenails are a recurring problem. In severe cases, the podiatrist may need to perform a procedure to prevent the nail from becoming ingrown.

It’s important not to attempt any “bathroom surgeries” on your own and try to cut out an ingrown toenail. This will often lead to an injury or infection. Beware that folk remedies such as sticking a piece of cotton between the nail and the toe or cutting a notch out of the toenail are also ineffective and harmful.

If you have an ingrown toenail that needs treatment, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 for an appointment today.

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416