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

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Posts for tag: nerve damage

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
June 28, 2022

Foot cramps are characterized by painful spasms in your feet that can occur at any time of day. They often occur in the tops and arches of the feet or around the toes. Unfortunately, there isn’t usually one specific cause of foot cramps; numerous things can cause your feet to cramp up. Foot cramps can be frustrating and painful, and they don’t have to be the “end-all.” 

What Causes Foot Cramps?

Several different conditions or triggers can cause cramps in your feet, including:

  • Shoes that are too tight
  • Dehydration
  • Overexertion
  • Low levels of potassium
  • Nerve damage
  • Poor circulation
  • Certain medications

Treatments

If you or anyone you know is experiencing one of the following triggers or conditions causing foot cramps, a podiatrist will recommend the best course of treatment. At home, preventative measures include:

  • Shoes that are too tight. You may need to switch shoe styles or brands and add supportive insoles or arch supports to ease the cramping. Custom orthotics are also available when needed.
  • Dehydration. For mild dehydration, drink lots of extra water and add an electrolyte drink to help replenish fluids. Try making this delicious electrolyte drink at home.
  • Overexertion. Working the muscles in your feet too hard may make them vulnerable to cramping.
  • Low levels of potassium. If you are experiencing low potassium, calcium, or magnesium levels, causing your foot cramps, your doctor will suggest supplementation.
  • Nerve damage. If nerve damage is the reason you are experiencing painful foot cramps, your doctor will pinpoint the reason this has occurred. Treatments such as pain relief medications, physical therapy, and in more severe cases, surgery have helped relieve symptoms of foot cramps.
  • Poor circulation. Poor circulation can cut the proper nutrients off your extremities and make your feet cramp. Talk with a podiatrist to discuss the best measures of relief.
  • Certain medications. If your podiatrist determines that a medication may be causing foot cramps, they will evaluate the side effects and weigh the options of different medications.

Takeaway

As part of Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we want our patients to feel safe to discuss any concerns they may be having. At our Middlesex County office, we offer a range of advanced technologies, including PinPointe Laser, Digital X-Ray, Electronic Medical Records, Patient Portal for Home Access To Your Medical Records, and Online Appointment Requests. Emergency appointments are always seen on the same day. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, call our office at (860)-632-5499 or visit our website for more information.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
June 15, 2020
Category: Diabetic Foot Care

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know that our Middlesex County patients are ready to enjoy some summer fun after months of being stuck inside with the coronavirus pandemic. One particular part of our patient population, however, that needs to take extra precautions to protect their feet during the summer months is people with diabetes. Neuropathy (or nerve damage) is a common condition associated with diabetes that can decrease your ability to accurately perceive pain, itchiness, and other sensations in your feet that would signal a potential injury or problem.

Here are four podiatric problems to look out for that have an increased risk during the summer months.

  1. Sunburn—people often forget about their feet when it comes to sun exposure. If you are wearing sandals or other open-style shoes that expose the skin on your feet, it’s essential that you apply sunscreen even if you are only going out for a short while to shop or walk the dog. When spending time at the pool or beach, remember to be generous with the sunscreen on the tops and soles of your feet and reapply every time you go in the water.

  2. Blisters—excessive perspiration increases the friction between feet and footwear and raises the risk for blisters to form. Watch for signs of redness in places where straps rub on your heel or forefoot and also the space between your toes if you are wearing flip-flops. Carrying a piece of moleskin with you and apply to any area that feels sore or looks like it’s getting red.

  3. Fungal Infections—summer brings more opportunities for people to walk barefoot. This greatly increases the risk for transmitting fungal toenails, athlete’s foot, and other infections which are spread by direct contact. Keep your feet covered if you have diabetes. This will also help protect against cuts and puncture wounds.

  4. Corns—if you have a bunion, hammertoe, or other deformities, you could be in danger of developing corns on parts of your toes or feet that have increased pressure from your shoes. With the switch over to summer styles, check frequently to be sure no damage is being done to the skin on your feet.

Inspecting your feet daily is the best way to detect a foot problem before it develops into a potential medical threat. If you notice anything unusual or concerning, don’t hesitate to contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 to make an appointment with our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to caring for your feet if you have diabetes.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
January 07, 2019
Category: general health
Tags: diabetes   nerve damage   gout   neuropathy  

Podiatrists are like the Sherlock Holmes of feet. They check the appearance and condition of your feet to find important clues about your overall health. They can pinpoint serious issues like impaired circulation, lung disease, and dehydration with their podiatry detective tools.

Your feet can show signs of serious health issues

There are some overall health issues that could change the appearance or feel of your feet during a foot exam. This is because circulatory system issues often appear in the extremity that is furthest from your heart: your feet! Here are some issues that could point to serious health problems:

  • Cold feet – hypothyroidism causes your thyroid to underproduce important hormones, which could cause your feet to chill. This might also cause depression, hair loss, and fatigue.
  • Dry, flaky skin – dry skin on the feet could be caused by nerve damage or an allergic reaction.
  • Swelling in the feet and ankles – fluid retention is a common sign of kidney disease.
  • Constant foot or leg cramps – frequent cramps could be from a lack of vital minerals like calcium or potassium, or from dehydration. Try eating a banana daily and make sure you’re getting plenty of fluids.
  • Hairless toes – impaired blood circulation could cause you to lose the hair on your toes.
  • Numbness – needles and pins or numbness in the feet and toes could be neuropathy, which is often linked to diabetes.
  • Red, painful, swollen big toe – Gout is a form of arthritis that results from uric acid buildup. It often causes a painful reaction in your big toe.
  • Clubbed toenails – rounded toenails could be a sign of pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, or lung cancer.
  • Sores that won’t heal – abrasions or ulcers that don’t heal quickly are a common side effect of diabetes.

Are you experiencing any of the above issues? Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can open up his detective’s bag of tools and get to the bottom of what you’re experiencing with your feet. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently-located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
October 04, 2017
Category: Diabetic Foot Care

Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., has many years of experience with foot ulcers at the Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT. Please call our offices at (860) 632-5499 or visit the Patient Education section of our website to find out more about this condition.

Foot ulcers are linked to those who have diabetes. Yet they can also occur in anyone and present themselves as patches of broken-down skin on the feet. Patients with diabetes are prone to this condition because their blood sugar gets too high or swings from one extreme to the other and the normal healing process is hindered due to nerve damage. This is due to high blood glucose levels making it more difficult for the body to fight off infections caused by ulcers in the foot. This can get dangerous since the nerves that would normally send a pain signal from the feet to the brain can get damaged and result in not knowing that an ulcer is growing worse. Diabetic foot ulcers can develop from cuts, wounds or bruises. In addition to nerve damage, another cause of reduced healing stems from arteries that have been blocked, thus preventing the pain signals from a foot ulcer from stimulating a response.

Patients with diabetes who smoke, don’t get enough exercise or have high blood pressure can be at an increased risk of developing foot ulcers. It’s very important for those with diabetes to treat foot ulcers at the very early stages since they can lead to amputation. They should avoid walking on an advanced ulcer to prevent the infection from being pressed deeper into their feet. A brace or cast can help to protect feet in these situations.

It is also important to follow recovery suggestions as scars underneath the healing ulcer can still simply break down. It is therefore recommended that those recovering from a foot ulcer wear special shoes to protect the wound area. Please contact our office today to make sure that your foot ulcer is taken care of before it becomes a source of severe pain or a dangerous infection.

 

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
August 24, 2017
Category: Foot conditions
Tags: diabetes   orthotics   neuromas   nerve damage  

Neuromas are disrupting to the general health of your foot and ankles. When they occur, the outer nerves in your feet feel numb. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., can successfully treat this condition if you are experiencing it. You can visit Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT.     

 

The pain caused by neuromas is very noticeable and can feel like you're standing on a pebble, a feeling of hot discomfort in the ball of your foot that can extend to your toes or a numbness in your toes. Neuromas can be very serious and are benign growths of nerve tissue generally located between the third and fourth toes, caused by the frequent rubbing of the toes against each other. Dropping heavy objects on the toes or severe trauma may also cause damage to the nerve, causing inflammation of the damaged nerve. It’s important to avoid trauma to the toes as it can be a precursor to a neuroma when recovery is not handled correctly. Surgery may be required as treatment to remove the nerve in question. Other types of treatment are orthotics or ultrasound. Massaging the ball of the foot is comforting, as is soaking in hot water followed by ice treatment. 

 

The usual complaint with neuromas is pain occurring between the toes when walking. The best form of relief for those experiencing this pain is to stop walking, remove your shoes and massage the area in pain. The ball of the foot should always be massaged since this action could help reduce pain. Hot water, followed by rubbing the foot and subsequently treating it with ice can be used to treat neuroma symptoms. Surgery may be required in severe cases to eliminate the neuroma by removing the enlarged nerve. Patients with diabetes must be especially careful because symptoms intensify due to nerve complications.

 

Neuromas can become a serious problem when not treated right away. Numbness and burning sensations are common. Please contact us online or call us at (860) 632-5499 to make an appointment as soon as possible. Take this opportunity to get the best treatment offered by Dr. Mucinskas now.    

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416