Do you feel pain, weakness, tingling, or burning sensations in your hands or feet? If so, you may have developed peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves of the peripheral nervous system become damaged. The peripheral nervous system is responsible for sending signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. When nerves in this system are damaged you may experience symptoms such as pain, weakness, tingling, numbness, and reduced sensation especially in the lower limbs. One of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy is poorly controlled diabetes. However, there are many other potential causes, such as vitamin deficiencies, excessive alcohol consumption, kidney failure, and shingles. If you are experiencing any symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, is it recommended that you consult with a chiropodist.
Neuropathy can cause permanent nerve damage if left untreated. If you are experiencing the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, please consult with our physicians from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that damages the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which provide sensation to the limbs. The feet are often affected. Peripheral neuropathy can have many different causes, but it is most commonly associated with diabetes.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:
- Pain
- Numbness or tingling sensation
- Burning sensations
- Weakness
- Loss of balance
Diagnosis
Peripheral neuropathy is diagnosed based on medical history and physical examination. Various tests performed during physical examinations can help determine the type of peripheral neuropathy you may have and what is causing it.
Treatment
Treatment for peripheral neuropathy will depend on what is causing it. For example, if your peripheral neuropathy is caused by diabetes, then managing your blood sugar, exercising regularly to strengthen the legs and feet, and taking pain medications may be recommended as treatments.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Vaughan, ON. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
They say the feet are the foundation of our bodies, but how often do you stretch your feet? Having strong and flexible feet can help reduce muscle soreness as well as foot and ankle pain. Performing gentle stretches regularly can also help keep the feet limber and improve their range of motion. There are various types of foot exercises that you can perform to strengthen different parts of the foot. Toe curls for example, strengthen the muscles on the top of the foot and toes. To perform toe curls, lay a towel on the floor and sit down in a chair placing your feet flat on the towel. Scrunch your toes to pull the towel towards you and repeat five times with each foot. It is important to stay active and maintain the overall health of the feet. For additional exercises that can help stretch and strengthen your feet, consult with a chiropodist today.
Stretching the feet can improve their flexibility and overall strength, and can help prevent or reduce the impact of foot injuries. For more information about stretching your feet, please consult with our physicians from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
Why Stretching the Feet Is Important
Your feet support the weight of your entire body as you go about your daily activities. As with any other part of your body, stretching and exercising the feet can help maintain their overall health, reduce foot pain, and prevent future injuries.
How to Stretch
There are a variety of foot stretches and exercises that you may try. It is recommended that you speak with a chiropodist to learn which exercises are best for you.
Some examples include:
- Heel Raises - hold onto a wall for balance as you slowly rise up on your tiptoes. Hold the position for several seconds, then lower your feet back to the ground. Repeat 10 times.
- Toe Splay - sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Spread your toes as far apart as you can, holding for several seconds. Repeat 10 times.
- Towel Scrunches - sit in a chair and lay a towel flat on the floor in front of you, placing your foot on top of it. Using only your toes, scrunch up the towel pulling it towards you. Repeat several times with each foot.
- Plantar Fascia Massage - sit in a chair and place a round or cylindrical object (such as a tennis ball, water bottle, or foam roller) under the arch of your foot. Slowly push your foot forward and backward while applying pressure to the object. Maintain the object between your heel and toes. Do this for about 30 seconds. Repeat on the other foot.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Vaughan, ON. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Painful deformities, such as hammertoes, can be treated. Stop living with foot pain, and have beautiful feet again!
Ankle pain can have a variety of different causes. Perhaps due to an injury while playing a sport, or simply by taking an awkward step off of a curb. Excessive exercise or overuse can also lead to ankle pain, as well as unsupportive, tight, or high heeled shoes. Ankle pain may even exist due to an underlying condition, such as osteoarthritis or gout. Your symptoms, along with the type of pain you are experiencing, can help a chiropodist determine the source of your ankle pain. For example, pain in the ankle and heel, in addition to pain in the calf when standing on your tiptoes, can be indicative of Achilles tendonitis. Redness or swelling of the ankle, along with a dull aching pain, could be bursitis. If you hear a popping sound and experience extreme pain after an injury or a fall, you may have a broken ankle. If you are afflicted with any type of ankle pain it is important to speak with a chiropodist who can properly diagnose and treat your condition.
Ankle pain is a common symptom of many lower limb problems. If you are experiencing ankle pain, please consult with our physicians from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
The ankle is composed of a number of muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. There are many conditions which may cause ankle pain.
Causes
- Ankle strains or sprains
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Fractures
- Bursitis
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Symptoms
If you have ankle pain, you may also experience a variety of other symptoms depending on the underlying cause of the pain. Some of these symptoms may include ankle swelling, bruising, redness, numbness or tingling, instability, and difficulty walking.
Diagnosis
The underlying cause of ankle pain can be diagnosed by a chiropodist. Diagnoses are typically made based on your medical history, a physical examination of the affected ankle, and imaging studies such as X-rays.
Treatment
Treatment for your ankle pain will depend on its underlying cause. Often, the chiropodist will recommend that you rest the affected ankle. You might also need to ice, compress, and elevate the ankle, wear an orthotic device, or take medications to reduce pain and inflammation.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Vaughan, ON. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
