Connect With Us
At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we know that our senior patients have special health care needs. Paying attention to and caring for your feet is essential to your overall health as many diseases such as diabetes, arthritis and certain nerve or circulation problems may first show symptoms in the feet. Maintaining mobility also means freedom to go where you wish and participate in the activities you love. Here are some ways that you can help protect the health of your feet if you are over 60:
Meet Joe Plank: He’s 81 years old and loves to skateboard! A Long Beach resident, Joe works as a grief counselor at the VA, helps autistic children in the county of Orange and enjoys lots of activities with his daughter and her family. Joe also has diabetes. As a patient of Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we see Joe as living proof that diabetes doesn’t have to stop you from living a full and (very!) active life.
One of the best ways to help control your blood sugar is through exercise. In addition, many diabetic patients suffer from neuropathy and circulation issues. Exercise is an excellent way to keep the blood flowing. Before skateboarding, Joe was an enthusiastic surfer for more than 6 decades. Although the activities that you choose may change over time, it’s important to make exercise and fitness a lifelong habit. Our board certified foot and ankle surgeons, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas can make recommendations of activities and footwear that would best suit your feet and ankles. Your podiatrist can also tell you other ways to help take care of your feet if have diabetes. A few items that should be on your daily foot care regimen checklist include:
If you want to learn more about diabetic care and how to maintain an active lifestyle with this disease, contact our Long Beach office. And, be sure to wave to Joe if you see him skate boarding at Huntington Beach Pier. Remember, as Joe says, “Being a geezer is a conscious choice.”
A common condition that we treat at Superior Foot & Ankle Center is the bunion. A bunion, also known as hallux valgus, is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe which forms when the bone of the joint moves out of place and toward the second toe. The further the toe moves the more the framework of the foot becomes deformed and the bigger the bump that forms on the outside of the toe grows. Bunions can cause considerable pain due to all the weight and pressure put on the big toe as you walk and also from the friction that occurs from shoes rubbing on the protrusion. Other symptoms include inflammation and redness, a burning sensation and numbness. Bunions are progressive. Over time, corns or calluses may form on the toe and the range of motion may become limited.
What’s Behind a Bunion?
Bunions form as a result of an abnormality in the structure of the foot which shifts the forces exerted on the joints and tendons in a way that causes instability and ultimately deformity of the joint. Possible reasons for this include:
Treatment and Relief
Many people suffer unnecessarily with bunions. It is true that when bunions are severe and causing serious disability and pain that surgery may be needed to remove the bony enlargement and correct the alignment of the toe joint. Before reaching that point, however, there are several conservative treatment options available, including:
You won’t know what relief is available until you have one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas examine your bunion and determine its severity. If you are suffering with bunion symptoms, contact our Long Beach office by calling 562-420-9800 for an appointment today.
If getting in shape is one of your New Year’s resolutions, we at Superior Foot & Ankle Center would like to encourage you to consider walking. Walking is a very effective exercise, particularly if you have been inactive in the recent past. Consider these benefits:
Of course walking can cause problems as well. Blisters, corns and calluses, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and Achilles tendonitis are all potential conditions that can occur as a result of walking. You can help prevent these problems from developing, however, by following a few simple tips:
A little soreness or stiffness when you start a new fitness routine is normal but if you find you are experiencing ongoing pain or any swelling or other unusual symptoms contact our Long Beach office by calling: 562-420-9800.
Connect With Us