Before May comes to an end we at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center want to pass on information about a disease that can have a serious impact on your feet (and the rest of your body): osteoporosis. Many people don’t give osteoporosis much thought until after they discover they have it—and that often only occurs when they actually break a bone. However, The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that approximately 10 million Americans currently have this disease and that another 44 million are at risk of breaking a bone because of low bone density. To help raise awareness about osteoporosis and help patients decrease their risk of fractures here are some myths and facts about the disease:

MYTH: Osteoporosis is primarily a problem for women.

FACT: While it’s true that more women than men are affected by the disease—it’s estimated that one in two women will break a bone from osteoporosis—it’s a concern for men as well. Studies show that one in four men over the age of 50 will also break a bone from osteoporosis.

MYTH: I don’t like milk so there is no way for me to increase my bone strength through diet.

FACT: While dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese are heavy hitters when it comes to calcium, there are other foods that contain high amounts as well. Certain greens, such as spinach, kale, okra and collards, soybeans, and some fish like perch, sardines, salmon and rainbow trout are all also good sources of calcium. Many cereals and juices are fortified with both calcium and vitamin D, which helps your body better absorb the calcium.

MYTH: Other than increasing your calcium intake there is really nothing you can do to increase bone strength.

FACT: There are several ways to help make bones stronger. Exercise—both weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening—helps build bone. Smart life style choices, such as not smoking, limiting alcoholic beverages and maintaining a healthy body weight can all reduce the stress placed on your bones.

MYTH: Foot health is not directly impacted by osteoporosis.

FACT: Did you know that there are 52 bones in a pair of feet—that’s nearly a quarter of all the bones in your body. Having weak bones increases your risk of both stress and regular fractures from daily activities like walking up stairs or gardening. Osteoporosis also means that falls, missteps and ankle sprains are more likely to result in fractures too.

The health of your bones is very much a concern of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas. Be sure to discuss your personal risk factors with them at your next appointment at our Long Beach office.

Pump Bump is the common name for Haglund’s Deformity. Many patients that we at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center see with this condition mistakenly believe that it is caused by their shoes. In reality, the bony protrusion at the back of the heel is the result of faulty foot structure which is often inherited. Other conditions that can lead to pump bump include:

• Underpronation (walking on the outside edge of your foot)
• High arches
• Tight Achilles tendon

Reducing Pain and Irritation

Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas, will need to examine your foot to confirm a diagnosis of Pump Bump. The foot doctor will likely order x-rays of the back of the heel as well to evaluate the bone structure and rule out other conditions that might cause pain and irritation in that part of the foot.

Shoes with stiff backs that repeatedly rub against the bump make it red and painful. Pumps consistently hit the spot where the deformity is located and hence the name, Pump Bump. Other shoes are problematic also, including high topped work boots, ice skates and certain men’s dress shoes. If you have Haglund’s Deformity you obviously have to be selective about your footwear. A callus or open sore can form if you continue to wear shoes that put pressure on this spot.

There are several other ways to relieve the pain and decrease the friction on the bony enlargement, depending on what else is putting stress on the back of the heel. The foot doctor may recommend heel lifts to help compensate for high arches, stretching exercises if you have a tight Achilles tendon, or custom orthotics to help control the motion of the foot. Padding, immobilization and medication are other avenues of treatment. If you continue to be in severe pain despite these noninvasive measures, surgery may be required.

The bottom line is if you have Pump Bump you don’t need to continue to suffer. Make an appointment at our Long Beach office by calling 562-420-9800 and find out what can be done to relieve your painful symptoms.

Did you know that the term arthritis refers to over 100 joint diseases and disorders? At Superior Foot & Ankle Center we want to pass on some information about this group of diseases that currently affects 1 in 5 adults in our country and approximately 300,000 babies, children and teenagers. Generally speaking, the risk of arthritis increases with age and more women than men are affected by these diseases. Your feet and ankles are prime targets for joint disorders, with 33 joints per foot. Common symptoms of arthritis include: pain, swelling and stiffness in joints, which limits range of motion and makes it difficult to move. There are 4 main categories of arthritis:

Degenerative—known as osteoarthritis, this is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs as a result of cartilage break down which can occur as we age. With decreased cartilage bone rubs against bone causing pain and stiffness. Factors that increase your risk for osteoarthritis include: being overweight, previous injury and family history.

Inflammatory—this type of arthritis is related to a dysfunctional immune system that attacks the joints with inflammation. Two examples in this category are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. These conditions are more complex and affect other systems in your body besides your joints.

Infectious—in some cases joint inflammation can be caused by the invasion of a bacterium, virus or fungus into the joint. Conditions such as salmonella or food poisoning, hepatitis C and certain sexually transmitted disease like Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause this type of arthritis. If caught in the early stages, antibiotics may be able to eliminate the joint infection but chronic arthritis is a possible outcome.

Metabolic—this refers to gout, a form of arthritis that frequently strikes the joint at the base of the big toe. It has to do with the body being unable to rid itself of uric acid. An overabundant amount of this substance will cause crystals in the joints and sudden and extreme pain.

If you have noticed pain or discomfort in the joints of your feet or ankles, make an appointment at our Long Beach office by calling: (562) 420-9800 so one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley or Dr. Constance Omelas can evaluate your feet and determine if you are suffering from an arthritic condition.

Neuropathy refers to nerve damage. One source of neuropathy in the feet is alcoholism. It’s important for patients to be forthcoming with the foot doctor about alcohol intake. In honor of National Alcohol Awareness Month we at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center would like to offer the following facts about alcoholic neuropathy:

• The ethanol found in alcohol damages nerve tissue.
• In addition, poor diet and lack of certain vitamins (also common in alcoholics) can contribute to nerve damage.
• Symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy include: loss of sensation and numbness, tingling, pain, burning, muscle spasms and muscle weakness.
• Nerve damage caused by overuse of alcohol is usually permanent.
• There are other possible causes of neuropathy that our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas will need to rule out. They will start by examining your feet and may order blood or other tests such as nerve conduction and nerve biopsy.
• Potential dangers of alcoholic neuropathy include greater likelihood of injury due to lack of sensation. Similarly, conditions such as athlete’s foot can progress to the point of open sores because the patient does not perceive the symptoms in their earlier stages. Infections are more likely to develop in these scenarios. Muscle dysfunction can increase the chance of falls.
• There are treatment options available to lessen the symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy such as B vitamins, prescription medications for pain, galvanic stimulation, magnetic therapy and orthotic inserts.
• To prevent further nerve damage from occurring, patients with alcoholic neuropathy must stop drinking. If you want information on treatment for alcoholism you can ask the foot doctor for a referral or visit ncadd.org.

If you have noticed signs of neuropathy in your feet or have other questions about this condition contact our Long Beach office to schedule an appointment by calling: 562-420-9800.