Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Spurs)

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of soft, connective tissue that spans from the calcaneus or heel of the foot, to the ball of the foot (metatarsal heads). Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It is sometimes also referred to as Heel Spur Syndrome (HSS). There are 3 bands to the plantar fascia, or plantar aponeurosis. Most commonly the central band of the plantar aponeurosis is the culprit of pain due to it becoming inflammed. The causes of inflammation are diverse and can be due to a variety of abnormalities in gait and behavior. The most common cause in the average population is excessive pronation of the foot during walking and/or running. The plantar fascia acts to passively stabilize the arch of the foot, and also assists in propulsion during walking and running. Due to its frequency of use during daily activities (climbing stairs, walking, squatting down on the balls of your feet, etc) it is prone to becoming inflammed in some individuals. A very common complaint seen with plantar fasciitis is pain experienced after periods of inactivity, or rest (Post-static dyskinesia). It also generally continues to worsen throughout the day. 

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that can make daily life difficult and painful. If this sounds like a current or past issue please visit Dr. Michael Garvin’s website for additional information.

Dr. Michael Garvin has been practicing in the Port St. Lucie Florida area for years and utilizes minimally invasive methods to treat and alleviate plantar fasciitis. Call his East or West offices in Port St. Lucie at 772-335-7171, or 772-871-6020, respectively.

 

*The image above illustrates the plantar fascia being strained during propulsion

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that arises due to compression of the tibial nerve. This nerve runs under the medial malleolus. The compression is due to swelling of soft tissue structures that impede upon the nerve, and crowd it. This causes the nerve to become irritated and can cause shooting pain, tingling, numbness and other symptoms anywhere from the inside of the ankle to the bottom (plantar surface) of the foot. The onset of tarsal tunnel syndrome is often insidious, but occasionally can be sudden as well. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is very fundamentally similar to carpal tunnel syndrome (occurs in the forearm/wrist) and can be caused by a variety of foot and biomechanical issues such as flat feet, ankle sprains, systemic diseases and more.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a serious condition and should not be neglected. Permanent nerve damage can take place if not properly treated in a timely manner.

If you live on or near the Treasure Coast area and are experiencing symptoms such as these, consider scheduling an appointment with Dr. Michael Garvin. He has treated tarsal tunnel syndrome and other podiatric conditions for years in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

*The picture above depicts the structures involved in Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Onychocryptosis (Ingrown Toenails)

Ingrown toenails are medically known as onychocryptosis, and are a common condition that may occur when the sides or corners of the nail plate dig into the surrounding skin. This will generally cause the affected skin to become red, swollen and tender. Bacterial infections will often follow ingrown toenails due to the nature of the location and certain improper behaviors such as clipping toenails with dirty clippers. Onychocryptosis can be caused by a variety of factors such as rounding the corners or edges of the toenail plate and trimming too short. Also irregular foot structure and biomechanics, excessively tight shoegear, and fungal infections may all be catalysts for onychocryptosis.

The good news is onychocryptosis is a simple condition to treat and Podiatrists like Dr. Michael Garvin are very experienced and competent in getting patients back on their feet pain free. For further information regarding ingrown toenails please visit Dr. Garvin’s website here।

**The picture above is an example of an ingrown toenail

Onychomycosis (fungal infection of the toenails)

Onychomycosis is a very commonly encountered fungal infection of the nails seen in Podiatric practices. 

 

Generally, the first sign of a fungal nail is a yellow discoloration of the nail. Depending on the severity of the infection, nails can also become thickened or brittle, loose, and present with a generally rough texture. A distal subungual infection is the most common type. This simply means the infection often takes place at the end of the nail, and under it. The causative agents of onychomycosis are usually Dermatophytes (most often Trichophyton Rubrum). Yeast infections may also present in about 5% of patients due to a Candida Albicans infection.
Onychomycosis is generally a very straight forward and simple nail condition to treat. Podiatric physicians have found that oral and topical anti-fungals are often very effective in treating fungal infections. 

 

Dr. Michael Garvin of Port St. Lucie Florida is a board certified Podiatrist with a great deal of experience in treating fungal infections of all types. If you are looking for more information regarding fungal nails visit Dr. Garvin’s website here. You may also find information to schedule an appointment with Dr. Garvin here.

 

Plantar Warts

Plantar Warts are characterized by a rough, often cauliflower like lesion on the plantar surface of the skin. The lesion can be a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be solo or present in a cluster known as mosaic verrucae. Often times the lesion appears to have pinpoint bleeding marks, and the edges of the lesion can be elevated due to hyperkaratosis (excessive skin formation) although, not to be confused with a corn or callus. Warts are technically known as verrucae and can be exceedingly difficult to eliminate. Warts (the non-sexually transmitted type) that present on the superficial skin are due to infection by human papillomavirus (HPV), serotypes 1,2 & 4. Generally the young and the old are most susceptible to non-sexually transmitted warts. The most common age group affected by warts is 5-16 years of age. The hand is the most common site of manifestation, followed by the plantar surface (sole) of the foot.

Warts can be transmitted via direct or indirect contact through tiny cuts or invisible abrasions present on the skin. They can also be transmitted to different sites on an individuals body once infected by certain behaviors such as biting finger nails and/or skin alongside the nails; this is known as autoinoculation. Not only can warts be unsightly, but they can also cause pain during walking if present at inopportune sites of the feet.

If you have a lesion you might suspect is a wart on your foot, please visit Dr. Michael Garvin’s website for more information regarding warts and treatments. Dr. Garvin is based in Port St. Lucie, Florida and accepts new patients. Call his East office at 772-335-7171, or the West office at 772-871-6020 to schedule an appointment today!

Claw Toe

A claw toe is a deformity of the toe that is due to a soft tissue (musculature) imbalance. Claw toes most often present with a callus and/or pain at the ball of the foot, and on top of the toe at the most proximal joint.  The imbalances that cause this physical change in shape of the toe are extension at the metatarsophalangeal joint, flexion at the proximal phalangeal joint and flexion at the distal phalangeal joint. Normally, in healthy toes, there should be no extension or flexion at any toe joint during relaxation. However, in the claw toe, these series of musculature contractures are seen due to underlying pedal or bodily pathologies. These pathologies can include, but are certainly not limited to severe flat foot deformity (pes planus), excessive pronation, trauma to the foot, diabetes mellitus, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral palsy and more. 

If you think you have a claw toe(s), or suffer from any of the aforementioned diseases you should have your feet checked out by a podiatrist. Dr. Michael Garvin of Port St. Lucie, Florida has been practicing for years and has great experience at treating claw toes and many other pedal pathologies. His aim is always to treat the underlying cause of foot pain with minimally invasive techniques. Visit Dr. Garvin’s website for more information regarding his practice and treatment options.

Haglund’s Deformity

Haglund’s deformity is characterized by pain on the back of the lateral heel. This is due to bony enlargement of the calcaneus, which in turn causes soft tissue swelling when rubbed against shoe gear. Often times in a Haglund’s deformity retrocalcaneal bursitis is present. This is simply irritation of a small fluid filled sac that lies between the Achilles tendon and the calcaneus. As previously stated, patients suffering from Haglund’s deformity generally present with symptoms of pain, redness and swelling on the back of the outside heel. 

Haglund’s deformity is sometimes referred to as a “pump bump” due to its presence being accredited to the “pump” style shoe that often cause it. However, Haglund’s deformity doesn’t only manifest due to calcaneal irritation from pump shoes. Mens dress shoes, ice skates, and any shoes with a rigid back can also cause this soft tissue swelling.
 
If Haglund’s deformity is a condition that parallels something you’re currently experiencing please visit Dr. Michael Garvin’s website for more information, or if you’re in the Port Saint Lucie, Florida area, schedule an appointment at one of his offices.