I Twisted My Ankle!

An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more ligaments in the ankle, usually on the outside of the ankle. Ligaments are bands of tissue- like rubber bands- that connect one bone to another and bind the joint together. In the ankle joint, ligaments provide stability by limiting side-to-side movement.
Some ankle sprains are much worse than others. The severity of an ankle sprain depends on whether the ligament is stretched, partially torn, or completely torn, as well as on the number of ligaments involved. Ankle sprains are not the same as strains, which affect muscles rather than ligaments.
Sprained ankles often result from a fall, a sudden twist, or a blow that forces the ankle joint out of its normal position. Ankle sprains commonly occur while participating in sports, wearing inappropriate shoes, or walking or running on an uneven surface.
Sometimes ankle sprains occur because a person is born with weak ankles. Previous ankle or foot injuries can also weaken the ankle and lead to sprains.
Symptoms of ankle sprains may include:

• Pain or soreness
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Difficulty walking
• Stiffness in the joint

These symptoms may vary in intensity, depending on the severity of the sprain. Sometimes pain and swelling are absent in people with previous ankle sprains. Instead, they may simply feel the ankle is wobbly and unsteady when they walk. Even if there is no pain or swelling with a sprained ankle, treatment is crucial. Any ankle sprain- whether it's your first or your fifth- requires prompt medical attention.
There are four key reasons why an ankle sprain should be promptly evaluated and treated by a foot and ankle surgeon:

• An untreated ankle sprain may lead to chronic ankle instability, a condition marked by persistent discomfort and a "giving way" of the ankle. Weakness in the leg may also develop. 
• A more severe ankle injury may have occurred along with the sprain. This might include a serious bone fracture that, if left untreated, could lead to troubling complications. 
• An ankle sprain may be accompanied by a foot injury that causes discomfort but has gone unnoticed thus far.
• Rehabilitation of a sprained ankle needs to begin right away. If rehabilitation is delayed, the injury may be less likely to heal properly.

In evaluating your injury, the podiatrist will obtain a thorough history of your symptoms and examine your foot. X-rays or other advanced imaging studies may be ordered to help determine the severity of the injury.
When you have an ankle sprain, rehabilitation is crucial- and it starts the moment your treatment begins. Your podiatrist may recommend one or more of the following treatment options:

• Rest. Stay off the injured ankle. Walking may cause further injury.
• Ice. Apply an ice pack to the injured area, placing a thin towel between the ice and the skin. Use ice for 20 minutes and then wait at least 40 minutes before icing again.
• Compression. An elastic wrap may be recommended to control swelling.
• Elevation. The ankle should be raised slightly above the level of your heart to reduce swelling.
• Early physical therapy. Your doctor will start you on a rehabilitation program as soon as possible to promote healing and increase your range of motion. This includes doing prescribed exercises.
• Medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may be recommended to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, prescription pain medications are needed to provide adequate relief.

In more severe cases, surgery may be required to adequately treat an ankle sprain. Surgery often involves repairing the damaged ligaments or ligaments. The foot and ankle surgeon will select the surgical procedure best suited for your case based on the type and severity of your injury as well as your activity level.
After surgery, rehabilitation is extremely important. Completing your rehabilitation program is crucial to a successful outcome. Be sure to continue to see your foot and ankle surgeon during this period to ensure that your ankle heals properly and function is restored.
If you have a sprained ankle, call one of our six locations to make an appointment immediately.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.

Related articles

• Report: Anthony Davis Severely Sprains Ankle, Likely Out of Olympics

  ---

• Joakim Noah Suffers Nasty Ankle Sprain, Leaves Arena on Crutches

  ---

What Is An Ingrown Toenail?

When a toenail is ingrown, it is curved and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the

nail). This "digging in" of the nail irritates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe.
If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area, which is often marked by drainage and a foul odor. However, even if the toe isn't painful, red, swollen, or warm, a nail that curves downward into the skin can progress to an infection.
Causes of ingrown toenails include:

• Hereditary. In many people, the tendency for ingrown toenails is inherited.
• Trauma. Sometimes an ingrown toenail is the result of trauma, such as stubbing your toe, having an object fall on your toe, or engaging in activities that involve repeated pressure on the toes, such as kicking or running.
• Improper trimming. The most common cause of ingrown toenails is cutting your nails too short. This encourages the skin next to the nail to fold over the nail.
• Improperly sized footwear. Ingrown toenails can result from wearing socks and shoes are that too tight or short.
• Nail conditions. Ingrown toenails can be caused by nail problems, such as fungal infections or losing a nail due to trauma.

Sometimes initial treatment for ingrown toenails can be safely performed at home. However, home treatment is strongly discouraged if an infection is suspected, or for those who have medical conditions that put feet at high risk, such as diabetes, nerve damage in the foot, or poor circulation.
Home care
If you don't have an infection or any of the above medical conditions, you can soak your foot in room-temperature water (adding Epsom's salts may be recommended by your doctor), and gently massaging the side of the nail fold to help reduce the inflammation.
Avoid attempting "bathroom surgery". Repeated cutting of the nail can cause the condition to worsen over time. If your symptoms fail to improve, it's time to see a podiatrist.

Physician Care
After examining the toe, the podiatrist will select the treatment best suited for you. If an infection is present, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed.
Sometimes a minor surgical procedure, often performed in the office, will ease the pain and remove the offending nail. After applying a local anesthetic, the doctor removes part of the nail's side border. Some nails may become ingrown again, requiring removal of the nail root.
Following the nail procedure, a light bandage will be applied. Most people experience very little pain after surgery and may resume normal activity the next day. If your surgeon has prescribed an oral antibiotic, be sure to take all the medication, even if your symptoms have improved.
Many cases of ingrown toenails may be prevented by:

• Proper trimming. Cut toenails in a fairly straight line, and don't cut them too short. You should be able to get your fingernail under the sides and end of the nail.
• Well-fitted shoes and socks. Don't wear shoes that are short or tight in the toe area. Avoid shoes that are loose, because they too cause pressure on the toes, especially when running or walking briskly.

What you should know about home treatment.
Don't cut a notch in the nail. Contrary to what some people believe, this does not reduce the tendency for the nail to curve downward.
Don't repeatedly trim nail borders. Repeated trimming does not change the way the nail grows, and can make the condition worse.
Don't place cotton under the nail. Not only does this not relieve the pain, it provides a place for harmful bacteria to grow, resulting in infection.
Over-the-counter medications are ineffective. Topical medications may mask the pain, but they don't correct the underlying problem.
If you have an ingrown toenail and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.

Related articles

• Tips for Cutting Your Toenails

  ---

• 10 Ways to Treat Ingrown Toenails

  ---

There's a Bunch in My Foot: Morton's Neuroma

A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that may develop in various parts of the body. The most common neuroma in the foot is a Morton's neuroma, which occurs between the third and fourth toes. It is sometimes referred to as an intermetatarsal neuroma. Intermetatarsal describes its location in the ball of the foot between the metatarsal bones. Neuromas may also occur in other locations in the foot.
The thickening, or enlargement, of the nerve that defines a neuroma is the result of compression and irritation of the nerve. This compression creates enlargement of the nerve, eventually leading to permanent nerve damage.
Anything that causes compression or irritation of the nerve can lead to the development of a neuroma. One of the most common offenders is wearing shoes that have a tapered toe box, or high-heeled shoes that cause the toes to be forced into the toe box.

People with certain foot deformities- bunions, hammertoes, flatfeet, or more flexible feet- are at higher risk for developing a neuroma. Other potential causes are activities that involve repetitive irritation to the ball of the foot, such as running or court sports. An injury or other type of trauma to the area may also lead to a neuroma.
If you have a Morton's neuroma, you may have one or more of these symptoms where the nerve damage is occurring:

• Tingling, burning, or numbness
• Pain
• A feeling that there's something in the shoe or a sock is bunched up

The progression of a Morton's neuroma often follows this pattern:

• The symptoms begin gradually. At first they occur only occasionally, when wearing narrow-toed shoes or performing certain aggravating activities.
• The symptoms may go away temporarily by removing the shoe, massaging the foot, or by avoiding aggravating shoes or activities.
• Over time the symptoms progressively worsen and may persist for several days or weeks.
• The symptoms become more intense as the neuroma enlarges and the temporary changes in the nerve become permanent.

To arrive at a diagnosis, the foot and ankle surgeon will obtain a thorough history of your symptoms and examine your foot. During the physical examination, the doctor attempts to reproduce your symptoms by manipulating your foot. Other tests or imaging studies may be performed.
The best time to see your podiatrist is early in the development of symptoms. Early diagnosis of a Morton's neuroma greatly lessens the need for more invasive treatments and may avoid surgery.
In developing a treatment plan, your podiatrist will first determine how long you've had the neuroma and evaluate its stage of development. Treatment approaches vary according to the severity of the problem.
For mild to moderate neuromas, treatment options may include:

• Padding. Padding techniques provide support for the metatarsal arch, thereby lessening the pressure on the nerve and decreasing the compression when walking.
• Icing. Placing an icepack on the affected area helps reduce swelling.
• Orthotic devices. Custom orthotic devices provided by your foot and ankle surgeon provide the support needed to reduce pressure and compression on the nerve.
• Activity modifications. Activities that put repetitive pressure on the neuroma should be avoided until the condition improves. 
• Shoe modifications. Wear shoes with a wide toe box and avoid narrow-toed shoes or shoes with high heels.
• Medications. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may be recommended to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Injection therapy. Treatment may include injections of cortisone, local anesthetics or other agents.

Surgery may be considered in patients who have not responded adequately to non-surgical treatments. Your podiatrist will determine the approach that is best for your condition. The length of recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure performed.
Regardless of whether you've undergone surgical or nonsurgical treatment, your surgeon will recommend long-term measures to help keep your symptoms from returning. These include appropriate footwear and modification of activities to reduce the repetitive pressure on the foot.
If you have a Morton's neuroma and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.

Osteoarthritis in the Foot and Ankle

Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in one or more joints. Cartilage (the connective tissue found at the end of the bones in the joints) protects and cushions the bones during movement. When cartilage deteriorates or is lost, symptoms develop that can restrict one's ability to easily perform daily activities.
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis, reflecting its nature to develop as part of the aging process. As the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects millions of Americans. Some people refer to osteoarthritis simply as arthritis, even though there are many different types of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis appears at various joints throughout the body, including the hands, feet, spine, hips, and knees. In the foot, the disease most frequently occurs in the big toe, although it is also often found in the midfoot and ankle.

Osteoarthritis is considered a wear and tear disease because the cartilage in the joint wears down with repeated stress and use over time. As the cartilage deteriorates and gets thinner, the bones lose their protective covering and eventually may rub together, causing pain and inflammation of the joint.
An injury may also lead to osteoarthritis, although it may take months or years after the injury for the condition to develop. For example, osteoarthritis in the big toe is often caused by kicking or jamming the toe, or by dropping something on the toe. Osteoarthritis in the midfoot is often caused by dropping something on it, or by a sprain or fracture. In the ankle, osteoarthritis is usually caused by a fracture and occasionally by a severe sprain.
Sometimes osteoarthritis develops as a result of abnormal foot mechanics such as flat feet or high arches. A flat foot causes less stability in the ligaments (bands of tissue that connect bones), resulting in excessive strain on the joints, which can cause arthritis. A high arch is rigid and lacks mobility, causing a jamming of joints that creates an increased risk of arthritis.
People with osteoarthritis in the foot or ankle experience, in varying degrees, one or more of the following:

• Pain and stiffness in the joint
• Swelling in or near the joint
• Difficulty walking or bending the joint

Some patients with osteoarthritis also develop a bone spur (a bony protrusion) at the affected joint. Shoe pressure may cause pain at the site of a bone spur, and in some cases blisters or calluses may form over its surface. Bone spurs can also limit the movement of the joint.
In osteoarthritis, the foot and ankle surgeon will examine the foot thoroughly, looking for swelling in the joint, limited mobility, and pain with movement. In some cases, deformity and/or enlargement (spur) of the joint may be noted. X-rays may be ordered to evaluate the extent of the disease.
To help relieve symptoms, the surgeons may treat osteoarthritis with one or more of the following non-surgical approaches:

• Oral medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are often helpful in reducing the inflammation and pain. Occasionally a prescription for a steroidal medication is needed to adequately reduce symptoms.
• Orthotic devices. Custom orthotic devices (shoe inserts) are often prescribed to provide support to improve the foot's mechanics or cushioning to help minimize pain. 
• Bracing. Bracing, which restricts motion and supports the joint, can reduce pain during walking and help prevent further deformity. 
• Immobilization. Protecting the foot from movement by wearing a cast or removable cast-boot may be necessary to allow the inflammation to resolve. 
• Steroid injections. In some cases, steroid injections are applied to the affected joint to deliver anti-inflammatory medication.
• Physical therapy. Exercises to strengthen the muscles, especially when the osteoarthritis occurs in the ankle, may give the patient greater stability and help avoid injury that might worsen the condition.

When osteoarthritis has progressed substantially or failed to improve with non-surgical treatment, surgery may be recommended. In advanced cases, surgery may be the only option. The goal of surgery is to decrease pain and improve function. The foot and ankle surgeon will consider a number of factors when selecting the procedure best suited to the patient's condition and lifestyle.
If you have osteoarthritis in the feet and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Related articles

• How Osteoarthritis Pain Affects Your Body

  ---

• The Stages of Osteoarthritis Progression

  ---

Back To School Shoe Shopping

Fall is almost here and the kids are heading back to school- in some parts of the country children have already started! And of course, everyone wants new shoes. While the latest styles may be what your children are screaming for, you may want to remember some important tips before letting fashion take a front seat to practicality and safety.

Kids come in all shapes and sizes and so too do their shoes. Shop at stores with experienced sales people that feature a wide selection of footwear styles, sizes, and widths. Do not assume a given size will fit the same  for different brands of shoes. Avoid man-made materials (like rubber and plastics) because they limit breathability. Hand-me down clothes are great- but not shoes. Once you've purchased those new shoes, remember to check them every several months, since kid's feet grow rapidly.
While flip-flops are all the rage for the beach and pool, they can create problems in crowded school hallways and getting on and off the school bus. While it may not be easy to coax your children out of flip-flops for school, it's safer for them to wear a shoe with more support. Your podiatrist can recommend some great options for teenagers that may fit the bill in the fashion area while still providing support and comfort throughout the day.
If your children participate in sports in the fall, send them onto the field or the court with properly fitted shoes that are designed for that specific sport. Basketball shoes, for example, are designed for quick stops and starts, and ankle support, while football cleats need to serve an entirely different purpose. Let the shoe fit the sport and try to get help when choosing shoes for each sport.
If your child has a foot problem, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.

Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.

Related articles

• Keep Kid's Feet Healthy During Summer Months

Teens: How To Pick Out Shoes

Right Shoe, Right Activity
Soccer shoes are different from Converse sneakers for a reason. Sports-specific shoes help prevent against injury by providing appropriate support. Basketball shoes, for example, provide extra ankle support, because of the side-to-side movements that are typical of the strain basketball puts on the ankle.
Get Fitted

If you need an athletic shoe, go to a shoe store that specializes in athletic footwear. The associates there are trained to help you find a shoe that's appropriate for your foot, the way you walk, and your sport. Look for a shoe that fits your foot, but don't be upset if it's not your normal size. Just like clothes, shoe size ranges from brand to brand. When you try on the shoes, they should be comfortable right away. Did you know that your feet are not the same size as the other? Pick a shoe that fits the larger foot. You should never have to break in a pair of athletic shoes.
Check For Support
The perfect shoe fits your foot in the front, the middle, and the back. Backless shoes alter the way you walk, and that causes foot pain and discomfort later on. You don't have to give up your flip-flops for good, but you can't wear them all the time. When shopping for shoes, look for ones that are stiff in the middle but bend at the ball of the foot. High heels are ok for special occasions like prom, graduation, and dates. Platforms or wedge heels are a better option.
Don't Let Your Soles Flap
When your soles start to flap, it's time to get new shoes. Check the tread and midsole, the cushiony part just before the sole. If there are uneven signs of wear, start shopping! Athletic shoes need to be replaced yearly; running shoes every 300-400 miles.
If you are a teen and experiencing foot pain or discomfort, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

High Heels Sign of Economy

Women's fashion trends have always been seen as signs of the economic climate, from hemlines to lipstick. According to Jezebel, the latest sartorial index for predicting the future of the economy is now the height of high heels.
Sounds crazy, but researchers at IBM analyzed data from social media sites and blog posts and found that flat shoes and kitten heels are in, a sign that economic recovery is occurring.

"Usually, in an economic downturn, heel go up- and stay up- as consumers turn to a more flamboyant fashion

as a means of fantasy and escape," Trevor Davis, a consumer product expert with IBM's Global Services unit said.
At the height of the economic slump in 2009, the median height of women's heels peaked at an outrageous 7 inches! By last year, 2011, the median height had dropped to a reasonable 2 inches.
There may be other reasons why women are dropping their heel height besides the economy. Women may be ditching their high heels for more comfortable walking shoes, or low-heels may actually indicate longer-term economic woes. Some have even speculated that the reason for dropping heel height is because of the aging female population.
"This time, something different is happening- perhaps a mood of long-term austerity is evolving among consumers, sparking a desire to reduce ostentation in everyday settings," Davis said.
Back last year ABC News looked at the hemline theory coined by George Taylor, a professor at Wharton Business School. Taylor discovered that hemlines shrunk in the Roaring Twenties but fell again during the Great Depression. The reason for this was women wanted to show off expensive silk stocking during good economic times, but longer hemlines were appropriate to cover bare legs during the depression.
Others insist that lipstick is still the best indicator of the economy. Leonard Lauer, chairman of Estee Lauder, introduced the idea after seeing lipstick sales rise after the 9/11 attacks. Why? Women turn to less expensive indulgences when they aren't feeling confident about their financial future.
No matter if the economy is going up or down, women will still wear their favorite high heels. Just not in the expensive brands they used to buy.
If you are a woman and experiencing foot pain or discomfort, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Related articles

• I miss my high heels!

  ---

• High Heels Are Not an Everyday Shoe

  ---

• Is Wearing High Heels Worth The Pain?

  ---

Glub Glub: Fish Pedicures Carry Bacteria

British scientists reported in May that the tiny, toothless carps that nibble away at dead, callused skin on the feet of salon customers getting a fish pedicure carry bacteria that can cause dangerous skin and soft tissue infections.

Fish pedicures became popular in 2008 when an Alexandria, VA spa brought this treatment to the US as a replacement for the razor blades used to scrape away dead skin from callused toes and heels. Within the first five months more than 6,000 people had appointments for a fish pedi. However, U.S. and British health officials warn against anyone with open sores or cuts, diabetes, AIDS, cancer, or advanced age stay away from fish pedicures. 

"The most important thing to stress at this point is that the U.K. Health Protection Authority considers the human risks to be very low, and we would not want your readers to be unduly alarmed by our findings," David W. Verner-Jeffreys, lead author of the new report, told ABC News.

Let's also not forget about the ick factor: the fish swimming around in your pedicure water also deposit their waste in there. 

In April 2011, British authorities investigated a reported bacterial outbreak among 6,000 Garra rufa fish imported from Indonesia to Britain salons and pedicure spas. Tests revealed the fish had been infected with Streptococcus agalactiae, a bacteria that can cause pneumonia and serious infections of the bones, joints, and blood in people of all ages. 

British fish inspectors intercepted Indonesian shipments of the silver, inch-long freshwater carp destined for British fish spas. Sampling and testing showed those fish had traces of several bacteria that can cause soft tissue infection. The strain of bacteria the fish had was resistant to antimicrobial medications, a scary finding. 

To check out the video of Diane Sawyer getting a fish video, watch here. 

The bacteria findings appear in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a journal published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. About 10 states have banned fish pedicures for several reasons: the inability to sufficiently clean the fish pedicure tubs between patrons, impossibility of disinfecting or sanitizing live fish, regulations that require fish in a salon be kept in an aquarium, and the humanitarian stand that having fish feed on dead human skin is animal cruelty. 

The CDC reports there are no published reports of illness from fish pedicures. 

If you have gotten a pedicure and have gotten an ingrown toenail, cut, or other problem, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Related articles

• CDC: Pedicure fish may harbor harmful bacteria

  ---

• 'Fish Pedicure' a Recipe for Bacterial Infection, Researchers Warn

  ---

Toenails a Sign of Overall Health

It's toenail polish season and everyone wants to color their nails in the latest trends. But did you know that your toenails, as well as your fingernails, are a way to determine your overall health? Changes that are going on in the body that may be invisible often show in our nails. There are nine clues your nails give about your health:

1. Black line. A straight, vertical, black, discolored line on your nail that is increasing or growing wider at the lower part of the nail. Look for skin below the nail that is darkly pigmented as well. This may be a sign of melanoma, the deadliest of cancers. Those with darker skin are more susceptible to this type of cancer than those with fairer skin. Have your podiatrist take a biopsy of the affected tissue. It could be a simple nail injury or a mole. 
2. Red vertical lines. Red or brown streaks in the nail are known as splinter hemorrhages because they look like splinters. It may mean heart trouble, because the splinters are caused by tiny clots that damage the small capillaries beneath the nail. This is associated with a condition of the heart known as endocarditis. Not all splinters mean heart problems though, as a nail injury may cause them as well. There is no treatment for the splinter hemorrhages themselves, but your doctor will have to find the underlying problem.
3. Clubbed, wide nails. Widened toenails that look like they bulge out from the toe and curve down and wrap around the toe like an upside down spoon are called clubbed nails. Clubbed nails are a common sign of lung problems. The nail's odd shape develops over months or even years and can be a symptom of lung cancer. If you're having shortness of breath our coughing fits, consider getting a physical exam. 
4. Dips in the nail. Nail beds that have dips in them are an effect called spooning. The nails are usually very pale, and stay whitish for more than a minute after you press on them. The moons at the base of the nail look extremely white as well. This could be a sign of an iron deficiency anemia. Spooning can also be seen in those who have an iron overload disease, a condition caused by a defective gene that leads to too much iron being absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Other symptoms for both conditions include fatigue and lack of energy. A blood count will diagnose anemia and a physical exam will determine the exact cause of the iron problem. Iron supplements and dietary changes will be prescribed.
5. Pitted and rippled nails. Tiny indentations or holes in the nail bed are known as pits. The nails will also appear to be rippled rather than smooth. Between 10 to 50 percent of people with this abnormality have psoriasis. Three-fourths of people with psoriatic arthritis, along with those with Reiter's syndrome and other diseases of the connective tissue have pitted nails. Your doctor will prescribe medications that treat the underlying condition. 
6. Brittle nails. Nails that easily peel, split, or crack may be a sign of thyroid disease. Metabolic functions throughout the body are disrupted, which includes the delivery of moisture to the nails. Pale, dry skin, and hair that may fall out are other signs. Hyperthyroid diseases, like Grave's disease, may cause brittle nails. Get your thyroid levels checked. 
7. Nails that are lifting off. When the nails appear to be separating from the nail bed, it's called onycholysis, and typically affects the fingernails, but can affect the toes as well. It's more commonly known as Plummer's nails, named as such after the physician Stanley Plummer in 1918, or dirty nails because debris will accumulate. It can mean you have some kind of thyroid disease. Hyperthyroidism can produce excessive nail growth. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, increase appetite, weight loss, sweating, hair loss, itching, and protruding eyes.
8. Horizontal depressions running across the nail. White ridges running across the width of the nail bed, are called "Beau's lines" after the French physician who discovered them. They can occur in all nails, or just one nail. If they are in all nails, they will appear in the same location on each nail. They are actual ridges in the nail. It may mean several different things: diabetes, Raynaud's disease, psoriasis, or just trauma to the nail. Drugs used in chemotherapy may trigger this phenomenon. Doctors will measure how far from the nail bed the ridges are and will use this to help determine the source.
9. White bands running across the nails horizontally. White colored bands, known as Mees lines, run parallel to the white tips of the nail. You may see the lines in one nail or all nails and it will appear in the same spot on each nail. It may mean arsenic poisoning! Avoid eating anything you haven't prepared yourself and have your hair and tissues sampled. 

If you have a nail problem, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.

English Man Has Big Toe Torn Off By Elevator

On March 15th Michael Reddington was out shopping at the West End Arcade in Nottingham, England. It was an average day, until his left foot got stuck in an escalator. The foot was trapped in a gap where the steps of the elevator met the platform at the top.
A man from a barber shop nearby ran over to help and the two men used a screwdriver and Allen wrench to release the panels of the escalator that were trapping his foot. It took firefighters 25 minutes to arrive and free Reddington, who said "Straight away it was agonizing pain. It felt like the front of my foot was going to snap off. The pressure was unbearable and the pain was ridiculous. My foot started to crush and my toe eventually ripped off. I started shouting for someone to press the stop button but there was no one around."

When the elevator finally came to a stop, he thought the injuries to his foot were going to be life-changing. "My toe was gone, there was blood everywhere, there was bone sticking out. There was flesh all over," Reddington said. The two toes next to his big toe were also split in two.
"It was like something out of a horror film. There was blood all over the escalators. People were running off crying and some people nearly fainted. I had never seen anything like it, not on anyone else either, so to have it happen to me was just bizarre," he said.
Firefighters were able to locate his big toe in the escalator but Reddington decided not to have it reattached. "They told me in the hospital I could keep my toe but it could die on my foot and cause gangrene and I could lose my leg, so I told them to throw it out."
Doctors told Reddington he would not be able to walk for six months. But Reddington beat the obstacles and walked on crutches within one month and can now jog slowly. "I'm shocked, the doctors are shocked. I think it's a testament to how the human body can heal itself."
Reddington has returned to work as a sound engineer at a London nightclub. "I will never moonwalk again, but I will get over that. I can laugh about it now because it's such a bizarre thing that happened. I'm quite proud of myself that I've hit back this fast."

If you have a weird accident involving your foot, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.

Related articles

• Shopper's horror as his big toe is ripped off after trapping foot in escalator

  ---