Patrick Bartholomew, DPM, AACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon with offices in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, wants men to know about Five Foot Problems they should never ignore:
. Heel pain is often caused by tissue inflammation, but can also result from a broken bone, a tight Achilles tendon, a pinched nerve, or other problem. A qualified physician will know how to diagnose and treat the true cause of heel pain.
. Ankle sprains always, always, always require a prompt visit to the doctor. Men who skip out on medical care are more likely to suffer repeated ankle sprains and then develop chronic ankle instability.
. Big toe stiffness and pain develops slowly over time, as cartilage in the big toe joint wears down. This eventually leads to arthritis. The sooner a man has this diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.
. Achilles tendonitis usually develops from a sudden increase in physical activity, such as when men play weekend sports. Chances of an Achilles tendon rupture can be reduced by treatment of the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis: pain and tenderness on the back of the foot or heel.
. Ingrown toenails can pierce the skin, open the door for bacteria to enter the body, and convince some men to perform dangerous “bathroom surgery.” Few men know that a doctor can perform a quick procedure that will end the pain and permanently cure an ingrown toenail.
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) has a list of five additional foot problems men should never ignore on its consumer Web site, FootHealthFacts.org. Should you have any of these problems, please contact Family Foot & Leg Center to be examined by one of our doctors.
Dr. Patrick A. Bartholomew Jr.
DPM, AACFAS
Dr. Bartholomew is a member of the ACFAS and board qualified forefoot and rearfoot reconstructive surgery.
He earned his podiatric medical degree from Temple School of Podiatric Medicine and practices in Lee County.
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530 SE 16th Pl., Cape Coral