Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center - (Page 54)

Q&A P ASK The ExpErts How Podiatrists Save Your Soles odiatrists specialize in disorders of the foot and leg, which means their patients could have suffered a sports injury, a routine sprain, or a systemic illness such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, which often affect the feet. PCRMC podiatrist Charlotte Sekhon, DPM, answers your questions about the specialty. Others do well after a simple outpatient surgical procedure. If your heel hurts, go in and see somebody—it doesn’t have to hurt! A lot of patients suffer from ingrown toenails, which most often are caused by a nail bed that curves inward. They can be made worse by tight shoes or the way you cut your nails; try to cut your nails straight across, so no edges dig into the skin. Podiatrists treat ingrown nails by numbing the toe—much like a dentist uses Novocain—and removing the offending nail border. If it’s a recurring problem, we apply a chemical to hinder the growth of new nail in that area, so those offending nail borders never grow back. Other common conditions include sports injuries, sprains and fractures, and digital deformities like hammertoes. We also see diabetics for routine foot care and nail care. Diabetes affects your feet in some very important ways, and with basic education people can avoid ulceration, infection and, ultimately, amputation. Q Q 54 Vim & Vigor • SUM M ER 2 011 How should I take care of a sprained ankle? What do you most commonly treat? Ninety percent of our patients who suffer from heel pain from plantar fasciitis get better through conservative care, which is wonderful. A sprain hurts and swells about as bad as a broken bone. Because it’s an injury with residual pain and swelling, I recommend seeing a specialist, who can discern whether you have a fracture or a sprain. If you’re diagnosed with a sprain, the best treatment is rest, ice, elevation and some compression therapy. Depending on the extent of the sprain, you might also have dislocated the ankle joint, which is another good reason that no sprain should be left undiagnosed and untreated.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Contents
Opening Throughts
Special: A New Day in the Fight Against Cancer
Is There a Doctor in the House?
Auxiliary
Girl Talk
Say What?
Action Plan
Like This? Try That!
On the Cover
A Day in the Life of Your Heart
Unexpected Heroes
Get in Gear
A Real Lifesaver
Rest Assured
Improvements with You in Mind
The Basics of Breast Cancer
Physician Q&A
Spotlight On

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center