Foot fun

Make sure you get good shoes

What our patients say

“Another great visit with Dr. Saviet and his caring staff”

Another great visit with Dr. Saviet and his caring staff. What a pleasant office to go to. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone. 🦶🙂

Sue A

‘I am very happy with the care and attention provided by Dr. Pelto”

I am very happy with the care and attention provided by Dr. Pelto. Not only did he identify multiple fractures which previous doctors had missed, but he also clearly and thoroughly explained what he was seeing and what the treatment should be. He also took the time to fully listen to my questions and to make sure I understood his answers. And the fact that everyone I interacted with in the office, including Dr. Pelto, was extremely welcoming added to what was already a very positive experience.

Cyndie M.

The red line on the big toe is a larva under the skin

Be careful when in Jamaica

I wanted to share this interesting patient I saw in the office a few months ago. She was traveling to Jamaica and returned with a red itchy line on her foot. She saw her primary care doctor that sent her over to see us in the office. This condition has a big name “cutaneous larva migrans” and is caused by tiny worms called larvae. These worms can get in your foot by walking barefoot on contaminated soil or sand where animals have been present.

Usually on your skin you will see red lines that are itching and sometimes you can feel sick and tired. There are special medications than can be used to treat this condition.

I have never seen that before I thought you would like to learn more about this condition. There is something else you might enjoy about this condition but I can’t put it in the newsletter. Can you guess what it is?

Hit reply and let me know.

Achilles Tendonitis

There are a few conditions we see on the back of the heel but by far Achilles tendonitis is most common. This condition plagues many patients in our office. I want to start by sharing some information about Achilles tendonitis and future newsletters I will go into detail about the other common heel problems.

I am going to share what is on our website about Achilles tendonitis you might enjoy.

What is Achilles tendonitis?

Achilles tendonitis is a painful condition affecting the largest tendon in the body, the Achilles tendon of the leg, which connects the calf muscles to the heels. Both professional and recreational athletes may sustain this common injury.

Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis may include the following:

Difficulty flexing the leg or extending the toes Experiencing pain and stiffness along the tendon upon waking Experiencing pain along the tendon or back of the heel that worsens with activity Experiencing severe pain the day after exercising Experiencing swelling along the tendon Having a bone spur Hearing a “popping” noise in the heel or calf Thickening of the tendon

What causes Achilles tendonitis?

Achilles tendonitis is essentially an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon due to repetitive stress. Sometimes, this happens when a person starts a new exercise routine, or increases the intensity of an existing activity too quickly.

Other causes for Achilles tendonitis may include having tight calf muscles that put extra pressure on the tendon, or having a bone spur along the heel that creates friction against the tendon.

How is Achilles tendonitis treated?

It is treated with rest, offering support to the tendon, and reducing inflammation when treating Achilles tendonitis. Self-care and over-the-counter pain medications are generally sufficient in improving symptoms. Physical therapy exercises directed at stretching, strengthening, and healing the tendon, and the surrounding structures of the leg and foot.

In some cases, patients may require special orthotic devices to support the tendon as it heals. If the tendon is severely ruptured, surgery may be required.

Orthoinfo - https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/achilles-tendinitis/

Question of the week - Why does my Achilles tendon get thick when injured?

When you hurt your Achilles tendon your body tries to fix it. There are special cells that go to repair the tendon and bring special material called collagen. This happens as the tendon gets swollen and the process of healing begins.

As the tendon heals tissue forms that makes the tendon thicker. This thickness is a protection mechanism that adds strength to the tendon. However, this may be painful because a thick tendon can not stretch as well as before.

Many time because of this process patients can have pain and seek treatment. One of the most predictable and effective treatments is Shockwave therapy. This injures the tendon and helps it to heal.

Struggling with back of heel pain, we can help!

Call us at 508-757-4003 to make an appointment with Dr. Neil Feldman, Dr. Donald Pelto, Dr. Benjamin Saviet, or Dr. Matthew Monette.

To your health,

Dr. Pelto