Spending a little extra time on foot care can help you protect your health if you have diabetes. Diabetic foot care, provided by your San Francisco, CA, podiatrists, Drs. Daniel Alberts, Richard Rolfes and Jasper Lee of Stonestown Podiatry Group, is the key to reducing your risk of infection and foot and leg issues.

Why foot care is crucial if you have diabetes

Diabetes may slow healing time and affect your body's ability to fight infections. Even a minor scrape or cut can lead to a serious infection that could jeopardize your foot or leg.

Peripheral neuropathy, a condition that causes numbness in the feet, can make it impossible to feel pain in your feet or even notice that your shoes are uncomfortably tight. Numbness is more likely to occur if you've had diabetes for a long time or if the disease isn't well-controlled.

Home foot exams and visits to your San Francisco podiatrist can prevent minor issues from becoming more serious and ensure that infections are promptly diagnosed and treated.

What you can do to protect your feet

Daily self-exams allow you to spot early signs of trouble. For example, a red mark on your foot may be a sign that your shoes don't fit comfortably. Wearing a different pair of shoes can prevent the mark from eventually becoming a blister. If you do notice a blister, adding a protective bandage, in addition to switching your shoes, will reduce the risk that it will burst.

Call your foot doctor immediately if you notice any of these signs and symptoms:

• Cuts or sores on your feet
• Cracked skin between your toes
• Pain or swelling in your feet or legs
• Burning, numbness or tingling
• Change of color in your feet or legs
• Red streaks on your skin
• Unusual warmth or cold in your feet or legs

Don't try to treat corns, calluses, plantar warts, or ingrown toenails at home. Although these conditions may seem minor, they can increase your risk of infection.

Need care? Give us a call

Don't neglect your feet! Call your San Francisco, CA, podiatrists, Drs. Daniel Alberts, Richard Rolfesm, and Jasper Lee of Stonestown Podiatry Group, at (415) 731-6700 to schedule an appointment.

Are you struggling with a bunion? Your chances of having this foot deformity escalate with age. To learn more about these unsightly and painful problems, read some FAQs prepared by Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco. Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, and Dr. Jasper Lee provide care to scores of people with bunions and many other foot and ankle issues.

What is a bunion?

Bunion is the common term for an acquired foot deformity known as Hallux valgus. Typically a bony bump on the inside surface of the foot at the base of the big toe, a bunion can be painful, red, swollen, and an impediment to mobility. The big toe may rotate or turn toward the second or even third toes.

How does my foot doctor know I have one?

Your San Francisco foot doctor diagnoses bunions by visual examination, X-rays, and sometimes, gait analysis to evaluate how you place the foot on the ground when walking.

What causes bunions?

Many factors do. Heredity and age (over 40 and especially, over 65) play a role. More importantly, tight shoes with high heels seem to shift significant weight and pressure on the forefoot, contributing to bunion formation over time, says the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). Additionally, some people have flat arches which stress the bones of the forefoot and also may overpronate their feet as they walk or run. (Overpronation is a gait defect in which the foot rolls toward the midline with each step). Finally, trauma to the foot can lead to bunion formation.

Do other deformities accompany bunions?

Sometimes people also develop claw-like hammertoes on toes two through five. Also, corn and callus formation is common where the bunion rubs against the inside of the shoe and also on the bottom of the foot.

Do I have to have surgery?

No, surgery is usually the last option. Your podiatrist likely will try a treatment plan involving far less invasive treatments you can incorporate into your daily routine.

What are my treatment options?

They may include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications and analgesics
• Cortisone shots
• Shoe padding (such as moleskin)
• Night splints to realign the toe (usually appropriate for young patients)
• Orthotics (custom-crafted, prescription shoe inserts) to pad, support, and correct gait problems
• Stretching exercises and physical therapy to improve flexibility and mobility
• In-office removal of corns and calluses

Find out more

For more information on bunions or to come in for a complete foot exam with Dr. Alberts, Dr. Lee, or Dr. Rolfes, call Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, at (415) 731-6700.

5 Treatment Options for Heel Pain in San Francisco,

Heel pain is one of the most common foot complaints among people. Heel pain can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease. Examples include ill-fitting shoes, trauma, standing for long periods, and overuse such as long walks or marathons. Led by Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, and Dr. Jasper Lee, Stonestown Podiatry Group (located in San Francisco, CA) offers treatments for heel pain. Read on to learn about 5 treatment options for heel pain.

1. Medications. Heel pain may respond to treatment with medications such as naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can also get relief of heel pain with targeted topical pain medications from your podiatrist. Be safe with medications. It's important to follow your podiatrist's directions when taking medicine.

2. Orthotic Devices. Podiatrists use customized orthotics to treat heel pain. Customized orthotics are specially-made devices designed to support and comfort your feet. Studies have shown that customized orthotics reduce foot pain, improve function, and reduce risk of injury.

3. Cortisone Shots. Cortisone injections can be used to relieve heel pain and reduce swelling. Cortisone injections allow podiatrists to deliver a high dose of medication directly to the problem area. The injections usually comprise a corticosteroid medication and local anesthetic. You can get cortisone shots at your podiatrist's office.

4. Stretches. Podiatrists often prescribe stretching exercises for various foot conditions. Research shows that stretching exercises relieve foot pain, improve function, and reduce swelling. Stretching exercises are easy to do and should be done on a daily basis to keep heel pain at bay.

5. Night Splints. Night splints are also used to treat heel pain. Night splints, which you wear while you sleep, hold your feet in a neutral position, thereby helping to reduce morning pain. They stretch the plantar fascia ligament and Achilles tendon and keep them from getting tight during the night. Night splints tend to work really well. And once your pain is gone, you can stop wearing them.

If you want freedom from pain, call Stonestown Podiatry Group at (415) 731-6700 today to schedule an appointment in San Francisco, CA. Our treatments bring real relief to heel pain sufferers. You will experience exemplary service and state-of-the-art care at Stonestown Podiatry Group!

Your right foot is sore where the big toe meets the midfoot. You notice a reddened bulge on the side, too. Could this be a bunion? The three podiatrists at Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco see scores of bunions, treating most of them conservatively. If you suspect this common podiatric condition, get evaluated and treated right away so you stay fit and active.

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a podiatric medical condition which affects literally millions of American adults--more of them women than men, states the American Podiatric Medical Association. An inward, or oblique, turning of the big toe toward the second and even third toes, a bunion, or Hallux valgus, causes considerable pain and limits mobility.

People who have weight issues or who overpronate, or turn their feet toward the midline, form bunions more readily as do people who are on their feet a lot and who wear tight, high-heeled shoes. Additionally, bunions have a hereditary component. In other words, if you have a bunion, chances are a close relative has one, too.

Signs you have have a bunion include:

• A noticeable deformity (bump) of metatarsophalangeal joint between the bones of the foot and the big toe
• Pain (stemming from arthritis and bursitis)
• Swelling
• Redness and tenderness
• Callus and corn formation
• Changes in gait, overall mobility, and range of motion in the toes

An examination and digital X-rays at Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco will tell you if you do have a bunion and what you can do about it. Dr. Alberts, Dr. Rolfes, and Dr. Lee approach bunions with conservative measures first, and usually these interventions succeed. Bunionectomy, a surgical removal of the bony bump and re-alignment and pinning of the big toe joint, is reserved for the most severe of cases.

Conservative treatment for bunions

Your foot doctor will recommend a treatment plan customized to your bunion, your overall health and your activity level. Most bunions respond well to simple interventions which may include:

• Rest, elevation, and ice
• Warm soaks
• Over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain
• Change in shoes to lower heels and roomier toe boxes
• Shoe padding in the area of the bunion (gel pads or Moleskin)
• Semi-rigid orthotics, custom-made inserts which correct structural imbalances and gait issues (how your foot lands as you walk)
• Night splints which work well for young people with more malleable connective tissue and bone structure
• In-office corn and callus removal

Harvard Health says that cortisone shots also relieve pain and reduce inflammation surrounding a bunion. However, they must be used sparingly to avoid adverse side effects.

You and your bunion

A bunion does not disappear on its own. However, you can reduce the pain, stiffness and gait issues associated with a bunion by seeing your podiatrist at Stonestown Podiatry Group. Trust this experienced team to get you up and moving comfortably. Call the office today for an appointment in San Francisco, CA, (415) 731-6700. We have early morning appointments!

A bunion happens when the joint at the base of the big toe becomes enlarged. Wearing narrow shoes can cause bunions. Bunions can also develop as a result of an inherited structural defect, or a health condition, such as arthritis. Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes and Dr. Jasper Lee at Stonestown Podiatry Group, which is located in San Francisco, CA, offer a full range of podiatric services. Read on to learn about treatment options for bunions.

1. Padding & Taping- Bunion treatment often begins with padding and taping. Padding the bunion will alleviate your pain and allow you to continue a normal, active life. Taping the bunion will keep your foot in a normal position, thus reducing pressure and discomfort. This will also help prevent your bunion from getting worse. 

2. Custom Orthotics- Podiatrists use orthotics to treat foot problems. Many individuals rely on orthotics to keep their feet in their most efficient alignment, prevent injuries, reduce pain, and increase efficiency. Custom-made orthotic devices can be a valuable treatment for bunions. Orthotics are footbeds or inserts that are inserted into shoes. Orthotics can prevent the progression of bunions and alleviate pain.

3. Steroid Injections- Cortisone shots, or steroid shots, can reduce your pain temporarily by reducing inflammation. The injections usually comprise a local anesthetic and corticosteroid medication. You can get steroid injections at your podiatrist's office.

4. Bunion Surgery- If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend surgery to treat your bunion. The surgery is called bunionectomy. A bunionectomy is performed to excise, or remove a bunion and to realign the toe.

Don't let a bunion knock you off your feet. Call Stonestown Podiatry Group at (415) 731-6700 today to schedule a consultation in San Francisco, CA. We can help you get rid of that bunion once and for all.