Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Obesity and your feet

By GET WELL BAHAMAS

THE average person's feet will walk 99,439 miles in a lifetime, a distance equivalent to going four times around the world. In each foot there are 32 joints, eight arches, 26 bones and more than hundred muscles and tendons. Although the feet contain more than a quarter of all the bones in the human body most people give little thought to protecting and caring for their feet until there is a problem.

According to podiatrist Dr Monique Mitchell, there is a definite link between obesity and foot problems both in America where three million people are overweight or obese and here in The Bahamas where more than 70 per cent of the population is overweight or obese.

"The Orthopedic Society of the United States has done numerous studies on how obesity affects the feet. These studies indicate that the higher the body mass index (BMI) or the more weight you carry, the more problems persons tend to have with their feet. One study showed that more than 40 per cent of participants could relate the pain that they had in their feet to the fact that they had put on weight," Dr Mitchell recently told participants of Get Well Bahamas.

"As a podiatrist one of the common things that I see every day is heel pain and one of the things that relates to the heel pain is weight gain. When patients say they've started to experience heel pain in the last couple of months I ask what has changed in that time and they usually say, 'Oh, I've put on some weight'," Dr Mitchell said.

* Foot pain

While foot pain is usually the result of weight gain, it can also be the cause of weight gain perpetuating an unhealthy cycle unless measures are taken to correct the problem.

"A study by the American Podiatric Medical Association found that 72 per cent of Americans were fat or they were getting fat because they had foot pain. And what happens when you have foot pain? You can't walk and you can't exercise because your foot is hurting and if you don't exercise you are going to put on weight," Dr Mitchell said.

She explained that when excess weight affects the feet it usually affects other joints in the lower body as well.

"The most active joints in your lower extremities are the big toe joint, the ankle joint and the knee joint and when you have pain in the big toe eventually you're going to have pain in the ankle and eventually you're going to have pain in the knee and you're going to have pain in the hip. So everything hinges on each other. When God made this body it was fearfully and wonderfully made so everything was made to function in sequence," she said.

* Common foot problems

According to Dr Mitchell, some of the most common foot problems that podiatrists see are the result of patients being overweight, for example, heel pain and posterior tibial tendonitis where the arch of the foot collapses and the foot becomes very flat. Other common foot conditions related to obesity include ingrown toenails, swelling, venous insufficiency and even arterial problems.

* Footwear

While these types of foot problems require medical care from a trained specialist one way everyone can protect their feet and related joints is by wearing the right shoes or athletic footwear.

"Physical activity is vital not only to lose weight but for healthy living. You eat every day so you have to move every day and in order to move you need your feet. Walking is an excellent exercise. Everybody can do it and we thank God we live in a country where we can do it every day all year round, but you must have the proper footwear," Dr Mitchell said.

"You want a sneaker that has structure in the middle and an in-sole that conforms to the shape of the feet. It should fit so that you have room at the front and it should have laces so it can attach to your foot properly. That's the type of footwear that you want to wear."

On the contrary, when exercising, she said one should avoid wearing footwear like sandals or sweet waters - sneakers with a flat bottom and no structure in the middle, that don't support the feet.

Dr Mitchell said those types of footwear will only cause foot pain and should not be used for exercise or even for working in all day.

* Foot care

Along with having the proper footwear Dr Mitchell said it's important to keep the feet clean and dry to avoid infections and foot odor.

"It has been proven that persons who are overweight tend to have more fungal infections or infections on the feet and that's probably only because they tend not to pay attention to something like this. Sometimes they'll tell me "I can't reach my foot but if you lose weight you'll be able to reach your feet so you can care for them, clean them and do what you need to do," she said.

* Foot support

She also noted that some feet may require additional support, for example, when there are structural problems such as flat feet or a foot deformity. Since adults can no longer change the shape of their feet without surgery it may be necessary to wear a brace, orthotics or an in-sole to ensure that feet are functioning at best.

* When to see a podiatrist

How can you tell when your feet need medical attention? Dr Mitchell says it may be normal to have some aches and pains in the feet when beginning a new activity, however, if there is persistent pain or swelling in the lower extremity you should come and see a podiatrist. Other conditions that warrant a visit to the foot doctor? Fallen arches, painful bunions, hammertoes or ingrown toenails.

With weight loss and proper foot care Dr Mitchell assured the Get Well Bahamas participants that they would be able to achieve their goals and enjoy the benefits of healthy, happy feet.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you. Please visit our website @ FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com. The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging: Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures. In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries. This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time. Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery. Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons. Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options). Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Suffer from Diabetes? Take care of your feet...

Posted on: Rapid City Journal

If your feet are talking to you after a long day on them, count yourself lucky.

Jenice Casey and the millions of other diabetics who suffer from peripheral neuropathy of the feet can’t feel their feet. That lack of nerve sensation too often causes wounds that can lead to amputation of the foot or leg.

Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic limb amputation in the U.S., says Dr. Rylan Johnson, a Rapid City podiatrist and surgeon who offers a free class about diabetes foot care through Regional Medical Clinic Endocrinology and Diabetes Education.

“It happens all too frequently,” Johnson said. As diabetes reaches epidemic levels in America, the disease’s foot complications increase as well, Johnson said. Not all diabetics experience neuropathy, however. The problem can develop quickly or slowly and it can vary from patient to patient from some loss of sensation to total numbness.

He encourages diabetics to establish their risk for foot problems with an initial diabetic foot screening, which tests for light touch sensation that a healthy foot can feel, but a person with neuropathy cannot.

“Pain is the driving factor for most foot patients. Diabetic patients don’t have that pain. They don’t have a pain threshold,”Johnson said. “And when you can’t feel your toes, even trimming a toenail can be a dangerous endeavor.”

When feet can’t communicate pain, people will develop tissue breakdown because of the constant pressure of walking and standing on them that quickly turns into an open wound, particularly in diabetics. High or uncontrolled blood sugar levels inhibit the body’s natural capacity to heal itself, Johnson said.

“A diabetic will literally just wear a hole in their foot,” he said. That’s what happened to Casey before she even knew she had an open wound on the bottom of her foot.

The 59-year-old pharmacy technician at Rapid City Regional Hospital was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 27 years ago. The disease runs in her family, also affecting five of her six siblings, as well as her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and plenty of aunts and uncles.

She has struggled to manage her blood sugar levels at optimal levels over the years — at first with diet, then oral medication and, more recently, daily insulin injections. Two years ago, she developed one of the most common complications of her disease: foot numbness.

“You feel unbalanced, especially in the middle of the night when you get out of bed … like you’re walking on a sponge or something. You just can’t feel balanced,” Casey said, describing peripheral neuropathy. Casey first learned of the condition during a regular checkup. A small black spot on the bottom of her big toe, once it was debrided, turned out to be an open wound about the size of a pencil eraser.

“I was in and out of a boot for the next six or seven months,”Casey said of the effort to heal that wound. Treatment options include wearing a diabetic boot and shoe inserts that take pressure off the wound area, but that also can lead to new pressure points developing on other parts of the foot. Casey’s foot finally healed in two weeks after Johnson put her in a total contact cast — a hard fiberglass cast that takes all the pressure off the wound area.

A similar problem developed on her other foot shortly after Casey missed one of her regular exams because of illness. “I missed my last one and I almost caused a wound to start on my other foot,” she said. Amputation is Casey’s worst fear, something she knows is all too real of a threat.

She’s back to a strict maintenance exam schedule every six weeks with a doctor, and she examines her own feet every morning when she steps out of the shower. She wears special shoe inserts to protect her feet and skips high-fashion footwear in favor of shoes that leave plenty of room to accommodate a hammertoe and other foot problems.

What’s important is keeping her feet healthy, she said. When she told her daughter that one of her shoe purchases “look like grandma shoes,” her daughter said. “Well, you are a grandma, so I guess you can wear them.”

Diabetic foot neuropathy has changed more than her shoe fashion choices, however. She had to change jobs to avoid long days on her feet, and the once-avid volksmarcher has cut way back on the amount of walking and hiking she does.

“I love to walk and hike. That’s limited now,” Casey said. But preventing a foot problem is much better than trying to heal one, Johnson said.

“Get your feet checked and understand if you are at risk,” he said. “You don’t want your introduction to diabetic foot care to be a wound.”

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Foot Care An Important Factor In Healthy Aging

Posted by: WLFL-TV

(ARA) - Forget aging gracefully. For today's baby boomers, it's more important than ever to stay healthy and active as they age. While growing older causes some unavoidable body changes, more boomers are focusing on healthy lifestyles that can help them prevent problems associated with aging - like mobility issues related to the feet and legs.

Impairment of the lower extremities is a leading cause of activity limitation in older people, according to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

"Foot problems are a health concern that can lead to further complications like knee, hip and lower-back pain, all of which undermine mobility," says Michael King, DPM, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). "The human foot has been called the mirror of health. Systemic problems often related to age, such as diabetes, arthritis, and circulatory disease often can first be detected in the feet."

Fortunately, boomers can do a lot to maintain and even improve their foot health. APMA offers this advice to keep your feet pain free:

Keep walking

Walking offers many benefits for both physical and mental health. If your feet hurt, however, you may find yourself less willing to get in the daily walking that's good for your overall well-being. To keep your walking regimen comfortable be sure to:

* Choose a good quality, lightweight walking shoe with breathable upper materials like leather or nylon mesh. The heel counter should be firm, and the shoe heel should have less cushioning in order to position the foot's heel closer to the ground for stability. The front of the shoe should offer adequate support but also be flexible. For a list of footwear that have been awarded APMA's Seal of Acceptance, visit www.apma.org/seal.

* Shoe shop in the late afternoon, since feet swell throughout the day, and have both feet professionally fitted. Wear the type of socks you intend to wear while walking and be sure the shoe fits snugly, but not tightly, over the sock. Your toes should have plenty of room to move around.

Deal with diabetes

Diabetes symptoms often appear in the feet first, and the extremities can be hit hard by this chronic disease. In fact, diabetes complications lead to more than 65,000 lower limb amputations each year. Including a podiatrist in your diabetes care can reduce the risk of amputation up to 85 percent.

Learn to recognize warning signs that often appear in the feet, including changes in skin color, swelling, numbness, pain, open sores that heal slowly, ingrown or fungal toenails, bleeding corns and calluses and dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heels.

If you have diabetes, inspect your feet daily for cuts, bruises, sores or changes to the toenails. Wear thick, soft socks without seams that could rub or cause blisters. Always have new shoes properly fitted and never go barefoot, not even in your own home.

Manage arthritis

Arthritis can affect the structure and function of your feet. Common symptoms in the feet include joint swelling, joint pain or tenderness, redness or heat in joints, limited movement, early morning stiffness, and skin changes, including rashes and growths.

Podiatrists are often the first to diagnose a patient's arthritis. Treatment can take many forms, including physical therapy, exercise, and medication. Receiving regular check-ups are vital to successfully managing the condition.

General foot health

In addition to shoes that fit properly, it's important to choose socks, pantyhose or stockings that also fit well and are free of seams.

If you have corns or calluses, never cut them with a razor, pocket knife or other sharp instrument. If corns or calluses are present, consult a podiatrist and only use over-the-counter foot products if he or she advises it.

Bathe your feet daily in lukewarm water with a mild soap that contains moisturizers, or use a separate moisturizer after your bath. Trim or file toenails straight across and inspect your feet every day. If you notice redness, swelling, cracks in the skin or sores, see your podiatrist.

Taking care of your feet can make aging a little easier and healthier.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Many amputations among dialysis patients with diabetes 'unnecessary'

Improvements in foot treatment among people with diabetes undergoing kidney dialysis could lead to fewer amputations, says UK research

Posted by: WebMD Health News

16th September 2011 - Diabetes patients who are also undergoing kidney dialysis need more intensive foot care to reduce their risk of lower-limb amputations, says a new study.

Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease, and people with diabetes are already at increased risk of developing foot ulcers and slow-healing wounds which, if become infected, can lead to amputations. The risk stems from damage to nerves and blood supply to the feet.

Preventable

There are an estimated 100 amputations a week among people with diabetes in the UK, but experts say between 49% and 85% could have been prevented.

Dr Agbor Ndip and Professor Andrew Boulton from the University of Manchester analysed what happened to 326 patients with diabetes and late-stage chronic kidney disease. The patients had an average age of 64 and either attended a diabetes centre in the city or one of several dialysis units.

Nerve damage

They found that, in comparison to patients not undergoing dialysis, people receiving the treatment had a higher prevalence of diabetic nerve damage (79%) compared with those who were not receiving dialysis (65%).

Among other findings were that:

· 15% of patients receiving dialysis had undergone amputations, compared with 6.4% who were not having dialysis

· 32% of patients receiving dialysis had a history of foot ulcers, compared with 20% who did not have dialysis

· 21% of patients on dialysis had foot ulcers at the time of the study compared with 5% who did not have the treatment.

Dr Ndip says physical changes, like tissue oxygenation and fluid shifts in the body, can contribute to ulceration. He tells us that the problem is exacerbated by the four hours patients spend lying on dialysis couches. Those with diabetic neuropathy - in which damage to the nerves blocks the sensation of pain in the feet - can end up with blisters, "and it's these blisters which then burst and form an ulcer and the ulcers then don't heel," he says.

Inadequate foot care

Significantly, the researchers also found that people on dialysis were less likely to have regular foot care, compared with those not on dialysis.

Ndip, who was speaking to us from the Association for the Study of Diabetes conference in Lisbon, Portugal, where he was due to present his paper, says: "When people are on dialysis they fail to attend for other diabetes care; they fail to attend for podiatry care to look after their feet, and they neglect these things because being on dialysis is more important than anything else."

Ndip says this 'treatment fatigue' cannot be blamed on patients alone, and that medical staff need to spend much more time ensuring that patients on dialysis receive appropriate and intensive foot care.

'Challenge'

Dr Victoria King, Head of Research at Diabetes UK, which helped to fund the study, said in a statement: "Diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputations in the UK so research like this is crucial in helping us understand the factors which need to be considered when trying to prevent and reduce the prevalence of this devastating complication.”

Diabetes UK is calling on the Government and commissioners to tackle the challenge of prevention now - through raising awareness, education and improving access to specialist services. People need help to reduce their risk of developing life-threatening complications which have such a significant impact on the individual and society as a whole."

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you. Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com. The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging: Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Don't Let Feet Show Age: Give Them A Face-Lift

Posted by: NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) - Although your baby boomer feet may have lost their blush of youth, there's still hope. With some TLC and foot care know-how, you can turn back the clock and put the spring back in your step. According to the International Council on Active Aging, adults are at higher risk for foot problems, with an estimated 87 percent reporting at least one foot-related problem.

Dry skin and callused heels are by far the most common foot complaints. These conditions not only make feet look older and less attractive, but they can pose a significant health risk.

Dr. Glen Beede, a podiatrist in Fort Worth, Texas, says that dry, cracked heels can fissure, causing pain or even tissue wounds. Left untreated, calluses continue to grow thicker and, if they become infected, they may require antibiotics.

But, with a little know-how and some due diligence, you can keep your feet healthy and looking great, no matter what your age. Here are some important tips:

* Give your feet a bath. Soak your feet in lukewarm water mixed with moisturizing soap. This helps heal calluses and tender spots, and a warm footbath is so relaxing at the end of a day.

* Don't use razor blades. The American Podiatric Medical Association warns that razor blades should never be used to cut corns or calluses.

Beede recommends the Artemis Woman Heel Smoother (www.artemiswoman.com), a handheld, battery-operated pedicure tool that has earned the APMA's Seal of Acceptance. The device features a DuraCrystal tip that easily exfoliates dead skin on the feet and smoothes calluses without the use of chemicals or dangerous blades. It's available in stores nationwide.

* Find your "sole" mate. As you grow older, your feet grow larger and the padding on your soles becomes thinner. So make sure that your aging feet are fitted with good, comfortable shoes.

Try on new shoes in the afternoon when your feet are most swollen. Make sure you select shoes that are sturdy, well-cushioned and have room between the toes but are snug at the heel.

* Pad your path. As we age, our bones become thinner, as do our shock-absorbing soles, particularly in women. To avoid stress fractures, make sure your feet are padded. When exercising outdoors, stay on grass or dirt paths that are flat and well-maintained.

* Keep an eye on your feet. Along with proper foot care, monitoring the condition of your feet is one of the simplest ways to ensure foot health and beauty at any age.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you. Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com. The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging: Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Is Your Salon Causing Toenail Fungus?

Published by: The Huffington Post

I have listened over the years as countless patients have told me horror stories about their experience at the nail salon, and how before going for pedicures, their toenails were clear and beautiful. You've thought about it, right? All of a sudden your toenails are looking a bit yellow, thicker, maybe they crumble and break.

Blaming it on your nail salon seems like the obvious thing to do. But is this really true? Are nail salons responsible for the epidemic of toenail fungus we now see in our society? Or, is it possible that this is entirely false, and the real cause of toenail fungus is something entirely different?

While it may seem to make perfect sense that nail salons are spreading the bug, inoculating a nail bed with fungal spores is not that easy and requires two simultaneous conditions. The first is the requirement that the nail bed would need to have been cut into in order to introduce the infecting organism into the nail bed. The second would be a compromised immune system that could not fight off the infection. Wounds of this type would more likely cause bacterial infection.

Since it is more common than not to see multiple toenails infected with fungus, can we blame your nail salon for causing injury to multiple toenails? Were they on a mission to inflict pain and suffering? Logic prevails when we ponder this. I have seen thousands of patients with all 10 toenails infected. Were these people left bleeding and wounded at the salon, sitting ducks for fungal infection?

I think you can clearly tell that I firmly believe that the causative mechanism of toenail fungus is not a bad pedicure. To be honest, these organisms are ever-present everywhere. So why do some people get infected while others don't? To answer this question, I think it is important that you drop the notion that fungus crawls under your toenail and infects it. It is rarely a localized phenomenon. Even in situations where a toenail fungus occurs after injury to the toe, I believe it is still not a localized problem.

In fact, it is my assertion that toenail fungus is actually the result of an internal fungal infection. One of the ways the human body deals with these organisms is to discharge them. Since your skin (and skin structures) is the largest organ of elimination, it is not surprising that skin and toenails are frequently affected. Interestingly enough, injured tissues are more metabolically active during repair processes and serve as great sites for the body to use for discharge.

So now let's talk about what this internal infection might be and why certain people are prone to getting them. Toenail infections are borne out of an excess of fungi in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract that leads to eventual discharge into toenails. How does this occur? The answer is right at the end of your fork!

Let's look at what is going on in the GI tract -- the digestion and assimilation of foodstuffs. So what is it about food that may be causative? The answer is that many foods contain high levels of fungus and the mycotoxins that they secrete. Once ingested, if conditions for their growth are present, they begin to populate the intestinal lining.

The foods that most often contain high concentrations of mycotoxins are grains, nuts, sugars and cheese. Grains such as corn, wheat, barley, and rye (and their flour derivatives) contain what is known as "universal contamination" because they contain so many different species of fungi. Sugars -- including sugar cane, sugar beets and sorghum -- not only contain the contamination, they fuel the growth of many of these fungi, because sugar is the food of choice for fungi. All foods high in sugars, including most fruit and especially fruit juices are included in this group.

Nuts and the oils produced from nuts are heavily contaminated, peanuts being the biggest culprit. The last food category on the list is cheese. Now, everyone knows that cheese will grow mold. If you can see the mold growing, you know that fungus is present throughout the cheese.

In fact, fungus is capable of easily spreading throughout the entire GI tract once it increases its colonization of the GI tract. Fungus is competitive with our healthy gut flora (beneficial bacteria) and will displace them in time. What assists fungus in their spread are fermented and acidic foods such as alcohol, beer, fermented foods and vinegar.

So now you know if your diet is high in these types of foods, you are making yourself highly susceptible to GI infestation of fungus which may ultimately create toenail fungus as the body tries to discharge it. Are there any other things that make you more prone to toenail fungus?

Yes, there are. For one, the cavalier use of antibiotics by the medical community does much to wipe out healthy gut flora and allow the overgrowth of fungus such as yeasts, molds and dermatophytes. Other issues, such as anti-inflammatory drugs which can create a leaky gut phenomenon (incompletely digested foods that enter the bloodstream) and suppress the body's immune protection: immunosuppressive drugs, diabetes, chronic adrenal stress (which creates high levels of cortisol in the body that suppress immune system function), digestive disorders, food and environmental sensitivities, heavy metal toxicity and any other conditions or problems that misdirect or interfere with healthy immune system function.

So I hope you see that the toenail fungus is often a symptom of a grander issue and by addressing these issues, we not only alleviate toenail fungus, but can actually help our patients improve their overall health.

Therefore, treatment is patient specific, and is dependent upon the mechanisms in that particular patient. Once those mechanisms are addressed, the toenail fungus can be treated with gentle, natural medicines which are far safer than the pharmaceutical drugs intended to eradicate fungus.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you. Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com. The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging: Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Do Away with Smelly Feet!

Posted on: Patch.com

Sweaty feet and foot odor are quite common, especially among dancers, athletes, when you exercise or during the hot weather.

One of my readers contacted me for a natural solution to a common, but embarrassing problem, smelly feet.

Sweaty feet and foot odor are quite common, especially among dancers, athletes, when you exercise or during the hot weather. Wearing shoes and socks that don’t breathe or rough, dry skin on your feet can promote foot odor. Bromhidrosis, foot odor, is due to bacteria that breed and multiply in warm feet, socks, and shoes.

The soles of your feet have thousands of sweat glands that produce perspiration, which can breakdown in contact with certain bacteria, causing an odor.

Bunions, hammertoe, fallen arches, excessive perspiration and odor, or toenail fungus require a visit to the podiatrist. There are several simple things you can do however, to prevent ordinary foot odor. Clean your feet regularly with a scrubber and soak them in salt to prevent calluses.

Choose open toed shoes or sandals during the summer; other times of the year wear leather or canvas shoes, which breathe. Air them out occasionally in the sun and don’t’ forget you can wash your sneakers! Avoid shoes lined with solid rubber or synthetic materials and wear all cotton socks. Sprinkle your shoes occasionally with cornstarch to absorb moisture.

To get rid of foot odor, soak your feet in either white vinegar or tea. Brew 2 tea bags in a pint of boiling water for 15 minutes; add tea to 2 quarts of cool water and soak for about 20 minutes. You may need to do this daily for a week.

Below is a recipe for a foot deodorizer with specific herbs and essential oils known for their astringent and deodorizing qualities.

Foot Deodorizer (Recipe from Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles)

Ingredients: Foot tub, 6 quarts water, ½ cup sage, peppermint or rosemary leaves, ½ cup baking soda, 5 – 10 drops rosemary, sweet orange, peppermint, tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil, remove from heat and add the herb of choice. Cover and steep for 30 minutes. Strain into the foot tub. Add baking soda and the essential oil and swish with feet to blend. Soak feet for 15 – 20 minutes. Towel dry and coat with moisturizer. (Coconut oil works great!)

There is a natural solution to everything – good luck!

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you. Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com. The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging: Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.