Top Nav

Home
Podiatrists
Services
Patient Info
Blog
Contact
Patient Education

Blog Archives:

2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

Back to top
Bottom Nav

Dr. Robert D. Weaver

Dr. Jennifer Zienkowski-Zubel

Blog - Archives, 2014

Crossover Toe
Can Your Child Be Experiencing Foot Pain??
Bump on the Side of Your Big Toe???????
Keep Your Feet In Shape This New Year


Crossover Toe
March 2014

Crossover toe is a common foot problem that can inhibit physical activity for older Americans, but out-patient surgery can correct the deformity and keep senior citizens active and on their feet.

Individuals with hammertoes, bunions or a second toe that extends beyond the big toe are most susceptible to developing crossover toe as they age.

It’s a common problem among older people in which the second toe gradually moves across the big toe. It can be painful and, therefore, difficult to walk comfortably or pursue an active lifestyle.

The first symptom of crossover toe is pain in the ball of the foot. A tear in the joint makes the second toe unstable. It falls out of alignment and eventually drifts.

Doctors normally check the ball of the foot for a possible plantar-plate tear when an older patient complains of pain in the area. Pre-existing forefoot problems combined with normal wear and tear or possible trauma can cause the plate to tear over time.

If the pain persists and the toe starts to drift, surgery is recommended to suture the plantar plate or replace it through a tendon-transfer.

Surgery to correct crossover toe is an outpatient procedure performed with a local anesthesia. Patients with bunions or hammertoes are advised to have those deformities corrected during the surgery. Recovery time is about six weeks.

If you're an older adult with persistent pain in the ball of your foot, it's in your best interest to see a doctor, therefore give our office a call to set-up a consultation.


Can Your Child Be Experiencing Foot Pain??
February 2014

Is your child tripping frequently, lagging behind their friends while playing or completely withdrawing from activities, if so your child might be suffering from a foot or ankle ailment.

Foot and ankle problems in children often go unnoticed. Signs and symptoms can be subtle, and sometimes children can’t explain what’s wrong. But it’s important to protect growing feet and have problems checked out early.

Below are five warning signs to watch for in your growing child:

  1. Child Can’t Keep Up with Their Peers

    If your child lags behind in sports or play, it may be because their feet or legs are tired. Fatigue is common when children have flat feet: The muscles in the feet and legs tire easily because the feet are not functioning as well as they should.

  2. Your Child Voluntarily Withdraws from Activities they Usually Enjoy

    If your child is reluctant to participate, it may be due to heel pain: A problem often seen in children between the ages of 8 and 14. Repetitive stress from sports may cause muscle strain and inflammation of the growth plate, a weak area at the back of a child’s heel.

  3. They Don’t Want to Show You Their Feet

    Children may feel pain or notice a change in the appearance of their feet or nails but don’t want to tell mom or dad because they fear a trip to the doctor’s office. Therefore, make it a habit to inspect your child’s feet for any changes such as calluses, growths, skin discoloration or redness and swelling around the toenails.

  4. Your Child Often Trips and Falls

    Repeated clumsiness may be a sign of in-toeing, balance problems or neuromuscular conditions, that may warrant a trip the doctor's office.

  5. Child Complains of Pain

    It is never normal for a child to have foot pain.

A child with any of these signs or symptoms should be promptly examined. Please call 1 of our offices for proper diagnosis and treatment of your child’s aliments.


Tailor's Bunion (bunionette)
January 2014

Tailor’s bunion, also called a bunionette, is a prominence of the fifth metatarsal bone at the base of the little toe. The metatarsals are the five long bones of the foot. The prominence that characterizes a tailor’s bunion occurs at the metatarsal “head,” located at the far end of the bone where it meets the toe. Tailor’s bunions are not as common as bunions, which occur on the inside of the foot, but they are similar in symptoms and causes.

Tailor's Bunion

Tailor’s bunion is most frequently caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot resulting in the fifth metatarsal bone starting to protrude outward, while the little toe moves inward creating a bump on the outside of the foot that becomes irritated with shoe gear. Another cause for a tailor's bunion is a bony spur (an outgrowth of bone) on the side of the fifth metatarsal head.

Symptoms associated with a tailor’s bunions can include redness, swelling, and pain to the site of the enlargement. These symptoms tend to worsen with shoes that rub against the enlargement, irritating the soft tissues underneath the skin and producing inflammation.

Treatment for tailor’s bunion typically begins with non-surgical therapies, which may include:

Shoe modifications
  • Shoes with a wide toe box.
  • Avoid shoes with pointed toes or high heels.
Padding
  • Pads placed over the area may help reduce pain.
Oral medications
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may help relieve the pain and inflammation.
Injection therapy
  • Injections of corticosteroid may be used to treat the inflamed tissue around the joint.
Orthotic devices

Surgery is often considered when pain continues despite the above approaches. Surgery can include many different procedures or combination of procedures based upon x-ray findings, age and activity level.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a tailor's bunion, please do not hesitate to give our office a call for further information or to set-up a consultation, we are here to help!


Bump on the Side of Your Big Toe???????
January 2014

A bunion (also referred to as hallux valgus or hallux abducto valgus) is often described as a bump on the side of the big toe. But a bunion is more than that. The visible bump actually reflects changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. The big toe leans toward the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead. This throws the bones out of alignment, producing the bunion’s “bump.”

Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion.

Most common symptoms, which may occur at the site of a bunion, include pain or soreness, inflammation and/or redness, burning sensation or possible numbness. Symptoms most often occur when wearing shoes that crowd the toes, such as shoes with a tight toe box or high heels. This may explain why women are more likely to have symptoms than men.

Early treatment for bunion treatment is aimed at easing the pain, not reversing the deformity itself. These treatment options include a change in shoe gear: Wearing shoes that have a wider toe box and forgoing those with pointed toes or high heels, which may only aggravate the condition. Padding over the area of the bunion can help minimize the pain associated with bunions. Medications, such as oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and icing several times a day can help to reduce pain and inflammation associated with the deformity. In some cases, custom orthotic devices may be provided to help reduce pain, control the abnormal biomechanics of your foot and prevent further progression of the deformity.If non-surgical treatments fail to relieve bunion pain and the pain of a bunion interferes with daily activities, it’s time to discuss surgical options to determine if surgery is best for you.

A variety of surgical procedures are available to treat bunions. These procedures are designed to remove the “bump,” correct the changes in the bony structure of the foot and correct soft tissue changes that may also have occurred. The goal of surgery is to reduce and/or eliminate pain.

If you are suffering from a “bump” to your big toe, please do not hesitate giving one of our offices a call for additional information or to schedule a consultation.


Keep Your Feet In Shape This New Year
January 2014

It is 2014, the beginning of a New Year and new resolutions. If your resolution for the upcoming year is to get into shape, don’t forget to keep your feet in tip-top shape while following through with your resolutions to get fit. The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons offers the following tips for foot safety while at the gym.

Start new workouts gradually— Increase your stamina and the length of your workouts gradually to avoid overuse injuries such as stress fractures or tendon strains and sprains. Stretching your muscles before and after workouts also helps prevent these types of injuries.

Wear the right shoe and sock—Wear well-fitted athletic shoes designed for exercise or sport. Shoes that do not support the arch of the foot or provide cushion for the heel can cause heel pain (plantar fasciitis). Shoes that are too small can cause a neuroma, a thickening of the nerve tissue, in the foot, which may require injections, medication or physical therapy. Wearing cotton or non-slip socks are also key to help avoid painful blisters, which can become infected and cause more serious issues.

Use good technique— Improper exercise techniques can result in injury to the tendons or ligaments in your feet and ankles. Incorrect posture or misuse of exercise equipment can cause decreased stabilization in the foot and ankle, leading to joint sprains and muscle strains.

Protect yourself from bacteria—Sweaty shoes, public showers, exercise equipment and the pool deck at the gym are breeding grounds for fungus, viruses and bacteria, including drug-resistant strains like MRSA(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which has become increasingly more common. Therefore, never go barefoot while in public areas and cover cuts and cracks in the skin or ingrown toenails since these minor tears in the skin’s surface can act as an entry point for bacteria.

Above all, it’s important to listen to your body. If you experience an injury or pain, please call our office, 440-442-3113, for evaluation and treatment





Dr. Robert D. Weaver, DPM
Dr. Jennifer Zienkowski-Zubel, DPM

510 Fifth Avenue
Chardon, OH 44024
Tel: 440.286.4945
Fax: 440.279.1516
view map
6551 Wilson Mills Road
Suite 104
Mayfield Village, OH 44143
Tel: 440.442.3113
Fax: 440.442.5137
view map
26151 Euclid Avenue
Suite 105
Euclid, Ohio 44132
Tel: 440.442.3113
Fax: 440.442.5137
view map