FIVE SIGNS YOUR CHILD MAY HAVE A FOOT PROBLEM

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

Below are are five warning signs parents should watch for.

1. Your Kids Can't Keep Up with Their Peers: If children lag behind in sports or backyard 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. Children Voluntarily Withdraw from Activities they Usually Enjoy: If they are 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 tell their parents because they fear a trip to the doctor’s office. Surgeons encourage parents to make a habit of inspecting their child's feet starting at a young age. Look 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.
5. The Child Complains of Pain: It is never normal for a child to have foot pain. Injuries may seem minor, but if pain or swelling last more than a few days, have your child's foot examined.

A child with any of these signs or symptoms should be promptly examined by Dr. Foley or Dr. Ornelas.

Padnet

Are you suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)?

There's an easy way to find out. Dr. Foley and Dr. Ornelas offer a non-invasive test in the office called PADNet, which is ordered for patients with symptoms of PAD.

Please contact the office for more information.

NEW OFFICE!

Dr. Ornelas and I are delighted to announce that we've OFFICIALLY moved into our awesome new office. Please refer to our the maps below for directions.

Our phone number remains the same:
562-420-9800.
 

 

Assist Your Diabetic Loved One This Autumn

According to USA Today, one out of every 10 Americans suffer from some form of diabetes. This number figures to rise significantly over the next 25 years.

November is National Diabetes Month, and an excellent reminder that the entire family should be involved with making sure our diabetic loved ones stay healthy.

Here are some ways you can participate in healthy choices and actions with the whole family:

a.	Plan meals carefully. Everyone can benefit from healthful-eating guidelines that your diabetic family member needs to follow.
b.	Make fitness a part of your day. Taking a walk together is a great way to help the entire family stay in shape, and to help your diabetic family member control blood sugars.
c.	Feet can get cold on chilly autumn nights, so anyone with diabetes should wear socks to bed if their feet are chilly. They should NEVER use a heating pad or hot water bottle.
d.	Help your family member check his or her feet. It’s not always easy to look at the bottoms of someone’s feet, but it’s very important. Regular feet-checking can help you catch cuts, blisters, scratches, redness or swelling right at the start, before they become a big problem. So, inspect feet daily, and call our office at the first sign of trouble.

            

NEW Wound Healing Center Provides Much Needed Treatment

The Los Alamitos Wound Healing Center Center has been operational for less than a year. One of the Center’s earliest success stories is Huntington Beach resident, John Betsinger. Dr. Connie described John’s treatment evolution.

"Mr. Betsinger is a diabetic patient with a deformity of his left foot. This deformity caused him to develop an ulceration on the bottom of the foot. I treated him weekly with debridements and different wound care products." Dr. Ornelas explained. With the opening of the Wound Healing Center, Dr. Connie was able to take treatment to an entirely new level. "We were able to use the best wound care products available such as a Wound VAC (vacuum assisted closure) and bioengineered skin substitute grafts (Apligraf and Dermagraft)."

The 69-year old Betsinger was impressed by Dr. Connie’s diligence in finding the best treatment for his ailment.

"Dr. Ornelas was determined in investigating every treatment option and had a great attitude. I had total faith we were on the right track," John said. "Being a retired computer technician, I was fascinated by the equipment at the Wound Healing Center."

Dr. Connie’s persistence paid off.

"Within a few months John’s wound closed. I took him to surgery to remodel the bottom of his foot to prevent recurrence of the ulceration. Mr. Betsinger then saw a local prosthetist who made him a special walking boot to further prevent recurrence of the ulceration. He’s back walking without any problems and comes to see me periodically for diabetic foot exams."

With the new prosthetic Dr. Ornelas encouraged John to be less sedentary and make positive lifestyle changes.

"I urged John to start exercising and made sure he was seeing the appropriate specialists to keep his Diabetes under control and lead a more active lifestyle," Dr. Connie added.

"Dr. Ornelas took an interest in my overall wellness, which has motivated me to think long term about my health," John said.

For more information on the Los Alamitos Wound Healing Center please contact Dr. Ornelas. For a general overview of the facility visit:
http://www.losalamitosmedctr.com/en-us/ourservices/medicalservices/pages/woundhealingandhyperbarics.aspx

Children at Risk of Overuse Injuries

Gung ho parents who love to see their children compete year round should be wary of overuse injuries. Dr. Foley explains in this video.

Click on image (left) or view at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_0q8bNG4PU&feature=player_embedded

NEW Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus Now Available

We now offer laser treatment for toenail fungus. The treatment is provided in our Long Beach office by Dr. Graves, using the state-of-the-art Pinpointe FootLaser - the first laser to receive FDA-clearance for fungal toenail treatment. In addition to the laser treatment Dr. Graves is offering a variety of options to help prevent the fungus from recurring. Patients of Dr. Foley and Dr. Ornelas will receive a special $100 discount. Call Dr. Graves at (562) 496-3846 to see if you’re a candidate for this exciting new modality!

The Comfortable High Heel Myth

Consumer Reports conducted a survey and discovered 90% of U.S. women wear shoes that look good, even though they kill our feet. Could adding insoles to our shoes help ease the pain. Makers of shoe insoles claim their products can help "prevent foot aches and pains" or provide "all-day comfort" and "cushion the entire foot area." Consumer Reports put shoe insoles to the test, checking out four that cost $8 to $13. Fourteen women tried each of the insoles in a pair of her shoes that had at least 2 1/2-inch heels with some as high as four. Each tester walked a total of almost five and a half miles. The results were not great for Dr. Scholl's For Her High Heel Insoles and Insolia High Heel Inserts. "My shoes didn't feel any more comfortable than they did without them," said panelist Valerie England. Foot Pedals Killer Kushionz did make shoes feel a little more comfortable. But the package says they're "not recommended to remove and reuse." Turns out the adhesive damaged some of the shoes, tearing out some of the lining inside the shoe. As for the Fab Feet Three-Quarter Insoles from Target, they also made shoes a little more comfortable, but were easier to remove. Although most of the women thought none of the insoles were worth the money. “I know women LOVE heels, and worn in moderation, you can keep serious complications to a minimum,” says Dr. Foley. “Remember, for every inch of a heel puts 25% more weight on the forefoot. So, with a three inch heel, 75% of your body’s weight in on the forefoot.” Two high heel brands I recommend are Auri and Cole Haan. Both lines offer style and function.

SNUG CLEATS, REPEATED KICKING LEAD TO INGROWN TOENAILS

Soccer fields are filled with the future soccer stars of the sport this spring. And just like college or professional players, juveniles suffer their fair amount of injuries This is a bad time of year to be a juvenile toenail. Dr. Foley sees a lot of children with ingrown toenails during soccer season.

"It seems like every child is enrolled in a league and some, more than one," says Dr. Foley "The young kids wear hand-me-down cleats that don't fit exactly right. The older kids like tighter cleats to get a better feel for the ball and the field." A former collegiate player at UCLA, Dr. Foley had her share of injuries growing up.

"Ingrown toenails are such a small problem with such big pain. If you hit the corner of that affected toe, it shoots an intense pain that lingers." Unfortunately, many children don't tell parents about the problem because they're afraid to miss a game. "By the time they come to my office, a small problem has turned serious," she says. Young soccer players sidelined by an ingrown toenail may be able to get back into the game pain-free thanks to a simple, 10-minute surgical procedure.

During the short procedure, Dr. Foley numbs the toe and removes the offending portion of the nail. Various techniques can permanently remove part of a nail's root too, preventing it from growing back. Most children experience very little pain afterwards, and can resume normal activity the next day.

Parents should teach their children how to trim their toenails properly. Trim toenails in a fairly straight line, and don't cut them too short. "Keeping toenails trimmed correctly sounds like something so simple. You'd be amazed how many people, children as well as adults do it incorrectly," Dr. Foley says.

Parents have to make sure their children's cleats fit, since a child's shoe size can change within a single soccer season. If a child develops a painful ingrown toenail, soaking their foot in room-temperature water and gently massaging the side of the nail fold can reduce the inflammation.

Don’t Minimize Ankle Pain

Nothing slows down an active person like ankle pain. Nothing can curtail a training regimen like an ankle pain. Swelling, tenderness and pain often will not go away without treatment by a licensed professional. "People underestimate ankle injuries all the time," says Dr. Foley. "I hear, oh, I just twisted it, or I rolled it, I can tape it up and go. The first thing people should do is shut it down and get a proper diagnosis."Recurring or persistent (chronic) pain on the outer (lateral) side of the ankle often develops when there is incomplete healing after an ankle sprain. When you sprain your ankle, the connecting tissue (ligament) between the bones is stretched or torn. Without thorough and complete rehabilitation, the ligament or surrounding muscles may remain weak, resulting in recurrent instability. "I can’t tell you how many times patients re-injure themselves after rushing back to their activity," Dr. Foley adds. "Serious ankle injuries requiring a comprehensive rehabilitation program can take weeks to heal," says Dr. Foley. "Most patients get antsy and want to resume their activity before the ankle is strong enough. Unless you’re playing for the Lakers or Dodgers, there’s no rush."

Welcome Aboard Dr. Ornelas!

We are pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Connie Ornelas to our practice. Dr. Ornelas joins the team highly qualified after attending UCLA as an undergrad, followed by four years at Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. It was during a three-year residency at Lakewood Regional Medical Center that Dr. Connie met, and eventually worked with Dr. Foley. “Dr. Ornelas was one of the best residents I’ve ever worked with,” said Dr. Foley. The Northern California native has performed over 1,000 podiatric surgeries and will work two days a week in the Long Beach office. “Dr. Ornelas brings a high level of dedication, energy and expertise to our patients,” Dr. Foley said.

Dr. Ornelas begins August 1.

The High Heel Dilemma

It’s a constant battle when it comes to high heels-fashion vs. functionality. Luckily for many, there can be a happy medium. One local shoe store we work with in Long Beach is Foot Solutions, which was recently featured on CBS-2 News.

It’s a terrific story, take a look.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/05/12/learn-how-to-take-the-hurt-out-of-high-heels/

Children’s Foot Care

This Kelton Research Study indicates a lack of parental attention to issues with their children's feet.

Children’s Foot Health

Frequently Asked Questions: Children’s Foot Health...

1. When should I put my baby in his/her first pair of shoes?
2. When is a child’s foot fully developed and why is this important?
3. Why should I take my child to see a podiatrist?

Read more...

Common Childhood Foot Conditions

"As early as birth, foot conditions can present themselves in children."

Shoes for the Right Sport

Great information from Today's Podiatrist

Foley's Foot Notes

Click below to read the lastest issue of Doctor Vikki's Newsletter "Foley's Foot Notes" -- Fun ~ Informative ~ Delicious and Healthy!

Easy Ways to Keep Feet Healthy

I may sound like a broken record sometimes when it comes to to “taking care of your feet”, so maybe it’s time for a different ‘messenger”. Below is terrific story from STYLELIST.com on common challenges and remedies for fit feet.

http://www.stylelist.com/2011/02/19/common-foot-problems-remedies/

New Help in Office

We’d like to welcome Allison and her best friend, Trixie, to our staff. Allison will be working part-time, providing administrative support. Trixie will sit around looking adorable.

What Athletic Shoe is Best?

Anyone who has tried to figure out what "athletic shoe" is BEST for them can relate to this excellent article recently published in the N Y Times.