Roanoke Podiatrist Can Relieve Your Painful Ingrown Toenail

If your toenail is curved and growing into the skin; or if it is "digging in" at the borders of the nail, or it is causing pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in your toe you probably have an ingrown toenail.

As a Roanoke Virginia podiatrist, I want you to know that I see these every single day in my office and what most people tell me is that they’ve been suffering with them from for some time. They’ve tried to treat it themselves and usually, just made it a little worse. And I want you to know that I wish I could visit everyone who is suffering from this to tell them that they just don’t have to suffer. YOU don’t have to suffer. You don’t have to restrict your activities in any way because of this pain. I can’t visit you in your home but you can visit me in my office and we will solve this problem for you. Most people tell me, “Dr. Feeny, I wish I ‘d come in to see you a lot sooner because now I feel great!”


If you have an ingrown toenail, it's important to have a let us take a look at it. We can explain treatment options to ease your pain, but even more importantly, keep it from becoming infected. If an ingrown causes a break in the skin, it becomes easy for bacteria to enter the area and cause an infection. Look out for drainage and a foul odor - these can often be signs of infection. Even if there is no open wound, a curved nail may eventually progress to an infection, so pay close attention to your feet!

Dedicated to your healthy feet,

Dr. Jennifer Feeny

Heel Pain In Children

Sever’s disease is the most common cause of heel pain in the growing athlete. It is due to overuse and repetitive microtrauma of growth plates of the heel bone (called the calcaneus). Another name for Sever's disease is calcaneal apophysitis. Mostly seen in children ages 10-13, it is seen in children ranging in age from 7 through 15. During this time, the growth center of the heel bone is still open and children are often active in sports. Adults do not get Sever’s disease because their growth plates have closed. Unfortunately, adults still get heel pain but plantar fasciitis is usually the cause. Sever’s disease occurs more commonly in children who are tight in their Achilles tendon. You will see them walk on the balls of their feet and the heel hardly touches the floor when they walk.

Symptoms

• Pain and tenderness in the heel

• Difficulty participating in sports

• Limping

• Relief at rest

• Pain when running or jogging

Treatment

Elevating the heel may relieve some of the pain. Children who are active in sports and get heel pain should stretch their hamstrings and calf muscles 2-3 times daily. R.I.C.E may also help and no this is not the rice that we eat. R stands for rest, I is for ice, C is for compression and E is for elevation. Avoiding hard surfaces when running is highly recommended. If your child is having severe pain, an orthotic device may be needed. Surgery is generally not needed for Sever’s disease. Sever’s disease also may go away on its own once the bone is done healing. If your child constantly complains of heel pain after playing sports and you don’t know what to do see us today at SHENANDOAH PODIATRY.