Achilles Tendon Injury hits Nikola Pekovic - The Texas Foot Specialists

Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic recently suffered an injured Achilles tendon. It was later announced that the center will be out indefinitely after undergoing a procedure to repair his Achilles' tendon. It is hoped that he will fully recover from the injury and will return to the team.

What is an Achilles tendon injury?

The Achilles' tendon is a band of tissue that can be found at the back of the ankle and above the heels that allows the foot to extend. The Achilles' tendon is also likely to suffer from and injury especially among amateur and professional athletes. It is important that you consult with a podiatrist for the first signs of a foot injury. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot pain and other types of foot conditions.

What are the causes of Achilles tendon injury?

Achilles tendon can be injured when a sudden force or stress is applied to it. Activities such as football, tennis, diving, basketball, even running that uses a forceful push can cause an Achilles tendon injury. It can also be damaged by accidents like falling or a deep cut at the back of the ankle. Sometimes an Achilles' tendon become weak making it prone to injuries or rupture. Wearing high heeled shoes is also one of the causes of Achilles tendon injury.

What are the symptoms of an Achilles tendon injury?

Signs and symptoms may come immediately right after a sporting activity or injury. The following are some of the symptoms of Achilles tendon injury:

• The foot is difficult to flex
• Stiffness
• Tenderness
• A snapping or popping sound after the accident
• Swelling
• Pain when stretching

What are the treatments for an Achilles tendon injury?

An Achilles tendon injury should be treated immediately. Check with your Podiatrist before any treatment. The following conservative treatments will help the injured tendon to heal naturally:

• To protect your injured Achilles tendon from stretching, using a heel lift is advised.
• Using anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen will relieve the pain and swelling
• Elevate your injured foot using a pillow especially when sitting or lying
• Compressing your injured foot will relieve the swelling
• Apply an ice compact on your injured foot until the pain disappears
• Use crutches to avoid putting extra weight on your injured Achilles tendon

At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with suffering from foot problems. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Patrick Duffy Suffering from Morton’s Neuroma? Texas Foot Specialists

Patrick Duffy is an accomplished American actor that is best known for his role as Bobby Ewing in Dallas. The National Enquirer reported that he is suffering from Morton’s Neuroma, a painful foot condition.

Morton’s Neuroma is a condition that affects the nerves of the feet, most commonly the area between the third and fourth toes. These causes the nerves around the feet to enlarge that will cause pain in the feet.

How does Morton’s Neuroma occur?Morton’s Neuroma occurs as a response to irritation, pressure, or injury to one of the nerves of the foot. Consult a podiatrist for any chronic foot pain. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with chronic foot pain and other types of foot conditions.

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes. High heeled shoes and tight shoes can put extra pressure on your toes and on the ball of your foot.
• High impact exercise. Participating in certain sports such as running, hiking, or jumping will cause your feet to repetitive trauma.
• Walking incorrectly. People who have bunions, hammertoes and other foot deformities are at higher risk of developing Morton's neuroma.

What are the symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma?

• Burning sharp pain and numbness on the bottom of the foot
• The pain increases while walking and is gone when resting
• Tingling sensation in the spaces between your toes

These symptoms can also be caused by wearing high heeled shoes and standing for a long period of time. If the symptoms of Morton's Neuroma is persistent, the best way to do is to visit a podiatrist so he can suggest measures to reduce the symptoms or to recommend treatments.

Treating Morton’s Neuroma

Make sure you check with your Podiatrist before treating your neuroma. The treatment depends on how long you have had the condition and its severity. If your Morton's Neuroma is painful, your doctor will start treating you using conservative and non-surgical methods.

The following are some the non-surgical ways on how to treat Morton's Neuroma:

• Change your footwear. Avoid using high heeled and narrow shoes. Ease the pressure on the nerve of your foot by wearing orthotic pads such as metatarsal pads and good arch support.
• Losing weight. Exercising and losing weight will reduce the strain on your feet.
• Painkillers. Using anti-inflammatory drugs will reduce the pain
• Injections. A steroid injection medication will offer real pain relief that will last for some time.

Can Morton's Neuroma be prevented?

It is not always possible to prevent Morton’s Neuroma but you can reduce the risk by wearing and using low-heeled, well-fitting and wider shoes. The symptoms will come and go and sometimes, it will go away completely. At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize suffering from Morton's Neuroma. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.