Cryotherapy at Beaver Valley Foot Clinic

Are you dealing with chronic foot pain? Cryotherapy may be the solution for you. This quick and easy procedure has a high success rate and allows you to walk out of the office after the procedure!

This minimally invasive procedure freezes nerves, allowing ice to form around the actual nerve itself, the outer layers of the nerve sheath degenerates and, in doing so, decreases the nerve’s abilities to transmit the signal of pain. Over the course of the next couple of months, the nerve sheath regenerates again and in most cases regenerates without the inflammation and you are pain free.

Like applying an ice pack on the skin for minor aches and pains, cryotherapy has been shown to be very effective in relieving very painful foot conditions such as heel pain (plantar fasciitis), neuromas, and has been showing promising results in treating other conditions such as tarsal tunnel pain, tendonitis and may even be helpful in cases of arthritis and diabetic neuropathy. Contact the Beaver Valley Foot Clinic at 724-375-1577 today for more information or an appointment!

Common Youth Baseball Ankle Injuries

Parents, summertime means baseball season for your active children. There are ankle and foot injuries that are fairly common amongst youths. Here are a few of the injuries and suggested treatments. For more information on youth baseball ankle and foot injuries visit the Beaver Valley Foot Clinics website or call 724-375-1577.

 Achilles Tendinitis: The stopping and starting creates tightness and straining in the back of the heel.

Plantar Fasciitis: A condition in which catchers are susceptible especially in the arch of the foot by squatting behind home plate for every pitch. Again, coaches should teach their catchers how to alter
their stance to vary weight displacement. A podiatric physician can evaluate arch pain and may prescribe customized shoe inserts called orthoses to help alleviate the pain.

Contusions: A baseball will inevitably make contact with a player's foot and ankle, whether it's a pitched ball, foul tip, or line drive, and sliding base runners often run headlong into a infielder's legs.
Usually this contact results in contusions, which are not often serious injuries. Ice packs and a few days' rest will usually help the contusions, or bruises, feel better.

Shin Splints: Shin splints usually stem from an inflammation of the muscle and tendon attached to the shin, caused by stress factors. Treat shin pain with cold compresses immediately after a game to
reduce inflammation. Proper stretching and strengthening exercises should prevent the onset of shin splints.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Do you suffer from unexplained foot pain? It could be a result of tarsal tunnel syndrome. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a condition that is caused by compression of the tibial nerve (major nerve for feeling in the foot) or its associated branches as the nerve passes underneath the flexor retinaculum at the level of the ankle. Tarsal tunnel is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrist and hand. It can lead to extreme pain in the ankle and foot, making it hard to walk, or even stand.

Our podiatrists are specially trained in the delicate procedure of triple nerve decompression which helps such symptoms as pain and tingling in the feet. Call 724-375-1577 for more information on nerve decompression to treat tarsal tunnel syndrome or visit Beaver Valley Foot Clinic's website to schedule an appointment.

Get your Toes Ready for Sandals!

Are you tired of thick discolored nails hurting in your shoes? Are you embarrassed by what people would think if they saw your unsightly nails or warts? Would you like a simple easy way to get rid of fungus or warts?

 
The Beaver Valley Foot Clinic has the answer for you with its fungus and wart laser removal procedure. The laser passes through the nail without damaging it, yet kills the fungus living under the nail. This new approach to solving toenail fungus is more effective than topical treatment and without the side effects of taking pills. At the time of the procedure your toenail will not become instantly clear, but as it grows, the new nail will grow out normal as a result of the death to the fungus.

Don't be afraid to wear sandals this summer, clean up your toenails with a laser treatment from the Beaver Valley Foot Clinic!

Injuries and Treatments Common to Many Sports

Ankle Sprains: In older children, stretched or torn ligaments in the ankle, known as sprains, are more common than fractures. A sprain may cause extensive swelling around the ankle just like a fracture.
Immediate treatment is crucial to quick healing. A podiatric physician can provide treatment as well as recommend balancing and strengthening exercises to restore coordination quickly.

 Fractures: Fractures from overuse in child athletes are commonly seen in podiatric medical offices. Growth plates are particularly susceptible to injuries, but mid-shaft fractures of the bone also
occur. If a fracture is not severe, rest and immobilization may be the best treatment. More complicated injuries may require casting or surgical correction. If swelling and pain persist, see a podiatric physician.

Sever's Disease: An inflammation of a growth plate, Sever’s Disease is often felt as pain behind the heel caused by inflammation of the apophysis, a growth center where a tendon is attached to the bone.
Rest, ice, and heel lifts are usually prescribed.

Shin Splints and Stress Fractures: Shin splints are microtears or inflammation of the anterior leg muscles, as are achilles tendon pulls in the posterior region of the leg. Again, rest is most important in
healing these injuries. If pain is persistent, see a podiatrist, who can recommend strengthening exercises, certain shoes, or, if indicated, prescribe custom-made shoe inserts known as orthoses.