Footnotes / Blog

Often called degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common chronic condition of the joints. This problem occurs when the cartilage or cushion between joints breaks down leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. Specific Symptoms The most common presenting symptom is stiffness of one or more joints first thing in […]

Melanoma is a type of aggressive skin cancer that starts from a specific skin cell called a melanocyte. Between 3 to 15 percent of melanomas occur on the foot. Melanoma is a malignancy, and has the highest fatality rate of all skin cancers. Signs and Symptoms Change in size, shape, color, or texture of an […]

What is Turf Toe? You may have heard the term “Turf Toe” occuring in the sports world. The term comes from certain types of injuries that occur when playing on turf material. Specifically, it is a sprain from excessive upward bending of the big toe joint. Artificial turf can cause the foot to stick while […]

Plantar Plate Tear Symptoms A tear/injury to the strong supporting ligament underneath a toe, with pain along the ball of the foot. These tears can occur acutely during an injury or can be caused by chronic strain on the ligament. The plantar plate is supposed to keep the toes in place and stop them from […]

What a sesamoid? A sesamoid is a bone that in embedded in tendon or muscle. In the foot, there are two sesamoids present under the big toe joint. Sesamoiditis The sesamoids under the big toe joint can become inflamed. Pain can present gradually. It may be painful when you move the big toe up and […]

Plantar Fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It is an inflammation of the ligament that attaches to your heel bone and supports the arch of the foot. Strain on this ligament can create tiny tears that lead to moderate to severe pain and swelling. Patients often report an onset of pain with […]

What is a Plantar Wart?  A noncancerous skin growth on the bottom of the foot, caused by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin. It is specifically caused by a strain of HPV. Symptoms A plantar wart appears either by iteself or in a cluster (mosaic plantar warts) on the bottom of the foot. It can […]

What is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?  Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is damage to nerves in the hands and feet, which is caused by chronically high blood sugar and Diabetes. Symptoms The symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy include numbness, loss of sensation, tingling, pins and needles, and occasionally pain in the feet and hands. Diagnosis A diabetic peripheral […]

What is Achilles Tendonitis?  Inflammation of the Achilles tendon, that often causes pain on the back of the ankle near the heel. It is due to a repetitive stress on the Achilles tendon, which is used when you walk, run, and jump off of your toes. Symptoms/Diagnosis Swelling, tenderness, and pain may all be present […]

Overview Onychomycosis, also known as Tinea Unguium, is a fungal infection of the nail. It is more common in toenails than fingernails. Symptoms The most common symptom of a fungal nail infection is the nail becoming thickened and discoloured: white, black, yellow or green. The nails can become brittle as the infection progresses, causing piece […]