Today, Tuesday October 09 2012, marks John Lennon’s birthday.  Had he not been shot and killed by the man whose name we don’t mention, he would have been 72 years old. We celebrated by listening to Beatles music all day in my Toronto podiatry office.

Today also marks the re-release of the Beatles movie “Magical Mystery Tour” on DVD and Blu-ray.  It was practically a home movie directed by Paul McCartney.  In this film the Beatles go on a magical journey on a magical bus, meet strange people and do strange things. It first came out in the mid to late 60’s to universally poor reviews. However, it is a must see for any true Beatles’ fan and the music is still great. It features several songs written for the movie, and, individually, they look like music videos before there was such a thing as music videos.

If you have pain in your feet, from Bunions, hammertoes, Ingrown Toenails, Heel Spur Pain, Arch Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, or you have ugly toenails from Nail Fungus, please call Toronto foot care clinic at 416-486-9917 to set up a private consultation. When you come to visit, please enjoy my various Beatles posters, including one that was signed  by Pete Best, the Beatles original drummer.  If you are a serious Beatles fan, I may also show you my 1967 Hofner bass guitar. 

According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, Texas Rangers player Mike Olt limped off the field after running to first base when plantar fasciitis in his right foot flared up.   According to the article, there is no treatment for plantar fasciitis other than rest.

This is not true. 

Heel pain and arch pain due to plantar fasciitis can be treated and should be treated.  The plantar fascia is a broad ligament found in the bottom surface of the foot which connects the heel bone to the toe bone and runs along the arch.  Overuse or injury can cause irritation or inflammation of the plantar fascia near where it inserts on the heel bone, also called the calcaneus,  as well as along the plantar fascia along the arch.

In my Toronto podiatry office, I treat plantar fasciitis by relieving the pull of the plantar fascia ligament and by relieving inflammation.

The first step is to relieve the pull of the plantar fascia.  This can be performed by using over the counter arch supports, or, if that is not successful, made to measure orthotics.   Orthotics improve the mechanics of the foot, re-align the foot, and relieve the pull of the plantar fascia.  This can be an important step to healing. 

The inflammation can be relieved by the use of anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen and Naprosyn.  However, anti-inflammatory medication is not a good idea to take if you have high blood pressure, stomach problems or heart problems.   A cortisone injection can also be performed in the tender  area  if  the pain is localized.  However, many people do not like the cortisone injections because they can be painful and repeated injections can weaken the connective tissue.

In my Toronto foot clinic I offer an alternative to cortisone and medication.  I use sound waves, sometimes in combination with a low level Laser Pain Treatment, to relieve inflammation without the side effects of pills and cortisone.

For people who have had plantar fasciitis for a relatively short time, such as two or three months or less, I find that they will often respond to a combination of low level laser and a sound wave treatment called pressure wave or radial wave (also referred to as radial shock wave).  Most people will require three treatments, spread out over three weeks.

In chronic cases where the person has been suffering for three or four months or more, I use a stronger modality called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Heel Spur Pain, Arch Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis in my Toronto podiatry clinic.  This is performed under local anesthetic.  Most people will require only one treatment.

If you or a loved one suffer from heel pain or arch pain due to plantar fasciitis or have other painful problems, please call my office at 416-486-9917 to find out how you can be helped to walk pain free 

A San Diego law firm is suing Skechers for injuries caused by Shape-Ups.  They claim that the rocker bottom sole causes instability while walking and fails to provide adequate support.  They feel that the instability causes the body, especially the feet and ankles, to work excessively to maintain balance.  They believe that this can result in over stretching of the plantar fascia, which is the broad ligament that supports the arch and joins at the heel bone or calcaneus and the toe bones.  This can result in a painful condition called plantar fasciitis.

Typically a person with plantar fasciitis will experience considerable pain with the first few steps when getting out of bed in the morning and with the first few steps following rest.  The heel or arch can be particularly painful following exercise.

The law firm also complains that Sketchers Shape-Ups have been responsible for other injuries such as broken ankles, fractured bones, torn ligaments, strained muscles, and Achilles tendinitis. 

When people come to my Toronto foot clinic complaining of heel and arch pain due to plantar fasciitis, I focus on relieving the excessive stretching of the ligament and reducing the inflammation associated with this painful condition.

I find that made to measure orthotics can improve the mechanics of the foot and thus relieve the excessive pulling of the ligament.  We can make Custom foot orthotics, Orthopedic Insoles, foot beds, arch supports, for foot, leg, heel, or arch pain to fit into sports shoes as well as narrower pairs to fit into dressier shoes.

Inflammation can be relieved with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen and Naprosyn.  Alternatively, a cortisone injection can be performed in the tender areat o relieve inflammation associated with plantar fasciitis.  However, many people are not comfortable taking anti-inflammatory medication because this can be hard on the stomach, the heart, and can exacerbate high blood pressure or hypertension.  Also, many people do not like the idea of cortisone injections, because they can be painful and repeated injections can weaken the connective tissue. 

For these people I use a combination of therapeutic sound waves along with  laser treatment.  These modalities can relieve inflammation without the side effects of pills and injections. 

For someone who has had plantar fasciitis for a relatively short time, I use a sound wave modality called pressure wave or radial wave.  This is easily tolerated without anesthetic, takes only a few minutes to perform and, in my Toronto foot clinic, is combined with a low level laser treatment.  Most people will need to be treated once a week for approximately three weeks to start experiencing a significant improvement.

For someone who has been treated unsuccessfully for several months and has chronic plantar fasciitis, I use a stronger sound wave modality called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Heel Spur Pain, Arch Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, and Achilles Tendonitis.   This is a higher energy sound wave and is performed in my office with the aid of local anesthetic.  I have found that approximately seventy-five percent of people with chronic heel and arch pain due to chronic plantar fasciitis will experience a significant improvement following just one treatment with shock wave.

If you or a loved one suffer from heel or arch pain due to plantar fasciitis or have other painful problems such as bunions, hammer toes, ingrown nails, corns, bone spurs, please call my office at 416-486-9917 to set up a private consultation.  Find out how you can walk pain free today.

If you would like to see the original article please go to http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=28128&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hgarticles+(HG.org+Legal+Articles) 

According to www.utsandiego.com San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates, has lost some weight, is able to practice, and hopes not to lose anymore time with  Plantar Fasciitis with which he suffered during the previous two seasons.

The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that runs from the plantar or bottom surface of the heel bone or calcaneous and goes forward in the foot and attaches to the toe bones.  It helps to support the arch.

The plantar fascia can become injured or irritated due to excessive wear and tear, overuse, or injury.  This can cause heel/ or arch pain which is noticeable with the first few steps in the morning, particularly if you've been active the day before.  If you've been standing and walking for a period of time and then you sit down for a while, you will often experience heel and arch pain when you start walking again.

The keys to relieving plantar fasciitis are:

1) You must relieve the forces that are causing the plantar fascia to pull away from the heel bone.  This can be accomplished temporarily, by applying a supportive taping to the foot.  You can get more long lasting relief by using orthotics in your shoes.  They help to support your feet and improve the mechanics and reieve the pull of the plantar fascia.  You can try off the shelf inserts from the drug store.  If this is not helpful you may need made to measure custom foot orthotics from your podiatrist or foot specialist.

2) You must relieve the inflammation and irritation at the plantar fascia.  This can be accomplished with antiinflammatory medication.  However this is not a good idea for people who have sensitive stomachs, a history of ulcers, high blood pressure or heart disease.  Your podiatrist can also perform a cortisone injection but this can be painful and repeated injections are not a good idea.  In my Toronto podiatry office I am utilizing therapeutic modalities that do not have these effects.  For people who have had plantar fasciitis for less than two or three months, I use a combination of a sound wave treatment called radial wave or pressure wave or radial shockwave.  This is combined with a super pulsed Laser Pain Treatment.  In many cases this combination of treatments can help patients start feeling better immediately.  Many people will need three to four treatments spaced one week apart. 

For someone who has been suffering for more than three to six months, I use a stronger modality called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Heel Spur Pain, Arch Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis.  This is a stronger sound wave and is often performed with a local anesthetic.  We have found that seventy-five percent of people with chronic or long term plantar fasciitis will experience anywhere from a fifty to a hundred percent improvement following one treatment.  Some people will experience the effects of the shockwave quickly, others will take up to three months to notice a significant improvement.

If you have heel pain or arch pain or plantar fasciitis or any other foot problems please call Our Office  at 416-486-9917 to set up a private consultation.  I will tell you how we can help you to achieve painless feet.

It is my hope that Antonio Gates has a great season and does not experience anymore symptoms of plantar fasciitis. 

According to articles on the internet, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors injured his foot in the first quarter in a game on Wednesday Feruaray 22 2012.

Apparently, X-Rays were negative so he returned in the second quarter but continued to limp. Doctors were not sure if he had injured the posterior tibial tendon ( a tendon that aids in supination and supports the arch) or if he had injured the plantar fascia (a broad ligament that runs from the heel to the toes at the bottom - plantar - surface of the foot and also supports the arch.

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis includes pain at the heel or arch with the first few steps when getting out of bed in the morning and after sitting. It often feels better with stretching and a short amount of walking. The pain tends to increase with increased standing and walking and can feel worse toward the end of the day. It may not feel bad during exercise but usually feel worse the morning after exercising.

I have been treating heel and arch pain due to plantar fasciitis in my Toronto podiatry office for more than thirty years. If you think you have plantar fasciitis, you may be able to get relief by taking anti-inflammatory medicine such as Aspirin, A.S.A, Ibuprofen, or Naprosyn, provided you do not have hypertension (high blood pressure) or a history of gastric (stomach) ulcers - if you are not sure, you should talk to your family doctor. It may also be time to replace your sport shoes or buy off the shelf insoles at your drug store to give your foot added support.

If you continue to have pain, you should see your podiatrist (foot specialist). He may recommend made to measure custom foot orthotics to wear in your shoes to improve the biomechanics of your feet and relieve excessive strain.

It is also important to relieve the inflammation. Your podiatrist can do this with prescription strength anti-inflammatory medicine or cortisone injections. However these can have unwanted side effects so in my Toronto foot clinic I offer the latest in sound wave and laser therapy.

If your heel pain or plantar fasciitis is acute (of fairly recent onset) I use a combination of superpulsed laser and a soundwave modality called radial wave, pressure wave or radial shockwave. You can walk immediately, anesthetic is not required and there is very little discomfort with the procedure. Most people will come in weekly for a total of three to five treatments.

For someone who has chronic plantar fasciitis, (someone who has been suffering for several months) and has not responded to other treatments, I use Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or ESWT with local anesthetic. Most people require only one treatment. I find that in the vast majority of cases, extracorporeal shockwave can eliminate the need for surgery.

If you think you have plantar fasciitis or any other type of foot problem, including bunions, hammertoes, corns, calluses, ingrown nails or fungal nails, please call my Toronto podiatry office at 416-486-9917 for a personal consultation to find out how my staff and I can help end your foot pain.