Heel Pain

Plantar fasciitis

Heel pain is a very common foot problem. Many people experience pain after being on their feet for a long period of time or with the first steps in the morning.
Some helpful tips are to not walk barefoot. Keep a pair of supportive shoes close by that you can slip on in the morning. Stretch your calf muscles daily. Increasing the flexibility of your calf muscles. Make sure your shoes are supportive, and not too flexible. You can also try over the counter orthotics for your shoes.
When stretching and shoe changes do not work, it may be time to see a professional for further care. At FAMILY FOOT CARE we can prescribe custom orthotics and provide further treatment modalities to help eliminate your pain. We have 3 locations to serve you. 704-786-4482. Visit us in Concord 1022 Lee Ann Drive; Harrisburg 6602 Roberta Road; Locust 209 Town Center Drive.

Ingrown toenails

Curved toenails?

Are you toenails so curved that they look like and upside down “u”? You may have chronic ingrown toenails.
Ingrown toenails can be genetic or caused by external factors such as the shoes you wear and how your toenails are trimmed.
Avoid digging down into the nail fold or cutting the edges of the nail. When you try to trim the toenail yourself you can cause the ingrown toenail to get worse, or even infected.
To prevent ingrown toenails, the nail should be trimmed straight across. Ensure that your shoes are fitting properly so they do not cause extra pressure on the toenail. If your ingrown toenail requires professional care call FAMILY FOOT CARE. We have 3 locations to serve you. 704-786-4482.
Visit us in Concord 1022 Lee Ann Drive; Harrisburg 6602 Roberta Road; Locust 209 Town Center Drive.

DIABETIC FOOT CARE

Diabetes is a serious disease that can result in devastating complications, if not properly managed. Diabetes affects every part of your body from head to toe. Daily foot care is very important to prevent sores and amputations. You should inspect your feet daily for sores or red areas from ill-fitting shoes. Check shoes for debris that could injure your foot. Cut and file toe nails straight across, taking care not to cut them too short. Your skin should be moisturized daily. Even well controlled diabetics with no complications need a thorough foot exam at least once a year.
Call INSTRIDE FAMILY FOOT CARE today to schedule your diabetic foot exam. We have two convenient locations to serve you.

1022 Lee Ann Drive Concord, NC 28025 (704)-786-4482

6602 Roberta Road Harrisburg, NC 28075 (704)-454-5558

OUCH! GOUT!

Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness in joints, often the big toe joint. Men are more likely to be affected by gout; however, anyone can be affected. The pain can be intense enough to wake you up in the middle of the night. Gout is caused by an increase in uric acid in your blood, which causes urate crystals to deposit in the joint. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines — substances that are found naturally in your body, as well as in certain foods, such as organ meats, anchovies, herring, asparagus and mushrooms. Gout can be controlled with changing eating habits or oral medication. At FAMILYFOOT CARE we can help relieve your pain from a gout attack, and point you in the right direction to decrease these attacks. Call us to schedule your appointment today. We have three convenient locations to serve you.

1022 Lee Ann Drive Concord, NC 28025 704-786-4482

6602 Roberta Road Harrisburg, NC 28075 704-454-5558

209 Town Center Drive Locust, NC 28097 704-897-6081

BUNCHED UP SOCK?

Have you ever felt like your sock was bunched up in your shoe, but it wasn’t? That could be a symptom of a neuroma. Other symptoms of a neuroma may include burning pain or numbness in the ball of the foot. A neuroma is a thickening of the nerve tissue as a result of compression and irritation. Wearing shoes with a narrow toe box or high-heeled shoes can contribute to the formation of a neuroma. The symptoms may come and go, but usually get worse over time as the neuroma enlarges. Neuromas can be treated conservatively with padding, icing, or activity modifications. The best time to visit a podiatrist is when the symptoms first start. Often times the treatment is less invasive, if caught early enough.

At FAMILY FOOTCARE we can offer many different treatment modalities to help relieve your neuroma pain. Call us to schedule your appointment today. We have three convenient locations to serve you.

1022 Lee Ann Drive Concord, NC 28025 704-786-4482

6602 Roberta Road Harrisburg, NC 28075 704-454-5558

209 Town Center Drive Locust, NC 28097 704-897-6081

CURLY TOES

Hammer, claw, and mallet toes are deformities of the joints of the toes.  Contracted digits are caused by a muscle and tendon imbalance in the foot, arthritis, or constantly wearing ill-fitting shoes. Some people have a predisposition to develop hammer toes due to the structure of their feet. Women are more likely to develop hammer toes due to shoe gear. Over time the toes can become rigidly contracted and be painful in shoes. The toes can also develop calluses over the joint, which increase the risk for ulcers in the callused areas. There are conservative methods for treating hammer toes, such as splinting the toes or surgical methods to correct the deformity.

Padding in shoes, splinting the toes, or purchasing extra depth shoes can help alleviate some of the pain from hammer toes. If surgical intervention is required, it should be done by a foot and ankle specialist, such as a podiatrist. The physicians at FAMILY FOOT CARE can evaluate your feet and determine the best course of action to alleviate your pain. There are 2 convenient locations to serve you 1022 Lee-Ann Drive Concord and 6602 Roberta Road Harrisburg. 704-786-4482

Hint: You should have your feet measured at least once a year to make sure you are wearing the correct shoe size.

BRITTLE, DISCOLORED NAILS?

Have you noticed over time you toenails becoming thickened or changing colors?
Onychomycosis, or fungal nails is a fungal infection which can affect the condition of your nails.  In normal, healthy people, fungal nails are most commonly caused by fungus that is caught from moist, wet areas. Communal showers, such as those at a gym, or swimming pools are common sources. You are also at a higher risk if you get pedicures with equipment that has not been properly disinfected after use on another person. Some symptoms that you may have fungal nails are: brittle, crumbly nails; debris trapped under the nail; lifting of the nail; thickening or color changes in the nail.

There are many treatment options for fungal nails, ranging from topical drops and lacquers to oral antifungal medication. You need to be evaluated by a physician to have the definitive diagnosis of nail fungus. A physician can take samples of the nail and send it off to a lab to determine if the nail is infected or not. A physician can also prescribe the proper medication to best treat the fungus. Call FAMILY FOOT CARE at 704-786-4482 to schedule an appointment today.  We can evaluate your nails and recommend the best course of treatment for you. We are located at 1022 Lee-Ann Drive Concord and 6602 Roberta Road Harrisburg.

Hint: Do not walk barefoot on communal surfaces.