HCPC Registered Podiatrist

Ingrowing toenails develop as a result of poor nail cutting, inappropriate footwear, hormonal change (common in teenagers) and infection. Quite often, ingrowing nails start out as being inflamed and irritating but avoiding proper attention, they can become chronic, immensely painful and cause distress and dysfunction to your day to day activities. In many cases, infections can make it difficult to cope with the pain and may put your toe nail or even your toe at risk of further damage. Quick action to have your ingrowing nails treated can save you a lot of unnecessary pain and discomfort.

In many cases, chronic and painful ingrowing toenails become unmanageable and due to difficulties treating them conservatively due to pain, it becomes necessary to remove the toe nail to allow the ingrowing nail to be resolved. This is called a toe nail avulsion which may involve a small part of the nail (partial avulsion) or the full nail (total avulsion). In most cases, the nail surgery procedure involves the use of Phenol which is a chemical that stops the nail from growing back offering a permanent solution to get rid of the chronic painful nail once and for all. If you have been suffering from a painful ingrowing toenail for too long, speak to our Podiatrist for more information.

A Biomechanical assessment is an clinical evaluation of the soft tissues and skeletal alignment of the foot and ankle. The assessment also takes into account the full body and how posture and joint function influences the pressures and forces applied to the foot and ankle during gait (walking). Abnormalities identified from a Biomechanical assessment often highlight issues resulting in pain and loss of function. Some examples of this are;  Plantar fasciitis which is a common condition causing pain in the heel and arch of the foot. It's primarily due to inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot, supporting the arch and acting as a shock absorber. The pain is often most intense upon first steps in the morning or after periods of rest.  Rearfoot/ ankle pain can present as Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)  Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is the dysfunction of the posterior tibial tendon. It is a progressive disease that has four stages and is the most common cause of adult flatfoot.  Tarsal tunnel syndrome, which is a nerve compression syndrome or nerve entrapment syndrome causing a painful foot condition in which the tibial nerve is entrapped as it travels through the tarsal tunnel. The tarsal tunnel is found along the inner leg behind the medial malleolus  Forefoot pain  such as plantar plate tear. This  refers to damage to a thick, fibrous ligament (the plantar plate) located beneath the joints of the toes, specifically the metatarsophalangeal (MPJ) joints. These ligaments help support and stabilize the toe joints during movement. Tears can range from mild to severe, with symptoms including pain, swelling, and potentially toe deformities. 

Orthotics (insoles) can be custom made with a  bespoke prescription to address the above conditions.  In some cases, an off the shelf prefabricated insole may be of benefit as a first line treatment along with rehab exercises to strengthen the foot and ankle musculature.  

For some PAtients who have difficulties in managing their own foot health, the Podiatrist can assisst to provide basic foot care maintenance. This may involve, simple nail cutting, reduction of callous (hard skin), Corn enucleation (removal), Fungal nail fungal infection treatment and advice and lastly, treatment of Verruca. This service can be sought regularly every 6-8 weeks as a way to maintain foot health and prevent further problems developing.

Being Diagnosed with Diabetes can predispose you to many complications associated with the disease but it is important to know that these complications can be managed as well as prevented when you take care of your diabetes. This is true when it comes to looking after your feet. Diabetes complications can cause problems with your circulation (this is called peripheral vascular disease) restricted  blood flow or even blockages in your arteries puts your foot health at risk. If you have an injury or if you develop an ulcer, this can make it difficult to heal and often increases your chances of developing infection. Diabetes can also affects the sensory nerves to your feet which make it difficult to appreciate pain and sensation. This is called Peripheral Neuropathy. Being able to appreciate sensation in your feet is important function in the protection of your feet.

Having a Diabetic foot assessment every 1-2 years helps to screen your feet for any signs of the above developing and with the right tailored diabetic foot care advice, you are one step closer to preventing diabetic foot complications.