Reisterstown Office Towson Office
100 Owings Court, #14 GBMC Campus, #4104
Reisterstown, MD 21136 Towson, MD 21204
(410) 833-9353 (410) 833-9353
Welcome to Our Patient Library
We believe that the more knowledge a patient has, the more they can contribute to their treatment and the quicker they heal. So we have included a patient library on our website as well as links to several other educational resourses. Whether you are an existing patient researching your diagnosed condition or a new patient looking for answers, we are here to help. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact us.
A podiatrist, DPM, doctor of podiatric medicine, is the only health care professional whose total training focuses on the foot, ankle and related body systems. As a specialist in foot care, the podiatrist receives extensive training in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of foot and ankle disorders by medical and surgical means. After obtaining an undergraduate degree, the podiatric doctor spends four years in a college of podiatric medicine to obtain a doctorate degree. Many podiatrists further their education by participating in a post-graduate residency program at an approved hospital or university. Following their doctorate degree, each podiatrist must pass national and state examinations in order to be licensed by the state in which he or she will practice.
The podiatric physician cares for people of all ages, treating any foot problem. The common disorders include bunions, heel pain/spurs, hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown toenails, warts, corns and calluses. The podiatric physician also renders care of sprains, fractures, infections, and injuries of the foot, ankle and heel. If your podiatric surgeon is certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, he or she has successfully completed a credentialing and examination process and has demonstrated knowledge of podiatric surgery, including the diagnosis of general medical problems and surgical management of foot diseases, deformities, and trauma of the foot, ankle and related structures.
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet – even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you may not notice a foreign object in your shoe. As a result you could develop a blister or a sore. This could lead to an infection or a non-healing wound that could put you at risk for an amputation.
To avoid serious foot problems that could result in losing a toe, foot, or leg, follow these guidelines.
Inspect your feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or nail problems. Use a magnifying hand mirror to look at the bottom of your feet. Call your doctor if you notice anything.
Wash your feet in lukewarm (not hot!) water. Keep your feet clean by washing them daily. Use only lukewarm water – the temperature you would use on a newborn baby.
Be gentle when bathing your feet. Wash them using a soft washcloth or sponge. Dry by blotting or patting, and carefully dry between the toes.
Moisturize your feet – but not between your toes. Use a moisturizer daily to keep dry skin from itching or cracking. But DON’T moisturize between the toes – that could encourage a fungal infection.
Cut nails carefully. Cut them straight across and file the edges. Don’t cut nails too short, as this could lead to ingrown toe nails. If you have concerns about your nails, consult your doctor.
Never treat corns or calluses yourself. No “bathroom surgery” or medicated pads. Visit your doctor for appropriate treatment.
Wear clean, dry socks. Change them daily.
Avoid the wrong type of socks. Avoid tight elastic bands (they reduce circulation). Don’t wear thick or bulky socks (they can fit poorly and irritate the skin).
Wear socks to bed. If your feet get cold at night, wear socks. NEVER use a heating pad or hot water bottle.
Shake out your shoes and feel the inside before wearing. Remember, your feet may not be able to feel a pebble or other foreign object, so always inspect your shoes before putting them on.
Keep your feet warm and dry. Don’t let your feet get wet in snow or rain. Wear warm socks and shoes in winter.
Never walk barefoot. Not even at home! Always wear shoes or slippers. You could step on something and get a scratch or cut.
Take care of your diabetes. Keep your blood sugar levels under control.
Don’t smoke. Smoking restricts blood flow in your feet.
Get periodic foot exams. Seeing your foot and ankle surgeon on a regular basis can help prevent the foot complications of diabetes.
Ingrown Nail
Intoeing
Mallet Toe
Metatarsalgia
Nail Fungus
Neuroma
Neuropathy
Osteomyelitis
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fibroma
Raynauld's Syndrome
Sesamoiditis
Sever's Disease
Shin Splints
Tarsal Tunnel
Tendon Rupture
Tibialis Posterior Tendon
Turf Toe
Varicose Veins
Venous Stasis
Warts
Athlete's Foot
Blisters
Bunions
Cavus Foot
Clawtoe
Clubfoot
Corns/Calluses
Cysts
Flatfeet
Fractures
Gangrene
Gout
Haglund's Deormity
Hallux Limitus
Hallux Rigidus
Hallux Varus
Hammertoe
Heel Spur
- 3 out of 4 Americans experience serious foot problems in their lifetime.
- The foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles.
- 1/4 of all the bones in the human body are down in your feet. When thesebones are out of alignment, so is the rest
of the body
- Only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems.
- It's neglect and a lack of awareness of proper care - including ill fitting shoes - that bring on problems.
- Women have about four times as many foot problems as men. High heels are partly to blame.
- Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It also contributes to your general health by improving circulation,
contributing to weight control, and promoting all-around well being.
- Your feet mirror your general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can
show their initial symptoms in the feet - so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical
problems.
- Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in America. It limits everyday dressing, climbing stairs, getting in
and out of bed or walking - for about 7 million Americans.
- About 60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetic nerve damage, which in severe
forms can lead to lower limb amputations. Approximately 56,000 people a year lose their foot or leg to
diabetes.
- There are 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet. Sweat glands in the feet excrete as much as a half-pint of
moisture a day.
- Walking barefoot can cause plantar warts. The virus enters through a cut.
- The two feet may be different sizes. Buy shoes for the larger one.
- About 5% of Americans have toenail problems in a given year.
- The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, which adds up to about 115,000 miles over a lifetime. -
that's enough to go around the circumference of the earth four times.
