What's the best way to treat heel pain? Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center in Land O' Lake FL offers the latest and most effective techniques to help patients stay mobile and pain-free. Your podiatrists, Drs. George and Kathy Tjamaloukas, often see plantar fasciitis as the cause of heel discomfort. Just remember that your former podiatrist Wesley Chapel, FL is now in a new location!

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition affecting people of all ages. Related to overuse and overstretching of the arch of the foot, this inflammatory problem presents with a sharp pain in the arch and heel, particularly after rising in the morning or after prolonged inactivity. Pain lessens through the day, but over time, the condition worsens.

The plantar fascia is the connective tissue between the calcaneus (heel bone) and the base of the toes. As you walk or run, this tissue flattens and springs back. If your gait is unbalanced or if you carry too much body weight, the plantar fascia swells and becomes increasingly tender.

Sometimes, people with plantar fasciitis also have heel spurs, small projections off the front of the heel bone itself. Heel pain may originate in a stone bruise or simple wear and tear arthritis.

Diagnosis and treatment of heel pain

See your podiatrist at Comprehensive Foot and Ankle formerly in Wesley Chapel and now in Land O' Lakes FL. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms, look at your feet, and take digital X-rays. With plantar fasciitis confirmed, you can start on a care strategy to relieve inflammation and pain and to maximize your mobility. Your treatments may include:

• Resting
• Icing your arches and heels
• Physical therapy to include daily exercises (calf stretches)
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Custom-designed shoe inserts (orthotics) to cushion your heel and support your arches
• ESWT, or Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, an in-office application of sound waves to decrease inflammation, increase circulation, and help the healing

Luckily, most patients do not need surgery. However, if plantar fascia release is an option, count on Dr. Tjamaloukas for a well-executed procedure and your complete recovery.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) says that simply walking one mile puts 120,000 pounds of pressure on each foot. That's 60 tons! So good foot care is a must.

Contact us

If your heels hurt, please don't hesitate to call your podiatrists, Drs. George and Kathy Tjamaloukas, for a complete podiatric exam. The team at Comprehensive Foot and Ankle formerly in Wesley Chapel and now in Land O' Lakes FL cares. They can help you resolve your heel pain. Phone today for a consultation: (813) 909-0865.

Dealing with bunion pain? We want to help you find the most effective pain relief methods.

No matter what shoes you wear your bunion always seems to let you know that it’s around, jutting out from your big toe and causing pain and swelling. A bunion, also known as a hallux valgus, is a common deformity that shifts the joint at the base of the big toe out of place. From the office of our Wesley Chapel, FL, podiatrists Drs. George and Kathy Tjamaloukas, here are some of the best ways to manage your bunion symptoms.

Nonsurgical Treatment Options

Some people may have bunions but not even know it. If this condition isn’t causing you problems then there really isn’t much you will need to do apart from wearing properly fitted shoes; however, if you are regularly experiencing pain and swelling around the affected toe joint these simple approaches may provide you with the relief you are looking for,

• Protect the bunion and prevent calluses from forming by placing a non-medicated moleskin or gel pad over the bunion (these can be found at your local drugstore)
• Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help alleviate more intense pain and swelling (only a temporary solution)
• Massaging the bunion daily and stretching your feet throughout the day can stave off stiffness and pain. You may also choose to turn to a professional massage therapist to treat sore, achy feet caused by bunions.

If these simple measures aren’t providing you with relief then it’s time to talk with our Wesley Chapel, FL, foot doctors about other options such as custom orthotics (special shoe inserts that can provide your feet with additional support and cushioning) and night splints (which can temporarily realign the affected toe joint to take pressure off the area and reduce stiffness).

Furthermore, our podiatrists can also provide you with recommendations for which kinds of shoes to wear to prevent the deformity from getting worse. It’s important to avoid shoes that have heels over 2 inches tall, as well as shoes with pointed toes and any footwear that puts pressure on the bunion. Make sure that you are properly measured for any and all shoes you purchase (and toss out those old shoes, too!).

Surgery to Treat Bunions

The good news is that most people can manage their bunion symptoms through nonsurgical treatment options alone. In fact, surgery should be the last resort when it comes to treating a bunion. While this is the only way to actually repair the misaligned joint surgery usually is not considered unless,

• You have exhausted all other treatment options and you haven’t experienced relief from your symptoms
• Your pain is severe and affecting your day-to-day life
• Your pain has been persistent

If your bunion is causing you problems then turn to the podiatrists at Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center in Land O' Lakes, FL, for care. Call us today at (813) 909-0865.

A podiatrist has years of training in the health and function of your feet and lower extremities. Are you considering seeing a foot doctor? At CFAC Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center, Dr. George Tjamaloukas and Dr. Kathy Tjamaloukas are the best podiatrists in the Wesley Chapel, FL, area. They'll help you optimize your mobility, circulation, comfort, and more.

Why should I see a podiatrist?

Most people ages 40 and over, see some changes in how their feet work and feel. So, having a baseline examination by your podiatrist is a good idea. He or she will look at your feet, see how you walk, take X-rays as needed, and form a care plan to keep your feet healthy and to address any problems.

Additionally, if you suffer from an acquired deformity, such as a bunion or hammertoes, have a chronic health condition, such as arthritis or diabetes, or see or feel changes in your feet, contact CFAC Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center for an appointment. As always, prevention is the best way to preserve your podiatric and overall health.

Other reasons to see a foot doctor

See Dr. Tjamaloukas if:

• You have a sudden injury from a fall, motor vehicle accident, or sports.
• You see a change in skin texture, color, or temperature.
• Your feet hurt or have sore spots or wounds which do not heal quickly.
• You wish to start an athletic pursuit, such as running (your foot doctor will make sure you don't overdo it and that you wear the right shoes).
• Corns and calluses become thick and uncomfortable (never do bathroom surgery, particularly if you are diabetic or have problems with circulation).
• Athlete's foot persists despite over the counter medications.
• Have ingrown and/or yellow, thick toenails.
• Trimming your toenails yourself is very difficult.
• Your heels and arches hurt.

Be prepared for your appointment

Here's how to get the most out of your visit with your podiatrist:

1. Wear your usual shoes and clean socks.
2. Be specific about any symptoms you have. For example, what provokes them, and how long they last?
3. Bring your list of medications, and tell your podiatrist about any chronic health conditions you have.
4. If you have sustained an injury, tell how it happened and how you feel as a result.

We want to help

Seeing your podiatrist is always a good thing. At CFAC Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center in Wesley Chapel, FL, Dr. George Tjamaloukas and Dr. Kathy Tjamaloukas will help you with current conditions and help you avoid future problems. Call us! We're here to help: (813) 909-0865. We will be moving office locations to Land O' Lakes, FL. Our projected move will be on June 1st, 2020.

Talk with your podiatrist to find out if surgery is the best way to treat your foot or ankle problem.

From athletes to seniors, our Wesley Chapel, FL, podiatrists, Drs. George and Kathy Tjamaloukas, work with patients of all different ages, lifestyles, and backgrounds to ensure that they are able to move comfortably and easily through life without pain. Unfortunately, there are injuries and diseases that can affect the long-term health of your feet and ankles.

While most of the patients who walk through our doors complaining of foot and ankle pain will not need surgery in order to treat the underlying problem, our podiatrists will still want to perform an evaluation in their Wesley Chapel, FL, office to determine the cause of your pain. Once we have made a diagnosis, then we know how to properly proceed.

What conditions may benefit from foot and ankle surgery?

Unfortunately, feet and ankles are unfortunately vulnerable to injury. Add all the jumping, running and moving we do all day, and we are putting a lot of added stress on these parts of our body. One misstep, and suddenly you’re dealing with a sprained ankle or broken foot. While some injuries will heal with ample rest and proper nonsurgical treatments, you may require surgery if you are dealing with:

• Osteoarthritis: Common in older individuals, this type of arthritis causes the cartilage of the joints to wear down, leading to pain, stiffness, and bone spurs.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: This autoimmune disorder attacks the joints, causing significant joint pain and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to severe joint deformities and significantly impact a person’s ability to move.
• Posttraumatic Arthritis: This form of arthritis develops after a serious foot or ankle injury such as a fracture or dislocation.
• Bunions: A condition that pushes the joint at the base of the big toe out of alignment
• Severe Ankle Fracture: A broken bone in the ankle
• Hammertoe: Another deformity that affects the middle joint of the smaller toes, causing them to curl. Most hammertoes are flexible, but if a hammertoe becomes rigid, the toe will become immovable.

Again, many of these progressive conditions and deformities can be managed with simple home care; however, you may benefit from foot and ankle surgery if you are dealing with:

• Severe and chronic foot pain
• Pain that doesn’t respond to nonsurgical treatment
• Pain that flares up with movement or exercise
• An extremely large and painful bunion
• A rigid hammertoe
• Joint swelling and significant joint damage
• Severe joint tenderness
• Difficulty walking due to any of the issues above

Concerned? Give us a call

If you have been dealing with persistent and long-term foot and ankle pain, then it’s high time that you got some answers. The team at Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center in Wesley Chapel, FL, is dedicated to helping you lead a pain-free life. Call us today at (813) 909-0865 to schedule an evaluation.

It isn’t always easy to figure out what’s causing your ankle pain. A podiatrist can help.

If you are noticing ankle pain at any point in time or after an accident it’s important that you don’t ignore it. While ankle pain is often the result of sprain it can also be caused by instability, tendonitis, a fracture or arthritis, to name a few. Of course, if ankle pain is severe, persistent or affecting your ability to move around then it’s time to turn to our Wesley Chapel, FL, podiatrists Drs. George and Kathy Tjamaloukas.

Signs of a Sprain

Ankle sprains are one the most common sports injury; therefore, if you experience ankle pain, swelling, bruising or other problems after a fall or tackle on the field then you could be dealing with a sprained ankle. While mild cases can often be treated with the traditional RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method, it’s important that you see your Wesley Chapel, FL, podiatrist if symptoms don’t respond to at-home care or are severe.

While sprains affect the ligament and strains affect the muscles, it isn’t always easy to tell the difference between a sprain and a strain. The RICE method is almost all that’s needed to treat a strain while a sprain will often require additional care.

Signs of a Fracture

If you are dealing with a fractured ankle it’s important that you seek immediate medical attention. After an accident or injury, here are some telltale signs of a fractured ankle,

• Immediate and intense throbbing pain
• Pain that gets worse when moving the ankle
• Bruising
• Tenderness to the touch
• A visible deformity
• Swelling

If you suspect that you or your child has fractured their ankle bring them in right away for care. Along with at-home care, your doctor may recommend splinting or bracing the ankle, or even using crutches to take the weight off the affected foot while it heals. Severe fractures may require surgery.

Signs of Arthritis

It’s easy to determine the cause of your ankle pain if you experienced an accident, but it’s a little harder to pinpoint if you aren’t sure why you are dealing with pain. Arthritis is a chronic condition that leads to joint pain, and it often affects the joints in the ankle and foot. Along with joint pain, it’s also common to experience inflammation and stiffness. There are many different types of arthritis so it’s important to see your podiatrist for a diagnosis.

If pain persists it’s important not to ignore your condition. Call Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center in Wesley Chapel, FL, today at (813) 909-0865 to schedule an appointment.