Thick, yellow nails are usually caused by the presence of a fungal nail infection. A fungal infection of the toe nails is a common foot problem. Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is an infection of the nail plate and nail bed. It is caused by various types of fungi, which are commonly ...
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Thick, yellow nails are usually caused by the presence of a fungal nail infection. A fungal infection of the toe nails is a common foot problem. Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is an infection of the nail plate and nail bed. It is caused by various types of fungi, which are commonly found throughout the environment. Fungi are simple parasitic plant organisms that do not require sunlight for growth. A group of fungi called dermatophytes have evolved to attack human nails and skin.
The infection of the nail begins with some type of trauma to the nail. The dermatophyte gains entry into the nail and begins to feed on the nail protein called keratin. The big toe nail is the most commonly infected toe nail.
Our big toe nails can get damaged or traumatized from:
The way we walk or run. ( because of a unstable low arched foot or bunion)
The shoes we wear ( tight fitting shoes or high heels)
The type of job (the requirement to use steel-toed safety boots).
Furthermore, the environment inside of a shoe is dark and damp which provides a perfect growing climate for nails and skin fungus. Other contributory factors are a history of athlete's foot (fungal skin infection of the foot) and sweaty feet.
Several research studies have estimated onychomycosis affects 3% to 13% of the population. The vast majority of people who have fungal nails don't even recognize the existence of a problem and therefore don't seek treatment for many years because their thick nails are not yet causing them pain.
The rate of fungal infections rises sharply among older adults above 65 years as they start to experience more medical problems. For instance, those who suffer chronic diseases, such as diabetes, circulatory problems, or immune-deficiency conditions, are especially prone to fungal nails. This can result in fungal nails being considered a minor problem in comparison to other concurrent medical problems.
Fungal infections of the nail can be graded as mild, moderate or severe. The severe fungal nail infection occurs when the infection extends into the nail matrix (the area of the nail at the base which has white half-moon). A severe fungal nail infection is very difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis.
Fungal nails can be treated by:
Thinning the nail plate
Removing diseased nail and fungal debris back to healthy appearing nail.
Applying topical nail softeners and topical anti-fungal medication exposed nail bed and remaining nail plate
Application of laser to nail plate
Oral anti-fungal medication
If you suspect you have a fungal nail infection you should visit a chiropodist/podiatrist to confirm if you have a fungal nail infection and discuss your treatment options.
Recently on the Ellen Show Mark Wahlberg discussed the removal of a portion of nail that was causing him pain in his nail groove. His co star Micky O'Keefe from the movie "The Fighter" advised Mark to see his daughter-in-law who is a podiatrist. A portion of Mark's big toenail ...
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Recently on the Ellen Show Mark Wahlberg discussed the removal of a portion of nail that was causing him pain in his nail groove. His co star Micky O'Keefe from the movie "The Fighter" advised Mark to see his daughter-in-law who is a podiatrist. A portion of Mark's big toenail that was digging into his skin was removed permanently so it would not grow back.
I use an internet service called Google Alerts. I subscribed to an alert for "Ingrown nails". Any query on "ingrown nails" is sent to my smart phone. One of the most common questions concerning ingrown nails is from the website "answers.yahoo.com" . Most questions are usually "what I can do to cure or get rid of my ingrown toenail". This type of question occurs daily. Many people suffer from the pain of ingrown nails.
Mark Wahlberg stated his nail was growing the wrong way. I am only guessing but Mark may have tried to cut his nail hoping to relieve the pressure in his nail groove. Unfortunately this action may have made the problem worse. He may have also aggravated the problem by wearing tight shoes. I'm glad he took the advice of visiting a podiatrist.
Ingrown nails usually pierce the skin causing inflammation and infection. If an ingrown nail is treated early all that may be required is the removal of a small piece of nail to alleviate the problem, most times without the need for freezing.
Unfortunately, some people delay treatment of their infected ingrown nail. Usually in these cases, the nail is highly curved which puts a great amount of pressure in the nail groove. The consequence of delayed treatment is procedure requiring a permanent partial or total removal of the nail performed using local anesthesia. This procedure uses a chemical called phenol to destroy the nail matrix. Destruction of the nail matrix prevents the removed nail from growing back.. The post operative care requires soaking of the nail bed using salt water followed by the use of an antibiotic cream. In some cases, if the infection is moderate to severe an oral antibiotic may be required. Generally the nail procedure will take about two to three weeks to heal.
Do not delay seeking treatment for an ingrown nail. It will probably only get worse.
My colleague and good friend Brian Cragg from Markham Footcare has produced a very informative YouTube video (shown below) outlining the benefits of using the PediGait synchronous 4 camera gait analysis system. We both introduced this technology into our offices in April 2012. Gait analysis is used on a ...
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My colleague and good friend Brian Cragg from Markham Footcare has produced a very informative YouTube video (shown below) outlining the benefits of using the PediGait synchronous 4 camera gait analysis system. We both introduced this technology into our offices in April 2012.
Gait analysis is used on a daily basis by chiropodists/podiatrists as a component of the physical evaluation of the presenting patient. Typically, gait analysis consists of watching a patient walk back and forth in a hallway. The information observed in the gait analysis helps to reveal the the cause the patient's presenting symptoms.
Hallway gait analysis provides valuable information to the practitioner but provides no visual feedback for you "the patient" relating to the way you walk or run.
Since the introduction of PediGait into our Whitby office, we have elevated clinical gait analysis to the next level by providing more informed patient education as well as direct visual feedback to help you to understand why you have foot, ankle, shin, knee, hip and back pain.
The benefits of the Pedigait system include:
Films and records you walking or running on a treadmill simultaneously from the front view, back view, left side view and right side view.
Archives a permanent visual record of your gait that can be played back immediately or at a future date.
Immediate playback to allow observation of your gait from four views at the same time or from one single view on a large high definition TV
The video can be slowed down, viewed frame by frame or paused to allow you to see your gait in complete detail from four different views or one single view.
Provides comparisons between multiple video captures such as walking or running barefoot, with shoes and with shoes plus orthotics.
Can provide a video file either for insurance purposes, or for another health professional such as your family doctor or simply to view on your home computer
Finally, one of the benefits for the chiropodist/podiatrist is the ability to view your gait analysis video in more detail after you are no longer in the office. If your treatment plan requires a prescription foot orthotic, the archived visual record of the captured 4 views is extremely useful when writing a prescription for custom foot orthotics.
Today in Whitby, ON, James Carroll the CEO and founder of Thor Photomedicine spoke about low level laser therapy (LLLT) to a number of my podiatric collegues. He discussed how light emitting diodes (LED's) and near infra red laser light promotes tissue healing, improves lymphatic drainage, provides analgesia and relaxes ...
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Today in Whitby, ON, James Carroll the CEO and founder of Thor Photomedicine spoke about low level laser therapy (LLLT) to a number of my podiatric collegues. He discussed how light emitting diodes (LED's) and near infra red laser light promotes tissue healing, improves lymphatic drainage, provides analgesia and relaxes muscles via trigger points.
To understand how LLLT works you will have to learn about mitochondria. Mitochondria are the energy factories of our human cells. The mitochondria produce an energy-rich molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is produce by a complex chemical pathway which includes a protein called cytochrome C oxidase. Cytochrome C oxidase will bind oxygen to help complete the formation of ATP.
In the event of any type of tissue injury to the cells of skin, ligaments, muscle, tendon, nerve and bone, the mitochondria in the cells will start to produce nitric oxide. The nitric oxide will bind to cytochrome C oxidase preventing oxygen from binding. When oxygen doesn't bind to ctyochrome C oxidase the production ATP is reduced. If there is a decrease in ATP there is no energy for cells to function efficiently. This lack of ATP can delay tissue healing.
When the proper spectrum of light wave energy is applied to an injured area, the cytochrome C oxidase will absorb the light energy and force the nitric oxide off of the cytochrome C oxidase. This will allow oxygen to bind to cytochrome C oxidase and an increase the production of ATP. The increase in ATP in any injured cell will allow for local tissue healing, promotion increased immune function via lymphatic drainage, provide analgesia via nerve inhibition and relax muscle via stimulation of trigger points.
If you have acute pain and swelling in the foot it can significantly reduced after one or two treatments with LLLT. Chronic pain and swelling in the foot will also respond favourably with several treatments. LLLT can reduce the amount of time it takes to heal chronic skin wounds, diabetic foot ulcers and venous ulcers.
We have been using a Thor Laser at Whitby Family Footcare Clinic for several months with some favourable patient outcomes on achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis and wound healing.
I want to thank James Carroll for presenting an very informative seminar on LLLT
I had the opportunity to listen to an excellent lecture given by Dr. Warren Joseph DPM. He spoke about antiboitics and there use in podiatric practice. He outlined the commonly used antibiotics prescribed by chiropodists and podiatrists for skin, soft tissue and bone infections in the foot. He outlined the ...
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I had the opportunity to listen to an excellent lecture given by Dr. Warren Joseph DPM. He spoke about antiboitics and there use in podiatric practice. He outlined the commonly used antibiotics prescribed by chiropodists and podiatrists for skin, soft tissue and bone infections in the foot. He outlined the most effective antibiotics for diabetic foot infections as well as his concern about the resistant strains of bacteria that are difficult to treat with existing antibiotics. Dr Joseph explained the antibiotic dosage prescribed to patients should be 1 pill once per day or twice per day, if possible. Otherwise, patients may not take the prescibed dosage if they have to take a pill 3 or 4 times per day.
If you are taking antibiotics you should finish your prescribed number of pills. In other words, don't stop taking them until they are all finished even if you feel much better before they are finished.
After the lecture, I was presented with an Ontario Society of Chiropodists 25 year membership pin by Craig Hunt. Many of my collegues I went to school with or I have taught over past 25 years also received their 5, 10, 15 or 25 year membership pins. It was a great ending to an OSC meeting.
Thick, yellow nails are usually caused by the presence of a fungal nail infection. A fungal infection of the toe nails is a common foot problem. Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is an infection of the nail plate and nail bed. It is caused by various types of fungi, which are commonly found throughout the environment. Fungi are simple parasitic plant organisms that do not require sunlight for growth. A group of fungi called dermatophytes have evolved to attack human nails and skin. 
Removing diseased nail and fungal debris back to healthy appearing nail.
Hallway gait analysis provides valuable information to the practitioner but provides no visual feedback for you "the patient" relating to the way you walk or run.
Archives a permanent visual record of your gait that can be played back immediately or at a future date.
barefoot, with shoes and with shoes plus orthotics.
