A broken toe occurs when one of the toe bones fractures due to trauma, stubbing, or dropping a heavy object on it. Causes include sports injuries, accidents, or repetitive stress. Risk factors are osteoporosis, poor footwear, and high impact activities. Symptoms may include swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking. Taping can help stabilize the toe if the break is minor, determined by evaluating pain, alignment, and mobility. The process involves gently wrapping the injured toe to its neighbor for support while avoiding circulation issues. A podiatrist can confirm the diagnosis, and provide treatment, which may or may not include buddy taping. If you suspect you have broken your pinky toe, it is strongly suggested that you promptly consult a podiatrist who can accurately diagnose the injury and offer the best treatment solution, preventing long-term complications.

Broken toes may cause a lot of pain and should be treated as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Elie C. Daniel, DPM from Illinois. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is a Broken Toe?

A broken toe occurs when one or more of the toe bones of the foot are broken after an injury. Injuries such as stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it may cause a toe fracture.

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Swelling
• Pain (with/without wearing shoes)
• Stiffness
• Nail Injury

Although the injured toe should be monitored daily, it is especially important to have a podiatrist look at your toe if you have severe symptoms. Some of these symptoms include worsening or new pain that is not relieved with medication, sores, redness, or open wounds near the toe.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Princeton, Peru, and Mendota, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Sever's disease is a common cause of heel pain in growing children, especially those who are active in sports. It occurs when the growth plate in the heel becomes inflamed due to repetitive stress or tension from the Achilles tendon. Symptoms include heel pain during or after physical activity, limping, swelling, tenderness at the back of the heel, and stiffness in the foot upon waking. The heel may appear slightly red or swollen and often feels sore when squeezed. Sever's disease usually affects children between the ages of 8 and 14 during growth spurts. A podiatrist can diagnose the condition through a physical examination and a review of activity levels and symptoms. Imaging is rarely needed but may be used to rule out other issues. Treatment options include stretching exercises, heel lifts, supportive footwear, and temporary activity modification. It is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist to manage symptoms and promote proper healing.

Sever's disease often occurs in children and teens. If your child is experiencing foot or ankle pain, see Elie C. Daniel, DPM from Illinois. Our doctor can treat your child’s foot and ankle needs.

Sever’s Disease

Sever’s disease is also known as calcaneal apophysitis, which is a medical condition that causes heel pain I none or both feet. The disease is known to affect children between the ages of 8 and 14.

Sever’s disease occurs when part of the child’s heel known as the growth plate (calcaneal epiphysis) is attached to the Achilles tendon. This area can suffer injury when the muscles and tendons of the growing foot do not keep pace with bone growth. Therefore, the constant pain which one experiences at the back of the heel will make the child unable to put any weight on the heel. The child is then forced to walk on their toes.

Symptoms

Acute pain – Pain associated with Sever’s disease is usually felt in the heel when the child engages in physical activity such as walking, jumping and or running.

Highly active – Children who are very active are among the most susceptible in experiencing Sever’s disease, because of the stress and tension placed on their feet.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Princeton, Peru, and Mendota, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Diabetic foot ulcers are slow healing wounds that appear on the feet of individuals with diabetes and can become a very serious health issue. Almost a quarter of all individuals diagnosed with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer at some point in their life. There are several types of diabetic foot ulcers, and knowing which type you have can help determine the most effective treatment. Neuropathic ulcers occur when nerve damage from diabetic neuropathy prevents the patient with diabetes from feeling pain from an injury. This allows the wound to progress before you are even aware of it, increasing the risk of infection. Ischemic ulcers may be caused by a lack of blood flow to the feet. These types of ulcers are often difficult to heal. Neuroischemic ulcers are the most difficult to heal and occur in individuals who have both neuropathy and poor circulation. Infected wounds occur in half of diabetic patients with foot ulcers, and require close medical attention. If you have diabetic foot ulcers, it is highly recommended that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can help you look after your wounds and prevent severe complications.  

Wound care is an important part in dealing with diabetes. If you have diabetes and a foot wound or would like more information about wound care for diabetics, consult with Elie C. Daniel, DPM from Illinois. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Wound Care?

Wound care is the practice of taking proper care of a wound. This can range from the smallest to the largest of wounds. While everyone can benefit from proper wound care, it is much more important for diabetics. Diabetics often suffer from poor blood circulation which causes wounds to heal much slower than they would in a non-diabetic. 

What Is the Importance of Wound Care?

While it may not seem apparent with small ulcers on the foot, for diabetics, any size ulcer can become infected. Diabetics often also suffer from neuropathy, or nerve loss. This means they might not even feel when they have an ulcer on their foot. If the wound becomes severely infected, amputation may be necessary. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance to properly care for any and all foot wounds.

How to Care for Wounds

The best way to care for foot wounds is to prevent them. For diabetics, this means daily inspections of the feet for any signs of abnormalities or ulcers. It is also recommended to see a podiatrist several times a year for a foot inspection. If you do have an ulcer, run the wound under water to clear dirt from the wound; then apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover with a bandage. Bandages should be changed daily and keeping pressure off the wound is smart. It is advised to see a podiatrist, who can keep an eye on it.

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in Princeton, Peru, and Mendota, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Stiffness in the big toe, often linked to a condition called hallux limitus, can greatly interfere with normal foot function. The big toe joint plays an important role in walking, balance, and push-off during each step. When motion at the joint is reduced, it can cause pain on the top of the toe and limit the ability to bend it properly. Over time, this stiffness may lead to bone spurs forming around the joint, further restricting movement and contributing to swelling or discomfort in shoes. In more advanced cases, the joint may become rigid, a condition known as hallux rigidus, which can cause ongoing pain and difficulty with everyday activities. A podiatrist can evaluate stiffness in the big toe and recommend treatment options to restore mobility, relieve pain, and protect long-term joint health. If you notice stiffness in your big toe, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for an evaluation and appropriate treatment.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Elie C. Daniel, DPM of Illinois. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in Princeton, Peru, and Mendota, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.