The Disease of Kings

By Dr. Michelle Vi Nguyen Ah, it must be good to be king: insurmountable wealth, gorgeous castles, lavish meals, and gout. Wait, what? – Yes, gout! Gout was historically deemed the “disease of kings” because it was associated with an opulent lifestyle. The onset of symptoms seemed to correlate with overindulgence of food and alcohol, a diet that only kings enjoyed. It was one of King Henry VIII’s lifetime companions, as if six wives were not enough! These days, we understand gout occurs when there is an accumulation of uric acid in a joint. Everyone produces uric acid. Approximately 2/3 of uric acid is made in our bodies naturally and the remaining 1/3 we consume in the form of purines. ...

Forefoot Pain: Could It Be Your Plantar Plate?

By: Dr. Jaya Rajagopalan Do you love wearing high heels and sometimes too-tight shoes?And does that sometimes make your forefoot hurt? A lot? Forefoot pain is a common condition that causes problems for many people. There are many common conditions associated with the pain in the forefoot, including bunions, hammer toes, neuromas, and more. One less known aggravator is the plantar plate injury. Forefoot pain can present as a burning sensation, aching, or throbbing. It often feels worse with activities such as yoga. It can also feel like a pebble is under your foot. Sometimes, the little toes will even “float” or “sit up” in comparison to the rest of its compadres. Over time, the toe may even drift to ...

The Achilles Heel

By: Dr. Kim L. Dao We’ve heard of the mythological definition of the Achilles Heel: The idiomatic weakness or vulnerability that brings about a hero’s downfall. Anatomically, the Achilles tendon is an area that can be prone to injury ranging from tendinitis to a full-blown rupture. The Achilles tendon is a thick cord as the muscles of the calf converge and connect to the back of the calcaneus or heel bone. This particular structure is easily injured in those who are active, especially in high-impact sports such as running and basketball. You may have heard of athletes who have been placed on the injured list due to Achilles tendinitis or rupture (partially or completely). Most notably: Kevin Durant during his ...

Skin Cancer… on your FEET?

By: Dr. Michelle Vi Nguyen Holy Moly, it’s summer already! May is Skin Cancer Prevention month and now that it’s officially sandal season, it is time to get our feet ready for some fun in the sun. Do you always remember to put sunscreen on your feet? Skin cancers can occur anywhere, so we must be just as diligent in protecting the skin of our feet as everywhere else on our body. Don’t Be Fooled! Skin cancers are infamous for being great mimickers. For example, Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas can be mistaken for warts and blisters. Melanoma can appear as moles and freckles on the feet. If you notice a lesion on your foot that is undergoing ...

Nervous Nellie over Neuromas

By: Dr. Kim L. Dao A common condition that can affect the feet is a neuroma. What is a neuroma? It is a growth of nerve tissue located at the ball of the foot. Although it can occur between any of the toes, it typically presents in the space between the 3rd and 4th toes. It is common enough that it has its own name: Morton’s neuroma. This condition usually presents as pain, radiating burning or tingling, or at worst, even numbness. These symptoms can be aggravated with walking or any weight bearing activity. The repetitive compression; and therefore, irritation to the nerve causes inflammation, and over time cause thickening of the nerve tissue itself until it becomes a benign ...

Pandemic Foot Issues

By: Dr. Mark Whitesides This past year has been challenging for oh-so-many reasons. As foot and ankle specialists, we have seen an increased number of lower extremity issues that are related to behavior changes during the pandemic. These include more time being barefoot at home, changing exercise patterns to cope with the pandemic, and common household conditions that can cause trauma to your feet. There are plenty of challenges in the world right now, and we are here to help make sure that foot pain and injuries are not one of your challenges! The most common complaint that has increased during the pandemic is heel pain. There are several factors that can lead to heel pain. One reason many people ...

Your Heart and Your Feet

By: Dr. Michelle Vi Nguyen February is one of my favorite months of the year! Valentine’s Day is around the corner and it is a great time to think about your heart health. But have you had a chance to think about how your heart health affects your feet? Your heart pumps blood to all your vital organs and to the skin at the very tips of fingers and toes. When your heart is not well, you may not be getting enough blood to your toes. Additionally, if your heart is not pumping blood out steadily, the blood in your legs cannot return to your heart efficiently and you can develop severe swelling in your feet. Sometimes your heart may be ticking ...

Protecting the Child Athlete’s Foot and Ankle

Playing sports is great for kids! Sports teach kids teamwork, discipline, communication, and the importance of physical fitness. Not to mention, they are just fun! However, the dark side of playing too many sports at a young age is an increase in musculoskeletal injuries in our young athletes. Adolescent sports have changed over the decades. Playing with the neighborhood kids in the backyard has been replaced by increasingly competitive events – even for the young athlete. What are some of the factors that contribute to foot and ankle injuries in young athletes? Overuse injuries: when children specialize in one sport at a young age, it puts them at risk for repetitive musculoskeletal trauma. Year-round sports: when children aren’t able to ...

Diabetes: Now What?

By Mark Whitesides, DPM As of 2020, nearly 27 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. If you are one of these people, Southwest Austin Foot & Ankle Clinic can help answer the questions you might have about taking care of your feet. We can also help you avoid many of the serious issues that can occur in your feet as a result of diabetes. First, you will want to make sure that you are following up with your family physician as well as the other specialists that will be involved in your care. This team should include a podiatrist, a cardiologist, an optometrist, and other medical specialists as directed by your primary care physician. All of these ...

Heel Pain: It’s Not Always Plantar Fasciitis

By Dr. Michelle Vi Nguyen I recall sitting across from my clinical instructor at a circular table for my “Introduction to Podiatric Medicine” class during my second year of podiatry school. We were taking turns individually reviewing clinical vignettes when he locked eyes on me: “Michelle! 53 year-old male, 2 weeks after a total hip replacement starts rehab. He develops heel pain shortly after his first therapy session. Diagnosis?” With my most excited voice, I exclaimed, “PLANTAR FASCIITIS!” Oh boy… I was humbled by the stern lecture that followed. If you type “heel pain” into any search engine, I guarantee at least one link will lead to a page on plantar fasciitis. As podiatrists, we see heel pain patients every ...

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