Blog Archive
A bunion ㅡ officially called hallux valgus ㅡ is a bump on the inside of the foot near your big toe joint. This bump is actually your bone protruding outward. Bunions can make you feel self-conscious about your feet, but left untreated, they can also cause pain when you walk....
Do you have joint pain? If so, we can help. At PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic in Spring, Texas, Eric Blanson, DPM, and our team offer several treatments to change the condition of your damaged joints and ligaments to help you regain your quality of life. Methods of treatment for your joint pain Here,...
At-home remedies are often sufficient for treating an ingrown toenail, but in some cases, a visit to a podiatrist is necessary. Dr. Eric Blanson and his staff at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic in Spring, Texas see many patients with ingrown toenails. In this post, we discuss the complications that can arise from an ingrown...
At least 50% of women, men, and children with diabetes also have chronic and debilitating foot pain. Even more troubling, diabetes can cause nerve damage called neuropathy that interferes with your ability to feel pain in your feet. That’s why some people with diabetes develop serious foot ulcers and infections...
An ingrown toenail is a common affliction among at any age, and usually isn’t a concern. However, ingrown toenails can be painful and can hamper your lifestyle. In fact, about 1 in 5 people who visit a doctor for foot problems has an ingrown toenail. Eric Blanson, DPM, an expert...
While every piece of your wardrobe serves a fashion function, your shoes are unique in that they can also affect your health from your toes to your back and everything in between. That’s why it’s important to know exactly what to look for in a pair of shoes that will...
Your big toe is made up of two main joints. When the largest of the two moves out of alignment, a painful bony protrusion called a bunion can form on the outside of your big toe. A bunion affects your bone and soft tissue and as it gets progressively worse,...
Most of us don’t give much thought to how our feet and ankles move when we stand up, take a step, go for a run, or engage in just about any type of physical activity — that is, until something goes wrong, and pain or an injury makes us stop...
A bunion occurs when your big toe points inward, toward your other toes, causing a foot deformity. It’s a relatively common condition generally seen in older women. In most cases, bunions don’t require surgery. Instead, your doctor may recommend shoe modifications, custom orthotics, or exercises to ease pain. At PMC...
When you play a sport, you tend to pay a lot of attention to your overall performance and the general activities that can help you improve your performance. But you likely don’t give a lot of thought to biomechanics — the way your body moves and responds to the individual...
Plantar fasciitis is an unforgettable pain, making every step a trial in endurance. It’s usually worse in the mornings, or after getting up from a long period of inactivity. This can sour your mood before the day even begins and make it hard to do even basic tasks. You don’t...
Running for exercise has an abundance of benefits. From acting as a stress reliever to helping you maintain a healthy weight, there are plenty of reasons to start pounding the pavement. It’s a convenient form of exercise because you can run almost anywhere and you don’t need a gym membership....
Needing to rest and being unable to is particularly uncomfortable. Poor sleep is associated with numerous health issues, besides the discomfort a lack of high-quality rest causes. One reason some people can’t get an adequate amount of sleep is restless leg syndrome (RLS). At PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic, Dr....
Do you know someone who has hammertoe? The odds of this may be higher than you think. According to a foot health assessment conducted by the Institute for Preventive Foot Health, about 3% of American adults have experienced some form of hammertoe -- that’s about seven million people. While it...
About three-quarters of American adults experience significant foot pain at some point in their lives. That includes painful symptoms caused by nerve-related problems in the feet and legs. At PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic, Eric Blanson, DPM, specializes in treatments aimed at relieving nerve pain in the feet and ankles,...
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, although most Texans have probably started to feel a little heat well before the last Monday in May. While summer is a great season to spend time outdoors, all of the sun, heat, and water that come into play during summer also...
Heel pain isn’t trivial. It makes up about 15% of all foot problems, affecting some 2 million people every year. The pain can range from mild to debilitating, and there are many potential causes. The most common cause, though, is plantar fasciitis. And while it can cause some serious pain...
At first glance, an ingrown toenail seems like a minor problem. The redness, swelling, and pain are temporary and likely to go away on their own, right? Wrong. Your seemingly mild injury can quickly become a throbbing, infected wound. If you’ve noticed an ingrown toenail, you should consider scheduling a...
How you cut your toenails may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but it’s actually an important part of maintaining your overall health and wellness, especially if you’re a diabetic. Here at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic in Spring, Texas, Dr. Eric Blanson and our team see lots...
As many as 10% of Americans have restless leg syndrome, an uncomfortable condition that causes intense and uncontrollable urges to move your legs. Restless leg syndrome is aptly named. Its title accurately describes the problem of painful sensations that only shifting your legs will relieve. Here at PMC Foot and...
Around 25,000 Americans sprain their ankles every day, with many ending up in urgent care and emergency rooms. Though sprains are often sports injuries, you can also turn your ankle on uneven sidewalks or while walking down stairs. Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of sprains. Our experienced podiatrist Eric...
If you’ve ever looked at a drawing of a footprint, you can see the toes, an oval for the ball of the foot, a circle for the heel, and a banana-shaped arch connecting them. In reality, everyone’s feet are shaped slightly differently. If you have flat feet, your footprints look...
Ingrown toenails can be extraordinarily painful, even making it uncomfortable to put on shoes or walk. They’re also fairly common foot problems — around 18% of adults have experienced an ingrown toenail at some point during their lives. Part of the reason that ingrown toenails are so prevalent is that...
Joint pain can result from a variety of issues, ranging from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other health problems to sprains, strains, and injuries. If you're suffering discomfort you're far from alone — approximately one in three adults had experienced joint pain in the last month when surveyed. The good news...
Having flat feet is exactly what it sounds like — the entire sole of the foot lies flat on the ground while you’re standing. Although some people do not experience pain or problems, others can suffer from a variety of aches and issues. Fortunately, a number of treatment options are...
When people think of foot pain, it's common to picture the toes or ankle. Discomfort in the heel, however, shouldn't be forgotten as it strikes about 2 million people each year and is responsible for approximately 15% of all foot issues. A number of conditions can contribute to this pain....
Most people give little thought to their feet and toes until there is an issue like an ingrown toenail. If you're experiencing pain, redness, inflammation, or swelling, it may be time to see the doctor for professional help. Here at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic located in Spring, Texas, Dr....
After having spent months cooped up indoors, summer is a great time to get out and get moving with walks in the park and hikes on local nature trails. For some people, however, bunions can cause pain with each step. Fortunately, treatments are available — some which require surgery and...