Summer is here (well it was, it’s pouring now) and many men and women are embarrassed about getting their toenails out. 

• People with fungal nails or nails destroyed from chronic fungal nail infections. 

• People with nails totally or partially removed through surgery or trauma. 

• People with thickened and distorted nails from major or minor trauma. 

 

You may feel that you are alone, but you are not and there is a very effective solution to this problem which can be used short term – over the holidays or reapplied to look great all year round. 

 

Be prepared to treat until the affected nail grows out, a big toenail can take a year to completely replace itself. It is worth treating the skin for athlete’s foot at the same time if this is present, Canesten is great for this but athletes foot will recur while you get rid of the fungal nail. So, keep on top of it. 

 

If you are having no luck using topical treatments and you know that you have a fungal infection your GP can prescribe an oral antifungal. 

 

In your first appointment, they will check if you have been wearing good footwear and had a go at stretching. 

 

They will take a history and decide if your plantar fasciitis is acute or chronic. 

 

Acute plantar fasciitis responds well to a treatment called low-dye strapping. This sports strapping supports the foot and allows you to go about your daily business and wear ordinary shoes. It lasts several days and can help reduce inflammation and get you over a ‘hump’ in your recovery. Low-dye strapping is also a good indicator of how you would respond to orthotic therapy. Sometime the strapping needs to be repeated weekly to get the best recovery. 

 

The plantar fascia is a ligament and ligaments are not very stretchy so we need to stretch the muscles acting on the plantar fascia and the calf muscle group are often the main culprit. 

 

Stretching the calf muscle can have a direct effect on your plantar fascia. Lunges and heel drops [standing with the balls of both feet on a step and lowering both heels down] can both help if done daily for at least a fortnight. 

 

Using a wall for support keep your front knee vertical above your ankle and stretch the back-leg’s calf muscle. Keep the heel on the floor and both feet facing forwards, the back foot usually wants to tilt outwards. There’s no need to push into the wall and don’t pulse in and out, just hold for at least 30 seconds. If you cannot feel a stretch move your back leg further away from the wall. 

 

To bring this stretch into your Soleus muscle place a rolled-up hand towel under the ball of the foot in the leg you are stretching. Again, just feel this stretch and hold for 30 seconds. 

This week's blog talks about a relatively new treatment for verrucae which is great if you are busy because it's a one-off treatment with reviews roughly every two months. 

 

 

Needling was first carried out in America in 1969 and success rates of 70 – 90% after a single treatment are common. 

 

One verrucae will be selected to treat and the surrounding area anaesthetised. 

 

Your podiatrist will remove any overlying callus and the probe will be held closely to the lesion. An application will last 10—15 seconds and may be a little uncomfortable. A second application may be used. 

 

Afterwards the treated area will be covered. This area MUST be kept dry for 24 hours.