General
Chiropody is the treatment of skin and nail conditions such as
corns, callus, hard skin. If you are concerned with the skin or
nails on your feet then this is the treatment for you. It is
also the right treatment if you just want your feet checked over
or perhaps to give them a little treat for all the work they do.
As everyone’s feet are unique it is difficult to say exactly
what your treatment will involve, but “general chiropody” is not
usually painful, and is in fact quite relaxing for many people.
Your clinician will discuss your treatment plan with you and if
you have any particular concerns, please do not hesitate to
raise them.
Your treatment begins by discussing any concerns you may have -
such as difficult toenails, painful corns, hard skin, etc. If
the podiatrist/chiropodist notices anything else then you will
be made aware of it and either have it treated during this
appointment, or be advised on what to do next. Creams, sprays,
ointments, dressings and padding may also be applied at the end
of the treatment.
The treatment will last approximately 30 minutes, though this
may be altered according to your needs after your first
appointment.
In-growing
toe nails are basically nails that grow into the skin around the
nail, making the toe painful. They can sometimes become swollen,
red, infected and have a mixture of yellowy liquid and blood
coming from the painful area. They should be treated as soon as
possible as they usually become more difficult and painful the
longer they are left.
At Feet First Podiatry we know how uncomfortable and often very
painful in-growing toe nails can be. We will always try to treat
you as quickly as possible and discuss all treatment methods
with you. It is important to us that you understand your
treatment and that you are comfortable with it. We can treat
in-growing toe nails conservatively by seeing you on a regular
basis or by minor surgery where a small part of the nail is
removed under local anaesthetic. (You should not drive after
having local anaesthetic and it is always useful to have someone
accompany you home).
Your initial treatment will last approximately 30 minutes.
Future appointments or a full nail surgery assessment will be
arranged by your podiatrist/chiropodist accordingly.
Verrucae
and warts are caused by viruses. They are usually contagious and
caught in areas where there are many people walking around
without any shoes on - e.g. swimming pools, public changing
rooms and dance studios. They can be painful, though this is not
usually the case.
You should always have a verruca checked by your
podiatrist/chiropodist before having any treatment. As there are
many different treatments (each with their own advantages and
disadvantages), it is important that you and your clinician
decide on a treatment plan suitable for you. Options include,
home treatments, homoeopathic remedies, caustics and freezing.
The first appointment will last approximately 30 minutes,
allowing the podiatrist/chiropodist to assess your feet and
treat the verruca. You will then usually be required to return
for a series of treatments - the number of treatments is
dependant on your particular verruca.
Fungal
infections can affect the skin and/or the nails and is often a
source of embarrassment for many people. Depending on the type
of fungus, the appearance of an infection varies – the skin may
be flaky, red, white, dry or moist and itchy; nails may be
thickened, crumbly, splitting, white, yellow or brown. It can be
treated though, so for all of you who simply hide your feet away
- make an appointment to see our podiatrists and have happy feet
again!
Treatments for fungal infections are usually a combination of
home treatments (applying various creams, sprays and tinctures)
and appointments with a podiatrist. Occasionally oral medication
is required. It is important that the advice given is followed,
and problems are discussed with your clinician.
The treatment of fungal infections is carried out in a general
chiropody appointment. Your initial appointment will be
approximately 30 minutes.
Diabetes
affects your whole body, including your feet. It is very
important to look after your feet, particularly if you have
diabetes, as changes can occur to the blood circulation, skin
quality, nails, pain sensation and joint movement. Any
infections you acquire may be more difficult to clear and wounds
can be slower to heal.
Hard skin and callous should be removed by the podiatrist
because if this is left untreated the skin can breakdown
underneath and can lead to an ulcer. This is why it is vital
that you look after your feet to prevent problems from
occurring. Your podiatrist will be able to advise you on this
and answer any questions you may have.
You should look after your feet by washing and drying your feet
thoroughly, checking for any changes to the skin and nails
(including new lesions, cuts, colour change), keeping your nails
short (check with the podiatrist to make sure you are doing this
correctly) and moisturising (not in between the toes). If
you have any concerns about your feet, book an appointment with
our podiatrists immediately so that they can check your feet
and, if necessary start treatment straight away.
At
Feet First Podiatry we treat all types of feet, including
children’s feet. After all, they can get just as many foot
problems!
Common problems include verrucae, in-growing toe nails and “flat
feet”. We always try to create a comfortable and friendly
atmosphere so that the child doesn’t feel intimidated.
Children must be accompanied by an adult who can give consent
for the treatment. If you have any queries regarding your
child’s feet, please to do not hesitate to speak to a
podiatrist/chiropodist who will be able to advise you
accordingly.
A
vital part of any patients' foot health is to ensure that they
are wearing the correct type and style of shoe for their foot
type and presenting condition. At Feet First Podiatry all
our podiatrists are experienced in offering footwear
advice. A standard appointment of 30 minutes should be
made for footwear advice, alternatively this will be discussed
should it be relevant when you see the podiatrist.
Biomechanics
is about the way your body moves, in particular, how the
movements of your lower limb and foot affect the rest of you.
It
is important that your feet are in good working order; otherwise
you will feel aches and pains in other areas of your body – such
as your knees, hips and back, as well as in your feet.
For
most people, they will want a biomechanical assessment when they
feel something is wrong, e.g. pain in the foot, feeling unstable
when standing, unexplained corns and callous or injuring a
particular area.
However, you don’t have to have a problem before you have an assessment – it may be recommended by your clinician as a result of seeing you for a different appointment, or you may wish to just have a check so any problems are caught early.
Visit the Biomechanical Assessment Service page here
Orthotics
are similar to insoles, in that you put them into your shoes,
except that they are used to alter the foot function when you
walk. They are prescribed according to your needs and therefore
the shape and size differs for different people.
You can think of orthotics like glasses – if someone has bad
eyesight, the optician will check the eyes and prescribe a lens to
correct this problem; that person then has to find a frame to fit
– the better suited the frame is to the lens, the better the
glasses work.
Similarly, our podiatrist will advise you on the type of footwear
you should wear for your particular orthotics and the better the
shoes the better the orthotics work. It is possible to have
several pairs of orthotics to fit different types of shoes, or
just the one pair that fits into shoes that you wear most often.
They are not painful or uncomfortable to wear, but it is important
that you have the right ones for you as small variations in the
orthotic can significantly change your lower limb and foot
function and may be harmful.
At Feet First Podiatry we stock a range of orthotics and insoles
that you can take away on the day of your appointment. We also
prescribe custom orthotics that have to be sent to a lab to be
made and may take about 3 weeks until they are ready for
collection. Custom orthotics are made specifically for your needs
and when they are ready to be picked up, you will need to come in
and have them checked against your feet. You should also have your
orthotics reviewed as recommended by your clinician, and have new
ones made should they eventually wear out.