Bunions are one of the most common foot issues that people develop, but there are still many things that most people don't know about them. This can lead to delaying treatment, sometimes resulting in a need for an operation for correction. At Foot First Podiatry, Dr. Zahid Ladha can help people in the New Albany, IN, area know when to have surgery and when it is not necessary. What is a Bunion? A bunion is a deformity that causes one bone of the toe to grow away from the rest of the toes. This usually leads to the big toe pointing towards the little toes rather than straight ahead.  What ..read more

Heel pain is one of the most common problems your podiatrist treats. If you are suffering from heel pain, the pain can make it difficult to enjoy an active life. Don’t worry, because your podiatrist has several effective heel pain treatments to get you back on your feet. You can develop heel pain from a few causes, including: Stepping on hard or sharp objects, which can cause a heel bruise Developing excess calcium deposits, which can cause a heel spur Inflammation of the tissue on your heel, which can cause plantar fasciitis Any of the causes listed above can cause moderate to severe heel p ..read more

If you have diabetes, you may already know about the effects on your body, especially your extremities. What you may not know is that diabetes is especially hard on your feet, which is why it’s important to visit your podiatrist regularly. Your feet carry you through your life, but they are easy to overlook. When you are diabetic, you can’t afford to ignore your feet and toes. These are just a few of the ways diabetes can affect your feet and toes: Diabetes affects your immune system which can lead to delayed healing time. That means if you have a small cut, it may not heal. It may turn into a ..read more

Your ankles are an important part of your body. Together with your legs and feet, your ankles help carry your body weight. They help you walk, run, and enjoy daily life. So, what happens when you have ankle pain? Your podiatrist can help. Along with pain in your ankle, you may notice additional signs and symptoms like these: Swelling Inflammation Stiffness When you have ankle pain, it can cause: Instability when you are walking or standing Difficulty standing on uneven surfaces Tripping and falling, which can injure you further So, what causes ankle pain? There are some obvious causes like ..read more

Sports injuries happen, and your feet and ankles are especially vulnerable. Your feet and ankles are overworked to begin with, and if you play a sport with a lot of running or high levels of foot stress, it adds to your risk of injury. Fortunately, your podiatrist is just the person to see when you’ve experienced a sports injury to your feet or ankles. Sometimes a sports injury will heal by itself. For mild sports injuries, you can try: Elevating and resting the area to take weight and stress off of it Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication More severe sports injuries ..read more

Do you suspect that you might have broken your toe? You could very well be dealing with a broken toe if you notice pain, stiffness or swelling, or if you suddenly have trouble walking. Something as simple as stubbing your toe has the ability to fracture it. You may have broken your toe if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, Swelling around the toe Discolorations such as bruising Changes in the shape or alignment of the toe Pain when moving the toe Pain when walking or putting weight on the toe Pain that intensifies hours after injury While a broken toe can certainly be painful it’s o ..read more

Discover more about this foot deformity and why it happens. Bunions always seem to get the spotlight when talking about foot deformities; however, it’s also essential to shed light on hammertoes. This common deformity affects the middle joint of the smaller toes. When this joint is impacted, it causes the toes to bend downward. Wondering if you may be at risk for hammertoes? Here’s what you should know, What Can Lead to a Hammertoe? It’s important to figure out what can cause a hammertoe to develop so you can do your best to avoid certain habits or practices that could increase your risk. Som ..read more

Find out how to get your bunion pain under control and when to see a podiatrist. A bunion is a painful foot deformity that warrants turning to a podiatrist to learn how to manage your pain and slow the deformity’s progression. If you suspect you might have a bunion, but you’ve never actually found out, it’s time to turn to a podiatrist to learn more. In the meantime, here’s what you should know about bunion pain and ways to manage it. What Is a Bunion? A bunion is a deformity of the big toe’s joint that causes a large, bony bump to stick out at the edge of the foot at the base of the toe. The ..read more

How your podiatrist in New Albany, IN, can help your feet feel better If your feet hurt, you need to discover the benefits of seeing a podiatrist. Let’s face it, when your feet hurt, the rest of you hurts too. A podiatrist can diagnose and treat conditions affecting your toes, feet, and ankles, so you can enjoy being active again. Dr. Zahid Ladha at Foot First Podiatry in New Albany, IN, provides a wide range of podiatry services, to help your feet feel better. There are many reasons why you should see your podiatrist. These are just a few: Bunions–your podiatrist can remove the bunion surgica ..read more

Are you dealing with a painful toenail? It could be an ingrown toenail. Any ingrown toenail happens when the edge of a toenail, typically the big toenail, grows into the skin. As you might imagine, it can be pretty painful (but if you have one, we certainly don’t have to tell you). If you suspect you might have an ingrown toenail but are unsure, here’s what you should know, including telltale signs of one. Why Do Ingrown Toenails Happen? There are many reasons why you could be dealing with an ingrown toenail. Of course, one of the most common causes is not trimming your toenail correctly. Didn ..read more