Manage Your Arthritis with the Food You Eat!

Arthritis affects 50 million adults and is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Arthritis can destroy bones, joints, cartilage and muscles and is a disease for which there is no cure. It doesn’t just affect older people either. There are around 300,000 children with the disease as well. 

Foot specialist Dr. Tejas Pandya, has treated many patients who have arthritis and are living with the complications associated with having the disease. Gout is a painful type of arthritis that can attack the big toe joint. Physical limitations often hinder efforts to stay fit and healthy. Trying to manage a heart condition or obesity can be difficult due to the effects of arthritis, but controlling what you eat is one way to improve the symptoms of arthritis.

Studies show that there are certain foods that can trigger, relieve, or prevent pain altogether. If you suffer with episodes of gout, the chemicals in alcohol can trigger an attack as they stimulate the production of uric acid. Foods rich in purines can also worsen the symptoms of gout. The food additive MSG, wheat and nightshade vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, white potatoes and eggplant can each trigger joint pain as well.

There are some foods known to be helpful for the pain associated with arthritis. To help with pain and inflammation, choose foods made with whole grains and with omega-3 fatty acids. These would include whole oats, brown rice, popcorn, flaxseed, walnuts, tuna and salmon. Fruits and vegetables such as peppers, broccoli, squash, grapes, kiwi and berries are high in antioxidants and also help with pain and inflammation.

If arthritis in your feet or ankles is diminishing your quality of life, let us help. We can provide the treatment you need to get back into the activities that you love. Make an appointment with our Troy, NY podiatric office today. Call (518) 273-0053 or visit us online www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.

Tingling Feet

Are Pins and Needles in Your Feet Bothering You?

Experiencing tingling in feet is a common sensation and there are several reasons why it may be happening. Understanding what may be going on is important because although fairly common, the underlying reason could be cause for concern.

Dr. Tejas Pandya, foot and ankle specialist in Troy and Clifton Park, NY finds those who complain of tingling in their feet are most often his patients with diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage, which often accompanies diabetes, often leaves feet with a loss of feeling and tingling. The pins and needles feeling can be intermittent or last for long periods of time depending on the underlying cause. Other reasons your feet may be tingling are:

• Alcoholism

• Poor circulation 

• Vitamin B12 deficiency

• Hypothyroidism

• HIV

• Multiple sclerosis

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• A compressed nerve in your lower back

• Tight shoes

• Bone spur that pinches a nerve

• Side effect of medication

• Trauma or injury to a nerve

The treatment for your tingling feet will ultimately depend on what the underlying cause is. If you need treatment for tingling feet, take some notes before you call Dr. Pandya. Try to decipher when triggers it, how long it lasts and if you are able to find anything that helps relieve your symptoms. This will help Dr. Pandya do a thorough exam to get a complete diagnosis of your symptoms and set up a successful treatment plan.

Please do not ignore tingling feet. They could be a sign of something much more serious going on. Identifying problems and beginning treatment early can make a huge difference in your health long term. Contact our podiatric office to make an appointment with Dr. Pandya. Call (518) 273-0053 or visit www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com for more information.

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Extra Weight Can Affect Your Feet

Your feet are the foundation for your body and they often take a beating! On average, feet take 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day and just walking puts the pressure of one and a half times your body weight on your feet. It is even more when running and if you are overweight, your feet are under some serious strain.

The American Podiatric Medical Association warns that our feet are the most vulnerable part of our body for injury. Being overweight increases the risk for injury even further. Dr. Tejas Pandya, foot and ankle specialist in Troy, NY encourages patients if they are gearing up to lose some weight, to keep feet as an important reason to do so.

How can weight hurt your feet?

Adding weights to a workout routine can help build and strengthen muscle but added weight can be detrimental to feet. Muscles, tendons and ligaments can become stretched and weaker. There are many ways that extra weight affects foot and ankle health. Arches can collapse and feet can flatten from the pressure of added weight. This can cause the plantar fascia to be strained. This tendon runs from your heel to your toes and the strain can result in plantar fasciitis and heel pain.

Tendonitis, ankle pain, arthritis and gout are additional foot conditions seen at Dr. Pandya’s podiatric office with patients who are overweight.

What can be done?

For the majority, weight loss is not solved overnight. If you are in the process of losing weight, you can help keep your feet healthy and pain free by selecting supportive footwear. If you have a pronation problem where your ankles lean inward, it can be more severe when overweight. Custom orthotics made for your foot structure can help support your feet and keep them better aligned.

If you have foot or ankle pain due to being overweight, see Dr. Pandya for treatment. Call us today at ((518) 273-0053 or visit our website at www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.

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Gout: An Unwanted Gift During the Holidays

It is a terrible way to end a great day. After a holiday feast with friends and family, you find yourself suddenly awake in the middle of the night with excruciating pain in your feet. The visitor? Gout.

The basics.

Gout is a form of arthritis that develops when uric acid in your body builds up and causes joints to become inflamed. The big toe, knee and ankle joints are commonly affected. Warmth, redness and throbbing pain will arise and the affected joint will be extremely sensitive to any kind of pressure. There are acute and chronic cases of gout as well. Some may have one attack and be safe from another. Others can have further attacks that take even longer to resolve.

Can I take measures to avoid this problem?

The answer is “Maybe.” Gout can run in families so you may be predisposed and unable to escape an attack at some point. It is more common in men and typically affects women after menopause. People with diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, anemia and leukemia are at a higher risk of experiencing this condition.

Diet is definitely an important factor in regards to prevention. Since the holidays typically offer a buffet of foods, it is important to remind you of the triggers for gout, especially if you suffer with a lack of self-control when it comes to holiday food! Foods rich in purines should be avoided. Sardines, oils, liver, peas, gravies, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus and cauliflower are just a few examples. If you aren’t the cook, ask the host if any of these are in the foods being offered.

Alcohol is another trigger to be aware of. Many holiday parties are flowing with alcoholic beverages but overindulgence in alcohol affects how your body is able to eliminate uric acid. Beer in particular has been found to trigger a gout attack. One or two small servings should be safe but if having an attack, alcohol should be completely avoided.

Dr. Tejas Pandya has helped many patients in the Clifton Park and Troy areas of New York. He can suggest appropriate anti-inflammatory medications, cooling lotions and custom made shoes that can help alleviate symptoms. Visit www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com for further information.

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Lower Limb Surgery

Prevention, proper care, and time for injuries to heal are all important aspects in protecting your feet and ankles. Improper care can lead to more serious injuries, which can result in surgery. That word can sound scary, but surgery is sometimes your best option in keeping your feet and ankles safe and healthy.

Dr. Tejas Pandya has broken down a few foot and ankle surgeries so that you can know the facts and understand how to prevent injuries from becoming severe. They include:

• Heel Spur Surgery: Heel spurs most commonly arise from wearing improper shoes, repetitive stress upon your feet, or as an overuse injury. Heel spurs deserve proper care, but sometimes surgery is necessary as a last resort. Heel spurs can be severely painful to the point where it may affect your daily activities, but surgery can help relieve the pain. Like with most surgeries, the heel will need time to rest and recover. During this time period you should refrain from bearing weight upon your heal in order for the tissue to heal properly.

• Bunion Surgery: Bunions refer to growths that occur on the base of your big toe. Bunions often occur due to ill-fitting shoes, and that is why it is always important to try on shoes before every purchase and never wear shoes that are too small. Most bunions are painless and can be treated without surgery, but in extreme cases it can be necessary. Surgery can help relieve pain and restore mobility in rare cases so that you can resume your typical routine. After surgery your toe should remain wrapped and you should avoid bearing weight on your foot for several days.

• Ankle Fracture Surgery: If you severely fracture your ankle to the point where the ankle joint has become displaced and unstable. Ankle fracture surgery corrects the alignment of either the medial malleolus, which is the bone located on the inside of your ankle, or the outer bone known as the fibula. Your ankle is sensitive and damage to it can lead to uneven weight distribution, the loss of mobility, and even arthritis. It is always important to treat ankle injuries immediately and allow the injury proper time to heal and rest before becoming physically active once again. You want to make sure to prevent further injury and permanent damage.

In order to reduce your risk for surgery it’s important to take precautionary methods to prevent injuries from occurring. If an injury does occur proper care and time to heal is necessary to prevent surgery. If you have suffered an injury to your foot or ankle contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.heel-that-pain.com/heel_spur/surgery/heel_spurs_surgery.php
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00140
http://www.footeducation.com/ankle-fracture-surgery

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Got Calcium? It May Help Prevent Future Foot Pain

Calcium is an essential element in maintaining the health of your bones, joints, muscles and ligaments. It helps build strong bones and bone tissue. But if you do not receive the proper amount of calcium, then over time calcium may be taken from your bones and given to the rest of your body.   This will weaken bones and bone tissue, which can result in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a disease causing pain and stiffness in the joints and ultimately can limit mobility.  Your feet are more likely to develop arthritis because each foot contains 33 different joints and they carry around the weight of your entire body. Osteoarthritis may start as centralizing a particular joint, but may gradually expand to the other joints. In most cases, osteoarthritis slowly progresses and initial pain in the joints may only occur after physical activity. However over time, the cartilage between your bones will thin and pain will start to occur more often.  It may be painful at the slightest instances of physical activity, such as walking or using the stairs. Eventually pain and stiffness in the joints can even occur after extensive periods of relaxation until pain becomes consistent throughout all periods of activity and rest.

Osteoarthritis can cause numerous symptoms in the joints, which include:

·         Swelling
·         Inflammation
·         Tenderness
·         Pain
·         Immobility
·         Numbness
·         Tingling sensations
·         Skin abnormalities (rashes and growths)

You can keep foot joint tissue strong and healthy by maintaining healthy levels of calcium. Calcium can be found in many dairy products, as well as, leafy green vegetables, salmon, sardines and tofu. Your body should receive at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day and should be accompanied by vitamin D, which helps your body to absorb calcium.

Arthritis affects nearly 40 million Americans. The disease can be very painful and in serious cases disabling. Prevent your feet from developing osteoarthritis, or control your osteoarthritis, by maintaining healthy levels of calcium in your body. If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis call our office at (518) 273-0053 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

More Info: http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/arthritis/osteoarthritis-symptoms

http://www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com/library/1759/Arthritis.html; http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00227

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoarthritis/DS00019; http://www.nutri-notes.com/novdec97_simple.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH00014

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