Family Foot and Ankle Center

07/03/2022

04/28/2022

04/26/2022

Get your feet ready for Summer. If you have painful bunions and hammertoes, or diseased toenails, call our office for an appointment. We will help you get your feet ready for Summer. If you do not have any issues with your feet, use the guide below.

04/18/2022

Worried about a non-healing wound on your foot?
Your skin is your body’s first line of defense. Wound care is far more than fixing a wound, it is a process of investigating the reasons why a wound is not healing.

From poor circulation, uneven pressure distribution on the foot, prominent bones to foot and ankle deformities, wound care is a technical process that requires expert analysis and treatment.

Lingering wounds and ulcers (often due to diabetes), circulation problems, foot deformity, or immobility, can result in severe tissue damage or amputation if left untreated.

Why seek out a podiatrist to treat a foot wound?
Wound examination by a foot and ankle specialist at Family Foot and Ankle Center involves looking at the patient from 4 key vantage points: vascular (meaning your circulation), dermatologic (skin integrity), orthopedic (bones, muscles, and ligaments), and neurologic (nerves). Expertise in these key areas as well as in lower extremity biomechanics, structural deformities, and the nuances of both surgical and nonsurgical interventions used to treat wounds makes our podiatrists uniquely qualified to treat challenging wounds.

Our goals at Family Foot and Ankle Center are simple. Attempt to salvage all of the foot and ankle in a timely and cost-effective manner. Avoid amputation at all expense, if possible, and get the patient back to their life in a pain-free and rapid manner. Protect the foot from further ulceration and keep our patients on their feet for years to come. This may seem simple, but it is far more complicated than expected and requires a comprehensive approach from an expert team.

03/31/2022

This video is a brief summary of the importance of good foot health for patient's with Diabetes. If you are a diabetic, and you are not under the care of a foot doctor, call Family Foot and Ankle Center today for an appointment to get you are track for good foot health.

03/29/2022

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HEEL PAIN?
Do you experience sharp pain when you get out of bed in the morning?
Do you have heel pain when you walk or stand for periods of time?
Get relief from your heel pain today!
Dr. Leonard R. La Russa of Family Foot and Ankle Center can help you.
Call today to schedule an appointment (229) 931-0505.

02/11/2022

If you experience any of the symptoms in this video, call Family Foot and Ankle Center for an appointment with Dr. La Russa, who is renowned in the field of podiatry. To schedule an appointment call our office at 229-931-0505, or click on the CALL NOW button.

Managing the complications of diabetes can be just as tricky as managing the condition itself. By the end of this video, you'll know all about the optimal ma...

02/05/2022

In general, you can lower your risk of diabetes-related complications by keeping your blood sugar in the goal range and seeing your doctors for regular checkups. You can also lower your risk of developing foot problems by examining your feet regularly. This way, if problems do occur, you are more likely to notice them right away so you can get the proper treatment. It may take time and effort to build good foot care habits, but it is an essential part of diabetes management.

RISK FACTORS

Over time, diabetes that is not carefully managed can lead to foot complications. You have an increased risk of developing foot problems if you:

●Have had a foot ulcer in the past

●Have nerve damage

●Have any foot deformities

●Have poor circulation

If you have any of these risk factors (discussed in more detail below), particularly a previous foot ulcer, you may be at increased risk of foot problems if you take medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to manage your blood sugar. SGLT2 inhibitors, particularly canagliflozin, may increase your risk of requiring toe amputations. Your health care provider can talk to you about other medication options.

Past foot ulcer — Once you have had a foot ulcer, even if it heals completely, you are at an increased risk of developing ulcers again in the future.

Nerve damage — Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves that carry sensation; this nerve damage is known as "diabetic neuropathy." Because people with neuropathy may lose their ability to sense pain, they are at increased risk for injuring the feet; even a minor injury can become serious quickly if it goes unnoticed. Nerve damage can also weaken certain foot muscles and contribute to foot deformities.

A diabetes care and education specialist is your partner in diabetes management. They'll get to know you and work with you to create a management plan indivi...

01/27/2022

HOW TO IMPROVE POOR CIRCULATION IN YOUR FEET

Poor circulation can be a precursor to some serious health conditions, and it’s also a sign that you should work to improve circulation in your feet. Today, I shared four tips for improving blood circulation in your ankles and feet. If you’re still experiencing numbness after trying these tips, be sure to discuss this with me at your next visit.

Here are four tips to keep in mind to promote healthy blood flow in your calves, ankles and feet.

1. Move Frequently – Movement helps facilitate healthy blood flow throughout your body. When you’re in a seated position, veins and arteries can become compressed, limiting blood flow to an area. This can leave you feeling a pins and needles-like sensation in an area lacking oxygenated blood. Make it a point to get up and walk around for a couple of minutes at least once an hour if you have been sitting for a while. If you work in an office where you are forced to sit for hours on end, make time to walk around or stand up so your feet and ankles continue to get oxygenated blood throughout the day.

2. Consider Compression – Compression socks work by placing pressure on the veins in your lower body, which helps your body circulate blood more efficiently. You can usually find a good pair of compression socks at shoe stores or certain department stores. You’ll want to find a pair that provide some pressure without cutting off circulation to your feet. These socks can help improve blood flow, especially if you know you’re going to be in a seated position for some time.

3. Hydration Helps – Staying hydrated is another key aspect of getting healthy blood flow in your ankles and feet. Water helps ensure that blood circulates more efficiently and prevents more serious issues related to poor circulation, like blood clots exacerbated by dehydration. You should strive to drink 60-80 ounces of water a day to keep yourself hydrated and improve circulation.

4. Regular Exercise – Movement is great, but regular exercise is an even better way to improve circulation in your ankles and feet. Exercise helps build and strengthen your muscles, but it also improves your cardiovascular system. Exercise gets the heart beating and pumps blood to your ankles and feet, which supports the movement of the muscles in the same area. This leads to better circulation and can even lead to weight loss, which also has been shown to improve circulation.

If you have been diagnosed with PAD or poor circulation, or suspect you may have this issue, contact my office for an appointment to be evaluated for this serious condition. Appointment can be made by contacting my office at 229-931-0505.

01/26/2022

Just like the links of a chain, your body is connected bone to joint, joint to ligament, etc. If you have foot pain, your body adjusts your walking pattern by leaning more to one side of your foot, or not bending your joint properly. This adjustment can cause added pressure on your ankle, knee, hip and eventually your back, resulting in unnecessary back pain and injury.

Wearing the proper shoes will help prevent these adjustments, potentially reducing the risk of arthritis, pulled muscles and back aches.

Kick Off Your Heels

Research shows that 37% 69% of females wear high-heeled shoes on a daily basis. This can cause an increase in lumbar lordosis (excessive curve in the lower back) and pelvic anteversion (hips tilted forward). Foraminal stenosis can also occur, resulting in shooting pains, numbness, spasms, muscle weakness, cramping and pain that radiates through the buttocks and down the legs.

When choosing what heels to wear, avoid pointed toe shoes and keep your heel to a two-inch maximum. Be sure to stretch your leg muscles before and after putting your heels on and bring a pair of flats with you to change into whenever possible.

Rocker-Sole Shoes and Insoles

Rocker-sole shoes have been advertised for the past few years and claim to help you lose weight and reduce back pain. However, in a clinical study, results showed that rocker-sole shoes were no more beneficial for disability and pain than regular flat shoes. In fact, if you have lower back pain that is aggravated by walking or standing, flat shoes were shown to be more beneficial than rocker-sole shoes.

As for insoles, another study showed there is strong evidence that the use of insoles does not prevent back pain. However, insoles will not hurt your back when fitted properly, so there is no harm in using them if it adds comfort to your daily routine.

So how do you choose the best shoes for your comfort? Keep these tips in mind:

Shoes should be comfortable and fit well when you buy them.
Buy shoes in the evening when your feet are the largest.
Never buy shoes that require breaking-in or getting used to. This will cause blisters, bunions, corns, infection and possible deformity further down the road.

Every person has a different comfort level. Listen to your body and if you feel an ache or pain, switch your shoes. Find something that makes you comfortable and allows you to go through your day without foot, knee or back pain. Its your job to keep your spine healthy and sometimes its as easy as standing comfortably on your own two feet.

If you are experiencing back pain, call the Family Foot and Ankle Center at Call 229-931-0505. Dr. La Russa and his team will help you get back to the activities that you love.

Dr. Leonard La Russa and the staff at the Family Foot and Ankle Center of Americus, GA strive to sta