Gout is among the most painful forms of arthritis and tends manifest along a person’s hands and/or feet. It’s caused by a build-up of uric acid, which can occur due to a variety of reasons. While a healthy lifestyle diminishes your chance of contracting gout, even the healthiest human being alive can wake up to gout pains simply by chance. That’s why we’re going to go over your treatment options, like gout therapy, to ensure you know what to do should you start to experience gout pains.
How Do I Know If I Have Gout?

A sudden sharp pain in your hands, feet, ankles or wrist is usually a sign that you may be experiencing gout, or at the very least should see a doctor. Most people first experience symptoms in their big toe before it begins to spread, and the pain is often bad enough to wake people from sleep.

Common symptoms include:

Redness
Swelling
Joint Stiffness
Heat
Pain

It’s best to see your doctor as soon as these symptoms start to manifest. The attack may go away on its own after a couple days, but almost always comes back. Gout is only thoroughly diagnosed by a licensed physician.
What Are My Treatment Options for Gout?

The good news is that gout is easily treatable. Most doctors will prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids and/or colchicine.

That being said, gout is often triggered by an unhealthy lifestyle and will often reoccur if someone continues down the same road that led them to feeling gout pain in the first place. In order to prevent later uric acid buildups, many doctors will attempt to have their patients take preventative precautions.

The following steps will help you keep gout away once and for all:

Take any medicines your doctor prescribes as directed.

This should be fairly easy to follow and go without saying, but your doctor went to medical school and probably knows how to keep you healthy better than you do. So it’s always in your best interest to listen up and follow doc’s orders.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines and vitamins you’re taking.

Something usually causes gout to occur. Telling your doctor about everything you’re taking will better equip him/her to help you avoid gout altogether.

Keep a consistent, healthy diet.

A healthy diet will help you avoid a lot of health issues as you get older, especially gout. This doesn’t mean you can’t go out and have fun, but be sure to do so responsibly – and I’m not just talking about alcohol.

As always, should you find yourself in Long Beach, feel free to give us a call. Dr. Aslmand and our staff will be happy to see you and talk all about gout therapy at our office.

3 ways to prevent and ankle injuryAnkle injuries are the most common type of injuries, especially for athletes that participate in sports that involve running or jumping. But these injuries can be avoided with the proper care and attention. Here are three ways to significantly lower your risk of an ankle injury and to help you stay upright and healthy.
Preparation for Activities

Drastic changes in the level of your activities or sports can lead to serious injuries and unnecessary stress on the body. Attempting to perform activities with which you are not familiar can result in activating parts of your body that are not used to being stressed so heavily. This has the possibly of resulting in in damage to ligaments or muscles, but also early fatigue and unnecessary strain that could lead to long term or permanent damage.

It is important to know and understand your current limitations and build on them slowly. Gradually building your exercises or activities will result in a much lower chance of accidental injury to the ankle or any other joints. Make sure to warm-up for at least 10 minutes before participating in any physical activity to ensure your body is ready for the action it is about to take.
Taping and Bracing Your Ankle

There are still many skeptics who do not believe in the advantages of taping or bracing joints even though there has been evidence to support its benefits. However, there are still many athletes and trainers who swear by the method. If you think it is right for you, then speaking to a qualified athletic trainer and having your ankles taped up properly will give you a better understanding for how this method may help you during movement.

Paying a visit to your local sporting goods store will show you what these braces and tapes look like and give you an idea on which size and fit is best for your body type.
Ankle-Specific Exercises

Another way to prevent ankle or joint injury is to exercise in order to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the ankle. This can be incorporated into your daily workout routine or your stretching and warm up routine before activities. Or in the case of those who have previously injured their ankles, it may have been used as an aid in order for them to recover properly from a sustained injury. The biggest risk factor for needing to have surgery as a result of an ankle injury is a previous injury, so a history of ankle problems should seriously be taken into consideration before any activity is performed.

As previous injuries can affect the long term health of the joint, it is crucial that you treat injuries immediately and correctly. If you have an ankle injury, immediately use ice and compression. Keep wet cloth between the ice and your ankle can avoid tissue damage, and use compression that is tight, but that does not cut off circulation.

It is important to note that although pain may disappear within a few days, the ligaments have not healed yet and can take up to four weeks to heal properly, so rest is fundamental for the healing process to run smoothly. Just remember RICE – rest, ice, compression, elevation for any ankle injuries.

Turf Toe Injury Doctor Long BeachTurf toe is truly a wound that happens at the base of the toe at the joint called the metatarsal phalangeal joint. It happens when the toe is stuck into the ground or, generally, when the toe is bowed in reverse too far and it goes past where it is able to go. It causes huge agony and swelling at the base of the toe. It can be a noteworthy issue on the grounds that players utilize the toe when they run and plant and push off. It can be painful to the point that they can’t play by any means.

When it happens the first run through, the joint turns into a tad bit stiffer and can get a bit arthritic, which implies your movement and dexterity is less. It will take to a lesser extent a sprain or twisting of the toe next time to feel the agony. As the condition compounds, moving is significantly further constrained so that any bowing of the toe can bring about a lot of agony. This is one of the fundamental reasons why turf toe can take you out for a lengthy stretch of time.
How is Turf Toe Treated?

For the most part, a turf toe doctor in Long Beach will first make sure the toe is chilled and kept raised above the body for bloodflow purposes, and then the patient is given pain prescriptions. After initial care and rest is followed, generally, supports are recommended by most turf toe doctors in Long Beach, if the player wants to return to the field ASAP, to harden the shoe or to keep the toe from being twisted back further.

Metal plates are put inside the shoes and mentors will tape the toe in a position that will keep it from twisting too far in reverse. A significant part of the taping that keeps the toes stable is really advanced and truly normal, particularly in football. They are continually pushing off their toes when they leave the three-point position and are likewise included in leaps where their toes can get stuck.

At the point when turf toe is aggravated, the RICE treatment is viable – rest, ice, compress, and elevate – and now and then a cortisone shot will help, however the primary concern is to keep the damage from happening again through the taping or with plated shoe toes.
Is astro-turf in charge of the larger part of turf toe wounds?

The first fake turf was a bit higher danger than common grass on account of its hardness, yet turf toe can happen on any surface. But since cutting edge simulated turf has such a hold, numerous players utilize sneakers on it and these have especially delicate soles, particularly in the forefoot. These don’t secure your toe by any means. So, it’s not the astro-turf in essence, yet rather the footwear that makes you more defenseless to turf toe on the ground. Be that as it may, it’s truly not just “astro-turf toe,” it can be “grass-turf toe,” also.
Can Turf Toe Be Counteracted?

The essential thing is to get a hardened soled shoe. In sports, cleated shoes appear to work better at avoidance on the grounds that they more often than not have an inherent plastic sole that has more inflexibility than a sneaker.
Is Surgery Essential For Turf Toe?

Now and again you’ll add to a substantial bone spur around the toe joint that should be removed. The joint gets to be arthritic and the ligament gets flimsy and the bone spurs begin to conform to it. Evacuating the spurs can bring help, yet commonly, despite everything you haven’t tended to, the thing that brought about the bone spurs remains regardless and you’ll have joint inflammation. This is a very common situation for turf toe doctors in Long Beach.

Best-ways-to-treat-hammer-toeHammer toe, also known as contracted toe is a particular medical condition that is usually caused by the muscle imbalance wherein one’s toes are bent and take a claw-like angle or position. Hammer toe is common with second toe and most frequently when bunion pushes the big toe under and towards it, though the toes can be equally affected. Some individuals think that Hammer Toe can only be treated with surgeries which is actually not true at all times. This medical condition can be treated even without resorting to surgeries.
So What Are The Best Ways to Treat Hammer Toe without Surgery
Splints

Splints are especially designed to straighten the curled hammer toes. The Hammer Toe splints can used also to extend the contracted toe which has been curled up or can be utilized to pull the hammer toe down. Splints are usually made of larger foam pads with single, double or 3 loops. These connect into the pad and then rise up perpendicularly to the pad. The splints function in such a way that it makes use of the body weight in pulling the hammer toe back on its normal state or alignment. These are commonly made of synthetic materials and can be hand washed in clean and lukewarm water. It is essential to dry the splints completely before using them again.
Shoes for Hammer Toes

There are generally the best and most suited shoes for hammer toes and these got good cushion and flexible area on the ball of your foot. The heels are needs to be supportive and strong and the front of the shoe must be flexible. Overall, these shoes should make one feel comfortable upon wearing it. Shoes for Hammer Toes are no like regular shoes and there are specific time when to wear these shoes. The best time to wear it is either after a walk or in the afternoon when foot commonly obtain more blood supply. Since people with hammer toes are not advised to wear high heels, wearing these flat and comfortable shoes is a better option.
Pads to Rectify Hammer Toes

Hammer toe pad are proven to be useful for individuals with hammer or contracted toes. This is mainly used in controlling motion of the toe and binding them in place to prevent this from rubbing against the shoes resulting to discomfort. There are many different pads that are now available in the market today which are especially designed for contracted or hammer toes. Choosing suitable pads is vital to lessen the discomfort because of hammer toes. Selecting the right pad also depends on the problem’s location.

These are just few of the many other possible treatments for hammer toes. Another highly considerable treatment is foot exercise specifically toe crunch exercises. You can also perform the toe tap and manual stretch exercises for hammer toes. If these exercises are done right, then these can contribute to the effective treatments for hammer toes. You do not really need to undergo costly surgeries unless otherwise all possible treatments no longer work for you.

Summer Foot Advice for Wearing Flip FlopsSummertime calls for a different wardrobe, but when it comes to sandals, are you keeping the health of your feet in mind? For advice on summer foot health Dr. Ivan Herstik, a renowned podiatrist with WESTMED in Yonkers, New York was able to accommodate some questions.
Summer foot advice for wearing flip flops

When asked if flip-flops can cause all sorts of foot injuries he responded saying, “I
wouldn’t necessarily say they’re bad for your feet. The Romans wore sandals forever. The most common thing that can happen is a toenail injury. Other than that, people can get blisters between the first toe and the second toe. Also, people get sunburned on their feet.”

In addition he mentions, “It’s almost as if you’re walking barefoot. A lot of people get glass in their feet, or cuts from stones or pebbles, which can get infected.”
Summer is Flip Flop Season in Long Beach

“People come to me all the time that wear flip-flops in the shower in the gym, and it really doesn’t protect them from getting athlete’s foot or warts. You may think it does because it’s directly on the bottom, but if you’re standing in the water, it could splash up and hit you either way.” Herstik says.

During summer people will also go barefoot so we asked what his feeling on people who like walking barefoot outdoors? “That might be OK on the grass or on regular ground, but on the dirt of the city I can’t imagine it’s good for you. They stub their toes, they get things in their feet all the time. The streets are extremely dirty, and to walk barefoot doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.”

When thinking of sandals and flip flops, the question of women wearing flats and heel pain came into question. Do women who wear high heels always have trouble wearing flats in the summer? And what really causes heel pain? Dr. Herstik was able to provide some fulfilling answers to this.

“If you only wear high heels, your Achilles tendon will shorten a little bit and it’s not going to be comfortable for you to walk flat. If you lived in heels for 50 years, you’ll have a problem. But if it’s only for a week or two, you’ll be fine. When it comes to heel pain, the best analogy I could use is it’s like chewing and biting your cheek. Three chews later, you bite it again and before you know it, you can’t chew because your cheek is swollen. You do something to your foot, and the next day you say your foot really hurts, and three days later it’s killing you, and you’ve been walking on it and walking on it. So you’re perpetuating low-grade inflammation.”

So be mindful of your feet this summer, and if you are going to wear flip flops, consider the activities you will be doing and locations where you will be wearing them. A little bit of thought and some preventative care can go a long way to ensuring your feet have as great of a summer as you do.

In our age of advancing medical treatment technology, there is a new type of therapy for foot pain that has proven to be very successful and practically painless known as EPAT or Shock Wave Therapy. This revolutionary treatment procedure has made it easier for anyone experiencing common foot problems to have immediate and effective treatment.
How Does EPAT Therapy Work On A Patient?

A podiatrist will apply direct low frequency soundwaves on the injured area of your foot through a hand held applicator. By doing this, the sound waves will penetrate through the tissue in your foot and stimulate more blood flow to the affected area. This will help to speed up your body’s natural healing process. Multiple treatments over multiple weeks will greatly increase your relief in pain.

Some of the major benefits of shock wave therapy include:

-No anesthesia
-No hospital stay
-No risk of infection
-Faster healing
-No side effects

With benefits like those, it is very hard to turn away from such a treatment. When over 80% of patients have experienced less to no pain after shock wave therapy, you start to see the draw of the procedure.

Some of the most common foot problems and conditions suitable for shock wave therapy treatment include plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, and chronic muscle pain. All of these conditions are treated by Dr. Pedram Aslmand at his office.

Patients who have received shock therapy treatment have experienced a change in their pain after about 3 weeks, but some have even felt the effects almost immediately. While most patients are suited for this type of treatment, it is advised that any patient who is taking blood thinners should not have this procedure due to the affects of the shockwaves on the blood stream itself.

For more information about EPAT Shock Wave Therapy Treatment, contact Dr. Pedram Aslmand for a consultation today!

Tendinitis is a condition that occurs most often by repeated minor impact on a certain affect area such as the elbow, wrist, or ankle. In our case, tendinitis is most likely to happen in the achilles tendon. This major tendon connects our heel to many of the lower leg bones.
Understand The Cause of Achilles Tendinitis

While it does happen immediately, tendinitis can gradually build and worsen over time if not immediately treated and identified. There are a number of activities that can affect your ankle and cause achilles tendinitis:

-Golfing
-Tennis
-Skiing
-Running
-Shoveling

Many of these causes are sports related and for good reason. A great number of major sports require extensive use of legs and feet and involve a lot of stop and go activity. This type of movement on your ankle can greatly increase in stress over time if not properly treated and tended to after each and every outing. In order to prevent further injury when playing certain sports, it is imperative to learn all of the basic mechanics to achieve proper form and posture when playing said sport. Also, improper stretching beforehand will greatly increase risk.

If you are experiencing pain in your ankle region and have trouble stretching properly, you may have tendinitis in your achilles tendon. The pain can gradually build up if not tended to, especially if there are calcium deposits present in your ankle.

In order to avoid tendinitis, aside from proper sport form and mechanics, it is important to take it slow. If you are learning a new sport, build up your strength and your muscles and tendons will catch up and support more strenuous activity. You do not want to over exert yourself and expose your ankles to potential damage that can limit you from going any further. If you are experiencing unusual pain while training, stop immediately and try again later.

For more information on achilles tendinitis, contact Dr. Pedram Aslmand for a consultation today!

Hammer-toe-treatment-optionsHammertoe is a common type of foot problem the most often occurs within women who wear high heels with a narrow toe end. Many of these types of shoes can force a woman’s toes against the front side of the shoe. This can cause an unnatural bending of the toes which will result in pain and potential deformity if left unchecked.

A hammertoe is defined as being an unusual or abnormal bend in the middle joint of a toe. When this occurs the joint can become inflamed and Another type of joint problem is known as mallet toe. This more often occurs near on the joint nearest to the toenail. Both hammertoe and mallet toe are most likely to occur in your second biggest toe.

A hammertoe is easily classified by having an unusual bend in the joints of your toes, usually at least one. If you try to move any of these toes at the affected joint, the result can be very painful. Your toes can develop calluses by the constant rubbing against the insides of your shoes. The pain will increase the longer you put off any form of corrective procedures.

At Advanced Foot & Ankle Center in Long Beach, we recommend a conservative approach to treatment for hammertoe conditions. This includes immediately switching to a shoe that contains a broad spread in the toe area. A good frame way to determine if a shoe is wide enough is to be able to spread your toes out and/or wiggle your toes while they are in the shoe. Depending on the type of activity that the patient does regularly (walking, running, dance, sports), we recommend having the proper type of footwear for each activity.

Next, padding the toes to ensure that they remain in a comfortable, stable position is recommended in order to help return your alignment to normal while reducing the pain that can be felt from the joint bending. The padding will also help to relieve pressure and swelling.

If a conservative approach to hammertoe treatment does not provide relief, a custom-made insert can be beneficial along with cortisone injections to relieve acute pain in the area.

If you are experiencing hammertoe problems and you reside in or around the Long Beach area, please contact Dr. Pedram Aslmand at Advanced Foot & Ankle Center today to schedule a consultation and determine the best course of treatment for your specific hammertoe condition.

Torn Achilles

What Are My Options For A Torn Achilles?

As an individual, for sure you want to feel free from any injury that can hinder you from performing your different activities every day. On the other hand, you cannot prevent from having injuries. One of which is Torn Achilles, which is a foot injury that can make you feel uneasy and uncomfortable in your daily living.

Meanwhile, there is nothing to worry about it since there are several treatment options that you can do to stop that painful feeling. The following are some of the most proven and effective solutions for a torn Achilles.

Helpful Treatments for a Torn Achilles

By simply exercising regularly, you can well avoid the painful moments in your tendon area. In addition to this, it can also help you strengthen the area and at the same time reduce the irritation of the latter injury.
To heal your torn Achilles, you can wrap it up with bandages to help lessen the swelling. In connection to this, it is also advisable for you not to wrap it tightly, thus it may affect the circulation of the blood.
Elevation and Ice. To reduce the instances of tension and swelling, you can put your leg up and at the same time put an ice on it for about 20 to 30 minutes every few hours. Definitely, this is one of the most effective ways to attain an easy and fast recovery from your torn Achilles.
Surgery. One of the best options for the improvement of your injury is to undergo in a surgical intervention. Truly, this is one of the safest methods of treatment for common tendon injuries. In addition to this, the surgeon can also identify the best solution on how to improve the status of your injury.
As what doctors usually say, you need to rest in order to reduce the pain and swelling of your torn Achilles. Establishing a proper rest can help you prepare yourself from using any crutch or mobility device that can support your further recovery. Additionally, it will not only improve your mobility, but it can also enhance your overall health.
With the help of a shoe insert, your heel can be elevated and will help reduce the occurrence of tension, swelling as well as strain during the treatment process.
Physical therapy. Physical therapy for people suffering from torn Achilles is also one of the best solutions to attain a painless feeling for a long period of time. On the other hand, the physical therapy will undergo in several stages to produce rewarding as well as affirmative results. The first part is to use the pain to guide the intensity of the exercise. Furthermore, an active ankle dorsiflexion is performed to ease the pain.

Secondly, active ROM, as well as neuromuscular control programs will be initiated for stretching. Lastly, progressive stress is implemented to control the formation of collagen. Furthermore, to reduce the pain, an aggressive stretching as well as an active resisted motion is performed.

With the above mentioned treatment options, you can now have the chance to recover from your torn Achilles in a fast and easy manner.