The Family Foot Care Center of East Central Illinois
(with locations in Charleston and Effingham, Illinois)
(800) FOOT-FXR (366-8397)
Below are articles regarding different topics concerning foot health. Click on the article of interest to link to that page.
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Broken Bones in the Foot: Bunions: Corns & Warts: Frostbite: Flat Feet: Hammer Toe: |
Heel Pain: Medicare: Numbness: Orthotics: Toenails: Treatments for Foot Pain: |
What is a foot doctor?
To be honest with you, I did not even know what a “foot doctor” or podiatrist was, let alone they existed, until I was searching for what type of medical degree I wanted to obtain before graduating from college. My first exposure to “who they were and what they did” was via a lecture in college at a career colloquium by a podiatrist my senior year. He had a slideshow of what he did in his office from trimming toenails, to foot injections for pinched nerves, and finally on foot surgery. Needless to say, my experience was rather memorable, but graphic. I had some interest before that time in podiatry, but after that lecture, I had to really think twice about my future a foot specialist.
Why did I just give this walk down memory lane? Because, it was to show that perception has an affect on how we will respond. I almost made a choice to not become a foot doctor because of that one experience. I am glad that I made the choice I made rather not making it. I believe that I choose the right profession for my future. However, that choice was made only after I investigated further what exactly a podiatrist did, their history, where they went to school, how they were trained, how much they made, and so on. It was only after this rigorous research that I decided to become a podiatrist.
That is why I am here writing this article, I want to educate you, the reader, on podiatry. Most people know that a foot doctor trims corns and calluses, but we do far more than that. Our history has allowed us become the leading premier provider in expert foot care. Through our former years as chiropodists, we have evolved into the well-trained podiatric medical physicians we are today. We can diligently care for the feet and lower extremities through the most advanced medical and surgical procedures available. What used to take just months to become a foot care technician (chiropodist) now takes four years of college (BS degree), four years of podiatry school (accredited medical school), and a three year hospital residency program in foot surgery to become a podiatrist.
After graduation from the surgical residency training, a podiatrist enters the medical field and begins to practice the art of foot care. To become a staff physician at a local hospital the podiatrist must be a board certified podiatric physician or surgeon. We are equal in training to the allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) when it comes to medical school. But, it is our post-graduate training which allows us to be the leading medical providers in foot care. We can manage any problem related to foot and ankle. In some parts of the country, a podiatrist can do surgery on areas above the ankle as long as it is related to the foot problem in question. We are even allowed to perform our own history and physicals on patients prior to foot surgery.
We have come a long way and it looks like we are not stopping. Whether you are young or old and suffer from heel pain, ingrown nails, diabetic foot problems, abnormal skin or toenail conditions, flat or high feet, slow healing wounds of the foot /leg, sports medicine maladies, or just foot deformities like bunions or hammertoes, then a podiatrist is the doctor to see. Foot pain is not normal. So, don't become a statistic like millions of Americans that have not sought foot care when they needed it. The fact is that 80% of all Americans will have a foot problem some time in their life and only 3% will seek care from a podiatrist. Now you know the facts and the homework has been done for you. Get going and get on the road to relief!
Why Diabetic Shoes
This question is asked most often by patients who are diabetic. They see all kinds of ads on the television and in the newspaper and wonder why they need these “special shoes”? Once they find out why, then they are usually convinced on how important it is to take care of their feet by wearing the “right” shoes. Diabetics are always afraid something “bad” or “serious” is going to happen to their feet or legs. They will do “anything” to prevent this from happening once they find out what they can do to help themselves.
The months of November and December are dedicated “Diabetic Foot Care Aware” months in the State of Illinois. This is a sponsored event by the Illinois Department of Human Services Diabetes Education Division and the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association (IPMA). These months allow any diabetic to get a “free diabetic foot exam” from a podiatrist affiliated with the IPMA. The podiatrist will exam the diabetic patient’s feet and lower extremities and see if there are abnormalities with the skin, bones, blood flow, and/or sensation of the feet. They will provide a prognosis and treatment plan to resolve or help prevent any diabetic foot problems from becoming worse with time.
One of the treatment options may include a pair of extra-depth “over-the-counter” or custom molded prescription diabetic shoes with three pair of accommodative inserts for the shoes. The purpose of this type of shoe and insert is to prevent any on-going or potential diabetic foot complications from getting worse. They are made of special materials to allow this to happen. They provide not only comfort, but the necessary protection against developing corns, calluses, and even sores from occurring on the feet. These are especially useful in the diabetic who has loss or reduction of sensation in their feet.
Diabetic patients who are on Medicare Part B may qualify for coverage because of the diabetic shoe program developed by Medicare in1993. They would need to be evaluated by their podiatrist to see if they meet the necessary qualifications. This can be done through a physical exam (like the one mentioned above). Then, the podiatrist would need a certificate of medical necessity from the physician who is treating them for their diabetes. Once this is done, then the patient may order the shoes from their podiatrist. Many attractive styles are available for all walks of life and daily activities. Call your podiatrist today. To get further information or an appointment from a local foot doctor call 1-800-366-8397 or 1-800-323-4769.
Keep Your Feet Out of the “Cold”
By now, winter has certainly taken a toll on us all. The holidays are long gone, the dreary days of the season are monotonous, and most people are looking for the sun. Exercise is usually at a minimum at this time of year, but for those who do venture out of doors there are some helpful hints one should know to keep their feet healthy and safe from cold injury.
Outside of “frostbite” there many other cold injuries that can occur. But, the nature of this article is not talk about the typical cold injuries, but rather to explain simple ways to prevent these cold injuries. The most important step in preventing these types of problems is concerning the type of socks and boots/shoes are worn. Both are a necessity and should be considered when partaking in outside winter activities.
Socks are to be made of a wool blend and possible water proof materials (Gore-Tex). They should not only keep the feet warm, but dry as well. Any time socks get wet through perspiration or water should be changed immediately. Individuals who may be involved in winter sports, camping or hiking must be prepared and have an extra pair of socks on hand, just in case of any unfortunate incidents that may occur.
Winter boots or shoes are, of course, the next and most important protective measure one can do for their feet during the winter months. There are currently so many shoe/boot manufacturers it can be rather confusing to know which ones are the best for cold weather conditions. Just like socks, the winter boots/shoes should keep feet dry and warm at all times. Cost can play a factor when purchasing these types of items, but when it comes to your feet it is imperative to do the “right thing”.
Cold injuries can be caused by the environmental temperatures that are cool enough to harm to the skin due to exposure over a certain length of time. Every effort should be made to protect your feet in the winter. Take the advice that I have given you and put it into practice. You will be much happier for it and so will your feet.
Cosmetic Surgery and Podiatry
Some may call it “cosmetic surgery of the feet”, but some podiatrists would rather call it "preventative foot surgery" or "surgical enhancement of the foot”. With the unbelievable rise in the cosmetic surgeries done in the US, some foot surgeons in the podiatric profession has recently "stepped into the ring" as well. There is, however, much discourse between the certifying podiatric surgical boards and some newly formed podiatric groups that have cropped up in recent years. These foot surgeons want to concentrate on the "cosmetic surgical ability" in the podiatric profession. Since third party payers have started to decrease reimbursement to the medical profession in general. Some podiatrists have decided to get creative and provide aesthetic foot care services to there patients.
While there is nothing wrong with providing these types of services in a podiatric setting, the problem arises when a patient’s health insurance companies are being billed for these services. These "aesthetic" foot care services can include and not be limited to corrective surgery for deformed toes (bunions and hammertoes) which are not painful, collagen injections to soles of the feet or around bony prominences to provide cushioning, or any surgical procedure that is resolved because the patient doesn't like the way it looks.
Surgery of any kind has the potential for complications. So, foot surgery of this caliber should not be performed unless a thorough consent by the surgeon is obtained and the patient has signed a waiver stating they have sought out this type of treatment and accept full responsibility for a potentially bad outcome. Even with this type waiver of liability in place a patient still has a right to file a malpractice claim against a foot surgeon.
If an individual is seeking this type of foot surgery, then may want to seek a consultation from accredited board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in the field of cosmetic orthopedic surgery on the feet. Since these types of surgeons are trained in providing this type of service and solely practice on a patient population who electively seek cosmetic surgery, then the risk of liability may be less on the surgeon. So, it is important for an individual to investigate the credentials of any physician who performs surgery of any kind before "going under the knife".
A foot specialist is well-trained physician who specializes in diagnosis and treatment of all diseases related the foot and ankle. They are best medical and surgical providers when it comes to foot care. They seek to maintain and uphold the highest quality of care when it comes to the feet. So, if you have a foot problem that may look rather funny, but is causing you no symptoms, then it is still important to get it checked out. God gave you one pair of feet and they need to last a lifetime!
"Local Foot Doctor Eliminating Foot Pain"
Charleston, IL- Podiatric surgeon and specialist, Dr. Joseph Borreggine, who practices in Charleston and Effingham, IL, has begun to see excellent and long lasting results on his patients from two minimally invasive procedures that he performs to eliminate foot pain.
Recently interviewed, Dr. Borreggine has become an expert, well-versed, and trained in performing these two highly advanced procedures. He has done this by not only by attending the necessary surgical workshops and seminars needed to become certified, but also by performing many of them over the last few years.
Borreggine said, "To perform either of these procedures requires nothing more a small surgical opening to be placed strategically on the foot. One procedure eliminates the complaint of heel pain and the other can literally eliminates flat feet once and for all. Recovery has very little disability afterward".
The procedure that stops heel pain is called the "Kobygard plantar fascial release" and the other than alleviates flat feet is called "The HyProCure procedure". Whether they are done independently or at the same time, they can be performed in an outpatient setting under "twilight sedation" either in an ambulatory or hospital-based surgery center.
The Kobygard technique can stop heel pain (plantar fasciitis) by releasing the abnormally tight section of the plantar fascia located on the bottom of the foot. Borreggine said, "The results of this procedure have been phenomenal". He went onto say that his results have mirrored what is in the podiatric literature regarding the Kobygard procedure. "Over 90-95% over the patients who have this procedure are pain free (in the heel) within a few weeks of having it done", Borreggine said.
Borreggine explained that after the Kobygard procedure patients need to be a surgical shoe or boot for 5-7 days and can weight bear to tolerance. Borreggine also said that the post-operative pain varies from patient to patient and can be controlled by pain medication. "Usually in a week or so patients can go back into an athletic shoe in about a week", explained Dr. Borreggine. He also said, "After this procedure, people can have a better quality of life and return to the normal activities that were limited or stopped because of the heel pain".
The same can be said of the HyProCure procedure. Borreggine stated, “Again, by making a small surgical opening on the outside aspect of the ankle, this procedure uses a small stent that is placed under an ankle bone known as the "talus". It realigns the talus and prevents it from having excessive motion that can cause painful flat feet or "hyperpronation" (hence the name "HyProCure", which is short for "hyperpronation cure"). The anesthesia needed and recovery is very similar to the Kobygard”.
“This procedure can be done on children as well. The results have been excellent and whether you are child or an adult, flat feet can cause a myriad of foot, ankle, knee, hip and back problems" "Performing the HyProCure procedure, may insure that future problems, like arthritis of the knee, hip and back can be curtailed.", said Borreggine.
Finally, Borreggine related, "Podiatric surgery is on the "cutting-edge" of these types surgical advances and they are available right here in East Central Illinois".
For more information you may log onto www.hyperpronation.com for the HyProCure and www.osteomed.com for the Kobygard system. Dr. Borreggine lives with his three children in Charleston, IL and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. More information on foot problems can also be found at www.myfeethurt.net
People Need Not Suffer From Bunions: IL Podiatrist
Most people think they have to live with bunions or go through a very disabling surgical procedure to resolve it. These facts are not true, and therefore, a foot specialist should be consulted if this deformity is present. “The cause the bunion deformity is not the shoes that a person wears. It is actually caused by abnormal foot joint alignments around the great toe.”, says podiatrist Dr. Joseph Borreggine. The large bump around the great toe is usually red, swollen, and painful. The bone sticking out around the great toe actually has not ``grown,' but rather it is the joint that is becoming subluxed or dislocated.
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“Pain occurs when the shoe presses on the bunion deformity. However, bunions may not always be painful, but asymptomatic bunions can cause debilitating arthritis if left untreated.”, says Borreggine. Bunion deformities are hereditary, usually caused by flat (hyperpronated) feet, and are more prevalent in women (since, statistically, women seek care for foot pain more than men).
Borreggine says bunion pain can be relieved through many treatment regimens, including arthritis medication, steroid injections, wider shoes and arch supports. Bunion surgery could be the best treatment to correct the problem, if all else fails. As always, it's advisable to consult with a podiatrist and see which treatments is available.
Source: Herald Review [2/7/08]
"Podiatry Keeps America Walking Healthy"
For years, dentists have touted to their patients the importance of good oral hygiene. This has been done by public education through the American Dental Association (ADA) recommending we brush our teeth after every meal, when we get up in the morning, and before bed time. Dentists also recommend that you see them at least twice a year for a teeth cleaning and exam. I would say that from all that prevention most people would probably never get cavities or lose their teeth due to decay. Well, as we know, this is not the case. Even with all the education and preventative care, people still do not get the message.
Podiatrists are the leading foot care experts in the country. We, as a profession, have not done the job that dentists or optometrists have done with public. That is, most Americans do not value their feet like they would their teeth or their eyes for that matter. The feet are prone to a multitude of problems and can become much more serious if they are not treated appropriately. The fact is that 80% of all Americans will suffer a foot ailment in their lifetime and only 3% will seek relief from a foot doctor. This is amazing and unfortunate at the same time. Podiatry still has much work to do in foot care education, let alone prevention.
Podiatric physicians, like me, are cavaliers who continue to provide information on the profession's behalf to the public. Any opportunity made available through public relations is the best way to educate the patient population at-large on how important foot care is to maintaining good health. Since there so much information disseminated through multiple multi-media sources like radio, television and the Internet, then it becomes very hard to dispel the wide variety of misinformation which most people foster as the truth. So, it is important to visit a podiatrist when a foot problem arises. They can and will use their expertise to make the proper diagnosis and provide a treatment regimen to resolve the foot problem.
Since preventative measures are the key to success to eliminating many of the health problems today, podiatry has partnered with a company called "Walk Healthy Foot care Pharmacy". These foot care products are now available to podiatrists to dispense to their patients right from their office location. The company prides itself on a simple two-step approach to ensure proper hygiene and optimal foot functionality. Step one: is "The Foundation" and step two: is the "Ailment Specific Treatment". Both of these work concomitantly to provide an insole system to provide proper foot biomechanics in a "clean" environment and incorporate number superiorly alternative remedies for the feet which have more sophisticated technology than what is currently available.
From the highly advanced insole system to the topical sprays, creams, gels, and pads, "Walk Healthy Foot care Pharmacy" is taking a "giant step" in the right direction to not only have options available for sound foot care, but they are the current leaders in prevention against common foot ailments that continually plague the general public. To obtain more information on this revolutionary concept in foot care medicine, contact foot specialist, Dr. Joseph Borreggine at 1-800-366-8397 or email by clicking here. Dr. Borreggine practices in Charleston and Effingham, IL.
To obtain any other information on Dr. Borreggine practice, go to www.myfeethurt.net.
“Get Proactive…Promote yourself”
Many practitioners commit lots of energy and money to their practices, only to see modest gains in their patient base and profit margins.
But, according to Dr. Joseph Borreggine, podiatric physician, “A little PR could help and go a long way!” Borreggine has been in practice for over fifteen years in East Central Illinois, and is the owner of The Family Foot Care Center in downstate Charleston and Effingham. Borreggine takes the “proactive” approach when using public relations to promote himself and his practice.
“If you just sit around and wait for stuff to happen, it’s not going to. You’ve got to get up and make it happen,” he says. His promotional efforts, in addition to public relations, have included print ads, yellow pages, billboards, cable TV, and radio. All have certainly played a role in growing his practice to what is today. Borreggine believes that many podiatrists rely much too heavily on word of mouth to obtain the bulk of their business, and though he agrees that it’s important, he cautions those who rely on it for all their referrals. For example, “Mrs. Jones, who thinks you’re a wonderful doctor, may not talk to Mrs. Smith until six months from now. The doctor that you get referrals from may forget about you; or, for some reason, doesn’t like you today or next week,” says Borreggine. “You can’t always bank on word of mouth.”
Since 1992, Borreggine has practiced what he’s preached by actively pursuing opportunities to promote not only his practice but podiatry as well. “Through the years, I’ve gotten involved with a lot of the civic organizations as a member and speaker. These include the local Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club.” Other promotional opportunities involved partnering with his local community hospitals, senior centers, employer human resource departments, chambers of commerce, and the county health departments where Borreggine has provided foot screenings to the public as part of annual health fair events.
“I feel it’s important to educate the medical community as well as the public on what podiatry is all about,” says Borreggine. Borreggine also has contacted local school athletic trainers, directors and personnel and has provided medical consultation services to sports teams during the school year. “A lot of these things didn’t come into fruition until years later,” Borreggine explained. “People just don’t respond to you immediately to use your services. It took some time to plant those seeds, and more time still before they actually began to grow.” But grow they did.
He currently is the consultant podiatrist for sports teams affiliated with Eastern Illinois University, in Charleston, IL, and Lakeland Community College in Mattoon, Ill., and he can be seen on the sidelines during many sporting events. Also, by meeting face-to-face with lifestyle-section newspaper editors, Borreggine has become a major and frequent media contact. He has been published numerous times in local newspapers, such as the Effingham Daily News, the Mattoon Journal Gazette and the Charleston Times Courier. Borreggine also has written articles for the APMA News and this publication. He is a regular contributor to the Health Illinois Magazine, a periodical that highlights healthcare specialists and has many human interest stories.
Borreggine also has been a “call-in foot-care expert” or been interviewed on several Illinois radio and television talk shows, including The Morning Show on WCIA-TV (CBS) in Champaign, Health Wise on WEIU-TV (PBS),Eastern Illinois University’s broadcasting station in Charleston, Foot Wise on WCRA-AM radio in Effingham, and Ask the Expert on WAND-TV(NBC) in Decatur, IL .“Doing the television spots, specifically Ask the Expert, allowed me to spread the word about podiatry all across Central Illinois,” says Borreggine. “People came in from as far as 150 miles away.”
When it comes to promoting your practice, Borreggine offers the following advice. First, be “a lantern” for the podiatric profession in your public relation efforts. Second, educate different groups about podiatric medicine and how you can help them. Third, be judicious with advertising dollars. It can be very expensive, and it may not always give you the return you expect. Finally, Borreggine says, “Do what you’re comfortable with, whether it be public speaking, writing articles, offering free services, etc.
Just get your name and face out there as much as possible and then you will see what happens!”
Walking Keeps You Healthier Than You Think
Your ability to maintain a good exercise program may be cheaper than you think. It may only cost you thirty minutes a day and it is as close as walking out your front door. Yes, I said "walking"! Walking has become probably the best way to keep those unwanted pounds off for good! Just a daily brisk walk for a half hour a day is better than running or any other heavy impact aerobic exercise program.
Getting started is probably the hardest part, but once your walking program commences you will be amazed how much better you will feel in just a short period of time. Eventually, the benefits will pay off as the inches melt away from your waistline. No matter your age walking is good for you because it is safe to do and has very few health risks involved doin