AmnioFix contains 285 regulatory proteins, growth factors, specialized cytokines, and
enzyme inhibitors, some of the most important needed for healing and is donated by
healthy consenting mothers that have delivered a live birth by a scheduled Caesarean
section. All donors are tested for infectious diseases, similar to the testing done for
people that donate blood.
These growth factors are powerful agents that our bodies produce to signal cells to
come to the target or damaged site on the body to help your own cells regenerate
damaged tissue.

When should You Opt for AmnioFix?
Consider AmnioFix as an option if conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatories,
physical therapy, and bracing have not provided relief for your feet, or if you are
searching for a non-steroidal option or have reached the limit of steroid injections.
Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle
Associates and schedule an appointment today to learn more about AmnioFix for your
feet.
To learn more about AmnioFix treatment, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel
Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates .

​What are Plantar Warts?
Warts are caused by an infection of the skin by human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the most common viral infection of the skin. Plantar warts grow on the plantar surface or the sole of the foot. They can be found anywhere in this area, but tend to produce symptoms in areas of pressure and/or friction. The virus that causes warts, the human papillomavirus, infects only the superficial layer of skin, producing a thickened callus-like growth that, if located in an areas subjected to pressure, can become quite tender.
 
Although warts characteristically resolve spontaneously, it is sometimes necessary to treat painful plantar warts. The incubation period (the period of time between infection and the production of the visible skin lesion) is not known but estimates vary from months to years. There are at least 120 different types of (HPV), and certain types tend to infect specific anatomical areas, like the plantar surface of the foot. HPV infections are ubiquitous infections, with least one-half of adults infected during their lifetime.
 
Causes and Risk Factors of Plantar Warts
The HPV types 57, 27, and 1a account for most plantar warts. The virus gains access to the skin through direct contact. It is presumed that inoculation of the skin occurs in places likely to be contaminated by others with Plantar warts, like communal showers. Once infected by HPV, spontaneous resolution seems to depend on the development of immune lymphocytes that destroy the virus-infected cells. Vaccines are available to protect against certain types of genital viral infections, but there are no vaccines for the HPV types that cause Plantar warts.

• Plantar warts are seen in all age groups, but are most common among children 12-16 years of age, and rare in the elderly.
• Risk factors for the development of Plantar warts include:
  • use of public showers,
  • skin trauma, and
  • weakened immune system because of certain medications used or illness.

 
Are Plantar Warts Contagious?
Yes, because Plantar warts are caused by a viral infection (see above) it is possible to spread the virus and the condition from person to person. For example, places such as communal showers are areas where the HPV infection can spread.
 
What Are Plantar Wart Symptoms and Signs?

• Firm (rough, bumpy, and spongy, some appear thick and scaly) lesions with tiny pinpoint dark spots in the body of the wart (not always apparent): These dark spots are minute.
• Foot pain localized to a thickened area on the sole
• Smooth surface with a gray-yellow or brown color
• Often located over areas of pressure or a bony point such as the heel and ball of the foot
• Usually flat because of pressure
• Several warts may fuse to form "mosaic" warts.

Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associates and schedule an appointment today.  
 
To learn more about Plantar Warts and treatment, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates. 
 

​Tips On Healing an Achilles Tendonitis Quickly 

At Home Treatment

1. Rest your leg. Avoid putting weight on your leg.  
2. Ice it.
3. Compress your leg.  
4. Elevate your leg as much as possible.
5. Take anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Advil
6. Use a heel lift in your shoe
7. Practice stretching and strengthening exercises as recommended by your doctor, physical therapist, or other health care provider.

 
 
To learn more about Achilles Tendonitis, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates. 

Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associates and schedule an appointment today.   

​What Is Stem Cell (Regenerative) Therapy?
Stem Cells act to orchestrate the process of healing and cell signaling, much like the conductor of an orchestra. These are your own stem cells working to help you.
 
Our goal is to provide you with the latest in affordable, minimally invasive therapies to help acute and chronic orthopedic foot and ankle conditions. We are experienced in the field of regenerative medicine and have years of experience in advanced pain management techniques. We will present you with an honest opinion on your options. Everyone is different. If regenerative therapy is not right for you, we will always give you the best options.
 
How Stem Cell Therapy Works
This is a non-surgical procedure. Although some ailments require invasive measures of treatment, many have the ability to heal. Regenerative therapy provides an advanced boost to the already natural healing process our body provides. Most procedures take 30-60 minutes to perform in a single office visit. You would be able to leave within an hour after the procedure. Although you are able to go about normal activity, we suggest that you take it easy for the first week or two.
 
To learn more about treating foot and ankle injuries using stem cell therapy, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates.
 
Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associates and schedule an appointment today.

Things You Might Want To Know Regarding Ankle & Foot Pain​
Lots of joint cooperation needs to occur for the foot to function properly. The foot during walking is at the mercy of the function of the lower limb. In addition, there can be intrinsic misalignment that can occur. So… Ankle and/or foot pain is usually a matter of control, or loss of control.
​
​Misaligned Feet
The majority of people with flat or misaligned feet will never experience any pain or symptoms in their feet. However, they will eventually develop pain or symptoms somewhere else in their body. In children this can show up as “growing” pains or shin splints. In adults, it may appear as chronic pain to knees, hips and/or back. Once the anklebone slips from its natural alignment on the heel bone this alters the foundation of the body. The knee twists, the leg is pulled from the hip, the pelvis tilts, and this creates a strain on the back.

Goals to restore foot stability
Our overall goal is to restore stability to the foot and mobility to the toes and ankle. There are many conditions that can cause your pain. Our care is tailored to your specific problem and will include the following:

• Rapid pain relief
• Quick control of swelling (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
• Taping and bracing as required
• Education with your involvement
• Development of a home treatment program
• Joint and soft tissue mobilization to restore motion
• Stability strength training
• Mobility exercises for range of motion
• Hands-on-therapy

​Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associates and schedule an appointment today.

To learn more about treating foot and ankle injuries, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates.

Nail fungus, a common condition
Nail fungus is actually a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your toenail. As the infection continues, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken, and even crumble at the edge…and can affect several other nails. If your condition is mild, you may not need treatment. If it’s painful and has caused thickened nails, self-care steps and medications may help. But, even if treatment is successful, nail fungus often does comes back. When fungus infects the areas between your toes and the skin of your feet, it's called athlete's foot.

Fungal nail infection can develop in people at any age, but it's more common in older adults. As the nail ages, it can become brittle and dry. The resulting cracks in the nails allow fungi to enter. Other factors such as reduced blood circulation to the feet and a weakened immune system may also play a role. Toenail fungal infection can start from athlete's foot, and it can spread from one nail to another. But it is uncommon to get an infection from someone else.

Symptoms
You may have nail fungus if you have one of the following:

• Thickened nails
• Whitish to yellow-brown discoloration
• Brittle, crumbly or ragged nails
• Distorted in shape
• A dark color, caused by debris building up under your nail
• Smelling slightly foul

While, nail fungus can affect fingernails, it's more common in toenails.

When to see a doctor
You might want to see a doctor if self-care steps haven't helped and the nail becomes increasingly discolored, thickened or deformed. If you have diabetes and think you're developing nail fungus, you should see a doctor.

Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of developing nail fungus include:

• Being older with reduced blood flow, more years of exposure to fungi and slower growing nails
• Sweating heavily
• Having a history of athlete's foot
• Walking barefoot in damp communal areas like swimming pools and shower rooms
• Having a minor skin or nail injury or a skin condition, such as psoriasis

Having diabetes, circulation problems or a weakened immune system

Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associatesand schedule an appointment today.

To learn more about foot ulcers, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates.

Possible Reasons Why You May Have Developed a Non-Healing Foot Ulcer

First, we want to explain what an ulcer looks like to you.
Ulcers usually begin as an area of redness on the skin. The area may have a different firmness or temperature than the surrounding skin, or may be painful to the touch (Stage I), similar to a blister. Over time, the skin will break down, exposing a shallow wound bed (Stage II), followed by a layer of fat beneath the skin (Stage III), until bones, tendons, or muscles are exposed (Stage IV). Alternatively, the ulcer may be covered with discolored tissue (ranging from yellow to green to brown or black), making it impossible to determine the extent of the damage simply by looking at the ulcer.

Four Common Causes of Non-Healing Foot Ulcers
An ulcer may be caused by underlying medical conditions or personal habits.

1.  Circulatory Problems
Your circulatory system carries oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to your entire body. These nutrients maintain healthy tissue. The feet are frequently the first place to show signs of trouble when circulation is impaired, which is why they should be inspected regularly. Even if there is no sign of an ulcer upon examination, if there are any irregularities, such as pain, numbness, hair loss, or discoloration on the legs or feet, it could be indicative of a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD can lead to severe pain, ulcers, amputation, and even death if left untreated.

2. Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can occur in patients with circulatory problems, diabetes, alcoholism, or atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries). When nerves are intact, they send signals to the brain when an object is causing pain or discomfort. For instance, when walking, a feeling of pain will cause a person to remove a stone from their shoe, or seek out better-fitting footwear. However, in cases of damaged nerves, they are no longer able to properly signal the brain if an object is causing harm to the tissue. This failure to signal the brain can result in a person not fixing an issue with footwear. The pressure and irritation can, over time, develop into an ulcer.

3. Prolonged Pressure On The Feet
As mentioned in the previous example, when shoes fit poorly, ulcers can occur in people without nerve damage, this is usually due to severe atherosclerosis, or a deformity such as a fracture. Elderly patients often have difficulty or find it uncomfortable to examine their feet, ignoring moderate pain from pressure on the feet, which may result in the development of an ulcer.

4. Lifestyle Factors Such As Smoking Or A Sedentary Lifestyle
Smoking increases the risk for multiple diseases, including peripheral artery disease, due to its restrictive effects on the circulation. Ulcers occur when there is consistent pressure on one area for long periods of time. Prolonged periods of bed rest, or a sedentary lifestyle, can cause this type of pressure, and encourage the formation of ulcers. At any stage, an open wound can become infected and emit a strong odor and pus. When left untreated, ulcers can lead to severe complications such as gangrene and amputation. Frequent examination of your feet is recommended to help detect the presence of an ulcer in its earliest stage.If you discover a wound that will not heal on your feet, contact your doctor immediately. ​
​
Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associates and schedule an appointment today.
To learn more about foot ulcers, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates.
 

Joint Pain Might Be A Symptom Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
The majority of people with rheumatoid arthritis do develop foot symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a tough diagnosis to receive, as it is an Autoimmune Disease that can cause severe pain and joint deformity and also is incurable. However, the treatment options available are the most advanced they have ever been—and are allowing many people with RA who would have otherwise been destined for wheelchairs to live full and active lives.
 
One of the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis is stiffness, pain, and swelling in the hands and feet. The onset is gradual for some and immediate for others, but regardless, most people with RA wake up one day and realize that the joints in the ball or sole of their feet are too painful to walk on. At the same time, they might also notice their fingers stiffen while trying to open a jar, or that they can't bend certain finger joints while cooking because it's too painful. As the disease progresses, pain and stiffness may spread to the wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, and hips. 

Parts of the feet affected by RA
When it comes to the feet, RA typically affects the metatarsophalangeal (MTP)joints of the toes. When RA persistently affects the MTP joints, a gradual outward (lateral) shift in the toes can occur. This may cause both feet to develop bunions. RA may also cause shifting of the forefoot and loss of stability, which leads to toe contractures, such as hammertoes. Toe contractures and changes in toe joint flexibility will often lead to calluses and pain beneath the ball of the foot. All of these changes to a foot's structure and shape can make finding a comfortable shoe more difficult.
 
An RA sufferer will often experience stiffness in affected joints for one or more hours after awakening, compared with an OA sufferer, whose joint stiffness may diminish after a few minutes of stretching in the morning.

While not everyone will have foot involvement with RA, the majority of people do have some level of it. However, the most important thing to note is that there are many pharmacological treatment options as well as lifestyle interventions that can make a tremendous difference in managing all aspects of the disease, including its foot manifestations. A close relationship with your rheumatologist as well as your foot doctor, who will work to relieve your pain and inflammation, halt joint damage, and improve your sense of well being—will ensure the best outcomes possible throughout the course of your disease 
 
Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associatesand schedule an appointment today.
To learn more about aching feet, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates.

Of the thousands of species of fungi, there are only a few that can cause disease or discomfort in people. Invasive fungal disease is relatively rare in healthy people because of our sophisticated immune systems. However, serious fungal diseases frequently occur in immune compromised patients.

Compromised immunity
Uncontrolled HIV infection, for example, makes many people vulnerable to lethal fungal diseases. Cancer treatments and diabetes can also compromise a person’s immunity. In addition, corticosteroids, immunosuppressant’s and prolonged courses of antibiotics can also make the body more susceptible to fungal infections.

Put this list of fungal infections on your radar

1. Athletes Foot is a fungal infection of the feet with itching, scaling and redness.
2. Ringworm can appear in the form of a red or silver rash anywhere on the body. It is usually ring-shaped.
3. Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the toenails or fingernails that can involve any component of the nail, including the matrix, bed or plate. It can cause pain, discomfort and disfigurement. Yeast and molds also cause nail infections.
4. TineaVersicolor or pityriasisversicolor is a common condition that causes small patches of skin to become scaly and discolored. They can be darker or lighter than the surrounding skin, or even red or pink. The condition is caused by a yeast called Malassezia, which lives on the skin of most people without causing any problems.
5. Cutaneous Candidiasis can involve almost any skin area of the body, but mostly occurs in warm, moist, creased areas such as the armpits and groin. Candida is also common in people who are obese or have diabetes. Antibiotics, steroid therapy and chemotherapy increase the risk of cutaneous Candidiasis. Candida can also cause infections of the nails
   

Contact our offices Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Virginia Foot & Ankle Associatesand schedule an appointment today.
To learn more about compromised immunity and foot disease, go to Heel Pain Institute of America or Laurel Foot & Ankle Center or Northern Foot & Ankle Associates.