If you have gout, you know how painful it can be. Odds are, you’re stumbling around during a gout flareup because the condition probably affects your big toe. Such a little digit does a big job of helping you move and balance yourself. Often, when your toe hurts, you can be pretty significantly disabled. Gout is a form of arthritis … Read More

Summer is all flip flops, sandals, open toes and barefoot, but when the mercury starts dropping, it’s time to put your feet away into boots and closed-toe shoes. When you go from exposed toes to cooping them up all day, it’s more important than ever to give some time and attention to your feet. Just because no one can see … Read More

A pain in the foot—that’s what you get with plantar warts. There are all kinds of warts, which are skin growths that are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Experts estimate there are from 60 to 100 types of HPV, and while only some of them cause warts on the skin, it can be confusing which kinds of the many … Read More

Running is arguably the quickest, easiest and most effective form of fitness activity. We all know how to do it; after walking, it’s the first thing we learned. In addition, it’s convenient. Just tie on a pair of running shoes and head out the door. However, like any exercise, running entails a risk of injury. Shin splints are notoriously one … Read More

Do you dread looking down at your bare feet? Maybe it’s because your toenails or yellowed, brittle or thickened. They may even hurt. These are typical signs of toenail fungus. Toenail fungus is a common infection, one that has steadily increased worldwide. In fact, about 40 million Americans have toenail fungus, and some estimates are that toenail fungus affects approximately … Read More

“Oh, my aching ankle.” That’s a common refrain, some version of which we hear frequently at Essex Union Podiatry. Ankles are the source of some of the most common bone and joint injuries. While there are a variety of causes, and subsequently a variety of treatment solutions, it is crucial to understand two important sources of ankle pain: a sprain … Read More

Itchy feet are the worst, if only because you’ll get some funny looks if you take off your shoes and scratch (which is probably not a good idea anyway). So if scratching is out, what can you do about feet that itch? Your first step is learning what’s causing the itch. Then you can begin to treat the cause. Here … Read More

You may love to hit the slopes or the skating rink when the temperature (and the snow) starts falling, but you may not realize the beating your feet and ankles take from winter sports. Between cold conditions, ill-fitting boots and sports that may involve lots of cutting and changing direction, winter can be pretty tough on your feet. Don’t let … Read More

Pregnancy is amazing. Think about it—your body grows and nourishes a fully formed human from a single cell. But pregnancy is not without its struggles. Pregnant women can be susceptible to health problems, from their head (pregnancy headaches, anyone?) down to—you guessed it—their feet. You know how important it is to take care of yourself when you’re pregnant. You take … Read More

The human body is full of wonders, but warts are not one of them. This skin condition causes abnormal growths to appear that can be both unsightly as well as painful. They are the result of an infection from one of many strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). So, what’s the deal with these pesky bumps, and what can be done … Read More