The Achilles tendon is a strong, tough band of fibers in the back of your ankle that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. Essential in helping you push off the ground when you walk or run, the Achilles tendon is also one of the most commonly injured tendons in the body due to the tension it sustains on a regular basis.  

Ankle pain is a common problem that can affect anyone and typically presents itself as swelling, bruising, or an inability to bear weight on the stressed area. While some ankle injuries are easy to treat, others require more attention from a podiatrist.  

At Denville Foot & Ankle, our team can help to properly identify, diagnose, and treat your pain whether it’s from a sprain, strain, arthritis, tendonitis, or other condition. Until you are able to schedule an appointment with us, we recommend rest, ice to reduce swelling, wrapping the ankle with an ace bandage for support, and keeping your leg/foot elevated to relieve discomfort.

If you are someone who suffers from arthritis in the feet, podiatric care is essential for maintaining mobility and preventing pain. At Denville Foot & Ankle, we provide various treatment options for all types of foot-related arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. From footwear recommendations to over-the-counter pain prescriptions, we are here to help you find a solution.  

Although the name may callout athletes, athlete’s foot can affect any individual and is easily spread from person to person. Athlete’s foot occurs when dermatophytes — a fungi already present on the skin — is consistently exposed to a moist environment and begins to grow rapidly. It most often affects the skin between the toes, but it can also affect the bottom, top, and sides of your feet. Physical symptoms of athlete’s foot include itching, scaling, and peeling of the skin on your feet, as well as blisters and cracked skin. 

Caused by swelling around the joint of the big toe, bunions often feel tender and painful to the touch. Genetics, arthritis, and excess pressure on the toes can play a role in the development of bunions. Regardless of their cause, bunions can be diagnosed and treated by a podiatrist to alleviate pain, avoid surgery, and prevent other conditions from developing.  

Typically small, thick, and cone-shaped, corns can be irritating and painful. Corns differ from calluses in that they are usually smaller in size and have a dry or waxy texture. Because they are commonly caused by pressure or friction on an area of the foot, simple orthotics or topical medications can be prescribed as treatment.  

Surgery is rarely needed to remove corns. But if you do not see any progress after initial treatment, it’s important to contact us so we can provide another solution and avoid any future complications. 

Found in up to 30% of the population, flat feet is a condition that occurs when the foot arch is not prominent. Because of this, those with flat feet can experience pain and discomfort in their feet, ankles, and knees. Genetics, weak arches, injury, and muscle or nervous system problems can all contribute to flat feet. To help treat any symptoms of flat feet, we can recommend targeted exercises, stretching, or orthotics.  

Foot and ankle fractures can occur after a fall, by overtwisting the ankle, or by dropping something heavy on the foot. Chronic stress, such as overuse injuries in sports, is another common cause of foot and ankle fractures.  

If you are struggling to put weight on your foot or ankle, or see any signs of bruising or swelling, you may have a fracture. Depending on the type and severity of the fracture, you may need an immobilization device (casts or braces), physical therapy, or surgery as a last resort. Contact our office today for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Always as a last resort, our team can perform surgery on patients with foot and ankle conditions. Performing surgery varies on a case-by-case basis and is only recommended for patients who aren’t seeing improvement or relief from other non-invasive treatment options.  

Prior to any surgery, our podiatrists will review your medical records, discuss pre-procedure guidelines, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. We will also go over post-procedure care to ensure a smooth recovery.  

For any surgery at Denville Foot & Ankle, our podiatrists prioritize communication and transparency to ensure your comfort and safety before, during, and after the procedure. 

At Denville Foot & Ankle, we provide custom-fit foot orthotics to correct foot conditions and alleviate pain. Our orthotics are available in rigid and soft forms depending on your specific needs. 

For the best possible outcome, we recommend regularly communicating with your Denville podiatrist to assess progress and discuss any necessary adjustments.

Yeast and mold are tiny organisms that occur naturally in our bodies and the environment. When these organisms overgrow, they can cause infections, such as fungal toenails. Caused by fungus that breeds in the nail bed, fungal toenails can result in thickening, discoloration, brittleness, and even separation of the nail from the toe. In some cases, the infection can also cause pain and swelling of the toes. 

If you think you have a fungal toenail infection, it’s important to visit a podiatrist right away to prevent further complications and damage to the nail.  

As we age, our feet undergo many changes. The skin may bruise more easily. Our bones weaken, making us susceptible to fractures. The muscles and ligaments stretch and lose their flexibility, leading to instability and falls. All of these changes make it essential to care for our feet as we get older.  

Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your feet healthy and comfortable overtime. At Denville Foot & Ankle, our podiatrists specialize in geriatric foot care and hygiene to promote heathy feet for a healthy lifestyle.  

A hammertoe is a deformity in which the toe bends down towards the floor at the first joint rather than pointing forward. While this condition can present itself on any toe, it is most common in the second and third digits. This can cause pain, discomfort, corns and calluses, and make it difficult to walk or wear shoes.

If you are experiencing any of these conditions, we recommend wearing shoes with added breathing room for your toes and consulting with a member of our team for a proper diagnosis and recommended treatment plan.

Whether it’s poor circulation, tarsal tunnel syndrome, a stress fracture, or heel bursitis, heel pain can result from any number of injuries or conditions. In children and teenagers, heel pain from Sever’s disease often develops from overuse or repetitive microtrauma to the heel bone. While some patients may need inserts others may simply require rest and icing to treat their symptoms.  

If you’re experiencing tenderness, pressure, or pain in your heels, we recommend consulting with one of our podiatrists to find a treatment plan that is best for you. 

Heel spurs are small calcium deposits that form on the bottom of your heel bone and can make it difficult to walk or stand. Common causes of heel spurs include obesity, improper footwear, arthritis, or stress from overuse. While there are plenty of at-home remedies you can use to alleviate the pain, we recommend scheduling an appointment at our practice to determine the cause of your heel spurs and which preventative methods are best suited for you.  

Do you have a troublesome toenail that’s causing discomfort? If so, there’s a good chance you have an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails are nails that grow into the skin on your toes. They can be painful and, if left unresolved, can cause other problems like redness, swelling, and infection. There is no single cause of ingrown toenails, although they typically result from improperly cutting the nail. Other reasons for an ingrown toenail include wearing shoes that are too tight, stubbing or injuring the toe, and hereditary factors.  

Our ingrown toenail treatment options vary on a case-by-case basis and can include placing a splint or piece of cotton beneath the nail, partially removing the nail, or, in more severe cases, removing the entire nail and infected tissue. 

Morton’s neuroma is a thickening of the nerve tissue that leads to the foot and forms a pebble-like growth. It’s often caused by excessive compression (tight shoes), high-impact sports, and pressure on the nerves in the foot. Symptoms can include sharp pain, tingling, numbness, or a burning sensation in the balls of the feet or toes. Surgery is occasionally needed to remove the growth, but we offer other treatments, including decompression and injections, that can also alleviate discomfort.  

Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing further damage and easing pain, so be sure to schedule an appointment with us to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. 

Plantar fasciitis is a condition caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia — a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. While there is no cure for plantar fasciitis, there are several treatments that can help relieve the pain associated with it. Our podiatry team has years of experience treating patients with plantar fasciitis and can help you find the same relief. Schedule an appointment to learn more today.  

Small, harmless growths on the bottom of your feet, known as plantar warts, occur when a certain HPV strain enters through a cut or break in the skin on the bottom of the foot. The virus thrives in moist environments like swimming pools and locker rooms, and can cause plantar warts to show up on the heels, balls, or sides of your feet. While plantar warts aren’t highly contagious or dangerous, they can be frustrating and uncomfortable. 

If you struggle with plantar warts, our team offers various treatments to help clear the affected area, including SWIFT® Therapy — a cutting-edge, FDA-cleared technology that has proven to be highly effective in the removal of plantar warts. 

When it comes to keeping your body in top shape, we believe sports medicine and podiatry go hand-in-hand. At our practice, we offer comprehensive care and can treat a number of sports-related injuries for athletes and those with active lifestyles. Common conditions related to sports injuries include ankle sprains, heel spurs, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures, among others.  

If you are experiencing any sports-related injury or feeling the effects of excessive wear-and-tear, be sure to seek attention from a podiatrist to treat, slow, and prevent damage. 

Sometimes, plantar warts can develop roots that drive themselves deep into the affected area of the foot. This can make it extremely difficult to remove the entire wart, which is why SWIFT® Therapy was developed. By delivering low-dose microwave energy to the wart, an immune response occurs in the body and directly targets the root cause. These treatments are designed to be quick, simple, non-invasive, and mostly pain-free.  

Patients typically require 3-4 sessions, approximately 4 weeks apart, and each treatment takes 5-10 minutes. Call today to inquire more about SWIFT® Therapy and schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists!