Treatments
Gill Buszmanning BSc (Hons), MChS HCPC Registered
Treatments for a range of painful foot conditions
Routine foot care
Nails are trimmed, any thickened nails can be painlessly thinned down and hard skin is removed along with any corns. The feet are then smoothed and moisturised. Regular visits can prevent problems from occurring.
Simple nail cutting
We are able to offer a low cost, no frills nail cutting service. This is carried out by a fully qualified foot health practitioner
Corn and hard skin removal
Callous is unsightly and often uncomfortable. If left untreated it can become painful, crack or even develop into a corn. This condition is dealt with painlessly by gently removing the dead skin leaving the feet looking and feeling like new.
Heel pain / Plantar fasciitis
Treatment can take many forms, from resting your foot as much as possible, icing, anti-inflammatories (where appropriate) stretching exercises, deep-heat therapy to steroid injections and even medication or surgery to release the tight tissue ‘band’. In some cases, padding and strapping is applied to alter the direction of stretch of the ligament to alleviate symptoms in the short term. However, for the long term, special insoles (orthoses) may be prescribed to help the feet to function more effectively and help to make any possible recurrence less likely.
Fungal Nail
Fungal nails become thickened and discoloured and eventually painful and unsightly. The podiatrist can greatly reduce the thickening making them look and feel better. This is done in preparation for any further treatments, appropriate treatment plans will be discussed at the appointment. Fungal nail can also be associated with athletes foot, this can cause itchiness & irritation as well as dry scaly skin. It’s often seen in people other than athletes. Treatment and advice will be given during your consultation to help give relief.
Cracked heels
The Podiatrist will remove the hard dry skin using a scalpel and an electric file. In severe cases we can use specific tissue glue to heal severe cracked heels.
Verrucae
Verrucae are warts in the foot. They can be ignored and considered harmless unless. they start multiplying or becoming thickened and uncomfortable, over half or warts and verrucae resolve within two years.
The treatments we provide are mainly destructive to the verruca – for example salicylic acid, silver nitrate and taping. We also debride the verruca which aims to stimulate the immune system to fight the infection.
No treatment is perfect and the options will be discussed at the initial consultation and a treatment plan produced.
Biomechanical
Biomechanical issues can cause low back, hip and knee pain, painful ankles, feet and arches. They can be as a result foot and lower limb function as well as the way the foot adapts to a sport or activity, footwear, weight change or medical conditions such as arthritis.
We will assess the joints, assess your gait and pressure distribution while standing and walking and evaluate your footwear.
In many cases a combination of footwear advice, orthoses or insoles to support the foot and some exercises remedy the problem. In other cases we would refer or involve physiotherapy or orthopaedic consultants for imaging (X-ray, ultrasound or MRI) or further treatment.
Ingrown toenails
Can be painful. The nail curls into the skin and results in swelling of the nail borders. In some cases careful cutting and shaping of the nail can remedy this. Packing the nail can also encourage the nail to lift off the nail edge.
In other cases a minor procedure is required to reduce the width of the nail by a few millimetres. This is called a partial nail ablation, and a chemical called phenol is applied the root of the nail to destroy that section and prevent it growing back. The result is a slightly narrower nail which no longer embeds into the toe. The procedure is carried out in the Stevenage clinic with a local anaesthetic to the toe. Full healing takes approximately 8 weeks.
Diabetic foot assessment.
It is essential for diabetics to have annual foot checks/assessments.
This is because diabetes can cause
• Nerve damage known as peripheral neuropathy
• Poor circulation, restricting the bodies ability to heal
• Stiff Joints, which cause pain
The diabetic foot assessment, will involve checking the pulses in the feet, checking for nerve damage, to determine the skin integrity and assess any areas of high pressure that may have the potential to break down.
Routine /Standard Appointment
£35
1/2 Hour Appointment
Simple Nail Cutting
£25
1/2 Hour Appointment
Bio Mechanical Assessment
£65
45 Minute Appointment
Diabetic Foot Assessment
£50
1/2 Hr Appointment
Fungal Nail Testing
£40 Plus routine appointment fee
1/2 Hr Appointment
Home Visits
£45
1/2 Hr Appointment
New Patient Initial Assessment
£40
1/2 Hr Appointment
CONTACT US
Contact Us
Chiropody/Podiatry Clinic
27 High Street, Old Welwyn,
Herts. AL6 9EE
gbuszmanning@comfysoleschiropody.org.uk
Clinic Appointments: 07775 952310
Home Visits: 01707 894900