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Foot and Ankle Center of Northern Colorado
1931 65th Ave. #A
Greeley, CO 80634
970-351-0900 |
The staff at the
Foot and Ankle
Center
would like to welcome Amy D, and Anna as Dr Hatch’s new assistants. We also
welcome back Dr Vaardahl’s assistant, Cheri, from her time off recovering
from her knee surgery.
Dr Hatch
attended the First International Clubfoot Symposium in Iowa City last month
where he presented a topic on recurrent clubfoot repair. He took three
surgical residents in training with him to the conference. Dr Hatch
continues his term as president of the
American
College
of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Danyelle and Shelly from the business office attended a conference in Las
Vegas last week on insurance coding.
We are also please to report that we will begin a business alliance with Dr
Peter Schultz in Loveland, Colorado starting November 1st. That office
address is 1440 N Boise Avenue. The phone number will be 970-278-1440. This will
increase our foot and ankle coverage in
Northern Colorado for
patient convenience.
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Click on the “OurDoctorStore”
icon. This site features many competitively priced products that can be
shipped conveniently to your home. |
| The
Facts about Feet
Knowing the truth can keep your feet healthy. |
"Don’t cross your eyes, they’ll stay that way!"
Old wives’ tales and myths like that example are fun to laugh at. But there
are other myths that are no laughing matter, especially when they involve
your health. Some foot care myths are so common we may think they’re fact.
Instead, this only causes problems in keeping our feet healthy.
Some believe that cutting a notch (a "V") in an ingrown toenail relieves the
pain. Not only does this not relieve the pain, it may actually cause greater
problems and discomfort. If you have an ingrown toenail, call our office to
schedule an appointment. In many cases, a simple 10-minute surgical
procedure will ease the pain and cure the ingrown toenail permanently.
Have you heard that walking on an injured foot means it isn’t broken?
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However, it is possible to walk on a broken foot or ankle,
depending on the severity of the injury and your threshold for pain. Not
only can walking on a broken foot make the injury worse, it can also lead to
serious complications. Stay off an injured foot until it’s examined by your
foot and ankle surgeon.
Another myth is that shoes cause bunions, which is not the case. Although
wearing shoes that crowd the toes together can, over time, make bunions more
painful, bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical
structure of the foot. Only surgery can correct a bunion.
We’ve heard some say that a doctor can't fix a broken toe. The truth is that
broken toes left untreated may develop arthritis or become deformed, making
wearing shoes and walking difficult. It is important to
see your foot and ankle surgeon if you think your toe may be broken. |
Has someone told you that foot pain
is normal as we get older? The reality is that foot pain is not normal at
any age. Your foot and ankle surgeon can provide relief for many painful
conditions such as arthritis, corns, bunions, hammertoes, and complications
of diabetes. Call our office to schedule an appointment.
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| People with Diabetes Need to
Keep Feet Fit |
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Fall brings changing leaves, cooler weather and the start of the holiday
season. It also brings National Diabetes Awareness Month in November and a
good time for a reminder about the importance of foot care to those who have
this disease.
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet – even a small
cut could have serious consequences. To avoid serious foot problems, follow
these prevention tips and schedule check-ups with our office on a regular
basis. |
For
more guidelines and information on diabetes, go to www.FootPhysicians.com.
Inspect your feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or
nail problems. Call our office to schedule an appointment if you notice
anything.
Moisturize your feet. Use a moisturizer daily to keep dry skin from
itching or cracking. But DON’T moisturize between the toes – this could
encourage a fungal infection. |
Wear socks to bed. If your feet get cold at night, wear socks. Never use
a heating pad or hot water bottle.
Keep your feet warm and dry. Don’t get your feet wet in snow or rain.
Wear warm socks and shoes in the winter.
Shake out your shoes and boots Remember, you may not feel something
in your shoe – so always look inside before putting them on.
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| Parents: Are Your Kids Wearing
the Right Shoes? |
Did you know your child’s feet can grow up to two sizes in six months? You
need to account for growth when buying shoes. But don’t buy shoes that are
too big – oversized shoes cause the foot to slide forward, putting excessive
pressure on the toes. A good fit is about a finger’s width from the end of
the shoe to the tip of the big toe. Check to see that the toe box flexes
easily and the shoe doesn’t bend in the middle of the sole. Don’t let your
child choose shoes if they already feel tight and uncomfortable in the store
– they won’t fit any better when you get home.
If you haven’t checked your child’s shoes recently, now is a good time.
Follow these basics of a good fit:
• Look for proper cushioning and arch support. Shoes lose their shock
absorption over time.
• Wear and tear around the edges of the sole usually means it’s worn out and
needs to be replaced. |
• Shoes that are too tight can cause blisters, corns and calluses on your
child’s toes, blisters on the back of the heels or ingrown toenails.
• Children with flat feet need shoes with a wide toe
box, maximum arch support and shock absorption. The best shoes to buy are
oxford, lace-up shoes that have enough depth for an orthotic insert, if
necessary.
The basics of a good fit also apply to athletic shoes.
Also, for comfort and injury prevention, children who regularly participate
in a sport should wear shoes designed specifically for the demands of that
sport. For example, tennis shoes are designed for side-to-side motion. When
shopping for a general athletic shoe, cross trainers are a suitable choice.
If specific socks are required as part of a uniform, have your child wear
these socks, or ones of the same thickness, to try on the shoes. |
If a child is having trouble walking and running, and is experiencing pain
despite properly fitting shoes, a check-up by a foot and ankle surgeon is
advised.
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