Diabetic feet and neuropathies (conditions arising from):
Numbness/burning in your feet
Poor circulation or cramping in your legs
Poor balance
Nail problems:
Discolouration
Brittleness
Thickening
Ingrown toenails
Treatments available
Nail surgery for ingrowing toenails
The treatment involves a local anaesthetic, before removal of the section of nail which is ingrowing, followed by phenolisation of the nail bed to prevent that section of the nail growing back again. nail surgery is a permanent solution to a recurring problem.
Cryotherapy for verrucae
This is a nitrous oxide freezing treatment, tissue is frozen to a self limiting depth of 5mm, this takes 15seconds, return visit is in three to four weeks. please note that verrucae can be very stubborn and rarely disappear after one treatment. Cryotherapy is suitable for single verrucae.
Biomechanical examination and gait analysis
Here the range of motion in the major joints of the foot, ankle and hip are tested non weight bearing, then the patient stands and the degree of pronation of the foot is assessed, leg length checked and finally the walk is analysed. Results are scrutinised and it can then be decided whether orthotics are required and if so whether they can be off the shelf or if they need to be custom made. Orthotics can prevent or delay the need for knee and hip replacements where there are many imbalances in the foot.
Plaster of paris casting of the feet for prescription orthotics
Acupuncture for the lower limb
This is useful for persistent aches or pains in the knee or leg. These can be caused by trigger points in muscles which causes them to contract and pull on a nerve, acupuncture can painlessly release these. Runners often get TPs when they don’t train properly or try to ‘run through’ an injury.
Filing down of thickened nails and advice on treating fungal infections of the nails
Nail cutting
Diabetic footcare
Diabetics can develop many complications which affect the feet , for example, neuropathy. Diabetics have their blood flow and nervous function tested once a year to monitor the situation in conjunction with regular foot care. Any irregularities are referred to the patients GP for further investigation.
