What Should I Do If My Toenail Falls Off?

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It may sound extreme to lose a toenail, particularly if this is the first time it’s happened to you. However, this isn’t necessarily an uncommon event, and it may not even cause much pain or discomfort when it falls off. Here are a few tips if you’re wondering how to treat a missing toenail in Pflugerville, TX.

Clean and Treat the Toe

The most important thing to do is clean the toe and protect it from further damage. Use an antibiotic cream to reduce your odds of infection drastically. Consider bandaging the toe, especially if the toenail is still attached — even if it’s hanging on by little more than a small connection point. (You can trim off some of the nails at the point if you think it will snag on the bandages).

Attempting to rip the toenail off may be more than painful, it may make the toe worse. Your nail bed is likely already hard at work to make a new toenail, and it may only be a week before the skin hardens into a new nail. Soaking the nail for 20 minutes daily can also reduce pain and speed up healing.

When to Visit a Podiatrist in Austin

In many cases, a toenail falling off doesn’t warrant a trip to a podiatrist in Austin or Pflugerville, TX. However, if this is a frequent occurrence or you think the toenail has become infected (e.g., you’re experiencing swelling, pain, or discoloration), you should visit the offices of Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA. With two locations, you can talk to a professional about what’s causing the problem and what you can do to prevent it from happening again.

Athlete's Foot treatment Austin TX

Can My Foot Pain Lead to Hip Pain?

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Foot pain can majorly impact the rest of the body, so it’s important to understand how it can travel and manifest. Once there’s a problem with the feet, it will put uneven pressure on the rest of the joints, which can impact anything from the legs to the hips. If you’re experiencing hip and foot pain in Austin, TX, we’ll examine how different foot issues could be the culprit.

What’s Causing My Hip Pain?

The most common causes of hip pain stemming from foot pain include anything from broken toes to extreme arches. Too flat of feet, and the arches will start to collapse. If your arches are too high, the foot can be less flexible overall. Joint deformities like hammertoes and bunions can also lead to additional strain on the foot. When you notice a change in how your weight is distributed, chances are that you’re putting some strain on your hips, which can lead to discomfort.

How to Avoid Hip Pain in Pflugerville, TX

Any number of factors can cause hip pain, so it’s important to find its cause before it becomes a bigger issue. However, if you noticed that had foot pain before developing hip pain, chances are, the two events are related. The best way to avoid hip pain is to examine the quality of your shoes and the exercise you are getting. If your movements are out of balance, it may have more of an impact than you realize. If you’d like to see a podiatrist in Houston or Pflugerville, TX, about the problem, Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA, can help both diagnose and correct the issues before they get out of hand.

Bunion on the woman's foot. Big toe problem.

Will Bunions Go Away On Their Own?

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Bunions are formed when the bones and the muscles of the foot don’t agree. Once they’re misaligned, they create a bump that sticks underneath the base of the big toe. It’s possible that bunions are an inheritable trait, though they may be a product of poorly fitting shoes or inflammatory conditions. If you’re wondering if bunions in Pflugerville will go away on their own, you should know a few things about the condition.

Reversing Bunions

There is really no way to reverse a bunion without treatment unless the bunion is caught at the very beginning. If the joint is still flexible, then it may be able to go back to its original position. Once it’s formed, though, it’s likely to get bigger over time. The much bigger question is whether this will affect you and your mobility. Many people will have bunions without adverse effects. If it’s growing, it’s doing so at a slow enough pace that you may not even notice.

If you are feeling pain or discomfort and don’t wish to have surgery for your bunions, you can consider anything from regular over-the-counter medication to special shoes. If you want to give your feet the healthiest conditions, make sure you choose a shoe with a wide toebox, preferably with enough support at the sole and without a high heel.

See a Podiatrist in Austin

The best way to treat bunions with the help of a professional is to catch them as early as possible. Seeing a podiatrist in Austin, TX, could halt the progress. From custom orthotics to splinting, the staff of Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA, can help you learn more about the best ways to combat this common occurrence.

 

What Color Is Subungual Onychomycosis Fungus?

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Subungual onychomycosis (SO) is not exactly a household name but a relatively common infection. More common in toenails than in fingernails, it’s a fungal infection of the nail bed. If you’re concerned about toenail fungus in Pflugerville, we’ll look at how this manifests and what to keep an eye on.

What Color is Subungual Onychomycosis?

Often known as simply toenail fungus, SO is usually white or yellow. In rarer cases, it can be green, brown, or even black, though the standard is some variation of white or yellow. The nail could be entirely yellow or white, or it might have streaks or spots of the colors. The other way to identify SO is by the thickness of the nail. In some cases, SO can cause toenails to separate from the bed.

Is SO Fungus Contagious?

If you have SO fungus in Austin, TX, you should know that it is contagious. However, that doesn’t mean that your other nails will immediately develop it or everyone in your household will get it. While you will need to be careful, it’s not so easily spread that you will need to be vigilant about what you come in contact with.

Podiatrists in Austin, TX

Fungus may not be the most serious condition, but you don’t want it to get out of hand either. The best way to avoid SO fungus is by buying shoes that fit and keeping your feet dry. You should also avoid sharing items like nail clippers for good measure. If you’re concerned about fungus, talking to a podiatrist in Pflugerville may help. At Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA, with locations in both Austin and Pflugerville, you’ll meet a foot doctor who can not only diagnose the type of fungus you have but help you clear it up as quickly as possible.