June 2022

It’s hard enough getting a good night’s sleep without muscle cramps in your feet keeping you awake. The nocturnal foot cramps you may be experiencing are actually contractions in the muscles or muscle fibers in your feet. Foot cramps occurring at night may be caused by muscle fatigue due to overtaxing the feet muscles, low levels of potassium (hypokalemia) or magnesium, medication side effects, pregnancy, or shoes that are too tight or that fail to provide adequate arch support. There are certain medical issues that may lead to nocturnal foot cramps, including arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, thyroid disease, asthma, and heart attacks. Other contributing factors to developing these troublesome cramps are pregnancy, smoking, obesity, old age, and poor health. Consult with a podiatrist if your nocturnal muscle cramps do not improve within a couple of weeks to receive an accurate diagnosis and to discuss your treatment options. 

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Grobowski Foot & Ankle. our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellevue, Seattle, and Issaquah, WA, . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Ankle pain may be caused by any number of factors including arthritis in the joints, tears in ankle ligaments, swollen/scar tissue, and bone or cartilage injuries. An ankle arthroscopy can help podiatrists diagnose and repair many issues that cause ankle pain. An arthroscope is a tiny camera that a podiatrist can insert through a small incision in the skin to capture real-time video inside your ankle. The video is displayed on a large video monitor that the podiatrist looks at to help make an accurate diagnosis of ankle pain. The podiatrist can also use this video to guide them as they use tiny instruments, which are inserted through other small incisions, to treat/repair the condition causing the ankle pain. This minimally invasive procedure is known as arthroscopic surgery. It requires much smaller incisions than open surgery with less pain and bleeding, a lowered risk of infection, and shorter recovery times. Consult with your podiatrist to see if ankle arthroscopy is appropriate for you. 

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Grobowski Foot & Ankle. our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellevue, Seattle, and Issaquah, WA, . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Ingrown toenails or onychocryptosis is a common nail disorder that can affect children. With this condition, the toenail grows into the skin surrounding the nail. Since the nail cuts the skin, the area can become inflamed or irritated, and an infection may develop. Not only can the child feel pain when pressure is applied to the toenail, but it may also be painful to walk and participate in activities. An ingrown toenail is often the result of toenails being cut improperly or shoes that compress a child’s big toe. Other causes may be abnormalities in nail formation causing the toenail to grow inward instead of outward, a sports injury, or genetics. If your child has an ingrown toenail, especially if it appears infected or there is drainage, make an appointment with a podiatrist to have their foot checked and the proper treatment administered.

The health of a child’s feet is vital to their overall well-being. If you have any questions regarding foot health, contact one of our podiatrists of Grobowski Foot & Ankle. our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Tips for Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

• Make sure their shoes fit properly
• Look for any signs of in-toeing or out-toeing
• Check to see if they have Clubfoot (condition that affects your child’s foot and ankle, twisting the heel and toes inward) which is one of the most common nonmajor birth defects.
• Lightly cover your baby’s feet (Tight covers may keep your baby from moving their feet freely, and could prevent normal development)
• Allow your toddler to go shoeless (Shoes can be restricting for a young child’s foot)
• Cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails
• Keep your child’s foot clean and dry
• Cover cuts and scrapes. Wash any scratches with soap and water and cover them with a bandage until they’ve healed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellevue, Seattle, and Issaquah, WA, . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Many pregnant women experience swelling of the feet and this is a normal symptom of pregnancy. It is a condition that is referred to as edema and it can cause the patient to be uncomfortable. This is a result of the added weight that is gained during pregnancy, in addition to the blood becoming thicker during this gestation period. Gravity can cause extra fluid in the body to pool in the feet and the shoes that are worn daily may become uncomfortable to wear. The need to drink water increases during pregnancy and the feet may be affected if not enough water is ingested. Research has indicated that 1 in 25 women will experience preeclampsia during pregnancy which will cause the feet to become swollen. Relief can come from frequently elevating the feet and it can help to refrain from overheating. If you have questions about swollen feet during pregnancy please consult with a podiatrist who can address any concerns you may have.

Pregnant women with swollen feet can be treated with a variety of different methods that are readily available. For more information about other cures for swollen feet during pregnancy, consult with one of our podiatrists from Grobowski Foot & Ankle. our doctors will attend to all of your foot and ankle needs.

What Foot Problems Can Arise During Pregnancy?

One problem that can occur is overpronation, which occurs when the arch of the foot flattens and tends to roll inward.  This can cause pain and discomfort in your heels while you’re walking or even just standing up, trying to support your baby.  

Another problem is edema, or swelling in the extremities. This often affects the feet during pregnancy but tends to occur in the later stages. 

How Can I Keep My Feet Healthy During Pregnancy?

• Wearing orthotics can provide extra support for the feet and help distribute weight evenly
• Minimize the amount of time spent walking barefoot
• Wear shoes with good arch support
• Wear shoes that allow for good circulation to the feet
• Elevate feet if you experience swelling
• Massage your feet
• Get regular, light exercise, such as walking, to promote blood circulation to the feet

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellevue, Seattle, and Issaquah, WA, . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.