Can Ingrown Toenails be Permanently Corrected?

Ingrown toenails - OUCH! That is probably your first response if you have ever had an ingrown toenail.  Who would have thought that such a seemingly small thing could be so painful?  First, the side of your toe starts with a bit of redness and slight discomfort.  Then it becomes more painful with redness and swelling.  Then you notice something greenish- yellow draining from your toe, accompanied occasionally by blood.  What happens next?  I’ll tell you what most people do…they try to become experts at “bathroom surgery”.  Knee bent up and foot placed on the counter as you try to “dig out” the piece of nail that is piercing your skin, all while trying to maintain your balance.  This is what I say “OUCH” to!  Why do you do this???  Usually it is because you are too scared to have it treated professionally, or if “you can just get this one piece out, it will get better on its own”.  An ingrown toenail does not have to be a scary proposition.  In fact, you performing acts of cruelty on yourself in your unsterilized bathroom is scary to me (!).  Well guess what?  Performing self-surgery usually causes the ingrown toenail to become worse!  The only way to properly and permanently treat an ingrown toenail is to visit our team of chiropodists (foot specialist) at We-Fix-U Physiotherapy and Foot Health Centres.  Sometimes our foot health experts will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection; however the ingrown toenail does not improve with antibiotics alone.  In order to resolve the infection, the offending nail must be safely and professionally removed from the skin and measures taken to prevent the ingrown toenail from returning.  I can promise you this:  Our team is better at it than you!

US Gymnast McKayla Maroney Breaks Big Toe at Olympics: Should it be Treated?

Recently McKayla Maroney, US Olympic Gymnast competed and reinjured a previously broken big toe, and I heard the comentators mention that it is "just a toe", so no big deal.  While breaking a toe may not seem like a big deal compared to, say, a leg, it actually can be a big deal if not treated properly, especially if it is the big toe.

I am sure many of us have broken a toe or two in our past - usually by stubbing it, dropping something on it, falling or tripping. I am also sure that most of us have been told that nothing can be done for a broken toe. WRONG!

If a broken toe doesn't heal properly, it can heal in poor alignment.  The big toe joint is one of the most important joints in the foot.  A tremendous amount of force is placed through this joint with every step we take, so if the toe doesn't work properly this force will be placed on another body part, creating a viscious cycle of compensation and pain.

If you injure your toe, contact our Chiropodists or Physiotherapists at We-Fix-U to thoroughly assess your injury and get it treated, properly.

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Kids' Head Injuries and Sports

Youth sports are important, enabling boys and girls to be more active, learn new skills, develop personal discipline and to learn hard work.  Today's kids are more involved in organized sports than ever and with all the positives of youth sports, these activities come with some very real risks.  We have all heard heart-wrenching stories of kids suffering brain injuries after playing hockey, football, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, figure skating and other sports. Unfortunately these stories are becoming more common.

A traumatic brain injury is a severe blow to the head, impairing the brain's normal functions.  Symptoms can include confusion, loss of motor function, dizziness, headaches and amnesia.  Repeated concussions can run even greater risk of brain and spinal cord damage.  

As a parent, watching your child paricipate should give you a sense of pride, not a sense of fear.  We must all come together - coaches, parents, kids and health professionals - to create opporunities for our children to participate in sports while keeping them safe and healthy.

On August 11 physiotherapists at our Cobourg location are offerring a FREE pre-concussion screening for children ages 10 or older who play contact sports.  Our injury specialists will test your child to determine baseline information.  Should your child ever suffer a concussion, having this information BEFORE injury will help your son or daughter return to sport more safely.  This screening is also open to children who have already suffered a concussion.  

Space is limited so CALL NOW to help your child.

 

Severe Foot Odor Remedy

We-Fix-U Physiotherapy and Foot Health Centres now offers FOOT FRESH, an ALL NATURAL herbal remedy for people with sweaty and stinky feet!

Is foot odor affecting your personal and business relationships? Is the embarrassment of foot odor affecting your confidence to relate to others and to do your job? Are you putting your shoes outside the door because of foot odor? Are you purchasing cheap shoes because foot odor is destroying your shoes? Are you tired of daily application products that do not work? Discover the ALL NATURAL herbal cream FOOT FRESH deodorant for severe foot odor and sweatiness, the best foot deodorant product on the market today. WEEKLY APPLICATION!!! Be absolutely confident that you or your family will never experience foot odor when used as little as once a week evern after showering, bathing or any strenuous activity. The patented formula contain NO aluminum or alchohol. Scientifically tested and the manufacturer offer a money-back gaurantee!

This is a MUST HAVE product for people suffering with a toenail fungus, athlete's foot or plantar warts.

The patented formula works by killing the fungus and bacteria on the skin that causes foot odor. A three and one half year Scientific Study has proven ant-bacterial, anti-fungal FOOT FRESH deodorant to be 99% effective for up to seven days . It takes up to two weeks for the bacteria and fungus to come back or regenerate. So, this is the product you need to apply only once a week! This long lasting herbal cream deodorant does not need to be applied daily. This foot care product has not been tested on animals.

.23 GRAM JAR LASTS 4 TO 5 MONTHS

Madonna's Shoes

Ummm...Yikes!  The world has announced the release of a line of shoes designed by Madonna, called her Truth or Dare collection.  Ladies beware...if you wear these gallery works of art, you will soon be life-long patients of our chiropodists :-)

Click HERE to see a sneak peak at some of her stylish creations. Pretty, but OH BOY!

Kid's Head Injuries and Sports

Youth sports are important, enabling boys and girls to be more active, learn new skills, develop personal discipline and to learn hard work.  Today's kids are more involved in organized sports than ever and with all the positives of youth sports, these activities come with some very real risks.  We have all heard heart-wrenching stories of kids suffering brain injuries after playing hockey, football, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, figure skating and other sports. Unfortunately these stories are becoming more common.

A traumatic brain injury is a severe blow to the head, impairing the brain's normal functions.  Symptoms can include confusion, loss of motor function, dizziness, headaches and amnesia.  Repeated concussions can run even greater risk of brain and spinal cord damage.  

As a parent, watching your child paricipate should be a sense of pride, not a sense of fear.  We must all come together - coaches, parents, kids and health professionals - to create opporunities for our children to participate in sports while keeping them safe and healthy.

On August 11 physiotherapists at our Cobourg location are offerring a FREE pre-concussion screening for children ages 10 or older who play contact sports.  Our injury specialists will test your child to determine baseline information.  Should your child ever suffer a concussion, having this information BEFORE injury will help your son or daughter return to sport more safely.  This screening is also open to children who have already suffered a concussion.  

Space is limited so CALL NOW to help your child.

Can Eating Gluten Cause Foot Problems?

You bet!  In a recent study, researchers identified a higher risk of developing peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) in people with a confirmed diagnosis of Celiac Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).  Peripheral Neuropathy can create numerous problems within the foot, with the end and obviously most severe result, being lower-limb amputation.  If you have Celiac Disease, IBS or even a gluten intolerance our foot health experts (chiropodists) recommend a foot health evaluation to identify your risk of developing peripheral neuropathy.

To read more about this study:  http://www.celiac.com/articles/22974/1/Higher-Rates-of-Peripheral-Neuropathy-...

Is Your Child At Risk for Concussion?

Is your child involved in contact sports?  If so, he or she is at risk for concussion.  Attend our FREE pre-concussion screening on August 11 11am-3pm at our Cobourg location.  Call now to book an appointment.

Is Your Child At Risk for Concussion?

Is your child involved in contact sports?  If so, he or she is at risk for concussion.  Attend our FREE pre-concussion screening on August 11 11am-3pm at our Cobourg location.  Call now to book an appointment.

Safe Pedicures?

As the heat of summer is here, our hibernating toes are gearing up for lavish displays through sandals and flip flops (ugh!  Read our flip-flop article).  The pedicure season has begun!  Unfortunately, not all salons and spas offer clean, sterile and proper foot care, creating risk for fungal infections and limb-threatening infections. Our chiropodists at We-Fix-U want you to keep the following advice in mind as you select where you go for a pedicure:

MAKE SURE that the instruments your pedicurist uses are clean AND sterilized.  Ask your pedicurist which procedure they use and how often they sterilize the instruments (this should be done after EVERY use).  Soaking in alcohol or another antiseptic is NOT an effective sterilization method.  Sterilization - rather than soaking in a disinfectant - is the best method.  This is best done usually a sterilization machine, called an autoclave.  Autoclaves sterilize with extreme heat under pressure.  

Bring your own nail polish!  Double dipping into spa-provided nail polish is the perfect way to spread infection.  We carry a safe, healthy, all natural anti-fungal nail polish at our clinics called Dr.'s Remedy, offering an array of beautiful colours.

 If you are a diabetic or have poor circulation, pedicures are not advised.  Visit our chiropodists at We-Fix-U before receiving a pedicure to identify any potential risks.