Blog

Stepping barefoot on a small sliver of glass may only hurt a minute but don’t minimize a puncture wound.

Puncture wounds are different than cuts. A puncture has a small entry hole caused by a pointed object while a cut is an open wound where the skin is torn. Puncture wounds require different treatment than cuts because the tiny holes may harbor foreign matter under the skin such as dirt or debris from the sharp object.

A painful big toe can be very distressing since we use our big toe whenever we walk, bend, climb or even stand. Big toe arthritis, a form of osteoarthritis or “wear and tear” arthritis, is one of the most common reasons I see patients experiencing pain and stiffness in their big toe. It affects about 1 in 40 people over age 50 and can be debilitating as it progresses.

Sprained ankles are one of the most frequent injuries I treat. But not all sprains are created equal. An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more of the ligaments—the band of tissues connecting the bones and joints—in the ankle. But the severity of the sprain depends on whether the ligament is stretched, partially torn or completely torn. It also depends on the location —whether it is a high- or a low-ankle sprain—and if more than one ligament is involved.

America’s fastest growing sport is pickleball. And as the popularity of this paddle sport has grown, so have pickleball injuries. Set on a court 44 feet long by 20 feet wide, the game demands quick movements and sudden changes in direction as players hit the wiffle-like ball over a net with a paddle. While pickleball is easy to learn, it can prove quite challenging.