Consumer Guide to Foot Care

First and foremost, thank you for downloading my free report on common foot problems and how they can be remedied. However, before we begin, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

My name is Dr. Chris Milkie, and I have practiced podiatry in the Milwaukee area since 1991. I currently serve the Milwaukee area, and am as passionate about foot care as I was over a decade ago.

I am a Milwaukee native myself; in fact, I graduated from the University of Milwaukee in 1985. I obtained my post-graduate education at the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine (one of only eight programs in the United States). My time at this institution involved classroom and laboratory work, in addition to clinical and real world experience. When I graduated in 1990, I was quite ready to embark on my career.

I completed my residency in podiatric surgery at the Southwest Dallas Hospital in July of 1991. I became a board certified podiatrist in 1996, joining the elite ranks of the countless specialists in the United States with extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of foot problems. In 2007, I was elected by my peers to serve as the chairman of the largest podiatry department in the state at the Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Joseph Hospital. Currently, I still hold this position.

I have always believed in staying on the cutting edge of foot health. In fact, you may have recently seen me featured on Fox 6 and Today’s TMJ 4 discussing health treatments that relieve foot pain quickly. I can honestly say that I have become one of the leading foot specialists in the United States. I am devoted to providing the highest quality care to my patients.

Why do I enjoy podiatry so much? I think that the satisfaction of watching a patient transform from incapacitated to fully functional is what draws me to this field. I have restored the ability to function normally and participate in athletics to scores of individuals. Unfortunately, many people needlessly suffer due to a poor understanding of foot problems.

Don’t think that foot pain is suffering? There is a common saying about the feet: If your feet hurt, you hurt all over. No other body part has the power to affect you as a whole quite like the feet do. The feet are to your body as a foundation is to a building. When the foundation becomes damaged, the entire building begins to buckle and come apart. Untreated foot pain can lead to problems with the knees, hips, or back. Early treatment – or better, prevention – is key to preventing whole-body problems caused by foot pain.

I hope with this report to educate Wisconsin residents who may currently be living with unnecessary foot pain. All I ask is that you keep an open mind while reading this report. Since there is so little information readily available about foot care and treatment, a lot of what I am about to say may be very new to you. However, I believe that the following information has the potential to truly make a difference in your life, or in the life of someone you are close to.

To begin, I would like to narrow down the five specific foot problems that I will be discussing in this report. They are:

•    Toenail Fungus
•    Heel Pain
•    Tendonitis
•    Bunions
•    Ingrown Toenails

Of course these are not the only foot problems that plague individuals. There are hundreds! However, these are the five most common problems, and thus those most worthy of discussion. So, let us begin; let me share with you what these five problems entail and what methods and treatments will best relieve them.

Toenail Fungus

This has to be the topic that I am the most excited to discuss – I know what you are thinking: “Who in their right mind gets excited about toenail fungus?” The reason for my enthusiasm is because I am one of 49 doctors nationally who offer the revolutionary PinPointe™ FootLaser™ treatment, and the first doctor to do so in Milwaukee.

But I am getting ahead of myself – Before we can discuss the treatment of toenail fungus, we need to familiarize ourselves with what exactly toenail fungus is.

Toenail fungus - medically known as onychomycosis - affects approximately 40 million people. Don’t be too disgusted by the word “fungus.” In all actuality, fungus is everywhere in our environment, especially in dark, moist places (like shoes!).

Fungus is a picky culprit, and is inexplicably attracted to certain individuals more than others. However, men seem to be more prone to developing toenail fungus than women are. Male or female, we are all exposed to fungus, and thus should all practice toenail fungus prevention.

How does one prevent toenail fungus?
•    Strive to keep your feet and shoes as dry as possible. Remember, fungus loves moist areas.
•    Use an antifungal spray in your shoes… before you develop a problem.
•    Using a public locker room or hotel bathroom? A pair of flip-flops or shower shoes is your best defense against fungus. (Bonus: This also helps to prevent you from picking up warts!)

Those who have never suffered from toenail fungus don’t realize that this condition actually hurts. Toenail fungus can make daily activities painful and seemingly impossible. Television advertisements for topical treatments may make this condition seem humorous or insignificant, but these ads should be taken with only a grain of salt.

Speaking of topical treatments: They don’t work. And while oral antifungal medications may be successful in some patients, they take three months to work and come with a strong risk of liver toxicity.

Which brings me to the PinPointe™ FootLaser™. This FDA-approved device is the utmost technologically advanced toenail fungus treatment available, and I am proud to offer it to my patients.

The PinPointe™ Foot Laser™ has an eighty-eight percent success rate. A patient of mine who recently successfully underwent the procedure told me how excited she was to finally wear sandals again – After three years of living with this condition. Furthermore, this treatment takes only thirty minutes to perform, and is completely, 100% painless.

I earnestly stand behind this treatment, and have been happy to observe its success in countless patients. In fact, I have had individuals drive in from as far away as Manitowoc to undergo the PinPointe™ FootLaser™ treatment. If you are living with toenail fungus and unsuccessfully trying to remedy it with the over-the-counter treatments, then it is time you book a consultation to learn more about the PinPointe™ FootLaser™ treatment.

Heel Pain

Heel pain affects about two million people per year. Most heel pain is an inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the heel bone. If you experience pain when you first step out of bed, then this is most likely the sort of heel pain you are experiencing. Half of the total population experiencing heel pain lives with this sort of pain, commonly known as a heel spur.

As always, prevention is the best medicine. In this case, quality shoes with excellent support are your best bet. Athletic shoes such as New Balance and Brooks offer phenomenal support; those flat “ballet slipper” style shoes that have come into fashion again are a poor choice. Wearing these flat shoes greatly increases the risk of developing heel pain, especially if you already have flat feet or low arches to begin with.

What to do if you are already experiencing heel pain? Well, it is best to treat the problem as you would any other inflammation: Apply ice, take ibuprofen or Aleve, and rest your feet.

Wear shoes whenever you are standing, and consider investing in an over-the-counter arch support.

If none of these treatments work, then scheduling a consultation with me is the next step.

Tendonitis

“Tendonitis” may seem like a scary or foreign disease; in reality, it is a very common foot condition. There are scores of tendons in the foot that can become inflamed.

Tendonitis can occur in the arch, the top of the foot, the ball of the foot, or the ankle. Swelling does not usually occur. Tendonitis can be the result of an injury, faulty foot functioning, or the eventual wear and tear of the tendons.

I fear that I may sound like a broken record, but great supportive shoes are the best prevention, and prevention is the best medicine. Sandals, flip-flops, or going barefoot can put a good deal of stress on one’s tendons.

Those with naturally flat feet should take extra precaution; an over-the-counter arch support can be a fantastic tool, and will work to ensure that your feet remain constantly aligned. Those with very high arches will benefit most from cushioned arch supports, which work to absorb shock.

The lack of swelling makes it difficult to determine whether or not one’s foot pain is the result of tendonitis. If you are experiencing pain which you believe may be tendonitis, it can never hurt to use ice, ibuprofen, and plenty of rest.

If the pain does not subside in two weeks, you should call to schedule an appointment.

Bunions

A bunion is a large bump that forms on the inside of your foot, usually at the base of the big toe. When they reach a certain size, bunions have the capacity to become quite painful. Shoes can rub against the bunion, which in turn exacerbates pain and swelling.

If one’s bunions are hereditary, then prevention may not be an option. Bunions usually occur in people who have very flat arches. Studies show that wearing custom arch supports (called “orthotics”) can slow down the progression of bunions.

Despite the fact that there are no real preventative measures for hereditary bunions, it is still a good idea to wear supportive shoes, even before a bunion has developed. Once your bunion has already formed, wider shoes can work to ease the pain by taking pressure off of the bunion. A spacer can be placed between the big toe and the index toe to prevent painful friction.

If a bunion continuously hurts and shows no sign of decreasing, then surgery is the best option.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are extremely common, especially on the big toes. As anyone who has experienced this condition can attest to, ingrown toenails are excruciatingly painful. Pus and redness can develop when the ingrown nail becomes infected. Although this condition is usually hereditary, wearing tight shoes can often be the cause of the problem.

To prevent an ingrown toenail, avoid narrow shoes, and take care when trimming or filing toenails. However, if you do develop an ingrown nail, remember that in many cases they are unavoidable due to their hereditary nature.

If you have developed an ingrown toenail, gently clipping the affected area can help to eliminate it. When you are clipping the ingrown nail, be sure to use an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin.

If an ingrown toenail has become severely inflamed or painful, then you should get in to see me. In the interim, soak the affected toe in warm water, use Neosporin, and wear wide, comfortable shoes.

In Closing

According to a study by Harvard Medical School, 3 out of 4 people will experience a foot problem in their lifetime, especially the aforementioned common conditions. The simple prevention tips we have discussed will work wonders in eliminating potential foot conditions or problems. Above all else, be sure to wear supportive shoes that have a solid arch support.

If you should happen to develop one of the above foot problems, it is a good idea to self-treat with ice, ibuprofen, and rest. Should your condition last for more than two weeks, you should schedule an appointment right away. Remember: An untreated foot condition can become a bigger problem. And if your feet hurt, you hurt all over!

If you are experiencing one of the foot problems we have discussed – or one of the hundreds of other foot conditions – I would be happy to meet with you. In fact, I look forward to helping you relieve your pain and restore your daily functioning. I especially implore those of you suffering from toenail fungus to schedule a free consultation; indeed, I have seen firsthand how the PinPointe™ FootLaser™ treatment can change lives.

Thank you for taking the time to read this report. I hope you found it helpful.

Best Wishes,
Dr. Christopher Milkie
414 – 257 – 0676


“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” – Leonardo da Vinci