November is American Diabetes Month, and at Pasco Hernando Foot & Ankle, we want our patients to be aware of how this disease can impact the health of their feet. Our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales, wants to be a partner in helping to manage your diabetes.

Bunions are a progressive condition. It means they will only get worse, not better, over time. Initially, when patients consult our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales, about a bunion, they may be at a stage where the deformity is not causing them pain and discomfort, and the foot doctor will wait and see approach, monitoring the progression of the bunion.

Heel pain can have a few different causes. At Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle, we know that heel pain may start as dull and intermittent, but as time goes on and the pain gets more intense and constant, it becomes quite debilitating and may limit your ability to be as active as you would like.

In October, Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle recognizes Raynaud's Awareness Month and it's a good opportunity to share some information about this condition with our patients.

At Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle, we recognize International Podiatry Day in October. We think it’s an excellent opportunity to let our patients know that we can help improve their health in ways they may not be aware of.

Fashions change with the seasons, and if you find that wearing pumps to go with your fall wardrobe is causing pain to the back of your heel, you may be experiencing Haglund’s deformity—more commonly known as “Pump Bump.”

When it comes to fungal infections like athlete’s foot and toenail fungus, we at Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle often have patients tell us that they didn’t seek treatment sooner because the condition wasn’t causing them any pain. In honor of Fungal Disease Awareness Week, which occurs in September, we’d like to share some information about how these infections affect your feet and what to do about them.

Good walking shoes are the only real equipment you need. How do you know when it’s time to replace those shoes? If you regularly walk, your shoes should last about 500 miles or 6 months. But there are also other signs that you’re due for new shoes.

A condition that we frequently treat at Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle is hammertoe. Many patients can identify this toe deformity by its namesake bending downward at the first or second joint, resembling a hammer, but don’t necessarily know what can be done to fix it. Although initially, it may just be that the toe looks odd, this can become a painful and debilitating condition as time goes on.

It’s the beginning of August, meaning the new school year is approaching. If you’re a parent or grandparent who will be buying new shoes for returning to school, we at Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle would like to offer some “cliff notes” to help you score the best footwear for your child or teen.