Here on the Nature Coast, we know that our winters are not as severe as in some parts of the country, but at Pasco Hernando Foot & Ankle, we want to inform patients about the risk of fungal and other foot infections at this time of the year. Several factors combine to increase the chances of contracting one.

At Pasco Hernando Foot & Ankle, one unfortunate scenario we experience is seeing patients who delay seeking treatment for an ankle-twisting injury and the consequences that occur as a result. Although it’s tempting when an injury occurs to take a “wait and see” approach, when it comes to your ankles, here are three reasons to get a prompt evaluation.

At Pasco Hernando Foot & Ankle, we want to know if you’ve remembered two very important and deserving recipients—your feet! Below are a few items you would likely find on your feet’s wish list if they made one.

It was a night of holiday feasting and fun. Shrimp cocktail to start, then a delicious roast beef dinner served with a wonderful red wine and capped off with a snifter of brandy. In the middle of the night, however, you wake up with excruciating pain throbbing in your big toe, which feels hot and swollen. At Paso-Hernando Foot & Ankle, we hear many similar scenarios at this time of year, and they are the classic presentation of gout.

Have you been experiencing an annoying but not completely debilitating pain in your forefoot or heel? At Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle, one condition we sometimes see in patients who complain of pain is a stress fracture. Although less dramatic than an acute fracture, a stress fracture can be just as serious.

Today, we’d like to help our patients better understand this common podiatric condition. Below are some do’s and don’ts regarding warts.

At Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle, we know the biggest shopping day of the year—Black Friday—is right around the corner. If you’re planning to get out there and get your first pick of holiday gifts, we want to give our Nature Coast patients some strategies for saving your feet and your money.

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.”

At Pasco Hernando Foot & Ankle we know that foot health care needs can change as the years go by. Senior feet have some unique needs. Fat pads are naturally thinner, and joints may start to show signs of wear and tear. In addition, your risk for many conditions increases as you age.

At Pasco Hernando Foot & Ankle, we know that PAD may also signal a bigger systemic problem. If you haven’t been diagnosed with arterial or heart disease, it’s even more important to be aware of the signs of PAD in your feet because it may mean you are at higher risk for heart attack or stroke.

Each September, we at Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle recognize Falls Prevention Awareness Day. Statistics show that 1 in 4 Americans 65 and older will fall this year. Falls are the primary cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries to seniors.

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.

At Pasco Hernando Foot & Ankle, we invite all our Nature Coast patients to join us in celebrating National “I Love My Feet” Day, which takes place on August 17th. Most of us take our feet for granted—until they aren’t working the way they should! But your feet deserve recognition. These complex structures consist of 52 bones (nearly a quarter of all the bones in your body), 66 joints, and over 200 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. All work in perfect harmony so that you can walk, run, kick, squat and reach to accomplish everything from grocery shopping to ballroom dancing. Below are seven ways to show your love and gratitude to your feet.