January 2016 – Surrey Podiatrist:

One of the most common foot problems I see in my office on a daily basis is that of toenail discolouration. Some nails can become yellow, some may turn grey or blue and few may even turn black. Naturally changes in toenail appearance can be startling and are a good reason to seek the help of a Podiatrist.

Initially, our gut instinct is to search the internet for what possibly may be going on with our feet. Many people become concerned that they have a fungus growing under their nail but this is not always the case. Other causes behind toenail discolouration can include trauma, immune conditions, poor hygiene, and chemical imbalances in our body. There are a variety of causes behind nail discolouration, so it can be confusing to diagnose yourself.

In scenarios where the nail colour changes are associated with pain, drainage, or swelling, it is of higher importance to seek the help of your foot doctor immediately as their may be a more serious problem. This is especially the case in individuals who are suffering from poor circulation or diabetes.

March 2015 – Surrey Podiatrist:

Could you benefit from custom orthotics?

This is a question I get asked on a daily basis. Orthotics are an investment of several resources including time, energy and money. When one needs to make a decision about whether or not custom orthotics would be useful, it largely depends what we are trying to treat and how severe their condition is. So how do we know?

Historically, when we think of arch supports most people think of the insoles that they can slip into any pair of shoes. Sometimes these devices are functional (correct abnormal mechanics of the foot) or are accommodative (cushion the plantar aspect of the foot). Most people will try over the counter products first and for some individuals, their symptoms are completely relieved with this process.

However, a good portion of the population does not benefit from over the counter products. This is often due to the fact that they have an underlying condition that simply cannot resolve with mass-made products. More importantly, your left and right foot are not identical and this is the greatest pitfall of over the counter devices and this is where custom orthotics can play an integral role in foot health.

When I consider making a custom device, a thorough exam is done to see if a person is a “candidate” for such a device. There are times when a brace is indicated rather than a custom orthotic or perhaps their biomechanics are within normal limits and they may benefit from a pair of off-the-shelf functional sport orthoses. Whatever the case may be, a comprehensive biomechanical and gait evaluation is a good way to learn how severe your condition is to see if custom orthotics are warranted.

Seeing a podiatrist for an exam of this type is standard in British Columbia. In fact, most if not all insurance carriers require it when making custom orthotics. A comprehensive exam by your podiatric doctor often takes about 20 – 30 minutes in order to create an accurate prescription for your feet.

October 2013 – Surrey Podiatrist: The Canadian Diabetes Association projects that by 2020, one in three Canadians will have diabetes, be pre-diabetic or have undiagnosed diabetes. These numbers are startling, but what is more shocking is the number of foot amputations this is causing. In 2011-2012, Canadians suffered 2000 foot amputations due to diabetic wounds¹. As a result, prophylactic diabetic foot care is becoming more important and the role of the podiatrist in Canada is evolving. This will especially be important in cities like Surrey, where there is a higher incidence of diabetes amongst the South Asian population and the trend is increasing^2,3.

1.)  http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Diabetes+foot+wounds+2000+foot+amputations+Canada+201112+report/8848899/story.html

2.)  https://www.divisionsbc.ca/provincial/SNDdiabetes

3.)    http://www.surrey.ca/files/population_health_profilie.pdf