Dr. Adriana Strimbu, DPM

Excessive sweating is called hyperhidrosis. It can be primary or secondary. Primary hyperhydrosis is not do to any health condition or any medication. Meaning the excessive sweating is the medical condition itself. Secondary hyperhidrosis is linked to either a medical condition or a medication meaning something else is causing it. Dr. Ana Lee Glaser is an expert to hyperhidrosis and states that you can differentiate between primary and secondary hyperhidrosis by answering the following:

-Your sweat is bilateral and relatively symmetrical, meaning you sweat the same on both sides of your body.

-Your excess sweat impairs your daily activities.
-You experience at least one episode a week.
-The onset of your excess sweat is earlier than age 25.
-You have a positive family history. (Meaning that other members of your family suffer from similar sweating problems.)
-You stop sweating when you're sleeping.

If you have answered yes to at least 2 of these, it is most likely for you to have primary hyperhidrosis.

Yes. Tight shoes can cause corns on your feet. Anything that causes pressure and friction to your feet can lead to corn and/or callus formation. It is recommended that you avoid using those shoes that cause pressure to your feet. Usually the little toe is most prone to form corns from wearing tight shoes. Besides wearing wider shoes, you can also pad and protect the area where you form the corn. You can either put a pad around the corn area and sometimes even a simple band-aid can be help to prevent friction and avoid corn formation.

Yes, toenails will normally grow back when surgically removed unless you have a procedure where the nail root is burned.

Most patients will heal in about one week after the toenail removal unless you have complications such as infections. Also diabetes and poor circulation can slow down the healing process.

Yes, you should go to the doctor for a dislocated ankle.

It depends on what is the cause of your heel pain. First, you will need to be examined and evaluated by your podiatrist to determine the cause of the heel pain.

A podiatrist will first examine and evaluate your ankle. X-rays will be taken to make sure you do not have any fractures. You will be instructed to rest, elevate and ice your affected ankle. Depending on the severity of the injury or pain, your ankle can be immobilized using an ace bandage, a brace or a cam walker booth. You also will probably be prescribed some antiinflammatory medication for the pain and inflammation. An MRI may be ordered to rule out a stress fracture, ligamentous or tendon injury.

It is very important to know if there is a specific areas of the foot where the pain is or is it all over the foot in all the bones. Bone pain can be due to many causes. For example, acute gouty flare is mainly in and around the big toe and its base. Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis also causes bone pain, but it could be more generalized or just to a specific area of the foot where arthritis is present. Fractures or bone contusions/bruises cause bone pain. It is important that you are examined and evaluated to determine exactly what causes your bone pain, since bone pain can have many causes.

For an ingrown toenail surgery, an injection of local anesthetic (lidocaine) is usually used.

No. X-rays are taken mainly to evaluate for fractures and not for torn ligaments. MRI is recommended for evaluation of ligament injury.