Achilles Tendonitis

What is the Achilles Tendon?

The Achilles tendon is the strongest and largest tendon in the body. The tendon attaches to the heel bone (calcaneus) and causes the foot to push off (plantar flex) when the calf muscles tighten. The tendon is necessary for normal walking, running, and jumping. Athletic and traumatic injuries to the Achilles tendon are common and can be disabling.

What is this injury? 

Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon. Thus, Achilles tendinitis is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon. The inflammation may be localized to the end of the tendon closest to the heel or may spread upward to affect even the muscles of the calf. Swelling often occurs and pain is felt upon contraction of the calf muscles. In severe cases, pain may be felt even at rest. 


Achilles Tendonitis Pain Conservative Treatments

The majority of Achilles tendon injuries are due to overuse injuries.  Other factors that lead to Achilles tendonitis are improper shoe selection, inadequate stretching prior to engaging in athletics, a short Achilles tendon, direct trauma (injury) to the tendon, training errors and heel bone deformity.  There is significant evidence that people with feet that role in excessively (over-pronate) are at greater risk for developing Achilles tendinitis. The increased pronation puts additional stress on the tendon, therefore, placing it at greater risk for injury.  Because the over-pronation puts such a great stress on the Achilles tendon, custom functional orthotics designed to control over-pronation are an important part of the treatment plan for this problem.

Treatment

The latest studies on Achilles tendonitis recommend a treatment plan that incorporates the following four components: 

1. Immobilization and evaluation for possible tear, stress fracture etc (Xray, Diagnostic  Ultrasound or MRI) 
2. Treatment of the inflammation with Nonsteroidals and/or limited cortisone injection therapy.   
3. Strengthening of the muscles that make up the Achilles tendon using eccentric exercise & Night splintage. 
4. Biomechanical custom orthotics and proper shoe gear. 

-Dr. Daniel Margolin, DPM New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center is located at 550 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ 07649. As a premiere podiatry practice in Bergen County, Dr. Dan Margolin and his staff have treated over 25,000 patients coming from places as close as Paramus, Ridgewood, Emmerson, Hackensack, River Edge, New Milford, Teaneck, Hillsdale, Westwood, or as far as New York City and South Jersey.  Give us a call at 201-261-9445 if you have any questions or visit us online at www.heelpain911.com and www.njfootpain.com.

Dr. Maryellen Brucato in the Record's Town News

Originally released in the Town News on 1/29/15-

Dr. Maryellen Brucato of New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center in Oradell was recently selected to travel to Frisco, Tex., to participate in the interview process for podiatric surgery residents for Atlantic Health System. This centralized interview process is where podiatric medical students from across the country interview for residency positions.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMANDA PROCACCINO

Dr. Maryellen Brucato will be helping to select podiatry surgery residents for Atlantic Health System.

Dr. Brucato said she was honored to be one of the attending physicians from the Atlantic Health System residency program to help conduct the interviews. She is still very involved with the residency program and is the coordinator for clinical research for the program and continues to make advancements in the field.

She has had multiple publications in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, presented research presentations at the Atlantic Health Research Day and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery’s Annual Conference, and has spoken at universities.

In December, Dr. Brucato was asked to be a guest speaker at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine Department of Surgery’s seminars on the Current Treatments in Foot & Ankle Pathology. She lectured for two segments, first on fifth metatarsal fractures and then on the pathological fractures of the calcaneus due to osteomyelitis.

For more information about Dr. Brucato, visit www.maryellenbrucatodpm.com or www.heelpain911.com.

See the original article here:  http://www.northjersey.com/news/health-news/oradell-podiatrist-on-national-podiatrist-resident-search-1.1260231

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center is located at 550 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ 07649. As a premiere podiatry practice in Bergen County, Dr. Dan Margolin and Dr. Maryellen Brucato and their staff have treated over 25,000 patients coming from places as close as Paramus, Ridgewood, Emmerson, Hackensack, River Edge, New Milford, Teaneck, Hillsdale, Westwood, or as far as New York City and South Jersey.  Give us a call at 201-261-9445 if you have any questions or visit us online at www.heelpain911.com and www.njfootpain.com.

Heel Pain Conservative Treatments

Heel Pain Conservative Treatments:  Stretching For Heel Pain- Good or Bad?

Although I am a big advocate of aggressive physical therapy, stretching etc.  I am only a big advocate at the appropriate time period.  There is a great deal of information regarding early stretching of the plantar fascia when experiencing heel pain.  For mild cases this definitely seems to have benefit.  For those patients experiencing more severe pain, I believe that a more appropriate treatment course is immobilization for at least 11 days.

Think about this for a second, if you sprained your ankle the treatment would not be to keep spraining your ankle.  It would be some immobilization to allow the ligaments to heal enough that they could withstand the pressure of your body weight.  The plantar fascia is no different.  Small tears in this ligament need time to heal, or a more chronic condition can occur.   Stretching is great if done at the right time in the healing cycle. 

-Dr. Dan Margolin, DPM of New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center is located at 550 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ 07649. As a premiere podiatry practice in Bergen County, Dr. Dan Margolin and his staff have treated over 25,000 patients coming from places as close as Paramus, Ridgewood, Emmerson, Hackensack, River Edge, New Milford, Teaneck, Hillsdale, Westwood, or as far as New York City and South Jersey.  Give us a call at 201-261-9445 if you have any questions or visit us online at www.heelpain911.com and www.njfootpain.com.

Is my knee pain coming from my feet?

Foot, Knee & Hip Connections:  Knee & Hip Pain Can Be Caused By A Falling Arch!

Many patients with foot pain also relate a history of knee, hip or lower back problems.  The question becomes one of which came first the chicken or the egg.

Approximately thirty percent of upper leg problems can be related to a foot that is no longer absorbing shock adequately.  The shock absorbing function of the foot prevents break down of the ambulatory joints of the lower extremity. 

-Dr. Dan Margolin, DPM of New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center is located at 550 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ 07649. As a premiere podiatry practice in Bergen County, Dr. Dan Margolin and his staff have treated over 25,000 patients coming from places as close as Paramus, Ridgewood, Emmerson, Hackensack, River Edge, New Milford, Teaneck, Hillsdale, Westwood, or as far as New York City and South Jersey.  Give us a call at 201-261-9445 if you have any questions or visit us online at www.heelpain911.com and www.njfootpain.com.

Super Volunteers for Superbowl Week

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center has been gearing up for the Big Game by putting their nonprofit on the starting line-up.

Dr. Daniel Margolin, DPM, of New Jersey Foot and Ankle Centers in Oradell, is the Director of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Bergen County Chapter.  The foundation has been a rallying point for volunteers from the podiatry office as they try to eradicate the use of illegal drugs in Bergen County.
This past week the foundation has been on the playing field for two local charity events:  the Super Community Spirit Showcase and the Big Game 5K.

On January 22, the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted the Superbowl-inspired nonprofit showcase of over 100 local charities.  Among the charities was the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Bergen County Chapter displaying the Truth About Drugs public service announcements.  At the event, five professional football players, George Martin, Curtis McGriff, Karl Nelson, Chris Hogan and Kevin Haslam gathered for an opportunity to spread the message of teamwork for nonprofits.

Dr. Dan Margolin with Chris Hogan of the Buffalo Bills

Dr. Dan Margolin and Dr. Maryellen Brucato with George Martin from the NY Giants

Dr. Dan Margolin with Karl Nelson from the NY Giants

Dr. Maryellen Brucato and Dr. Dan Margolin with free agent Kevin Haslam

“With the spotlight on New Jersey, no time in history has the importance of volunteering been so relevant,” said Dr. Dan Margolin.  “It is important that we show the country that the dependency on government is being replaced by community teamwork.  New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center through the Foundation for a Drug-Free World is proud to be among these great individuals.”

On Sunday, January 26 the foundation distributed over 200 Truth About Drugs booklets to attendees of the Big Game 5K at the Westfield Garden State Plaza mall.  The booklets provide factual information on the 11 most commonly abused drugs to educate youth on the harmful effects.

The foundation provides free programs and workshops to schools, after-school programs and parent groups.  Anyone interested can contact Brielle at drugfreeworldnj.Brielle@gmail.com or call New Jersey Foot and Ankle Centers at 201-261-9445 for more information.

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center is located at 550 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ 07649. As a premiere podiatry practice in Bergen County, Dr. Dan Margolin and his staff have treated over 25,000 patients coming from places as close as Paramus, Emmerson, Hackensack, River Edge, New Milford, Teaneck, Ridgewood, Hillsdale, Westwood, or as far as New York City and South Jersey.  Give us a call at 201-261-9445 if you have any questions or visit us online at www.heelpain911.com and www.njfootpain.com.

Ouch! My heel hurts when I wake up in the morning

Heel Pain

Plantar Fasciitis is the most common condition causing heel pain. This condition occurs when the long fibrous plantar fascia ligament along the bottom of the foot develops tears, resulting in pain and inflammation.  This ligaments main function is to stop your arch from coming down to far, and assist it in coming back up.  If your arch begins to come down to far or "Fall", this ligament will tear.  

Many times pain in the heel is greatest in the morning or after sitting for a while.  When you are off the ligament it begins to heal and when we place pressure on the ligament, it tears. Pain usually decreases as the tissue warms up, but may easily return again after long periods of standing or weight bearing, or physical activity. In most cases, plantar fasciitis does not require surgery to stop pain and reverse damage. 

Conservative treatments are usually all that is required. However, every person's body responds differently and the goal is to prevent arthritis in other joints as well as alleviate the heel and foot pain.  Diabetes is also a factor that can contribute to further heel pain and damage, particularly among the elderly. Another common problem is a change in your walking in order to counteract pain during movement. As a result of these involuntary changes in the foot's mechanics, knee, hip, or back pain can also develop.

-Dr. Dan Margolin, DPM of New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center is located at 550 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ 07649. As a premiere podiatry practice in Bergen County, Dr. Dan Margolin and his staff have treated over 25,000 patients coming from places as close as Paramus, Ridgewood, Emmerson, Hackensack, River Edge, New Milford, Teaneck, Hillsdale, Westwood, or as far as New York City and South Jersey.  Give us a call at 201-261-9445 if you have any questions or visit us online at www.heelpain911.com and www.njfootpain.com.

Neuroma

Neuroma Pain

Pain in the front of the foot, usually between the second and third toe is often a neuroma;
Probably the most painful of all foot problems are nerve injuries.  Neuromas are essentially compression injuries to the nerve that runs between the 2nd and 3rd digit. 

Diagnosis is made primarily with a history of signs and symptoms including:

1. Numbness between the digits
2. Constantly changing levels of burning pain in the middle of the foot
3. Sharp shooting pains coming from the base of the toes

Neuroma Pain Conservative Treatments:  Arch Supports For Neuroma- Good or Bad?

Because the cause of neuroma is compression and  swelling of the nerve, removing pressure from the area by using an over the counter arch support may be a good starting point.  Should this not alleviate pain radiographic evaluation to rule out a stress fracture etc. should be utilized. 

Cortisone injection therapy may also be used to decrease the swelling in the nerve and allow for improvement of pain.  More customized orthotics are utilized in more severe cases to allow for long term control.  Surgical removal of the nerve is rarely needed, as above conservative therapies are generally very successful. 

-Dr. Daniel Margolin, DPM of New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center is located at 550 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ 07649. As a premiere podiatry practice in Bergen County, Dr. Dan Margolin and his staff have treated over 25,000 patients coming from places as close as Paramus, Ridgewood, Emmerson, Hackensack, River Edge, New Milford, Teaneck, Hillsdale, Westwood, or as far as New York City and South Jersey.  Give us a call at 201-261-9445 if you have any questions or visit us online at www.heelpain911.com and www.njfootpain.com.

Laughter is the best medicine

At New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center, our doctors advise that laughter is the best medicine!  See what happens when one of our favorite patients Beary goes in for a laser toenail fungus treatment...

Through associations with other medical specialists NJ Foot and Ankle has 

been able to keep its patients abreast of  new treatments for the care of not only foot but knee and back problems. We are always searching for cutting edge technologies to meet and exceed patient expectations. 

New Jersey Foot and Ankle Center is located at 550 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ 07649. As a premiere podiatry practice in Bergen County, Dr. Dan Margolin and his staff have treated over 25,000 patients coming from towns as close as Paramus, Ridgewood, Emmerson, Hackensack, River Edge, New Milford, Teaneck, Hillsdale, Westwood, or as far as New York City and South Jersey.  Give us a call at 201-261-9445 if you have any questions or visit us online at www.heelpain911.com.