Month: November 2018

Protecting Feet from Friction and Pressure

Posted by drjills on in Bunion, Callus, Foot Pain, General Information, Hammer Toe0 Comment

November is American Diabetes Month. This disease affects over 30 million Americans with another 1.5 million being diagnosed each year. At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we know that diabetic patients have special requirements for foot health. Poor circulation, often associated with diabetes, makes it difficult for oxygen-rich blood to get to wounds, particularly in your feet, which slows the healing process. Wounds that are difficult to heal are at risk for infection and, in the worst-case scenario, can lead to amputation. For this reason, it’s essential that patients with diabetes avoid sores and blisters. One way to do this is by reducing any possibilities of friction or pressure on the foot. If you have a bunion, hammertoe or other deformity, great care must be taken to ensure that corns are not rubbed raw or excessive pressure is not put on calluses.

Below are some products that can help protect your feet if you are a patient with diabetes:

Metatarsal and Bunion Protector Sleeve —offering two benefits in one pad, the Metatarsal and Bunion Protector Sleeve provides cushioned protection for bunions and also reduces pressure on the ball of the foot. The gel is contained within a soft elasticated forefoot sleeve which keeps the pad comfortably in place. It is available in sizes small and large and will fit either your left or right foot. Sleeves are washable and re-usable. Our Gel Bunion Sleeve also offers superior cushioning and relief from any footwear pressure and is available in two sizes: S/M and L/XL.

Metatarsal Pads—pure silicone gel provides an excellent cushion which increases comfort and protects skin from breaking down. Plantar fat pad atrophy is natural as you age but this can leave the ball of your foot vulnerable to friction and excessive pressure. Other conditions such as metatarsalgia can be relieved with our Gel Metatarsal Pads, our Gel Ball of Foot Cushions or our Metatarsal Pads which are offered in either felt or foam and 1/4 or 1/8 inch thickness.

Felt and Foam Corn Pads—corns form in response to footwear rubbing on the skin. Corns can become irritated and even turn into sores if not protected. Both our Felt Corn Pads and Foam Corn Pads cushion and protect corns. A center hole placed over the corn creates a barrier between foot gear pressure and the corn. An adhesive backing keeps the pad in place.

To see all the products we offer, visit our online catalog or our Deerfield Beach, FL store or contact us for additional production information by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

4 Ways to Shop More on Black Friday

Posted by drjills on in Uncategorized0 Comment

Have you planned out your Black Friday shopping trip? Chances are you’ll want to go to several stores to get the best bargains and a head start on your holiday shopping. But, will your feet cooperate? At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we know that there are many foot conditions that cause pain, which will slow down or even bring your marathon day at the mall to a complete halt. That’s where we come in. Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads offers many products that can help keep your feet happy and comfortable.

Below are some of our patients’ favorites:

  1. Gel Ball of Foot Cushions—soft Gel Ball of Foot Cushions provide thick cushioning that allows you to offload from sore spots and prevent pain from conditions such as dropped metatarsal heads, fat pad atrophy, neuromas and metatarsalgia. These cushions come in two different thicknesses and can be positioned exactly where most needed. (Consult your Podiatrist if you are unsure of best placement for your condition.) These gel cushions are washable and can be re-used multiple times to get you through the entire holiday season. We also offer an Ultra Thin Ball of Foot Cushions, which are also washable and re-usable.
  2. Corn Pads—there are several foot disorders that can cause a corn to develop, including hammertoes and bunions. These felt Corn Pads have a center hole and when placed over the corn will create a protective barrier that transfers pressure away from the corn. Adhesive backing assures that the pad will stay in place throughout your shopping day. We also have Gel Corn Pads that have a soft fabric sleeve with gel inside that stretches to fit toes.
  3. Gel Hammer Toe Cushions – Adjustable Crest Pad—if you suffer with a hammertoe, a long day of shopping can be excruciating. Our Gel Hammer Toe Cushion – Adjustable Crest Pad makes walking more comfortable and easier because the pads help lift and straighten toes to reduce pressure on the tips and tops of the toes. This pad can also be used to help straighten overlapping toes. An adjustable fabric loop fits any size toe. The pads are latex free and available for the left or right foot.
  4. Callus Protection—annoying calluses can also slow down your bargain hunting. Try our Gel U Shaped Pads, Gel Oval Callus Pads, or our Felt U Shaped Callus Pads to increase comfort while walking or standing by transferring pressure from the callus to the cushion.

We make products to help with many other foot disorders too. See our complete catalog online or visit our Deerfield Beach, FL store. For more information about our products, contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

Providing Relief for Ingrown Toenail Pain

Posted by drjills on in Toe, toenail1 Comment

Providing Relief for Ingrown Toenail Pain

Anyone who has had an ingrown toenail knows how painful it can be. One edge of the nail begins to grow down and into the skin surrounding the toenail. This causes inflammation, swelling, tenderness and extreme pain. Left untreated, ingrown toenails can also become infected. Although ingrown toenails happen most often to the big toe, they can develop in any toe. At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we have two products specifically designed to protect and cushion sore toes while they heal.

Toe Caps to the Rescue

All Gel Toe Caps, Gel and Fabric Toe Caps and Ribbed Gel Toe Caps have a number of excellent features that relieve pain and increase comfort for patients suffering from an ingrown toenail:

  • Padded tips insulate toes from shock and pressure
  • Toe caps slip comfortably over the entire toe with a cushioned fit that’s flexible and not too tight
  • Designed to be used in all styles of footwear
  • Gel slowly releases mineral oil which softens and moistens the skin

The All Gel Toe Caps are available in a variety of sizes with large being for the big toe and then medium (which is best for the big toe on many women), small and mini which can accommodate virtually every man or woman’s toe. The Gel and Fabric Toe Caps can be cut down to custom fit whichever toe you need it for and the Ribbed Gel Toe Caps are available in sizes S/M and L/XL for the 6 packs or XXL for the 2 packs.

Get the Most from Your Toe Caps

Your toe caps can last for many uses with the proper care. To get the maximum life from the caps, we recommend that you hand wash them with a mild soap and water. Rinse completely and then air dry. After the toe tubes are dry, you can lightly dust the gel with talcum powder if the cap feels sticky.

As with all products, do not use toe caps over an open wound. If you experience any discomfort while wearing the caps, discontinue use immediately and notify your Podiatrist.

To see other products Dr. Jill has for other foot ailments, view our online catalog. For questions, contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723) or visit our Deerfield Beach, FL store.

Turf Toe Requires Special Protection

Posted by drjills on in Foot Pain, Turf Toe0 Comment

Turf toe is a sprain of the big toe joint that is often the result of injury during a sport. Most commonly, it happens to football players when they push off hard to start running or to soccer players when they come to an abrupt halt and their toe sticks while their body continues forward. This is particularly likely to occur when playing on fake turf, hence the name turf toe.

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, however, our Podiatrist knows that turf toe is also a condition that can affect more casual athletes like those who run or speed walk for fitness, do gymnastics or any activity that involves repeatedly pushing off with your big toe.

Signs of Turf Toe

Symptoms of turf toe include the following:

  • Pain at the base of the big toe
  • Swelling at the joint
  • Limited range of motion and movement of the joint

If turf toe is the result of repetitive actions, the symptoms may begin slowly and gradually get worse over time. In cases where turf toe is caused by a sudden, wrenching injury, the signs will appear at once and continue to get worse over a 24-hour period.

Dr. Jill to the Rescue

One reason turf toe happens is that patients are wearing shoes that are too flexible and don’t provide adequate support for the activity they are doing. We offer a few products that can greatly decrease the risk of turf toe.

Carbon Stabilizer Plates are inserts that are used to stiffen the sole of your shoe and limit the range of motion of the forefoot to help decrease the flexibility of the shoe. In so doing, they help prevent big toe sprains. The plates are extremely thin—only 1/8” thick—and comfortable to wear. Carbon Stabilizer Plates are latex free and available in men’s sizes 6-15 and women’s sizes 5-12.

Our Spring Steel Insoles are also ideal for preventing Turf Toe and other foot problems requiring a semi-rigid foot bed. We offer Full Spring Steel Insoles as well as Half Spring Steel Insoles and both products are available in sizes for men and women.

In addition, our Moleskin Turf Toe/Bunion Straps are another great product we offer that can also help decrease the risk of Turf Toe.

To see all of the products we make to help with various podiatric conditions, shop our online catalog or visit our Deerfield Beach, FL store. Need more information? Contact us today by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).