asktheDr. By Dr. Steve Schmitz Afton Family Medicine
Another reason why people trust Afton Family Medicine Dear Dr. Steve, I think I have an ingrown toenail. What can I do about it? Oh that is no fun. You never know how much you appreciate walking on normal toes until one starts to hurt! An ingrown toenail is simply a nail that has grown into the skin that is supposed to be beside it. Often times that skin then gets swollen, red, painful, and even infected. It usually happens when a toenail is cut too short, or cut rounded off at the corners, if shoes are too tight around the toes, or if there has been a trauma to the toe. If you see this starting to happen, you can begin soaking the affected toe several times per day, and try to manually peal the skin back off of the nail after the soaks. If you can gently expose the corner of the nail, placing a few strands from a cotton ball under that corner can help it stay out from under the skin. I would advise you not to use any tools to try to “dig out the nail” as often I see more harm than good done when people try this.
If your skin starts to get red, painful, swollen, and begins to drain pus and blood, then you probably should see your doctor. Sometimes antibiotics are needed. Often, a minor surgery that can be done in the office can help a lot. The doctor can numb the toe and remove part of or the entire nail. While we do have ways of helping this problem, as with most medical things avoiding it in the first place is really your best bet. Don’t wear shoes that are tight around your toes. Don’t cut your toe nails too short and be sure to cut them straight across the top. If a problem starts, address it quickly. And, if you have read this far, and don’t have ingrown nails, be thankful for your healthy feet!
Dr. Steve Schmitzis a licensed medical doctor based in Afton. Have a question for him? Email him at AskTheDr@ nelsoncountylife.com. Sorry, due to the high volume of messages received, personal replies may not be possible. The Editor reserves the right to edit questions for content, accuracy, and length. This column is provided as a service to readers of Nelson County Life Magazine and is not intended to replace the advice of a physician. If you have a question about your personal health, please consult your doctor.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-5pm. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (540)-456-6710 7849 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR 151), Afton, VA • www.marthajefferson.org
theperfectfit By Agnes F. Schrider, PT Nelson Physical Therapy
“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” Most of us have seen the old TV commercial with the elderly lady on the floor, who says, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” From it came many funny T shirts and jokes. Getting up from the floor is a functional task that incorporates many things such as upper and lower body strength, motor planning, lower body flexibility and coordination. In fitness and physical therapy, this activity has become a regular test of function for our clients due to the high incidence of falls in our country. It can be a good home test of your function regardless of your age. When we are toddlers and kids, we did a lot of crawling on the floor and spent a lot of time playing on our hands and knees. We did these activities without thinking. Well into our adulthood and senior years, individuals forget how to crawl and get on all fours – as it is not a common activity. One of the fears of individuals
who have balance deficits and a fear of falling, is the inability to get back up from a fall. How do we move from lying face down to standing? It may be easy for some but as a testgo ahead and try it at home. If you have difficulty moving into a hands and knees position, then to a half kneeling position and then to standing, you may have areas to work on. There may be hip and knee flexibility restrictions and leg weakness. If you have arthritis in your hips and knees, it is even more challenging. Other functional tests that you can try at home are: 1) Start in sitting and rise to a standing position without using your arms and 2) Perform a pushup. If you can’t do these tests, it indicates weakness and it is time to seek consultation to begin a fitness program. Unfortunately, there is a not a magic pill to take that just gives you the strength of a 20 year old! It takes 2-3 days a week for 30 minutes and a certain dedication. Consider the benefits- you are worth it!
NELSON PHYSICAL THERAPY & WELLNESS CENTER
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50% discount! Rehab Fitness Yoga Meditation Massage NIA Personal Training Golf Fitness Training
1543 Beech Grove Rd. Roseland, VA 434.361.2650
Agnes F. Schrider, PT is a licensed physical therapist, fitness trainer, and certified golf fitness trainer based in Nellysford. Have a question for her? Email her at ThePerfectFit@nelsoncountylife.com. Sorry, due to the high volume of messages received, personal replies may not be possible. The Editor reserves the right to edit questions for content, accuracy, and length. This column is provided as a service to readers of Nelson County Life Magazine and is not intended to replace the advice of a licensed professional. If you have a question about your personal health, please consult a health professional.
OCTOBER 2009 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 33