YOUR HEALTH

Mr Joel Humphrey

What is heel pain? Heel pain is a common foot condition. Symptoms can range from a dull ache to a more intense pain. The pain can be worse first thing in the morning, when standing from a seated position or having walked any long distance.

The two most common causes of heel pain are either plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy.

What is Achilles tendinopathy? Achilles tendinopathy is an overuse injury. The Achilles tendon undergoes a degenerative process in response to repetitive small tears that do not completely heal after each injury. The Achilles tendon can be painful, stiff and swollen.

What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is chronic inflammation to the plantar fascia. Plantar fasciitis can affect anyone although it is more common in people who spend all day on their feet, are overweight or have altered foot biomechanics.

Do you suffer with sore heels?

If you are experiencing pain in your heel which is intense, worsening or persistent then it’s important to get it treated, whether that’s conservatively or with specialist intervention. Read on to find out what Orthopaedic Specialist Foot and Ankle Surgeon from the Saxon Clinic MK, Mr Joel Humphrey, has to say on possible causes of heel pain and what he would recommend as a course of action.

How do you treat heel pain? Below are some of the non-surgical treatments that specialists can recommend for Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis, however this list it is in no way exhaustive. Nonsurgical treatments are effective in the majority (85-90%) of patients:

1. Appropriate footwear which is supportive and fits well is recommended.

2. Medical insoles can be useful to improve the foot position.

3. Simple painkillers such as paracetamol, anti-inflammatory tablets or anti-inflammatory gels can be beneficial in reducing the pain symptoms.

4. Weight-loss is an important part of the treatment plan to reduce the forces going through your heel.

5. Activity modification aims to reduce impact activities that cause your symptoms. Fitness can be maintained by doing other forms of exercise such as cycling or swimming.

6. Stretching exercises to the calf muscles and plantar fascia are very effective for many patients and form the mainstay of treatment to promote long term resolution. You may require specialist input from a physiotherapist.

7. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is offered to patients who have not responded to first line treatments. It uses shockwaves (low energy sound waves) to increase the blood flow to speed up the body’s natural healing process.

Can you treat heel pain with surgery? Surgery would only be considered an option as a last resort after nonsurgical treatments have failed. It would depend on the extent of your condition and exact diagnosis. Heel pain can be caused by other conditions. If your condition doesn’t resolve or if another cause to your heel pain is suspected you will need a referral to a specialist.

Mr Joel Humphrey, Foot and Ankle Surgeon, The Saxon Clinic, Milton Keynes. For more information or to book an appointment online please visit: circlehealthgroup.co.uk/ consultants/joel-humphrey You can also find out more by Emailing: admin@ mercuryfootandankle.clinic Visiting Mr Humphrey’s website: www.mercuryfootandankle.clinic

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Back of the net… Denbigh School’s under-18 team are county champions after winning the inaugural Buckinghamshire Schools Plate.

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Hear, hear… Ear care expertise eases the pain of aural discomfort

Ear wax and infections can cause problems for many people, resulting in major discomfort or hearing issues if left over a long period of time. The Nurse Clinic, based in Bedford, are private ear care specialists who are here to help you hear.

Offering professional ear care treatments to all ages – adults and children – ear wax removal, ear care consultations and private prescriptions are just some of the services available from The Nurse Clinic.

The main methods used at The Nurse Clinic for extracting ear wax include irrigation and microsuction. Irrigation uses a gentle, regulated stream of water to eliminate blockages while microsuction involves a suction tube into the ear canal. The suction tip is attached to a long plastic tube, which is then attached to a suction unit or machine.

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Both methods are effective, gentle and safe, taking between 15 and 20 minutes.

Since last year, The Nurse Clinic has treated more than 2,000 patients for private ear care.

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Choose from one of three ear care consultation packages. A Standard Ear Consultation (£45) involves ear examination and no procedures. The Premium (£65) package includes an examination and private prescription if necessary, while a Premium Plus (£100) Consultation offers an examination, private prescription and ear swab to be sent off for further examination if needed.

The Nurse Clinic is also registered and regulated by the Care Quality Commission which represents private healthcare businesses across the UK including the NHS.

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>> To book an appointment or find out more information, call 01234 958995 - lines open seven days a week - or book online at www.thenurseclinic.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Making Tax Digital Are you ready?

Since 2019, VAT-registered businesses with a taxable turnover above the VAT threshold (£85,000) have been mandated to keep digital VAT records and send returns to HMRC using Making Tax Digital (MTD) compatible software. From April 2022 these requirements will now apply to all VAT-registered businesses, meaning any business who voluntarily registered under the taxable turnover threshold of £85,000 will be affected. What is MTD?

MTD is a key part of the Government’s plans to make it easier for businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their tax affairs. HMRC’s ambition is to be one of the most digitally advanced tax administrations in the world, modernising the tax system to make it more effective, more efficient, and easier for customers to comply. This means businesses need to keep digital records and use compatible software to send their VAT returns or Income Tax updates (more details to follow) to HMRC.

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Being able to keep your invoice records and paperwork stored online, so you no longer need to keep large boxes of paperwork

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Although this has been in place since 2019 for MOST VAT-registered businesses MTD for VAT will be expanded to cover ALL VAT-registered businesses. This will mean more businesses needing to keep digital VAT records and submit VAT returns using MTD-compatible software. Action needs to be taken as soon as possible by those businesses now caught by these regulations from April 2022. MTD for Income Tax

MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment will apply from April 2024 for unincorporated businesses and landlords with total business or property income above £10,000 per year. Further Information?

Have you ever wondered what Xero is and how it could change the way you run your business? This is your chance to find out.

Come along to our free seminar to discover the key features of Xero and how it could help run your business finances. We understand the move to online software is a step into the unknown for many businesses, so we’ve set-up a series of events to help provide information about Xero and how to best transition your businesses finances online.

Visit advaloremgroup.uk/events or scan the QR code below to register and attend one of our “An intro to Xero” seminars.

For more information about MTD or Xero, please get in touch for a free meeting. Contact us on: (e) enquiries@advaloremgroup.uk (w) advaloremgroup.uk (t) 01908 219100

Get Mooving for Willen Hospice this summer!

WWillen Hospice is encouraging local people and businesses to join the herd of fundraisers who are Mooving for the charity’s Summer of Moo, which encompasses three of their biggest fundraising event: The Midday Moo (25th June), The Midnight Moo (15th July) and The Mini-Moo (7th August).

But why should you Moo? Firstly, it is for a fantastic cause! Willen Hospice is the only adult hospice in the local area, caring for people with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families. It is a common misconception that hospices only care for people at the end of their lives, but in fact patients can receive support for years.

At Willen Hospice this can be in the form of counselling and art therapy to help someone who has just received a terminal diagnosis; occupational and physiotherapy to ease the side effects of treatment; or a short stay on the lakeside In Patient Unit for pain relief and specialist care. Similar to the NHS, the care at Willen Hospice is free of charge, but unlike the NHS, Willen receives less than a quarter of its funding from the government. They rely on the local community to help them raise the rest – £4.7million a year – which is

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why fundraising events like the Summer of Moo are so important.

Secondly, the Moo events are great fun! There is always an amazing atmosphere at the events, whether it’s a walk in the sunshine at the Midday Moo, a party vibe at the Midnight Moo, or hundreds of children scooting, running and walking at the Mini Moo! Nothing beats the buzz of hitting your fundraising goal either, which is £100 for everyone who signs up, with a collective fundraising goal of £125,000 across all the events.

What are you waiting for? Get Mooving and sign up for the Willen Hospice Summer of Moo now: www.willen-hospice. org.uk/moo Entry is £20 for the Midday and Midnight Moo (group discount for teams), which includes a Moo t-shirt and medal, and £10 for the Mini Moo which includes a cap and medal.