From Dr. Kurlanski’s Desk

Maybe you’re thinking about finally scheduling an appointment at Lighthouse Foot & Ankle Center to see one of our wonderful podiatrists. In an effort to get ready for that consultation, we urge you to focus on your feet during the days leading up to that appointment. What’s going on with your feet? Where does it…

Every year on March 27th, folks around the world celebrate National Celebrate Exchange Day. It’s a national day that started in honor of the anniversary of when the first exchange club was created in the early 1900s. It originated in Detroit, Michigan as a club for local townsmen to gather and share resources, information, and…

In the medical field, second opinions are not only helpful, but they’re often strongly encouraged when your diagnosis proves to be a complex case. When it comes to plantar fasciitis, a decent amount of sufferers find permanent relief from merely resting or using custom orthotics. While this is fantastic news, these methods alone simply aren’t…

There are many types of diseases and conditions that, when developed, put you at risk of then developing other related issues. For example, when you have a disease like diabetes, you’re at a higher risk for developing other conditions like nerve disease and gout. As a disease, gout is a type of arthritis that arises…

Ah, the lowly feet. They bear our weight every day and even endure more stress when we run, jog or jump. We shove them into shoes that may be too tight or too worn out, with heels that are too high. They get no respect! And yet, our feet are marvelous miracles of engineering. They…

Do you suffer from neuropathy – nerve damage – with pain, numbness burning or muscle weakness in your feet? If so, we have a state-of-the-art therapy that can not only manage your condition but can also reverse any damage and restore nerve function. Neurogenx can help those with painful nerve damage from diabetes, infections, vitamin…

Do you have pain in one or more toenails? Does it look red and swollen? Is it uncomfortable or even painful when you put on shoes? If you answered “Yes” to one or more of these questions, you may have an ingrown toenail. An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into…

If you follow shoe trends – or maybe that special lady in your life does – you probably have heard of the new floss heels. A floss heel – named for the dental product because their straps are so wispy – has virtually no supportive structure for the foot, even with a thin ankle strap….

Neuropathy is a serious complication of diabetes. Neuropathy, or nerve damage, occurs when the blood sugar levels are too high, damaging the nerve cells. Often occurring in the feet, neuropathy causes loss of feeling as well as pain and numbness. When a patient with neuropathy loses sensation in the toes, a minor scrape, cut or…

How many of us consider that it might be possible to get skin cancer on our feet? Not only are our feet vulnerable to dangerous skin cancers caused by cumulative ultraviolet (UV) sun damage. There are other causes of foot skin cancer including: Environmental factors such as car exhaust and other pollutants and chemical burns…

Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. Let’s take inventory: Your feet each have 30 joints, including 3 in each of the toes. Add to that your 3 ankle joints and that is a lot of locations for arthritis to set in. Although there are more than 100 types of arthritis, the most common kinds are…

Sandal season is in full swing and you are probably visiting your favorite nail salon or spa more frequently than during the colder months. This is a great way to pamper yourself, but you don’t want to come home with anything more than perfectly polished nails – for example, a bacterial or fungal infection. Although…

Guys, admit it – we don’t always take care of our health as we should. After all, with everything that we have going on, we won’t let a little foot pain or skin problem stop us. But many foot problems can worsen quickly if not tackled right away. Not only that, but many of us…

At our practice, we see all kinds of foot and ankle problems, ranging from hammertoe, bunions, and tendonitis to heel pain and ingrown toenails. But we never have seen a baby giraffe that needed therapeutic shoes! That’s what happened at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. Little Hasani – Swahili for “handsome” – was born with a…

What is easier during the summer months than throwing on a pair of flip-flops in the morning and then you are good for the day? But wearing these flimsy sandals for too long can result in overuse injuries such as plantar fasciitis (heel pain) and tendonitis. Wearing flip-flops to protect your feet is smart. At…

Out of the 30 million Americans with diabetes, one-fourth of them are not yet diagnosed and don’t know that they have this disease. Are you one of them? These numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are disturbing because they indicate that millions of Americans already have diabetes, but their symptoms are…

If you have ever had an attack of gout, you would definitely know it! Gout is a form of arthritis that flares up suddenly, often in the big toe. You will experience pain, tenderness, and swelling in the joint. The pain is so intense that even the weight of a sheet at night is unbearable….

Warm weather brings special challenges to your child’s feet. Children are more active in the summer with many outdoor activities and are often tempted to run around barefoot or in minimally-supportive footwear like flip-flops. It’s up to us as parents to ensure that a child’s feet are healthy and pain-free so they can avoid injuries…

Your custom-fitted orthotics are an important part of your foot health, not to mention your leg, hip, and even your back health! Your orthotics are designed to last for many years, and they will if you take good care of them. Custom-fitted orthotics are designed to support and comfort your feet, and only your feet!…

We’ve been asked many times what makes our Neurogenx treatments for neuropathy so effective. Although we have other neuropathy treatment options, Neurogenx not only manages the symptoms of neuropathy, but it can even reverse the nerve damage and restore nerve function! Here are some of the more frequently asked questions about Neurogenx: What is neuropathy?…

It may still feel like summer, but high school and youth football teams are gearing up for a new season. Football is a very demanding sport that requires lots of running in addition to side-to-side cutting. Participants are often hurt when tackled by another player. Common Football Foot and Ankle Injuries Our feet are very…

You may be familiar with a skin condition called psoriasis that causes a scaly red rash on the body. What you may not know is that the feet can also show symptoms of psoriasis. August is a particularly good time to learn more about this skin problem because it is recognized as Psoriasis Awareness Month….

Fungal nails, onychomycosis is very challenging to treat and can take years to improve. Here are some of the reasons why your nails are not clear with treatment. 1. You don’t have fungus. About 40-50% of yellow thick nails are not actually fungal nails. Thick discolored nails can be from trauma, psoriasis, or lichen planus….

Set yourself up for success when treating your fungal nails. You need to treat the environment as well as your nails. Whether you choose laser, topicals, oral medication, or a combination of all 3, we have home tips to optimize your results. Medication Treat the skin and the nails with an antifungal. If you have…

Warmer weather means vacation. I recently went to Key West and was looking forward to wearing my new Teva sandals and slip-on shoes without socks, and I was confident I could wear them without a problem. On the first day of vacation, I felt a hot sensation on my right little toe and knew I…

Heel pain, otherwise known as plantar fasciitis, is one of the most common injuries we see at the office. Plantar fasciitis can interfere with day-to-day activities like walking the dog and put a damper on your long-planned vacation. Patients generally complain of heel pain in the morning after getting out of bed or sitting for…

Short Answer Yes! Topical medications are a fantastic alternative to anti-inflammatories like Aleve and ibuprofen or narcotics like Oxycontin and Percocet for foot and ankle pain. We use topicals to treat arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, tendonitis, and heel pain. A topical can be over the counter like Bio Freeze or a prescription topical with 4-5 different…

Are you suffering from heel pain in the morning when you get out of bed or after sitting at your desk? Are you not walking your dog because your foot hurts? Every day with heel pain is a lost opportunity to exercise and enjoy your favorite hobbies. Don’t let your neighbor’s painful experience with cortisone…

Do you experience pins and needles or sharp shooting pains in your toes or feet? Are the sensations worse at night? Has your balance gotten worse? You may be experiencing peripheral neuropathy, a nerve problem far away from your spinal cord. Some patients may have more than one condition causing this discomfort. There are several…

Have you noticed your big toenails are discolored and no longer grow to the end of your toes?  You may have disappearing nail disease otherwise known as onycholysis.  Onycholysis is when a person’s nail detaches and separates from the pink nail bed and skin replaces the nail. Although not a serious health condition by itself,…

What is a Direct Care Podiatrist? A direct care podiatrist does not participate with insurance. We have been a direct care podiatry practice since October 2021. We have less administrative burdens allowing us to spend more time with patients. We can address several issues during a visit rather than having the patient come back for…

Are you thinking about going hiking this Fall? You should! Maine has some of the most beautiful fall foliage in the world and it shouldn’t be missed. Here are some quick tips to keep your feet healthy and help you on the trail! 1.     Pick the Right Shoes Sandals and flip-flops aren’t going to cut…

Plantar warts are one of the most challenging infections to treat as a podiatrist. I often joke that warts are like unwanted house guests that leave when they want to leave. The virus is happy living in the outer layers of your skin undetected by your immune system. If you pick at them, they can…

Custom Molded orthotics vs Over the Counter orthotics Custom molded orthotics are directly molded to a patient’s foot. OTC inserts are generic and may only address the arch height, high medium, and low. Sizing is based on a range of sizes, not your exact size. Custom molded orthotics give a 3-dimensional correction. We can lower…

Many people try to DIY their foot problems away. Do-It-Yourself projects are fun and rewarding, but this is not the case when it comes to your feet. DIY patients often spend hundreds of dollars on the wrong shoes and over-the-counter treatment without resolving their foot pain. What if something goes wrong and the problem becomes worse?…

Ingrown toenails are a common injury and cause inflammation, soreness, and redness on your toe. Some people are predisposed to ingrown toenails while others may get ingrown toenails from repeated trauma or how they cut their nails. Here are 5 ways to prevent ingrown toenails: 1.     Wear proper fitting shoes Ill-fitting shoes are known to…

Does your job require that you stand for 5 to 8 hours each day? Have you gotten home to find that your heels and legs were aching after standing on concrete floors? Standing on your feet for work causes excessive strain on your back, hip, knees, and feet. If you are required to work even…

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. According to the CDC website, more than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of them don’t know they have it. 96 million US adults – over a third – have prediabetes, and more than 8 in 10 of them don’t know they have…

Winter is in full effect. Time to get your warm socks and winter boots out of the closet. You may already know properly fitting shoes are key to keeping your feet happy, but properly fitting socks can also impact your foot health. My grandmom used to give us socks for Christmas.  I used to think it…

Have you noticed swelling and pain when moving your big toe joint? Have you noticed a lump on top of the toe joint that gets irritated in shoes? You may have arthritis in your big toe joint otherwise known as hallux limitus. “Hallux” is the big toe and “Limitus” means limitation. Hallux Limitus is a…

Walking is a great low-tech habit to improve or maintain your overall health at any age. Exercise does not need to be fancy and expensive to be effective. No special equipment is required to go for a walk.   For the most benefit we recommend walking 30 minutes per day.  Best of all walking is…

How Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Biotin Can Keep Your Feet Strong and Healthy Maintaining foot health is important for overall wellness and mobility. Our feet bear the weight of our entire body and are subject to a lot of wear and tear, so it’s important to take care of them. There are several vitamins…

Plantar warts, also known as verrucas, are small, noncancerous growths that appear on the soles of the feet. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are highly contagious, making them a common problem for many people. While plantar warts can be treated, preventing them in the first place is the best course of…

Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of the foot, specifically the area between the third and fourth toes. It is caused by the thickening of the tissue that surrounds one of the nerves leading to the toes, which can result in numbness, tingling, and burning.  If left untreated can result in…

If you’re someone who suffers from plantar fasciitis you know just how painful it can be. Getting out of bed or standing up after sitting can be debilitating.   Heel pain, which affects the fibrous connective tissue that runs from your heel to the ball of your foot can make even the most basic daily…

We all know sudden hot flashes, brain fog, irritability, and poor sleep quality are symptoms of perimenopause and menopause but did you know that declining estrogen levels can also impact your feet?  As a female podiatrist, I appreciate the loss of estrogen for my patients.  Menopause does not directly cause foot pain but does result…

Running is a great way to stay in shape and improve overall health, but it can also lead to heel pain also known as plantar fasciitis.  If you’re a runner who is experiencing heel pain, you’re not alone. Don’t worry, there are ways to alleviate your heel pain and get you back on track. In…

Not all heel pain is from plantar fasciitis. Heel pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, one of which is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. This condition is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist, but it occurs in the ankle. It is a result of compression of the posterior tibial nerve, which runs…

You may have hammertoes if you’ve noticed a bend in your toes that won’t go away.  Your toes may be working extra hard to compensate for a tight Achilles tendon causing you to grip the ground as you walk.  Over time the toes become contracted. Hammertoe is a general term.  A true hammertoe has a…

Sandal season is almost here.  New shoes can mean new hot spots and blisters on your feet and toes. The best predictor of a blister is an area that has previously blistered.  Once a blister develops, it can be very tempting to pop it. If the blister is intact and not painful we recommend leaving…

Foot health is crucial for overall well-being, and for those who require orthotic support, having a second pair of custom-molded orthotics can bring numerous advantages.  Ordering a second pair of orthotics is much more straightforward because most of the work has already been completed by the doctor, including biomechanical evaluation, diagnosis, and prescription writing. 1….

As a podiatrist, I often encounter patients struggling with fungal infections of the feet. Athlete’s foot infections can be uncomfortable, scaly, red, itchy, and persistent if not treated properly.  Ignoring thick yellow crumbly toenails will spread if left untreated. While it’s crucial to seek professional advice for treatment, practicing good home hygiene is equally important…

With the arrival of summer, it’s time to soak up the sun and enjoy outdoor activities. However, for individuals living with peripheral neuropathy, the summer heat and potential hazards can pose unique challenges.  Here are some essential tips to help patients with peripheral neuropathy make the most of the summer season while keeping their feet…

Congratulations on your new custom-molded orthotics! These customized devices are designed to provide optimal support, alignment, and comfort for your feet. As a podiatrist, I understand the importance of a proper break-in process to ensure that your orthotics seamlessly integrate with your feet and footwear.  Here is our step-by-step guide to properly break in your…

Toenail splitting, also known as onychoschizia, is a common condition that can cause discomfort and concern for many individuals. The toenail can split lengthwise or across the nail plate.  If you’ve experienced toenail splitting, you’re not alone.  Causes of Toenail Splitting: Trauma: Injuries such as stubbing your toe, dropping heavy objects on your foot, or…

Pre-season is here and summer is winding down.  Kids and coaches are eager to train to get ready for the upcoming fall sports season.  You may be shuttling your student to two practices a day!  Overtraining can cause injury such as heel pain in kids.  As adults, we tend to get plantar fasciitis or plantar…

Plantar warts are a common foot condition caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Unfortunately, misinformation and old wives’ tales have circulated for years regarding the treatment and prevention of plantar warts. We will debunk some of these myths and provide accurate information to help you understand and address plantar warts effectively. Myth 1: “Warts have…

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the skin, but it can also have an impact on the toenails. Nail psoriasis, a common manifestation of psoriasis, can cause significant discomfort and affect the aesthetic appearance of the nails. Understanding Psoriasis and its Effects on Toenails Psoriasis is characterized by an overactive immune response…

Understanding Plantar Fibromas: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Imagine having tiny, tough lumps growing on the bottom of your feet. These bumps, known as plantar fibromas, are a bit puzzling but also quite common. Let’s learn about them—what they are, why they happen, and what can be done about them. 1. What are Plantar Fibromas? Plantar…

As the summer sun begins to set, and the aroma of sharpened pencils fills the air, we find ourselves at that exciting juncture in the year – back to school time. It’s not only a period of fresh starts and new challenges for children and young adults, but it’s also a golden opportunity for parents…