By Linda Hankemeier
It would be great if your feet could
talk. They could explain why they hurt, what swelling might indicate, or
what they need to be their best as the foundation to your body. But
since they can’t, it’s great to know podiatrists can tell you a lot
about your health by examining your feet.
There’s no one nicer
to talk to about feet than Dr. Melissa J. Lockwood, DPM, founder of
Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates, P.C. “I have a healthy obsession
with feet,” jokes Dr. Lockwood.
With a smile and sincere patient
focus, Dr. Lockwood treats a wide variety of conditions such as
bunions, heel pain, diabetic care, and ingrown toenails. But, she also
tells her patients a lot about managing their health conditions related
to or impacting their feet, and preventative care steps they can take to
live a long, healthy, and independent life. She does it all while
providing her patients with a warm and caring experience. “We truly want
our practice to be like Disneyland for feet,” shares Dr. Lockwood—in
other words, the happiest place on earth for your feet.
Saving your heart by listening to your feet
Dr. Lockwood will tell you that your feet and legs can provide your doctor with important information about your heart.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a common yet serious disease
impacting more than 10 million Americans. PAD occurs when a buildup of
cholesterol and plaque in the arteries of lower extremities results in
decreased blood flow to legs and feet. If left untreated, PAD is fatal
30 percent of the time.
Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates is
the first area podiatric practice to become a partner testing site with
Advocate BroMenn for identifying PAD in patients. “Obviously, we care
about our patients and want to help them get treatment prior to a
medical condition going too far.” So, Dr. Lockwood’s practice actively
reaches out to her patients, age 50 and older, who have the following
risk factors to encourage them to come in for further assessment:
- Health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Family history of heart attack, stroke, or vascular disease
- Personal history of smoking.
PAD is more common in African Americans but can occur in people of any racial/ethnic group.
Symptoms of PAD include pain in the legs brought on by walking and
relieved by rest, pain in the legs at rest due to poor circulation, poor
wound healing on lower extremities, and injury to lower limb or foot
involving
vessels.
Patients who are at high risk or have
symptoms of PAD are given a simple Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) test which
involves measuring blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm while the
patient rests. If the blood pressure in the ankle and arm are within a
similar range, then a person is considered to have healthy blood flow in
their lower extremities. However, if the opposite is true, then a
patient may have PAD and can be referred to a cardiologist or vascular
surgeon for more testing and options.
Dr. Lockwood’s team
appreciates being able to provide this service to their patients. “We’re
here for our patients’ foot health and to help with their overall
health as well,” Dr. Lockwood states. “Since the feet are the farthest
point from the heart, it takes our bodies a lot of effort to pump blood
to our extremities. But, maintaining overall effective circulation is
good for the feet and healing as well.”
Avoiding falls improves lifelong independence
Falls are a contributing factor to injuries, hospitalization,
extended care or nursing home admissions, and even untimely death. While
people of all ages can fall, the risk and negative consequences of
falling increase with age. Of people who are 65 and older, one in three
fall each year; and of those who have fallen, almost 50 percent will
fall again within a year.
Many falls can be prevented. Heartland
Foot and Ankle Associates actively participates in the Fall Prevention
Program sponsored by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
“We chose to become involved in the fall prevention program to help
people avoid needing the pink ‘fall risk’ bracelet,” shares Dr.
Lockwood, “and live a full, safe, and independent life.”
Are You at Risk for PAD?
Dr. Lockwood’s office provides the following questions to patients
to identify potential cases of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). If you
answer yes to these questions, please contact your doctor or Heartland
Foot and Ankle Associates to discuss options.
- Do you have
foot, calf, buttock, hip, or thigh discomfort (aching, fatigue,
tingling, cramping, or pain) when you walk which is relieved by rest?- Do you experience any pain in your lower legs or feet when at rest?
- Do you experience foot or toe pain that often disturbs your sleep?
- Are your toes or feet pale, discolored, or bluish?
- Do you have skin wounds or ulcers on your feet or toes that are show to heal (8-12 weeks)?
- Has your doctor ever told you that you have diminished or absent pedal (foot) pulses?
- Have you suffered a severe injury to the legs or feet?
- Do you have an infection of the legs or feet that may be gangrenous (black skin tissue)?
Dr. Lockwood’s practice provides fall assessment examinations to
patients who have a greater likelihood of falling based on demographic
information or medical history. The patient’s risk level for a fall is
assessed based on their:
- Demographic or lifestyle
information such as patient’s age, whether he/she lives alone, and the
types of footwear currently used - Medical history including any acute illnesses or medications
- Physical condition such as decreased vision or hearing, muscle weakness or instability, or neurological changes
- History of previous falls or need of a walker or cane
Along with reviewing the information above, Dr. Lockwood performs a
simple, in-office evaluation by watching the patient stand from a seated
position, walk through a doorway, turn and then return to a seated
position. The patient also takes a quick balance test, a vision test,
and has their medication reviewed.
If, based on the results of the
examination, the patient is at a moderate to high risk for falling, Dr.
Lockwood recommends various treatment options. One option that decreases
the risk of falls by 30 to 60 percent is the Moore Balance Brace, a
medical device designed to improve balance, stabilize the foot, and
prevent falls.
The brace, which fits inside most shoes and is easily
covered by pant legs, reduces the body’s postural sway, stabilizes the
foot and ankle, stimulates skin receptors providing feedback to the
brain, and improves the foot’s ability to clear the floor properly
reducing the risk of tripping. The brace can be custom-fit for each
patient, has Velcro closures for ease of use, and is made in the USA.
The braces can be billed through insurance and are allowed by most major
insurance companies including Medicare and Medicaid.
Freckles on feet aren’t funny
That freckle on your foot might be telling you something too. During
in-office assessments, Dr. Lockwood also checks her patients’ feet for
freckles. Most patients don’t come in concerned about freckles on their
feet. However, Dr. Lockwood shares that freckles do not naturally occur
on feet—and can possibly be a sign of skin cancer.
“Your feet
need protection from the sun, just like the rest of your body,” advises
Dr. Lockwood. If you see freckles or unusual moles on your feet, your
podiatrist or another doctor can assess the site to see if a biopsy is
needed.
Skin cancers usually are not painful and can take many
colors, forms and locations … black flat or bumpy sites, pearly white
patches or bumps, can appear in other colors such as red or brown, can
develop under toenails or on the skin’s surface. Dr. Lockwood says when
examining an unusual spot on your foot, remember the ABCDs of melanomas:
A = Asymmetry. If divided in half, do the sides match?
B = Borders. Do the borders look scalloped, uneven, or ragged?
C = Color. Does the site have more than one color or uneven distribution of color?
D = Diameter. Is the site wider than a pencil eraser (greater than 6 mm)?
Pedicures and Podiatry:
Plans Underway for In-Office Nail Salon
To many of us, a pedicure is one of life’s simple pleasures. Just
the thought of soaking your feet in warm, sudsy water follow by a gentle
massage is enough to bring on relaxation. Some podiatric patients, such
as those with diabetes, need additional assistance in caring for their
feet, and require any care center to be clean and safe.
Dr.
Lockwood plans to expand her facilities in 2013 to include an in-office
salon featuring manicures and pedicures performed by a licensed
cosmetologist. Dr. Lockwood’s office already sells anti-bacterial,
anti-fungal nail polish to the public. Now clean, sterile salon services
will be available to Dr. Lockwood’s current patients as well as members
of the community looking for a healthy, enjoyable environment for foot
care.
All of these can be indicators
of a potential skin cancer site. Upon seeing unusual indicators, Dr.
Lockwood will perform a clinical evaluation including a small skin
biopsy. Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates sends biopsies taken by
their practice to the only board-certified dermatopathologist in
Illinois for evaluation. When results are received, Dr. Lockwood and her
staff discuss the results with the patient and any treatment plans
which may be needed.
Whether it’s a pain, a spot, or
something else, Dr. Lockwood can tell you what’s going on with your feet
and how it relates to your overall health. She and her staff have
created a warm and caring practice which focuses on comfort, connection,
and education for each patient.
To talk about
your feet, contact Dr. Lockwood at her practice, Heartland Foot and
Ankle Associates, PC, located at 10 Heartland Drive, Suite B,
Bloomington, IL 61704. (Heartland Drive is off of Hershey Road,
Bloomington, west of the Central Illinois Regional Airport.) The office
phone number is 309-661-9975. You can learn more about their practice,
patient education materials, and staff profiles at their website: www.heartlandfootandankle.com.