My Blog http://www.footfacts.net/blog.html en-us Mon, 21 May 2012 15:46:35 -0500 Mon, 21 May 2012 15:46:35 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Officite Development Scripting Happy New Year--What's Your Resolutionhttp://www.footfacts.net/blog/post/happy-new-year--whats-your-resolution.htmlA belated Happy New Year from Peninsula Foot and Ankle, hopefully you've stuck to those resolutions you've made. If one of them was to get in better shape....here are few reminders.
1. Remember to make time for a warm up AND cool down
2. Always wear good athletic shoes (I'm just not a believer in the barefoot running fad)
3. Go slow in increasing the intensity and duration of the work out
4. Set realistic goals and have some variety to the work out
5. Don't forget to give your body a chance to rest, this is a good time to work on your flexibility
6. Any injury or pain that does not respond to the basic REST, ICE, COMPRESSION or ELEVATION should be evaluated
7. Have fun and good luck!!
Please do not hesitate to contact our offices, our doctors would love to talk to you about any problems you may be having with your feet and ankles.
Wishing you good health,
Arnold Beresh,DPM & Jeremiah Bushmaker, DPM
Peninsula Foot and Ankle Specialists

]]>Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:43:42 -0600Ingrown toenails--do I really need to see the Podiatrist?http://www.footfacts.net/blog/post/ingrown-toenails--do-i-really-need-to-see-the-podiatrist.html Ingrown toenails--do I really need to see the Podiatrist?

My apologies to the followers of our blog, it has been quite a while since writing.  Spring has sprung and with the recent “super moon” we’ve been busy.  If new to the blog welcome, hope you enjoy it.

In the last two weeks or so, you can tell we are in baseball and track/field season as the number of ingrown nails presenting to the office have tripled.  These sports are notorious for causing ingrown toenail as the cleats/track shoes are typically narrower in the toe box molding the skin up and over the nail.  In addition many of our young athletes will trim their nails much shorter to prevent any irritation during running, which can in turn cause an ingrown to form.  Finally, little chips or spikes left on the corners following trimming can be equally causative.  Neglected ingrown toenails can become infected and neglected infected ingrown toenails can lead to even bigger problems.

A few tips to try and prevent an ingrown toenail include: 1. Leaving that nail a touch longer when trimming 2. Making sure you stay square to the nail and have a “clean cut” on the edges instead of ripping the nail.  3. Make sure those cleats and track shoes fit comfortably.  Finally, I’ve read multiple articles and seen many internet reports about putting everything from cotton to dental floss between the edge of the nail and the skin.  I’ve only seen this lead to problems and in no way endorse this.

Coming to the doctor’s office for an ingrown toenail can cause anyone, young and old, to be nervous and anxious.  Yes, it will likely need to be removed and this does involve a numbing injection/s to the afflicted toe.  But try to remain calm and relaxed, you don’t want your dentist taking care of that cavity without numbing it first.  In our office we try to make the process as comfortable as possible, we will use a “cold spray” to initially numb the skin.  Almost always the needle stick is never felt; it is the actual injection of the numbing agent that can be discomforting.  This is minimized by injecting the agent slowly and warming it prior to the injection.  Finally with all the mp3 players and iPods/iPhones, I don’t discourage anyone from listening to their favorite music during the procedure.

One last thing, bring with you a sandal or wide tennis shoe as we will also apply a nice big “sympathy” bandage.  Wishing you good foot health and talk to you soon!!

Dr. Jeremiah F. Bushmaker DPM 

]]>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:24:52 -0500Knowledge about your Health Insurance can Eliminate Financial Surpriseshttp://www.footfacts.net/blog/post/knowledge-about-your-health-insurance-can-eliminate-financial-surprises.htmlKnowledge about your insurance plan, deductible, copays and coinsurance will help eliminate financial surprises!
It is no fun to provide people with the "surprise information" about their insurance policy. Telling someone that they are responsible for the first $5000 of medical bills before the insurance company will start paying for their medical care can ruin their day.
Know the terms:
Deductible-This is the set amount you have to pay before you get covered. For example, a"$500 Deductible" means that you would pay the first $500 of Total health care bills throughout the year before your insurance kicks in and takes over paying the bills. Deductibles are usually related to co-insurance. Our office has seen deductibles as high as $5000. The Medicare deductible for 2011 is $162. Some supplemental insurance policies will pick up the deductible, others will not. You should contact your insurance company to know for sure.
Copay-A fixed dollar amount you pay every time you get a certain service like a doctor's office visit. Copays for primary care physicians are generally lower than those for specialists. Some insurance plans have copay amounts for office visits and co-insurance amounts for x-rays and procedures such as injections.
Co-insurance- a percentage amount. For example, with a "20% coinsurance". If the total doctor bill is $100, you will pay $20 and the insurance company will pay $80. Coinsurance generally goes towards your deductible where your copay does not. It all depends on what policy you purchased.
Out of Pocket Expense (Max) -- The total amount you will need to pay before the insurance company will pay the whole bill and you will no longer have to pay copay or coinsurance. This is usually a very high dollar amount and will only be met if you have several surgeries or are very ill in one year.
 
If you do not have your insurance booklet handy, or cannot remember where you put it, the information about your policy can easily be obtained by contacting your Human Resources Department or the friendly customer service people from your insurance company. Their number is generally located on the back of the insurance card. Knowledge is power and knowing in advance what you will need to pay is always better for everyone.

]]>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:47:16 -0600Welcome to Our Blog!http://www.footfacts.net/blog/post/welcome-to-our-blog.htmlWhether you are an existing patient or searching for a podiatrist in the Hampton area, we're excited you are here. With the podiatry industry advancing, we recognize the importance of keeping our patients and visitors up to date with all of the new and exciting things taking place in our practice.

As we move forward with our blog, we hope to promote podiatric awareness as a vital part of your healthy, active lifestyle. Here you will find a variety of articles and topics including the latest developments in podiatry, podiatric treatments and helpful foot care advice from Dr. Arnold Beresh and his staff.

We hope you find our blog to be helpful, engaging and informational to ensure the long-term health of your feet.
As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

-- The Peninsula Foot & Ankle Specialists Team

]]>Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:39:10 -0600Stretching and Physical Therapyhttp://www.footfacts.net/blog/post/stretching-and-physical-therapy.html Rainy Sunday means no golf and it’s been awhile since I’ve taken the time to post.  First, I want to let everyone know that we have implemented electronic medical records.  We have cut the number of appointments for the next few weeks  to help the staff get used to using the computers/software.  We will be up and running full strength as soon as possible, please bear with us during this transition.

Secondly, I’ve had some folks come in this week talking about The Doctors TV show.  They had a few products to help with sore feet and ankles.  Two of those were the Theraband Stretch Strap and Theraband Foot Roller (www.thera-band.com).  In my experience stretching the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia can help decrease foot and ankle pain.  Especially when followed up by a nice ice massage.  These two items will certainly help with that, now are they “silver bullet” to all foot pain?  Probably not, but they can be a good adjunct to your treatment protocol.  Of course if there are any questions, please consult your treating physician.

Finally, I’ve had an opportunity to check out the new Tidewater Physical Therapy and Performance facility, and what a gem.  I really enjoy the layout and love the aquatic center; it will be a strong addition to the Hampton Roads area especially for our post op patients in need of rehab.

Looking forward to the start of summer, and as always wishing you good foot health!!

Dr. Jeremiah F. Bushmaker DPM 

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