Harvey R. Danciger, DPM
74-000 Country Club Drive, Suite A-2
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 568-0108

My Blog

Posts for tag: injury

By Harvey Danciger
July 28, 2011
Tags: injury   podiatrist   achilles   Alex   tendon   Marriott   San Francisco   Trabek   Alex Trabek  

Alex Trebek, of Jeapordy fame,  has ruptured his Achilles tendon.  He states he had this injury while chasing down a burglar while staying in a hotel in San Francisco."   

He related that a woman broke into his hotel room at the downtown Marriott, while he and his wife were sleeping.  He was startled by the intruder and as she tried to escape, he ran after her down the hallway and felt his Achilles tendon snap. He added that he is scheduled for surgery on Friday, July 29.

Sudden sharp pains in the back of the lower leg can reveal an injury to the strongest and longest tendon in the body, the Achilles tendon.  Some people relate that it feels like a gun shot to their leg.  If you feel the area, you may notice a gap or indentation in the back of the leg.  This is where the tendon hasruptured or torn apart.

A tear of the Achilles tendon can occur if the tendon is tight and you start an explosive movement, like sprinting, before the tendon is warmed up.  There is a weaker area of the tendon, because of a poor blood supply, where the tendon usually tears.  This is very likely what happened to Alex that evening.

Sometimes conservative care with casting and non weight bearing can be can be a form of treatment, however surgery is at times needed.

If you suspect an injury to the Achilles tendon, see your podiatrist immediately.

0 Comment(s) Permalink
By drdanciger
August 12, 2010
Category: Uncategorized
Tags: foot doctor   turf toe   sprain   injury  

Turf Toe

 

Turf toe is an injury to the first toe joint of the foot. It is a soft tissue injury to the tissues around the big toe joint. Anyone can get turf toe. If you apply a force that causes the big toe to extend beyond its normal range of motion, the soft tissues can be injured and turf toe can ensue.

 

When you sprain the ligaments around the big toe joint, the result is turf toe. The ligaments allow the toe to move up and down at the joint. If they become sprained, there is pain each time the toe moves. Turf toe is commonly associated with football players playing on artificial turf, however anyone can develop this injury if the force through the big toe joint is abnormal, causing a hyper-extension of the toe.

 

Usually the injury and force is a sudden force to the big toe joint, hence more common in athletes. Not only does it occur on artificial turf, but can occur on grass surfaces if the shoe is too flexible and does not have enough support for the foot. This can allow the foot and big toe joint to bend to far, stressing the ligaments.

 

Turf toe symptoms include pain at the base of the big toe. Swelling may occur. Moving the toe becomes painful and decreased range of motion follow.

To diagnose the injury, examination of the foot will be done. X-rays, ultrasound, and other imaging tests may be needed.

 

Treating turf toe begins with resting the injured area and restricting motion of the joint. Physical therapy may be needed after the injury heals, to re-gain motion and strength of the injured toe. Sometimes, orthotics are needed to be worn so the foot will be better supported and functioning better.

0 Comment(s) Permalink


Archive:

Tags

Podiatrist - Palm Desert, Harvey R. Danciger DPM, 74-000 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert CA, 92260 760-568-0108