Blog Archive
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
People living with diabetes have to juggle extra considerations around health and wellness. That may include dietary planning, blood sugar testing, and even paying special attention to foot care. Why does having diabetes mean you have to take extra care of your feet? Dr. Steve Sharlin and the team of...
You notice that one or more of the small toes on one of your feet always look a little bent at the knuckle so that the toes have a shape a little bit like that of the head of a hammer. Those toes may become more prone to calluses or...
Plantar warts on your feet look unsightly and embarrassing, leading to podiatry problems such as calluses and blisters from shoes that no longer fit right. In some cases, foot warts can even make walking uncomfortable or painful or result in torn skin or bleeding. What’s the best way to get...
It’s easy for your feet to become affected by toenail fungus, as this type of podiatry condition is actually very contagious. You can pick it up anywhere! And, a case of toenail fungus is likely to leave your nails looking less than their best. When toenail fungus starts to deform or...
Do you have hammertoes? In this podiatry condition, the joints of your toes become chronically bent, often in a way that resembles the head of a hammer. Hammertoes occur due to an underlying weakness in the muscles and tendons of your front foot. And, this condition worsens progressively over time. Foot...
Foot amputation results in lots of damage to your independence, mobility, and quality of life. It’s also more challenging to stay healthy and active after a lower body amputation. You don’t want this to happen to you. However, if you’re living with type I or type II diabetes, your risk...
There’s a bony deformation, a bump, growing at the bottom of your big toe. It might rub uncomfortably against the side of your shoe, leaving blisters or calluses. You’re developing a bunion. Why is this podiatry problem happening, and does it have anything to do with how frequently you wear...
Your feet, toes, and ankles carry you everywhere you go. That type of wear-and-tear commonly leads to podiatry issues including hammertoes and bunions. Basically, your feet need a lot of support in order to get you through your daily life activities without harm or damage. If stress and strain have...
If you’re living with diabetes, you need to take extra care of the skin on your lower extremities, including your feet and ankles. Diabetes has negative potential impacts on your foot health, and can lead to limb loss without the right precautions. The seriousness of the situation is very real....
Ingrown toenails can become a significant foot problem, causing infection and even nail bed detachment. And, getting an ingrown toenail really hurts. It’s harder to stand, walk, and wear your favorite shoes when one of your toes is in pain due to a sharp ingrown toenail. At The Foot Care Group,...
Warts can appear in locations all around your body. When warts grow on your feet, they’re called plantar warts. Warts occur due to a viral infection, and may not go away without professional treatment. Plantar warts can become painful, and can even bleed. That’s why you need professional podiatry treatment...
If you have hammertoes, a structural weakness in your foot leads to one or more of your toes permanently taking on a bent position. In the early stages of this common podiatric condition, it’s still possible to straighten the affected toe or toes. However, in more advanced stages, affected toes...
You might need foot surgery for a variety of reasons. After foot surgery, you need to rest and recover. Dr. Steve Sharlin provides foot surgery, including bunion surgery, from his offices at The Foot Care Group. Dr. Sharlin treats new and existing patients from Hinsdale, Libertyville, and the Streeterville community of Chicago, Illinois....
If your second, third, fourth, or fifth toes have joints that chronically bend without your control, we say you have the condition called “hammertoes.” The term describes the abnormal shape taken on by affected toes, curled over into a shape like the head of a hammer. Hammertoes are a common...
Have you ever gone for a walk in the woods after a heavy rain, and noticed all the mushrooms springing up out of nowhere? Fungi can reproduce and spread rapidly under the right conditions. Many types of mushrooms make a delicious addition to your dinner, but other types of fungi...
Warts come in several different types, and can have different shapes and sizes. Warts are often found on your hands and feet, and can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing. You don’t want anyone to know that you have warts! That makes this skin condition exactly the kind of problem that...
Diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, affects many parts of your life. But did you know that living with this chronic condition can also negatively affect your feet? At The Foot Care Group, experienced podiatrist Dr. Steve Sharlin provides top-quality diabetic foot care to new and existing patients from locations in Libertyville, Hinsdale,...
When your bones undergo stress, you run a risk of stress fractures, tiny cracks that can form in your bones. Stress fractures may not seem like a serious sports injury, unlike a blown-out knee or a broken arm. However, you should still take stress fractures seriously, and get checked out by...
From feet sore from overuse to foot pain related to plantar fasciitis, heel pain can seriously cramp your style, your plans, and your whole-body health. Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Steve Sharlin and the team at The Foot Care Group of Hinsdale, Libertyville, and the Streeterville community of Chicago know the ins and outs of treating...
When issues start to arise with your feet, it’s a good idea to take them seriously. After all, you depend on your feet almost every minute of every day, from the first time you get out of bed to your last late-night run to the bathroom. Without foot health and...
When your toenail starts to grow sideways into your skin, instead of covering your nail bed the way it should, you can end up with symptoms like redness, swelling, tenderness, pain, and even infection. The sharp edge of an ingrown toenail constantly irritates the skin by your nail bed. How...
Jumping, twisting, and changing direction rapidly can put a lot of pressure on your knees, especially when you’re operating with the speed and intensity used by competitive athletes. The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in the front of your knee is particularly vulnerable to sports injuries. Sports like basketball and soccer are...
Pain in your heel can come from a variety of factors, but the end result is discomfort and loss of mobility for you. If heel pain is keeping you from getting active or getting out, talk to Dr. Steve Sharlin and the podiatry experts at The Foot Care Group. With...
Bunions on your feet cause deformity at the base of your big toe. Without treatment, severe bunions can make wearing shoes or even walking around uncomfortable or outright painful, limiting your mobility and reducing your quality of life. At The Foot Care Group, board-certified podiatrist Dr. Steve Sharlin uses the...
Living with diabetes affects your body from head to toe – literally. Your feet are actually at a higher risk of damage and even amputation if you have diabetes. With physician-supervised diabetic foot care, people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can protect their feet from injury and...
The Achilles tendon is a band of tissue that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Also known as the “heel cord,” the tendon allows you to walk by helping lift your heel off the ground. The largest tendon in the human body, the Achilles tendon is also the...
If you have hammertoe issues, one or more of your toes becomes locked in a bent position. A toe affected in this way looks a little like the top of a hammer, hence the name of this common podiatry problem. Expert podiatrist Dr. Steve Sharlin treats male and female patients...
Your foot’s shape distributes the pressure of the weight of your body and the forces of motions like walking and running. When some aspects of your feet shift out of alignment, distorting the shape of your foot, motion becomes limited, and you may end up suffering from symptoms of pain...
You try to go for a long walk, or stand for a long time at an exhibit or event – but your feet start aching almost right away, or you develop a painful blister that sends you to the sidelines. What can you do to better support your feet? At...
Your toenails protect the tender skin underneath the hard nail, but if a toenail starts to cut into your nail bed, you may end up feeling a lot of pain and discomfort. Ingrown toenails don’t always improve on their own, and you might need the care of a podiatrist to...
Plantar warts on your toes or feet can be unsightly and uncomfortable, causing pain and even bleeding. It’s easy to catch warts in public or shared spaces, and most at-home treatments won’t be effective at permanently removing warts from your hands and fingers, or from your feet or toes. Don’t...
In patients living with chronic diabetes, care of the legs and feet can be a very important part of daily routines. That’s because living with chronic diabetes can cause nerve damage, resulting in the loss of sensation in the legs and feet. Without the right diabetic foot care, and regular...
Heel pain can keep you off your feet, preventing you from getting out and enjoying the springtime weather and your favorite activities. Did you know that the most common cause of heel pain in adults in the United States is plantar fasciitis? At The Foot Care Group, our team of...
Bunions on your feet can cause pain and discomfort, limiting your choice in footwear and aesthetically disfiguring your feet. Take control of your bunions this spring with the help of Dr. Steve Sharlin and his team of podiatry experts at The Foot Care Group. We offer a full range of...
When you sprain your ankle, the pain lets you know! Sprained ankles, some of the most common types of sports injuries, can be both uncomfortable and restrictive. A sprained ankle can keep you from enjoying free and easy motion for days or weeks while your injured joint recovers from a...
Each person’s feet are unique. And while that’s part of what makes you special, certain traits can stand in the way of your well-being. Flat feet are one such example. If you have flat feet, it means that your arches fall, allowing the full soles of your feet to touch...