see, I told you

I had a patient who came into my office today, sure that he stepped on something and it was stuck in his heel. It happened two weeks ago and he was having trouble walking on it, so his wife finally convinced him to make an appointment.

(That happens quite a bit, where wives either finally convince the men to make an appointment or they just give up and make the appointment for their husbands. Men.)

Anyway, back to the patient. He couldn't see the bottom of his heel because he couldn't reach that far down. When I looked at his heel, there was no "foreign body". Instead, there was a very dry, cracked heel and in the painful spot the skin had actually cracked open to the point where it bled and couldn't heal on its own.

He requested an x-ray because he was unconvinced that a skin crack was the cause of all his pain. Of course, nothing showed up. I trimmed down the calloused skin and instructed him to use lotion, lotion, lotion. In the dry parts of the country, where our skin gets very dry or ashy in winter, the lotion is key. There are multiple types of lotion on www.helpmyfeet.com. Please visit our website for the best prices and low shipping costs.

Dry Skin & Cracked Heels

A Real Challenge To Treat!

Whether you have dry skin irritations, painful cracks, or unsightly appearances, www.HelpMyFeet.com has just the right product to relieve your symptoms fast!

(At the end of this article is a recipe for my favorite Exfoliative Dry Skin Scrub. My family and patients love it! This scrub is effective, soothing, has a wonderful odor, and is inexpensive to make. Please feel free to share it with your family, and friends)!

The most effective way to treat dry and cracked skin is to exfoliate, or remove the dry dead skin present, and to moisturize the underlying normal skin.

These two steps, exfoliating and moisturizing, will return the skin to its soft, supple, and natural appearance.

Exfoliating dry dead skin allows moisturizers to penetrate deeply into the skin. Many podiatrists and dermatologists recommend the following products for this step. These products are safe, effective, and really produce results:

Artemis Women Heel Smoother is a revolutionary, doctor tested and approved , pedicure appliance that smoothes callouses and removes dry skin in seconds, without the use of harsh chemicals or dangerous blades. This product is approved by the APMA.

Callex Ointmen. Thins and softens calluses and dry cracked skin. Made from natural plant enzymes and contains no acids or harsh chemicals.

Moisturizing: Moisturizers are those that not only soften and hydrate the skin, but also heal and protect the skin from further drying. We have found that Tripod Labs Hydrostat is excellent for dry skin and cracked heels:
Tripod Labs Hydrostat: This cream moisturizes sensitive skin and softens calluses while reducing swelling and soothing skin inflammation. Hydrostat is a non-greasy cream containing herbal ingredients.

The above products are available at www.HelpMyFeet.com, and they can make a big difference in your skin comfort.

Our Favorite Exfoliative Scrub Recipe Ingredients:

· 3 Tablespoons Epsom Salt
· 1 Tablespoon Kosher (coarse) Salt
· 3 Tablespoons Raw Sugar
· 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
· 2 Tablespoons White Sugar
· 1/2 Tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel


Mixing Directions:·

· Add dry ingredients and mix well.
· Add oil, glycerin, and Aloe Vera Gel.
· Mix until wet, and ingredients stick together.
· If its too crumbly, add a little more glycerin and Aloe Vera Gel.
· Keep in a container.


Dr. Paul Kasdan (taken from ourdoctorstore.com)

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There's a new twist to the 2008 Best Walking Cities competition. This year, more than 500 U.S. cities,
or 10 of the most populated cities in each state, were surveyed to determine each city's walkability. A number of factors were considered, including the number of parks per square mile, use of mass transit and the percentage of adults who walk for fitness reasons. Cambridge, MA has earned the title of number one walking city for 2008, followed closely by New York City and Ann Arbor, MI.
For a listing of all 50 winning cities from each state, click here.

With spring right around the corner, now is a perfect time to start gearing up for walking. Before heading out to exercise, read these tips on how to stretch out properly. Additionally, check out APMA's "Get Geared Up for Walking" guide to find out the ideal shoe and sock selection when preparing to take that first step toward better health.

From the website of the American Podiatric Medical Association, www.APMA.org

Welcome to Twin Cities Pain Relief

If your feet hurt, then you're at the right spot! I am a podiatrist practicing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the knowledge and the experience to help not only with your feet, but with your entire body. If your feet are in pain, you walk differently and your whole body can hurt. Stay tuned for informational blog entries and tidbits to help you and your feet stay healthy. If you ever need pain relief products, don't forget to check out HelpMyFeet.com to get exactly what you need. There's a huge selection, organized by where it hurts. And every purchase you make helps to keep this blog running.