All posts by : Synchro

In addition to Breast Cancer Awareness month, National Reading Group Month, Women’s Small Business Month, and Apple Month October is known as Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Being a dog owner myself I wanted to share all the positives of adopting.
Why You Should Adopt a Dog

1. Save a life: Unfortunately, animal shelters across the United States become over populated with homeless pets leading to 2.7 million potentially adoptable dogs and cats being euthanized each year. You can decrease these number by adopting from a shelter and being a responsible pet owner. The empty spot you created in the dog shelter gives another dog from the streets a chance to be adopted.
2. Health Benefits: the companionship increases oxytocin decreasing anxiety and stress. Increased exercise with daily walks, fights off extra pounds and keeps your heart healthy. These added health benefits of owning a dog adds years to your life.
3. Social ability: Studies show that owning a dog keeps you more social than your dog-less counterparts, apparently dog walks don’t just supply exercise but include more social interactions.
4. Variability: Adopting from a shelter gives you more options of breed types and dog ages. In one visit to the humane society you can see all types of canines, even some with previous training. Most shelters even encourage you to interact with multiple dogs to test out the right feet.
5. Less Expense: the average cost of adopting a dog from your local shelter is around $100 and includes vaccinations and a check-up by a veterinarian. Adoption prices normally undercut expensive breeders by a few hundred dollars, leaving you with enough cash to spoil your new pooch.

Start off looking for your perfect match online by narrowing down your adoption locations by visiting the websites below

• Animal Control – https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/15/Animal-ControlFrederick
• County Humane Society – http://www.fchs.org/Lonely
• Hearts Animal Rescue – http://lonelyheartsanimalrescue.org/

Other websites that scan a larger area for a pet include

• Petfinder.com
• Adoptaped.com

Best of luck looking for your new four-legged companion!

Did you know that in addition to seeing patients with routine foot care needs, and even urgent podiatry concerns we have a surgical suite? The Ambulatory Surgical Center is located at our Frederick office on Thomas Johnson Drive. An Ambulatory Surgical Center is a facility where surgeries are performed that do not require the patient to be admitted to the hospital. The doctors of Frederick Foot & Ankle wanted to provide their patients with a smooth and private operating area to eliminate the extra stress that can accompany the hospital setting.

Our surgical suite is in use by all 6 of our trained podiatric surgeons, where they feel comfortable and familiar in our one of a kind operating setting. During a routine surgery one of our trained surgical assistants (Kim, Jenny, and Paul) help the podiatrists by being an extra set of hands and eyes during the surgery. For scheduling, verifications, and all things behind the scenes we have our surgical coordinator (Taryn, pictured above). With only two recovery bays and one operating room the surgery center staff’s attention is focused on a limited number of patients, giving each patient personalized attention to accommodate their needs. Other advantages of our private surgery suite include; shorter wait times, surgeons operating in a more controlled setting, an operating room dedicated to podiatric surgeries, and a more accessible location.

Having an Ambulatory Surgical Center does have a few limitations including; restrictions held by insurances, and specific surgeries that must be performed in a hospital setting.

If your feet and ankles are causing you pain or discomfort make an appointment at Frederick Foot & Ankle where we are equipped to take care of your health on many levels.

( #Frederick #Foot #Doctor #Foot #Ankle #Surgeon #FootSurgery #AmbulatorySurgicalCenter #SurgicalCoordinator #SurgicalAssistant )

With fall weather comes school, and with school comes homework. After being a student for many years myself I have looked into what habits are the most effective for retaining more information and developed a short list.

1. Sleep: All-nighters are proven to be ineffective. You need sleep to convert your newly absorbed information into longer term memory by way of REM sleep. You should study the most important information right before you go to bed, researchers have named this learning method as “sleep-learning.”
2. Food: Just like you fuel up before a work out you should feast properly to prepare for optimum brain power. Eating the well-known healthy foods is always a good idea your body to run ideally, like; vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and plenty of water. Some more specific memory enhancing foods include; oily fish, sage, berries, tomatoes, eggs, and dark chocolate.
3. Exercise: We all know all about the benefits for exercise on the body as reducing stress and releasing endorphins. But did you know that it is suggested to go for a run or lift weights before you sit down to study. Exercising beforehand is known to increases your alertness and mood.
4. Get Help: There are so many resources available to the current student that it is a shame how many students struggle in silence. Some useful websites are Quizlet for digital flash cards, Anatomy Guy for a virtual tour of a dissected cadaver, and Tyler DeWitt’s channel on youtube for chemistry.Study
5. Time: Research has come up with a 24-hour rule for studying, in which a topic learned in class should be reviewed and studied 24 hours after you learn it. With the 24-hour rule 80% of the initial material covered is retained.
6. Self-Test: Re-reading material might be a good way to introduce yourself to the topic at hand but can also lure you into a false sense that you know the material. When you re-read the text, you feel like you know the information because it all looks familiar. Although what you are not using is any recall. Performing self-tests, like flash cards or testing yourself with a partner, is good because it makes you use recall.

Hopefully with these 6 small study tips the new school year will be more educationally productive.
( #Exercise#School#September#Study#Grades#Food#Sleep#Test )

We send our love, prayers and support to those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Hurricane Irma in Florida (pictured above) and the Caribbean Islands. We feel for those that have been displaced from their homes and some who have been taken from their families too soon.

With all this water across the U.S. and in select islands we wanted to remind our friends the importance of keeping their feet dry. Skin is the first defense against outside microbes that surround us daily and live on our skin. When the skin becomes overly hydrated by excessive perspiration or feet remaining in wet shoes or socks the skin becomes delicate. At this point when the skin turns pale and becomes pruned it begins to peel away. This weakened and broken skin is often the point of entry for bacteria. If the infection is not taken care of there is always a chance that it will travel into the surrounding tissue, which may lead to serious consequences.

During the Vietnam War soldiers would stand for long periods of time in wet boots and socks out in the field. These unsanitary conditions in the trenches would lead to the soldier’s feet becoming numb, painful, itchy, blistered, and infected. If untreated trench foot would set in, today it is called immersion foot and it could lead to gangrene and amputations. Immersion foot is avoidable if proper care is taken by; cleaning feet daily, keeping them dry, changing foot ware regularly, and checking feet daily for any issues.

If you are in an area or in a line of work where your feet get wet for long periods of time please remember to take protective measure by wearing water proof boots are having the availability to change into dry shoe gear. If a professional’s opinion is needed please see one of our highly qualified podiatrists at Frederick Foot & Ankle because we love to keep our patients moving.

Working with a relative can have its challenges but we have found that adding real family to our Frederick Foot & Ankle family has worked out for all parties involved.

Robbie and Shannon are one of our Mother-Daughter working relationships. Shannon has been working with Frederick Foot & Ankle for 7 years in multiple positions. Shannon now holds the title of our Clinical Coordinator, a very fitting position for an employee that has 20 years of clinical experience. Shannon started bringing Robbie around the office on her school breaks when she was 15 years old and she completed odd jobs around the office. Now that Robbie has graduated from high school she has joined the work force full time we now have the pleasure of seeing Robbie’s smiling face at the front desk and check-out. In addition to working at the podiatry office during the day Robbie and Shannon are both dance instructors at a local studio. When asking Shannon about working with her daughter she wanted to make it clear that even though they drive together to work she does not make Robbie lunch.

Our second Mother-Daughter team is Shannon and her daughter Kayla. Shannon came to us with 10 years of Podiatry experience and started with Frederick Foot & Ankle 7 years ago as front desk but has since switched roles and has become a wonderful addition to our billing department. Shannon admitted that when Kayla first applied to Frederick Foot & Ankle she was hesitant about working with her daughter but finds that everything has worked out for the best. When asking Kayla her position with Frederick Foot & Ankle she said she wanted a change from working retail and finds that she is learning new skills that will carry over to future positions.

Danielle and Alexis may look like twins and are frequently mistaken as such, but are actually 5 years apart. Danielle, the oldest, landed a job first at the podiatry office as a scribe and later referred her younger sister for the intern position. Now that Alexis is more seasoned she has joined Frederick Foot & Ankle in a bigger role as full time medical assistant. The sister-sister team works side by side in two different roles one as the medical assistant and another as a scribe. Their bond goes outside the office with carpooling, living together, and sharing lunches. Both sisters are also attending Frederick Community College and working towards their nursing degree. We are lucky to have them both and know that they will both make excellent nurses in the future.

By Nikki Ho

In the picture above is Abby with Dr. Steinberg. Abby, a French Poodle, is such a smart service dog that she is even able to remove shoes and socks on command.

Service Dogs occasionally make their way into the Frederick Foot & Ankle office. Not only do their owners benefit from their presence but our staff enjoys their company as well. Service dogs are normally distinguished by a tag or a vest, to inform the surrounding population that they are working. Service dogs are trained specifically for one individual and the conditions the individual needs assistance with. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows service dogs to enter places that are for the public, this provides the service dog’s owner to continue their daily activities with the help of their trained companions. Although we have not yet seen one yet at Frederick Foot & Ankle the ADA also recognizes miniature horses for their service assistant.

Apart from Service dogs there are also therapy animals and emotional support animals. Therapy animals are normally canine and are trained to comfort a large population such as those in nursing homes, schools, or hospitals. The therapy animals help alleviates negative feelings associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. Emotional Support Animals are another category of animals that aid their human in daily life. Emotional supports animals do not need any specific training because just their presence helps their companion with mental stresses. Although these therapy animals and emotional support animals are helpful in multiple settings they are not granted the same rights as service dogs.

Research for pet therapy has presented the medical community with many beneficial effects

• Decreased the severity of “sundowner” symptoms in dementia patients
• Alzheimer patients reported recalling more memories
• Those with PTSD felt a reduction in symptoms
• Diabetics where alerted when their blood sugar was dangerously low
• Helping those with drug addiction not feel alone and consider their pets feelings and not just their own

We love our diverse population of patients and feel so lucky to witness the true healing power of their furry friends.

( #Exercise #School #September #Study #Grades #Food #Sleep #Test )

Our good friend and scribe Mimi has recently departed for podiatry school in Philadelphia. Mimi will be attending Temple University where she will spend four years studying podiatric medicine. Dr. Lamichhane wanted to ask Mimi a few questions about being a new podiatry student, hopefully giving some of our follwers some direction if considering a path in medicine.

Dr. Lamichhane: What sparked you’re interested in the medical field?

Mimi: I’ve wanted to be a doctor/surgeon for as long as I can remember. I always wanted to help people, and I knew the best way I could do that was by becoming a doctor. I always admired the providers I had growing up and the knowledge that they conveyed.

Dr. Lamichhane: Out of all the fields in medicine why did you finally decide on podiatry?

Mimi: Throughout my collegiate years, I never in a million years would have thought I wanted to work with feet. My journey initially started when my fellow friend and future classmate became a scribe at Frederick Foot and Ankle. She introduced me to the field of podiatry, and I essentially took over her position as a scribe when she left for school. After shadowing and watching surgery for the first time, I knew right there that this was what I could see myself doing. Over the past year while working at FFA, I learned so much from all of the doctors and I was able to see patients’ progress despite having a multitude of issues. Seeing the impact an office visit has on our patients made me confident in persuing a career in podiatry.

Dr. Lamichhane: What surprised you about Podiatric Medical School when you arrived?

Mimi: The amount of studying in podiatry school is way beyond what was needed when getting and undergraduate degree. Most of your day when in podiatry school revolves around studying and going class. You really have to love what you do and want to be here in podiatry school to devote 4 years of intense studying.

Dr. Lamichhane: What advice would you give to others looking to apply to podiatry school?

Mimi: I would tell them that this is a great field to go into but to be 100% certain that this is what they want to do, because it is rigorous. Some podiatry school canidates do not realize the amount of work that is required to be in school and that you actually do study the entire human body, not just feet and ankles. Just be ready to have fun and work hard.

Dr. Lamichhane: You had to move to a Philadelphia for school, what is your favorite thing about living in the City of Brotherly Love?

Mimi: I have always felt that Philadelphia was a very live city, always something to do and see. To be honest I am mainly excited for the food! Not only is Philadelphia known for the cheese steaks but all sorts of other dishes and dining experiences.

Dr. Lamichhane: I know you have not been away from us for too long but what do you miss most about Frederick Foot & Ankle?

Mimi: I really miss the staff. The doctors have been such wonderful mentors for me and giving me alot of advice about school and becoming a podiatrist. At Frederick Foot & Ankle I felt that the work environment was enjoyable and easy-going. The people I worked with became my friends outside of the office as well and it makes it hard to leave, but I am excited to start school in a new city.

Dr. Lamichhane: After four years in school and you become a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, what type of doctor do you want your patients to see you as?

Mimi: I hope they will know how genuine I am in caring for them and helping them in the best way possible. Having a strong doctor-patient relationship is important so that your patients trust that that you will make the best medical decisions for them.

Dr. Lamichhane: And finally, for a fun question, what super power would you like to have and why?

Mimi: I want the power to heal people. Hopefully I can aim towards that once I’m a doctor. When people are in pain it changes their whole day; they tend to do less, they become less interactive with others, and overall have a more negative outlook on their day. I want people to be pain free so they can be the best version of themselves.

Frederick Foot & Ankle would like to wish Mimi luck in her future endevours at school, we are so proud of her !

( #Frederick #Foot #Doctor #PodiatrySchool #Maryland #Philadelphia #Scribe #Temple #GraduateSchool)

Warts are non-cancerous skin growths that can show-up on any part of your skin. Warts are rough, bumpy, lesions that are often painful with pressure. Blood vessels appear in the lesion and they look like small Blacks dots. Plantar warts are specifically the warts that are found on the bottom of your feet, they become flat from the continued pressure.

Warts are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), the virus can be picked up from infected surfaces (like shoes or shower floors) or directly from another individual that is infected. An individual with the virus can begin to infect different locations on their body, HPV travels more effectively on perspiring skin and a drying agent can be used to decrease the ease of motility.

Those with weakened immune system are more susceptible to the virus but it can also be contracted by a healthy individual. The virus is more commonly seen on children because they tend to be more active without shoes and less hygienic, increasing their chances of being exposed to the virus.

At Frederick Foot & Ankle treatment starts with an office visit. The podiatrist will remove part of the lesion in question and sent it to the laboratory for a confirmation. Treatment will begin by removing the top layer with a blade and then trichloric acetic acid is placed on the site to remove and kill the virus infecting the skin cells, this process is normally only mildly uncomfortable. The area is then covered for protection.

Between office visits it is the patient’s responsibility to continue to treat of the plantar wart. A wart pack can be purchased from the office which includes all the necessary products to quickly treat the infection. The wart pack includes: wart medication, a drying agent, a pumi stone, and bandages.

The amount of time it takes to rid the skin of the virus depends on the initial size of the wart and the compliance of the patient treating the area at home.

If you have a questionable lesion below your knee let the podiatrists at Frederick Foot & Ankle evaluate and treat it for you.

( #FootCare #HPV #Foot #Specialist #Doctor #Feet #Warts #Plantar #Warts #Pumi #Stone )

If you haven’t heard about all that events that are put on in Downtown Frederick then you need to book mark http://www.downtownfrederick.org/calendar. Here you can find all the happenings that are hosted in Downtown Frederick; First Saturday Events, parades, workout classes, and concerts.

Recently Frederick Foot & Ankle Management took a much-needed time-out at Alive @ Five. Alive @ Five is Frederick’s outdoor summer concert series that features different local entertainers each Thursday at the beautiful Carrol Creek Amphitheater. The talent performances ranges from Funk to Reggae to Blues and Acoustic Rock. In addition to the outdoor ambience the $5 admission covers drinks and food provided by the local vendors. Well behaved furry friends are welcome but human guests must be 21 years of age or older.

It amazes me how much Carroll Creek Park has grown up. In the 1970s the creek was put in to save downtown Frederick from flooding and the practical water management feature was solely pragmatic with little emphasis on aesthetics. After Downtown Frederick realized the creeks potential the park blossomed into a hot spot for Frederick County residents. Now the park can boast about its multiple water enhancements, vegetation, bridges, and outdoor art work. The creek has become a place to enjoy the local cuisine, go for a walk, and enjoy the popular events that grace the linear park.

Frederick Foot & Ankle feels so lucky to thrive in such a great community that invests in the quality of life for the surrounding population.

( #Frederick #FootDoctor #Summer #FootSpecialist #CarrollCreek #AliveFive #LinearPark #Concerts #HappyHour #BreakTime #Downtown #TeamBuilding )

What is the Piriformis?

Piriformis is a small muscle in the deep gluteal region that helps with lateral rotation of the lower extremity. The muscle originates on the sacrum and inserts on the femur. The movement of this muscle is important in walking and running. The sciatic nerve runs behind the piriformis and continues from the glute to the leg to supply feeling and sensation.

Piriformis syndrome

When damage happens to the piriformis by overuse or trauma it can cause deep gluteal muscle pain at the sight of the piriformis but more frequently it will cause piriformis syndrome. The piriformis can compress the sciatic due to the proximity of the two structures. In some instances, it has been seen that the sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle.

Signs and symptoms

When the sciatic nerve gets compressed the patient experiences; numbness, tingling, and a dull pain starting in the buttocks and sometimes ending in the lower calf or foot.

Diagnosis

Piriformis syndrome can normally be diagnosed from a patient’s physical and history of the pain. To rule out other causes of the sciatic pain MRI imaging can be performed, but not always necessary.

Treatments

• Rest – to allow for the piriformis muscle to heal and swelling to decrease
• Stretching and range of motion exercises – reduce pressure on the nerve
• Massage – to release the muscle spasm
• Ice/heat – to decrease swelling and increase circulation

With proper treatment piriformis syndrome will subside in about 4 weeks. Regular stretching can delay the onset of Piriformis Syndrome from returning.

Illustration credit: http://dailyvitamoves.com/sciatic-nerve-pain-relief-releasing-tight-piriformis/