Physicians Footcare

At Physicians Footcare, we treat all manner of ailments-from calluses to comprehensive diabetic footcare, from ingrown and fungal toenails to warts, broken bones, and everything in between, we have all the expertise to restore your foot health with unmatched care, compassion, and competence. Click on the conditions in green below to learn more: Achilles Tendon Ankle Pain Ankle Sprains Arthritic Foot Care Athlete's Foot Bunions Corns Diabetic Foot Care Flat Feet Foot and Ankle Fractures Foot and Ankle Surgery Foot Orthotics Foot Pain Fungal Toenails Geriatric Foot Care Hammertoes Heel Pain Heel Spurs Ingrown Toenails Morton's Neuroma Plantar Fasciitis Plantar Warts Sports Medicine Wound Care Common Foot Conditions and Injuries Ankle Sprains More than 3 million Americans suffer from this injury each year. Ankle sprains happen when ligaments in the ankle are overly stretched or torn. Medical attention is necessary to rule out a fracture and assess the full extent of the injury. Bunions A bunion is a bone deformity usually at the base of the big toe. It’s a progressive condition made worse by pressure from tight or ill fitting shoes. Bunions can be very painful and, in some instances, may require surgical repair. Flat Feet Flat feet is a condition where the entire, or nearly entire, bottoms of your feet meet the ground when standing. Symptoms can range from severe pain to no pain at all depending on the severity of the condition. Diabetic Foot Care Diabetes is a systemic illness that can affect many parts of the body especially your feet. Proper foot screening is essential for any diabetic patient. Any cut or sore on a diabetic foot must be taken seriously. Corns and Calluses Corns and calluses are hard, built up layers of skin usually caused by friction. They generally appear on areas of the foot that bear weight or rub against your shoe. “Soft corns” are typically found between the toes. Hammertoes A hammertoe is when your second, third, and/or fourth toe stays bent or curled at the middle joint. They can occur due to weakened muscles and tendons from wearing poorly fitted shoes or can be genetically inherited. Heel Spurs Heel spurs are bony protrusions on the heel bone. They can be confused with plantar fasciitis which is inflammation of the band of ligaments that run along your sole. Both conditions can make walking painful and difficult especially first thing in the morning. Athlete's Foot Athlete’s foot causes red, scaly, itchy skin particularly between the toes. Fortunately, this worldwide condition can be treated and cured. Keeping your feet clean and dry is the best way to avoid catching this very common fungal infection. Mobile CT Technology for Precise Foot and Ankle Imaging Our state-of-the-art mobile standing CT truck brings advanced 3D imaging right to Physicians Footcare offices across South Carolina. Unlike traditional scans, standing CT captures your feet and ankles while bearing weight, giving your podiatrist a clearer, more accurate view of how your bones and joints function in motion. The result: faster answers, lower radiation, and a personalized treatment plan—all without leaving your local clinic.

Advanced 3D Standing CT Imaging At Physicians Footcare, getting to the root of your foot or ankle pain doesn’t have to mean multiple appointments or long waits for imaging. Our state-of-the-art, mobile, standing CT truck brings advanced 3D imaging directly to our locations across South Carolina—making it easier than ever to get clear answers and the right treatment plan. Why Standing CT Makes a Difference for Podiatry Patients Unlike traditional CT scans performed while lying down, a standing CT scan captures your foot and ankle while bearing weight. This gives your podiatrist a more accurate picture of how bones and joints align when you’re standing, walking, or moving—revealing issues that might otherwise go unseen. For our patients, this means: A more accurate diagnosis of conditions like bunions, flat feet, arthritis, fractures, sprains, and diabetic complications. Clear 3D images that help your physician create the best treatment plan for you. Faster answers, so you can begin care and get back to living without unnecessary delays. Lower radiation exposure than a conventional CT scan. Convenient Care Close to Home Our custom-built mobile CT truck travels between Physicians Footcare offices, so patients across South Carolina can access this advanced service without the need to travel to a hospital or specialty center. It’s just one more way we make high-quality foot and ankle care convenient and accessible for our communities. Take the First Step Toward Relief If you’re experiencing foot or ankle pain, swelling, or mobility issues, standing CT imaging can help uncover the cause. And with Physicians Footcare’s mobile CT truck, the answers are closer than ever. Call (833) PFC-FOOT or schedule your appointment online today.

Complications from arthritis can affect your feet in many ways. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis can all affect the feet. Osteoarthritis typically affects the joint that connects your big toe to your foot but can also be found in the midfoot or ankle area. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis typically affects both feet and the same joints on each foot. Gout, which usually affects the big toe, is comprised of needle-like crystals that cause inflammation and pain in the joint. Psoriatic arthritis can cause sausage-like swelling of your toes. Lastly, ankylosing spondylitis can lead to plantar fasciitis and pain in the Achilles tendon. Many factors contribute to arthritic feet, including obesity, aging, and a family history or genetic connection to arthritis. Examine your feet daily, keep your feet routinely clean and moisturized, keep your toenails trimmed, wear socks on a daily basis, and inspect your shoes for anything that may cause discomfort. Basically, pamper your feet and keep them well maintained. If you’re suffering any discomfort or pain due to one of the above forms of arthritis, consider over-the-counter pain medication and invest in proper, comfortable footwear. Pain medication coupled with top-of-the-line comfort footwear is a great way to ease pain. If you’re overweight, we recommend you stay as active as possible and set a weight-loss goal to ease some of the pressure on your feet. Applying ice or heat to the affected area is another way to calm discomfort. It’s also important to ask your podiatrist if inserts may be beneficial. If you or someone you know has arthritis-related foot or ankle pain, we can help. A Physicians Footcare podiatrist will thoroughly examine your feet to provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Request your appointment now.

Unfortunately, foot problems are an all-too-common result of living with diabetes. Over time, diabetes will likely cause nerve damage known as diabetic neuropathy. This can lead to painful tingling or burning sensations in your feet and may also cause a loss of feeling. Losing feeling in your feet can be especially dangerous in that you can no longer sense a cut or blister on your foot that can lead to more troublesome sores or infections. Fortunately, there are many ways for you as a diabetic to maintain foot health. Most importantly, ensure that you’re managing your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels and check your feet daily. It’s important to identify any cuts, sores, blisters, plantar warts, ingrown toenails, or other troubling foot issues to stay ahead of the condition and prevent further harm. Along with daily foot checks, wash and dry your feet gently but thoroughly with lukewarm water every day. It’s also useful in certain cases to moisturize your feet a few times a week, especially if you’re prone to dryness. Be careful, however, not to moisturize between the toes as they will not dry properly. Another rule to follow is to cut your toenails straight across and don’t dig into the sides of the toes. This will help prevent you from developing an ingrown toenail. It can also be beneficial to wear socks made specifically for diabetics to provide extra cushioning. You should also refrain from walking barefoot. If you smoke, quitting can help reduce restricted blood flow to your feet. In certain serious cases, you may notice a cut, blister, or bruise that’s not healing after a few days. If this occurs, promptly seek the help of a professional. Other warning signs include redness, swelling, a callus with dried blood inside of it, or an infection that causes discoloration of the foot, and an odor. If you do happen to develop any foot condition, never attempt to treat it yourself. Always seek professional help. If you or someone you know needs more information on how to maintain healthy feet while living with diabetes, we can help. A Physicians Footcare podiatrist will thoroughly examine your feet to provide a proper hygiene and treatment plan. Request your appointment now.

When you experience trauma to your foot or ankle, a fracture may occur. Many actions can cause foot and ankle breaks, such as a fall, an obvious impact to the foot or ankle, or increased stress on a bone over time. The location of the fracture and X-rays will often reveal to your podiatrist how the fracture occurred. Pain, especially when bearing weight, is a telltale sign of a fracture. Limping due to pain is a further sign of a foot or ankle fracture. Other symptoms include inflammation, bruising, deformity, and tenderness. A deformity may occur due to a shift in your bone alignment or a joint dislocation near the fracture. While pain is a significant symptom of breakage, a patient who has nerve damage or who has diabetes may not feel this pain. In this instance, your podiatrist will look for additional signs to determine whether a fracture is present. If you’re experiencing severe pain, can’t walk without limping, have an open wound near the suspected break, or have numbness or tingling in your toes, seek prompt professional care. If you suspect that you or someone you know may have a fractured or broken foot or ankle, we can help. A Physicians Footcare podiatrist will thoroughly examine your foot to provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Request your appointment now.

Foot and ankle surgery is only considered on a case-by-case basis. Some of the factors that determine whether or not you need surgery include the severity of your symptoms as well as your response to other conservative, non-invasive treatments. A number of different foot and ankle conditions may benefit from surgery. Bunions, hammertoes, ankle arthritis, Achilles tendon disorders, Morton’s neuroma, tibialis posterior disorder, and plantar fasciitis are all conditions that may require surgery as a treatment option, depending on their severity. Long-lasting pain relief is typically the biggest benefit from the surgical remedy of your condition. A consultation with your Physicians Footcare podiatrist is the best approach to prepare for surgery. He or she will ask about your overall health, discuss any possible changes in medication, and answer any questions you may have about the procedure so you can proceed with peace of mind. In some cases, you’ll have to refrain from eating and drinking a few hours before the procedure, so make sure you fully understand what must be done on your end beforehand. As for recovery, again—this varies from case to case depending on your condition and the operation performed. Generally, we recommend plenty of rest, icing the affected area, compressing the wound, and keeping the lower leg elevated to reduce swelling. In some cases, your podiatrist may encourage you to use bandages, splints, surgical shoes, casts, crutches, orthotics, or a cane, depending on how much weight they believe your foot and ankle can bear. If you or someone you know would like to know if surgery is the best option for your foot or ankle condition, we can help. A Physicians Footcare podiatrist will thoroughly examine you, provide a proper diagnosis, and discuss treatment options. Request your appointment now.

Unlike typical store-bought insoles, shoe inserts are prescribed and dispensed by podiatrists and pedorthists to provide corrective foot support and cushioning. Conditions such as diabetes, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, arthritis, and flat feet can highly benefit from orthotics and the pain relief they can provide. Orthotics come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials. The purpose of a custom orthotic is to specifically meet your individual needs. Some orthotics may be rigid or functional while others are soft and accommodating. Rigid orthotics help ease foot aches and strains. They’re made from harder materials such as plastic or carbon fiber. Soft orthotics take the pressure off (“offload”) uncomfortable areas of the feet, such as sores or ulcers. This type of orthotic is typically made from soft compression materials. Custom orthotics are molded specifically to your feet and should fit your shoes perfectly. If you feel like the orthotic doesn’t fit properly, let us know right away so we can make adjustments to make you as comfortable as possible. We recommend that you keep a healthy line of communication with your footcare team and visit at their requested schedule to ensure your orthotic is working as intended. Doing so will allow us to keep track of gradual improvement and allow you to discuss any possible problems. If you or someone you know feel orthotics are a desirable treatment option, we can help. A Physicians Footcare podiatrist or pedorthist will thoroughly examine your feet to provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Request your appointment now.

As you age, it’s important to pay close attention to your foot health as part of your overall health. Since your feet are considered the foundation of your body, ignoring their hygiene puts you at risk for immobility and pain. To avoid this, we recommend senior citizens take early action in maintaining the health of their feet. Some of the most common foot conditions among geriatric patients include heel pain, ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, bunions, dry skin, brittle nails, complications due to arthritis and diabetes, and fungal infections. In order to keep these issues from arising, we recommend using a footstool when seated to keep your feet elevated, dry your feet completely after washing, showering, or bathing, ensure your shoes and socks fit well and provide adequate room for your toes, trim your toenails straight across on a regular basis, and keep your feet moisturized to avoid cracked skin. It may also be helpful to consider footwear that provides your feet with extra support to avoid fallen arches and ingrown nails, as well as to help you keep your balance while going about your daily activities. In more severe cases, depending on the foot condition you’re experiencing, our podiatrists may suggest custom orthotics or shoe inserts to help correct the alignment of your feet. If you’re suffering from foot pain, we can help. A Physicians Footcare podiatrist will thoroughly examine your feet to provide professional advice, diagnosis any condition, and design a custom treatment plan. Request your appointment now.

Foot and ankle injuries are fairly common among those who participate in sports. Some sports may be considered more dangerous in terms of foot and ankle injuries compared to others, such as basketball, football, soccer, and dancing. Sports that require tightly worn shoes (skiing, hiking, climbing) also pose a higher injury risk. The feet are considered the foundation of the body. They help us balance and perform our everyday activities. That’s why you should seek professional help at the first sign or instinct that something is wrong with your feet or ankles. Common contributors to sports-related foot and ankle injuries include not stretching or warming up first, incorrect footwear for the sport, and not taping or providing enough foot and ankle support. A number of foot conditions can develop if certain safety measures are ignored, like Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures, just to list a few. When the Achilles tendon is harmed, it can cause extreme pain and lead to complications such as tears, ruptures, tendinitis, peritendinitis, tendinosis, tendinopathy, and bursitis. Plantar fasciitis may also occur. This is when the band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot is continually overstretched and causes painful inflammation at the bottom of the heel. Stress fractures (small cracks) can also occur due to a lack of conditioning, use of improper equipment or technique, and repetitive foot and ankle stress. If you participate in sporting activities and would like more information about how to keep your feet and ankles safe, as well as learn more about your treatment options if injured, we can help. A Physicians Footcare podiatrist will thoroughly examine your feet and ankles to provide expert advice, a proper diagnosis, and a customized treatment plan. Request your appointment now.

Foot & Ankle Wound Care in South Carolina Diabetic Ulcers Treatment in the Aiken, SC 2980, Beaufort, SC 29902, Cayce, SC 29033, Columbia, SC 29204 and 29203, Florence, SC 29501, Hartsville, SC 29550, Hinesville, GA 31313, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, Newberry, SC 29108, North Charleston, SC 29418, Orangeburg, SC 29115, Savannah, GA 31405, Summerville, SC 29486, Sumter, SC 29150, and Charleston, SC 29414 areas Wound care is particularly important for those with diabetes. It’s common for those with diabetes to experience neuropathy. Neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that affects the body and can cause you to lose feeling in the feet. Diabetic neuropathy can develop over time and symptoms typically show up in the feet first. There may be numbness or pain, pins-and-needles or burning sensations, sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness and more. The combination of diabetic neuropathy and circulatory issues can lead to the development of wounds and, ultimately, non-healing wounds (ulcers). Left untreated, a diabetic wound may become infected and devolve into an even more dangerous complication such as gangrene which increases the risk of amputation in worst case scenarios. Causes of Diabetic Wounds Some factors that contribute to the formation of wounds on the feet include wearing tightly fitted shoes, getting a pebble stuck in your shoe, or simply walking. What may appear to be just a small inconvenience such as a blister or callus can worsen over time, so it’s important to be safe and seek the attention of a professional. If you’ve developed a wound, it’s recommended that you try your best to keep the weight off of the area until you’re able to meet with a podiatrist. Wounds should be taken care of immediately after discovery, as even the smallest of wounds can become infected if enough bacteria build up within the wound. To remove dirt, wounds should first be rinsed under running water only. Soap, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine can irritate the injury and should be avoided. To prevent infection, apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover it with a bandage. The bandage should be changed daily. The skin around the wound may be cleaned with soap. Wound Prevention In order to prevent these worst-case scenarios from occurring, people with diabetes should do everything they can to avoid wounds from developing in the first place. Managing their diabetes is essential. Keeping glucose levels under control can help reduce the risk of developing a wound. Other ways to prevent wounds from developing include checking your feet daily for any injuries, washing and drying your feet daily, dressing for comfort and making sure your toes have enough space, and properly trimming your toenails straight across. You should also examine every part of your foot: the top of the feet, the bottom of the feet, the sides, the toenails, and in between the toes. A mirror can be used to aid in this daily inspection, if necessary. Things to look for include cuts, blisters, bruises, calluses, corns, sores, cracked skin, redness, bumps, lumps, ingrown toenails, puffy skin, tenderness, pain, or differences in temperature. Anything out of the ordinary should be reported to a podiatrist immediately. When Diabetic Wounds Don’t Heal Wounds in a person with diabetes can be dangerous. A diabetic wound can heal slowly, not heal properly, or in some cases, never heal, making it an ulcer. Ulcers that are not healed promptly and properly have the potential of becoming infected and, sometimes, this infection may even spread to nearby tissue and bone, which is a serious health issue. An infection, and/or lack of blood flow can cause tissue to die, which is known as gangrene. Dead tissue must be surgically removed to prevent bacteria from entering and spreading through the bloodstream. This procedure is known as debridement. Early detection and intervention are extremely important in mitigating the risk to healthy tissue, and to prevent an amputation from becoming necessary. Because wounds can lead to more severe complications, especially for those with diabetes, we recommend you speak with a podiatrist for professional guidance and a suggested plan for treatment.