No, I didn’t really run with them.  If anything, I ran after them.  On Saturday January 14, 2012, I had the honor of serving on the medical team for the US Marathon Olympic Trials held in Houston.  The best runners in the United States gathered to vie for being the top three men and women to represent the USA Olympic Marathon Team this summer in London, England.  I treated many of these runners and talked with their coaches and found out how they take care of themselves after a race.  The answer came down to a pneumonic, PRICEMS.  This simple phrase can save you from a lot of pain and get you back running quicker.

Protection from further injury:  Walking as normal as possible will help keep from causing irritation in other areas of your body.  If you are limping, you need to rest your injury and see your local podiatrist.

Rest:  Pain is your body’s way of telling you that you are doing something you shouldn’t be doing, like further running the next day.

Ice:  It helps to decrease pain and swelling.  Place ice in a waterproof bag or use reusable ice packs and apply it directly over the injury site.  Apply the ice for 20-30 minutes three times a day.  Do not apply the ice directly to the skin; use a wash cloth or a small towel to protect the skin from damage.  Do not use ice when you sleep, as this may cause further damage not only to the skin but to the nerves in the foot.  Application of ice may sting or burn for 2-3 minutes which is to be expected then it will help to numb the area.

Compression to squeeze swelling from the foot or ankle injury:  Use an elastic bandage and apply gentle pressure to the area starting just behind the toes to a few inches above the ankle, or see your podiatrist as soon as possible to apply it in the correct manner.  You need enough pressure to help reduce the swelling; however, make sure it’s not so tight to slow the circulation.  

Elevation to help slow or minimize of the swelling to the site:  Remember, the foot and ankle are the lowest parts of your body, and to reverse swelling will require elevation.  We recommend elevation of the foot above the level of the heart by placing the foot on a couple of pillows while lying flat.

Motion or stretching an injured muscle:  Gentle stretching of a tight muscle will aid in recovery.  Never stretch to the point of pain. Hold your stretches for 25-30 seconds.  Proper form is a must, and your foot and ankle specialist can assist in showing you the exact form.

Strengthening an injured muscle, tendon or ligament:  Specific injuries are associated with strength problems. The injury will return if the underlying weakness is not corrected.

Depending on the injury and the severity, your foot specialist may recommend therapy, strapping, or anti-inflammatory medications.  X-rays and an MRI or other tests may be needed to help diagnose the exact problem.  Pain to the foot or ankle that lasts for more than 2-3 days following a marathon needs to be evaluated by your podiatrist.

Dr. Jeffrey Bowman, being a former runner, has a few marathons under his belt and can speak to your specific problems with experience.  Contact us at www.houstonfootspecialists.com or by calling 713-467-8886.

When I was young, I dreamed of being an NFL star just like a lot of my friends.   Now, I am glad I never made it that far in football.  Why?  Easy to answer - look at all those injuries. After just watching my home team the Houston Texans, those injuries seem to be even more prevalent this year.  A recently developed treatment has been used on these injured football players and other athletes with very good results.  Texans Mario Williams has used this treatment for foot pain with great results.

Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is used more and more often not just for professional athletes, but for everyday people like you and me.  PRP is performed in the office.  The doctor draws blood from the patient’s arm and spins the blood down to separate the platelets.  Next, the patient’s own platelets are injected into the painful or injured area under a local anesthetic.  The growth factors in the platelets have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory effects and help in the healing process of both acute and chronic injuries by signaling the body to initiate a healing response. Most patients feel relief within a few days to a few months.  

This procedure is being used to treat chronic and acute plantar fasciitis, arthritis, ankle injuries, tendonitis, cartilage damage, and many more conditions.  Research is currently showing PRP mixed with stem cells may work even better.

Is this procedure for everyone?  No.  It doesn’t help every condition and doesn’t take the place of surgery when needed.  Also, even though research shows it is effective, most insurance companies will not cover the procedure. The cost per treatment is approximately $1,000.  For those wanting to avoid surgery and for those whose foot pain can be treated without surgery (such as with tendonitis), this may be a viable option.  

Discuss the PRP procedure with your foot and ankle pain specialist and see if it is an option for you.

Dr. Jeffrey Bowman of Houston Foot Specialists is trained in the PRP procedure and has used it with good results.  To get more information, contact us at www.houstonfootspecialists.com or call 713-467-8886. One of our friendly staff members will schedule a consultation for you to learn more.

Have you ever had a foot or ankle injury?  If you have, you know just how truly painful it can be.  Yao Ming – the professional Chinese Basketball player has recently retired as a result of the many injuries he sustained while on the court.  Alex Trebek, has sustained an Achilles injury as a result of his limited jump into crime fighting.  These celebrities are in the news because it is obvious that these injuries have a negative effect on their professions.  What about the rest of us? Every day, we are on our feet for hours on end,  from the moment we get out of bed to the time we climb into the bed at the end of the day and our feet take the brunt of our daily activity.  The health of your feet is very important to enjoying everyday activities as well as getting you through your career. For those who have foot and ankle injuries, you realize how much you’ve taken for granted just walking around (and sometimes just sitting) without pain.

“What types of foot and ankle injuries are there?  Well, the obvious injury for our celebrity basketball player is stress fractures and Alex Trebeck is dealing with the Achilles rupture.  Then there are the ones that most people have heard of before, like ankle sprains, bunions, and corns but there are those that cause foot pain that not everyone knows about, like hammertoes, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis.  If you want to know more about these types of foot and ankle injuries, you should check out our website at http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com for more information on all different types of foot and ankle problems that can arise.

How do you prevent foot and ankle injuries?  While each injury or problem that arises can have specific prevention techniques, here are a couple basic instructions you can follow to prevent many foot and ankle injuries.  One would be to take a good look at your shoes.  Are you wearing the right shoes for the activity your involved in?  Are the shoes supportive and well built?  Can you fold them in half? (that’s not a good thing).   If shoes aren’t good, throw them out!  Your feet will thank you.  If your ankles are prone to sprain, make sure you wear ankle braces, especially when playing sports or engaged in highly active events.  If you want to know any other prevention instructions for certain foot or ankle problems, check out http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com/services.html and click on the “Educational Videos” and scroll down to read up on some foot and ankle problems.  We are happy to talk with you and answer any questions you may have on this blog, please call 713-467-8886