Being overweight can have a significant effect on your overall health. One of the most overlooked ways your weight can undermine your well-being is how it impacts your feet each day. Your feet are designed to support your body's weight, but only to a certain point. If you’re obese or...
If you have a sore or wound that lasts for weeks or months, it’s time to consult a doctor. This is because a slow-healing wound can cause serious complications. At Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kerry Berg, DPM, takes the utmost care in treating slow-healing wounds...
Colorado is known for beautiful winter weather and its wealth of winter sports activities, including skiing and snowboarding. Plenty of Coloradans look forward to the winter months so they can practice new skills and show off their moves on the slopes. Unfortunately, while winter sports are fun, they can also...
Corns are small, thickened areas of skin on your feet that have a distinct, hard center. Corns can be extremely painful. They can also lead to other foot issues if you don’t treat them. For example, if you have diabetes, these small lesions can create significant problems, especially if you try to...
Ankle sprains are extremely common, affecting some 2 million people every year. Ankle sprains or other ankle injuries often leave lingering effects, including chronic ankle instability. At Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kerry Berg, DPM, specializes in ankle sprains and other ankle injuries. She suggests you...
If you ask a non-runner to name the most common running-related problems and injuries, they’ll probably say knee, ankle, or heel pain, or possibly an overuse injury like plantar fasciitis. Ask a seasoned runner the same question, however, and you’ll probably hear “black toenails.” As an avid outdoor sports enthusiast herself, board-certified...
Nearly 90% of people feel foot pain at some point in their lives. Your feet are the foundation of your body and are subjected to repeated stress, strain, and impact each and every day. Plus, you rely on your feet to help you stay active, as well move around from...
A bunion is a condition in which an imbalance in the foot causes the big toe to get pulled into the toes next to it instead of remaining straight. The result is that the base of the big toe juts out, forming a bump. This condition can be very painful and make...
Plantar fascia inflammation — commonly known as plantar fasciitis — is notorious for causing burning, aching, or even severe heel pain. Both inactivity and high activity can cause a flare-up, making this a tough condition to treat on your own. Because plantar fasciitis can make it difficult (and painful) to walk, Kerry E....
Every day, 23,000 women, men, and kids in the United States need medical care for a sprained ankle. That figure, of course, doesn’t account for the hundreds or thousands more who never bother to seek treatment because it’s “just a sprain.” If your ankles are weak because of past trauma, genetics, or...
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, there’s a lot to learn about managing your condition. Caring for your feet is part of that learning process. Dr. Kerry Berg, board-certified podiatrist of Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado, treats many patients with diabetes. She explains why foot health...
You have an ankle sprain. It’s a total inconvenience, especially if it affects your right foot and your ability to drive. At Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates, Dr. Kerry Berg, a board-certified podiatrist, sees many patients with sprained ankles. She determines the severity of your sprain and prescribes the most...
Jogging or running can provide many benefits. For example, it can help you relieve stress, manage your weight, and boost your mood. But, while running can be great for your health, it can also be hard on your feet. You can easily suffer from foot and ankle injuries, such as...
Pain in your foot can hobble your entire life. Not only does your foot hurt, the rest of your body may try to compensate for the pain and throw itself out of alignment. A classic type of foot pain that may prevent you from fulfilling your daily responsibilities is Morton's...
Warts are caused by a virus that insidiously enters your skin through tiny cuts or holes in your skin. If you ever walk on a pool deck, use a locker room shower, or even go barefoot in a hotel room, you’re at risk of contracting the human papillomavirus strain that...
A normal foot has a slight rise in the middle when looked at from the side. This is called the arch, and it’s created by several tendons in your foot and lower leg. Flat feet — sometimes called fallen arches — is a common foot condition, one where there’s little...
If you have a painful bump on your big toe, this might be a bunion. You will find several possible causes for this, but early diagnosis and intervention is important so it doesn’t get worse. Here at Intermountain Foot & Ankle in Colorado Springs, Colorado, we proudly offer treatment for...
Foot ulcers are very common problems in people who have diabetes. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), about 15% of people with diabetes experience foot ulcers. Foot ulcers can be extremely serious in people with diabetes because you may not notice them until the condition is quite advanced....
When you have plantar fasciitis, you need to pay a lot of attention to your choice of footwear. Shoes that lack adequate support, as well as going barefoot, will make your plantar fasciitis worse. Fortunately, finding the right footwear isn’t difficult. You just need to choose shoes with enough support...
Most of your individual risk for developing foot wounds depends on your overall health. If you have health problems, especially ones that involve your circulation, your risk of foot wounds is much greater. However, your lifestyle also affects your risk for foot wounds, particularly if you’re prone to engaging in...
Calluses on your feet can definitely be unsightly. They may even make you feel self-conscious about wearing sandals. These thick, hardened layers of skin, which develop as a result of friction or pressure, are usually painless. And while you may feel tempted to ignore your calluses and hope they go...
Podiatrists talk a lot about the importance of proper footwear. There’s a good reason for this: Depending on the shoes, they can give your feet great support and keep them comfortable, or they can cause pain and problems. In this blog, Kerry E. Berg, DPM, of Intermountain Foot & Ankle...
If you have plantar fasciitis, you already know about the foot pain this condition can cause. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs from your heels to your toes, and if it becomes inflamed, this can cause the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis usually causes stabbing...
Gout is a painful form of arthritis. It usually affects just one joint at a time, and it most often affects the big toe. Gout attacks tend to come and go, with flare-ups lasting for several weeks at a time. When gout strikes, it often comes on suddenly, and it...
If you have diabetes, you already know that there are a number of things you have to do to manage your health. You have to monitor your blood sugar, manage your food intake, and make sure to get exercise, no matter how busy you are. It’s important, though, that you...
If you’ve ever had a painful ingrown toenail, one thing is certain: You don’t want another one. The good news is you can do things to prevent getting them. In this blog, Kerry E. Berg, DPM, of Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates explains what you can do to prevent getting...
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of a nail breaks through the skin around it and begins to grow into the tissue. This is a common problem, but it can become serious if left untreated. It most often affects the big toe, although other toes can be affected as...
Edema is a condition in which fluid retention leads to swelling in the body. It can happen in any part of your body, but it most often occurs in the legs, ankles, and feet. It used to be known as dropsy. Edema is often caused by certain medications and health...
If it feels like you have a pebble in your shoe, but one isn’t there, you may have a neuroma. A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that usually forms at the base of the third and fourth toes. This conditioning may or may not form a bump, but...
Plantar fasciitis is a very common cause of foot pain. This condition occurs due to inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. The inflammation tends to worsen with activity and...
Pain in the balls of your feet can be, well, a pain. Certainly, it can make it more uncomfortable to walk, run, or even to stand in one place. Also called metatarsalgia, runners or athletes who participate in high-impact sports are more likely to experience pain in the balls of...
When you think about arthritis, you may think about it occurring in one of your major joints, such as your hips or knees. However, any joint in your body can develop arthritis. And your feet contain a lot of joints, with 28 bones and 30 joints in the average human...
Hammertoe is a common and painful condition. It can make walking, putting on shoes, or doing simple tasks a chore. In this blog, Kerry E. Berg, DPM, of Intermountain Foot & Ankle, explains what hammertoe is, what causes it, and how it can be treated. What causes hammertoe? Hammertoe is...
Summertime may seem like the perfect time to go barefoot. However, many hazards lurk that could be dangerous to your feet, especially if you have certain health conditions. In this blog, Kerry E. Berg, DPM, at Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado, shares some of the risks...
If you’ve ever had an ingrown toenail, you know how painful the condition can be. With an ingrown toenail, the tips of your toes may be red and swollen. While the internet has lots of suggestions about how to treat ingrown toenails with home remedies, this is a condition that...
An estimated 30 million people in the United States live with diabetes. Unfortunately, foot problems are very common in people with diabetes. Because of this, if you have diabetes, you should regularly see a podiatrist. In this blog, Kerry E. Berg, DPM, at Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates discusses how...
Gout is a form of arthritis that causes pain and swelling in one or more joints. It most commonly affects the joint at the base of the big toe. It can be extremely painful, enough so that it might even wake you from a deep sleep. More than 8 million...
Athlete's foot doesn't just happen to athletes. It can occur to anyone that wears sneakers or uses communal showers and locker rooms. While athlete's foot is completely treatable, it can be annoying and hard to get rid of. Whether you've never had it or have recently experienced the fungus, you...
Your feet have a tough job to do, carrying you everywhere you need to go, supporting and balancing your entire body while propelling you forward with great flexibility and versatility. It’s no wonder it feels good to put your feet up after a busy day. Located where they are, your...
It’s frustrating when you’re slowed down by a problem with a part of your body you rarely think about: your heel. Yet heel pain is one of the most common foot problems that Dr. Kerry Berg treats here at Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Your foot...
You’re walking along, everything is fine, and then you feel it. That nasty little twist, the feeling of your foot turning unnaturally, followed by pain. Maybe you stepped off a curb wrong, or in a hole, or a rock turned under your foot — whatever happened, the result is a...
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1 percent of adults in the United States are diagnosed with plantar fasciitis each year. Women are more likely than men to develop it, and a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more makes it five times more likely that you’ll...
Millions of Americans live with diabetes. Diabetics face many possible long-term health effects, most commonly with their feet. If you have diabetes, it’s important to take care of your feet. Certain problems are more likely to affect your feet if you have diabetes. Dr. Kerry Berg at Intermountain Foot &...
Summer means more time outdoors hiking, biking, playing sports, or spending a lot of time at the pool or beach, which can take a toll on your feet. If you develop a problem with your feet, Kerry E. Berg, DPM and our friendly team at Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates...
A bunion is a permanent joint deformity of the big toe caused by arthritis, injuries, or pronation issues involving the natural movement of your foot. If you have any of these conditions, your big toe may become misaligned over time and turn inward toward your other toes. This causes the...
Do you suffer from plantar fasciitis? Then you've experienced stabbing pain in your feet, usually near your heel. Plantar fasciitis is typically worse in the morning and makes waking up miserable. But there’s good news. Leading board-certified podiatrist Kerry Berg, DPM can ease your pain. How? With extracorporeal shock wave...
When you skinned your knee as a little kid, you probably wished you weren’t able to feel the pain. After all, who wants to suffer? But pain is your body’s way of calling attention to an injury so that you can take care of it and start the healing process....
That unrelenting, throbbing pain in your big toe – the one that hurts with every step – is likely caused by an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails afflict about 5% of Americans every year. Sometimes they are remedied with home care. Other times, a podiatrist’s treatment is required. Kerry Berg, DPM...
Not everyone is born with perfect feet. And even if they do start out that way, life can throw a few obstacles in your path that end up making your feet hurt — every single day. Certain shoe styles, medical conditions such as diabetes, and even healthy-for-you sports can create...
