Items filtered by date: October 2025

If your toenails look discolored, thick, or crumbly, you may be hosting an unwelcome visitor, a fungal infection. Medically known as onychomycosis, this common condition starts small but can grow into a significant issue, causing embarrassment and discomfort. Fungi love to hide in warm, moist places like the inside of your shoes and socks. Once the infection takes hold, it slowly spreads beneath the nail, making it brittle and often giving it a cloudy yellow or white appearance. This is not simply a cosmetic concern. Untreated fungus can cause pain and sometimes lead to secondary bacterial infections. Many over-the-counter remedies fail to reach the fungus deep within the nail. For an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment options, including oral medication, or prescription topicals, it is suggested that you visit a podiatrist for proper treatment.

If left untreated, toenail fungus may spread to other toenails, skin, or even fingernails. If you suspect you have toenail fungus it is important to seek treatment right away. For more information about treatment, contact one of our podiatrists of Redwood Podiatry Group. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Symptoms

• Warped or oddly shaped nails
• Yellowish nails
• Loose/separated nail
• Buildup of bits and pieces of nail fragments under the nail
• Brittle, broken, thickened nail

Treatment

If self-care strategies and over-the-counter medications does not help your fungus, your podiatrist may give you a prescription drug instead. Even if you find relief from your toenail fungus symptoms, you may experience a repeat infection in the future.

Prevention

In order to prevent getting toenail fungus in the future, you should always make sure to wash your feet with soap and water. After washing, it is important to dry your feet thoroughly especially in between the toes. When trimming your toenails, be sure to trim straight across instead of in a rounded shape. It is crucial not to cover up discolored nails with nail polish because that will prevent your nail from being able to “breathe”.

In some cases, surgical procedure may be needed to remove the toenail fungus. Consult with your podiatrist about the best treatment options for your case of toenail fungus.  

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in Eureka and Arcata, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Running places repetitive stress on the feet and ankles, which can lead to overuse injuries if alignment, footwear, or training habits are off. Common conditions include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon strain, stress fractures, and ankle sprains. These injuries often result from tight muscles, wearing worn-out shoes, or sudden increases in mileage or intensity. Early warning signs include persistent soreness, swelling, or stiffness that worsens with activity. Rest, stretching, and supportive footwear can help relieve mild discomfort, but ongoing pain should be evaluated by a podiatrist. Custom orthotics and gait analysis can correct imbalances and reduce pressure on vulnerable areas. Preventing running injuries starts with gradual training progress, proper warm-up routines, and shoes designed for your foot and running type. If pain is keeping you from running comfortably, it is suggested that you seek professional help from a podiatrist.

All runners should take extra precaution when trying to avoid injury. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists of Redwood Podiatry Group. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

There are a lot of mistakes a runner can make prior to a workout that can induce injury. A lot of athletes tend to overstretch before running, instead of saving those workouts for a post-run routine. Deep lunges and hand-to-toe hamstring pulls should be performed after a workout instead of during a warmup. Another common mistake is jumping into an intense routine before your body is physically prepared for it. You should try to ease your way into long-distance running instead of forcing yourself to rush into it.

More Tips for Preventing Injury

• Incorporate Strength Training into Workouts - This will help improve the body’s overall athleticism
• Improve and Maintain Your Flexibility – Stretching everyday will help improve overall performance
• “Warm Up” Before Running and “Cool Down” Afterward – A warm up of 5-10 minutes helps get rid of lactic acid in the muscles and prevents delayed muscle soreness
• Cross-Training is Crucial
• Wear Proper Running Shoes
• Have a Formal Gait Analysis – Poor biomechanics can easily cause injury

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Eureka and Arcata, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Extensor tendinopathy is a condition that affects the tendons on the top of the foot, which help lift the toes and stabilize the foot while walking or running. When these tendons become irritated or overworked, they can cause pain and swelling across the top of the foot or around the ankle. The discomfort often worsens with activity, especially when running uphill, climbing stairs, or wearing tight shoes that put pressure on the tendons. This condition can develop from overuse, sudden increases in exercise, wearing poor footwear, or foot structures that place extra strain on the tendons. Rest, supportive shoes, and targeted stretching exercises may ease symptoms, while more persistent cases might benefit from orthotics, or other targeted treatments. If pain on the top of your foot is interfering with daily life or activity, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist for diagnosis and a treatment plan that supports relief and healing.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Redwood Podiatry Group. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Eureka and Arcata, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

A broken toe occurs when one of the toe bones fractures due to trauma, stubbing, or dropping a heavy object on it. Causes include sports injuries, accidents, or repetitive stress. Risk factors are osteoporosis, poor footwear, and high impact activities. Symptoms may include swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking. Taping can help stabilize the toe if the break is minor, determined by evaluating pain, alignment, and mobility. The process involves gently wrapping the injured toe to its neighbor for support while avoiding circulation issues. A podiatrist can confirm the diagnosis, and provide treatment, which may or may not include buddy taping. If you suspect you have broken your pinky toe, it is strongly suggested that you promptly consult a podiatrist who can accurately diagnose the injury and offer the best treatment solution, preventing long-term complications.

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Redwood Podiatry Group. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Throbbing pain
• Swelling
• Bruising on the skin and toenail
• The inability to move the toe
• Toe appears crooked or disfigured
• Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Eureka and Arcata, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.