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Clinical Q & A: Foot and Nail Care for Those with CRPS?
By Elliot Udell, DPM
Q: The skin on my foot is thickening and my nails are brittle and cracking severely. I believe that I may lose some of my nails if I can't treat them or care for them properly. Are there any special tips for foot and nail care for those with CRPS?
A: There are many conditions that can cause nails to become brittle and to crack. Two that come to mind immediately are fungal toe nails and vitamin deficiencies, but there are others. CRPS can cause nail problems, since it sometimes affects the circulation in the toes. I recommend that you see a podiatrist and have him or her evaluate the circulation in your toes. The podiatrist can then take a portion of the affected toe nail and send it to a laboratory. We have very sophisticated laboratory techniques today and fungi in nails can be seen through microscopic analyses.
If the test, however, comes back negative, you might want to try taking an over-the-counter vitamin called biotin. One company markets it as Appearex®. Many people suffering from brittle nails report gratifying results after taking this vitamin daily for a couple of months. If this fails, there are also some topical nail moisturizers and nail strengtheners that can be applied to the nails. One such product is Elon® Nail Conditioner, available online at http://www.ilovemynails.com.
The bottom line, however, is that if you are having problems with your toe nails, a thorough podiatric examination is a worthwhile investment. Potential problems can often be averted by catching them early, before they become big problems.
Dr. Elliot Udell specializes in pain management of the foot and ankle, and is in practice in Hicksville, New York. He is currently president of the American Society of Podiatric Medicine and is on the board of the American Society of Podiatric Dermatology, and board certified in Podiatric Primary Care as well as Pain Management. He lectures at medical seminars throughout the US and Europe. Dr. Udell can be reached at Suite 206, 120 Bethpage Road, Hicksville, NY 11801, Tel: (516) 935-1113, E-mail: Elliotu@aol.com.
RSDSA Review. Spring 2008;21(2):10. |
