Online Store for Foot Care Products

As a podiatry student many years ago, I remember walking through the drug store, and noticing for the first time the section in the store devoted to foot care. It was amazing to me at the time how many different products were available. So, I stopped and looked to see what was there. Some of the items for sale were good, others, not so much. Throughout the years, I have made similar surveys of stores to see what was out there and what was available. Sadly, many of the products that I find most helpful to my patients simply are not available at most drug stores. So, what's a person to do?

One solution that I found for my patients many years ago was to carry many of the very best products in my office for sale to my patients. This way, I knew that my patients were getting the very best quality, and also could make sure they received the right product for their particular problem. Today, I carry more products in my office than ever before. One thing that has become abundantly clear to me was the fact that my office was just too small to stock all the items that I would like to make available to my patients. There just was not room to carry the inventory that I needed.

Last year, I was able to solve this problem by creating an online store for foot care products. The variety of products available there is much greater than I could every dream of keeping in stock in my office, and I have found that my patients really enjoy the convenience! What I will do when I want to recommend a product to my patient is to direct them to www.ourdoctorstore.com/quist, which is the web address for the online store. I then go the extra step and give them the product number so that they can quickly and easily find what they need and purchase it. Delivery is within days, and all items sold are guaranteed - if you're not satisfied, returns are gladly accepted. That way, there is no risk involved.

Products available include items to treat such problems such as:

Tendinitis
Ankle sprains
Arch pain
Arthritis
Athlete’s foot
Blisters
Bunions
Calluses
Corns
Hammertoes
Dry, cracked skin
Flat feet
Foot odor
Heel pain
Toenail fungus
Neuropathy
Painful, thick scars
Warts
Wounds
And many more!

The store is laid out so that you can search for items by product category, by the condition you are looking to treat, and by product manufacturer. In addition, you can do a search of the entire website to find the product you are looking for directly.

You don't need a personal invitation from me to browse through the store. Just go directly to www.ourdoctorstore.com/quist and take a look around! And, if you have questions about what item is right for you, just contact my staff, and we'll be glad to answer any questions that you might have. So often, the simplest treatments, when started early, can help avoid problems from getting out of hand. The products offered at my online store are designed to do just that.

Silipos Achilles Heel Guard

Heel pain is a common complaint among my patients. Usually, the pain is on the bottom of the heel. Some patients, however, develop pain on the back of the heel. This is usually caused by a bone spur that forms. When shoes are worn, the heel of the shoe will rub against this bone spur, causing irritation and inflammation, and eventually, pain. There are several options in regard to treating this condition. First, shoes can be worn that do not have a heel counter in the back. This often is very effective in relieving the symptoms. Secondly, a heel lift can be worn which will decrease the pull of the achilles tendon on the heel bone. This decreases irritation to the area. Anti-inflammatory medications can be taken as needed, and icing the area intermittently is also helpful. Another option is the product that I am reviewing today. The Silipos Achilles Heel Guard is like a sock without toes. Around the heel, it is padded with a gel material which decreases pressure from shoes on the back of the heel. Many of my patients have used this product with great success, and often are able with the use of this product to delay or avoid surgery to remove the bone spur. The device is reusable, and can be hand-washed. For my patients with this kind of a heel spur, this is one of the first things that I recommend. If all else fails, surgery can be performed to remove the heel spur.

For those interested, it can be purchased online at: http://www.ourdoctorstore.com/quist/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=263&DEPARTMENT_ID=139

The PedEgg -- Too Good to be True?

The PedEgg

The PedEgg (made by TeleBrands) is a product that you may have seen advertised on TV, and has enjoyed remarkable popularity. It is designed to removed callused skin from the feet, and has the added bonus of collecting the shaved-off skin so it doesn't make a mess. The questions regarding this product are first, does it work? And, if it does work, is it safe?
The PedEgg is essentially an oval file that scrapes dead, callused skin from the bottom of the feet. The scrapings end up in the "egg," and can be dumped out when you are finished. It is quite easy to use, and many people are very pleased with the results. Since a callus is essentially the dead outer layer of your skin, there is usually no pain involved when it is scraped off. You should be aware that this is not a one-time fix for your calluses. Whatever caused them to form in the first place is not changed by using the PedEgg, and they will come back over time.
As a podiatrist, I do have some reservations regarding the PedEgg. Over the years, I see many patients who try to remove calluses with sharp objects, and when things go wrong, they end up in my exam chair. And make no mistake, the PedEgg qualifies as a sharp object. First, there are certain patients who should never use such products. If you are diabetic, have poor circulation, lack the ability to feel pain, have difficulty seeing their feet, or have difficulty healing for any reason, this product is not for you. Also, elderly people who are often the ones to develop calluses are typically the patients who fall into these categories of those who should not use this product. A sharp file will never be able to distinguish normal vs. callused skin. That leaves the risk that if a person is over zealous in filing their calluses, they could end up going too deep. This could lead to sores on the feet, infection, and worse.
Another area of concern is that you must be certain that what you are filing is actually a callus. I have many doctors refer patients to me for treatment of calluses, only to find out that what the patient actually has is a wart. Warts are caused by a virus, and using a file in this manner may aid in spreading the virus, and thereby spreading the wart to other parts of the foot. Also, warts tend to have blood vessels that come close to the surface, so using this product on a wart will greatly increase the chance that you will find yourself bleeding.
When heels are callused, it is very common to have the skin crack as well. These cracks can be very painful, and if the callus is removed improperly, the cracks in the skin can be made worse.
If you do own a PedEgg, my advise is that you do not share it with other members in your family. When I shave down calluses in my office, I use a sterile scalpel blade, and it is used only once,then discarded. Sharing the PedEgg with increase the risk of spreading disease, including athlete's foot. Along those same lines, the files that come with the PedEgg will eventually wear out. Once this happens, they will become much less effective in removing calluses cleanly, and there will be a greater chance of damaging healthy skin.
So, how do I treat calluses? First, they are shaved down to normal skin with a sterile scalpel. Secondly, whatever is causing the callus is addressed, so that hopefully, the callus with not come back, or at least come back more slowly. I will also recommend a moisturizing cream be used once or twice daily on the affected areas. Usually, this will consist of a product containing 20% to 40% urea cream, which will not only moisturize the skin, but aid in removal of the calluses as well. Between visits, instead of using a sharp devise to remove the calluses, I would recommend using a pumice stone. This will remove calluses much more safely.
My final verdict? Yes, the PedEgg works, but it is certainly not for everyone. Make sure before you begin using it that you are certain you know what you're treating. A trip to your podiatrist will be a smart investment in your feet, and will be much less painful than a visit after the damage is done.

Amerigel Wound Dressing

For wounds, cuts, scrapes - consider using AmeriGel® Wound Dressing. This product has shown to be very effective in aiding the healing process. The FDA has classified AmeriGel® as a hydrogel wound filler. Research has shown that wounds that are kept in a moist environment heel quicker. In addition, this product has effective antimicrobial properties. Finally, AmeriGel® is helpful in removing wound debris, which can slow the healing of a wound. AmeriGel® has been shown to be effective in treating wounds ranging from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, 1st and 2nd degree burns to post surgical incisions. The active ingredient of AmeriGel® is Oakin™, which is a natural product derived from an extract from oak trees.

AmeriGel® can be, therefore, considered three products in one:

1) Providing a Moist Wound Environment
Numerous research studies prove a moist wound environment is best for wounds to heal. Patients frequently ask if they should let their wounds "air out." This may have been your grandmother's recommendation, but the cells that need to grow to heel the wound do much better when the wound is moist. AmeriGel® can help the body keep the wound moist, and by doing so, help reduce the appearance of scars by preventing the formation of a scab.

2) Prevent Infections
Bacteria in a wound that leads to an infection is one of the main causes of non-healing wounds. A wound that has an excess of bacteria on the surface will be much slower to heal, and increases the chance that the infection spreading throughout the body. The Oakin™ in AmeriGel® Wound Dressing provides the antimicrobial properties to fight off and kill the most common infections found in wounds today. Oakin™ is has been proven to fight over fourty nine different bacteria, the leading cause of skin infections.

3) Removing Harmful Debris
Debris in the wound bed is another leading cause of wounds not healing. Left in the wound, debris can slow the healing process and even prevent wounds from closing. Debris forms in the wound as a result of wound drainage, and dead and dying tissue. AmeriGel® Wound Dressing has a debriding agent to help remove unwanted particles or old non-healthy tissue, which is no longer essential to the wound healing process. Fortunately, AmeriGel® Wound Dressing does not harm any new healthy tissue; instead, it will assist in providing an environment to promote new tissue growth.

AmeriGel® Wound Dressing is a product that has changed the way I treat wounds in my office. I use it routinely after toenail surgery, and in foot ulcerations. Many patients have found it great to have around the house to treat superficial cuts and abrasions. AmeriGel® Wound dressing can be purchased on my online store by visiting: http://www.ourdoctorstore.com/quist/store/item.asp?item_id=32.

Biofreeze reviewed

To start off this blog, I thought I would write about a product that is very popular with my patients called Biofreeze. Biofreeze is a pain relieving gel that is applied topically to areas where pain is being experienced. I have found that when used, it gives relief for approximately two to four hours. It can be used multiple times throughout the day. The types of conditions that my patients have used Biofreeze for include:

• Diabetic neuropathy


• Arthritic pain


• Muscle pain


• Relief from itching caused by dermatitis, poison ivy, etc.


• Heel pain (plantar fasciitis)

Biofreeze works by utilizing cold therapy. This temporarily numbs the pain sensation patients are experiencing. the active ingredient is a South American herb called ILEX.

I am quick to inform patients that this is not a product that will cure their problems. Instead, it is used to help relieve symptoms so that normal activities can be resumed. This is very useful in allowing people to get back to their normal lives while treatment for their condition is ongoing. A frequent question I am asked about Biofreeze is how often it can be used. Biofreeze can be used as often as needed - usuall up to four to five times a day. I have found it most useful to use before going to bed, especially for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Using Biofreeze at this time helps to calm down the neurpathic pain and allow patients to get to sleep.

Biofeeze is available in a gel, roll on and spray, and is available mainly through doctor's offices. I will typically give patients a few samples of the product to see if it works for them. If they are satisfied, they are welcome to purchase it at a later date. In my opinion, this is a product worth giving a try!