The Pandemic Has Been Harsh on Feet: MD Podiatrist

The coronavirus hasn’t been satisfied with unleashing a serious, contagious disease that has altered everyday life around the planet. In its overachieving way, it is also responsible for increases in anxiety and depression, teeth-grinding, anger, sleeplessness, migraines, and another physical ailment being noted by orthopedists and podiatrists. Dan Michaels, DPM, a podiatrist whose practice is Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Institute, LLC, said he has “absolutely” seen an increase in broken toes, “and the short reason is that with the pandemic, people are spending more time at home.” 
 
Dr. Michaels has also been treating more patients with plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, and even ingrown toenails. “There are little trickle-down effects from the pandemic and isolation that are happening,” Dr. Michaels said, “and broken toes is only one of them.” Dr. Michaels said many patients who used to rely on regular pedicures to keep ingrown nails from growing back have been pleasantly surprised to learn that podiatrists can perform a surgical treatment to fix the problem permanently. They’ll say, “”‰”˜I have been dealing with these ingrown toenails for 40 years, and I did not know that,'” he said.