The Weekend

Happy Friday from NewGen Orthotics! Hope Everyone Has a Nice Weekend with the first weather of fall starting slowly to come in. Also, Call us Toll Free at 1-800-756-0257 to place an order with us or if you are interested in learning more about our products ....

Gout - Treatment and Prevention

The Treatment and Prevention Guidelines of Gout is very important to know and to understand when dealing with the effects of Gout. Good Information is key to knowing what to do when the onsets of foot issues occur, especially Gout. Below, we will go through both the Treatments and The Prevention options for Gout.

Treatments - Most of the treatments for Gout involve medications that can help to alleviate the pain associated with Gout. Most of the medications given to the patient by a doctor will take down and get rid of most of the Uric Acid in the body which causes Gout. Here are some of the other treatment options:

• Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) - Drug given by your doctor to control the inflammation and pain of Gout. NSAIDs also include over the counter medications such as Advil, Motrin, and Aleve. 

• Colchicine - If you cannot take NSAIDs, then you may be prescibed Colchicine by your doctor which effectively reduces Gout Pain, especially right after the symptoms of Gout occur. 

• Corticosteroids - Drugs such as Prednisone can be given to patients of Gout, and can also take down inflammation of Gout.

• Medications that Take Down Uric Acid Level

Prevention - 

• Keep Fluid Intake High - Drink lots of water, and avoid sugary drinks.

• Limit or Avoid Alcohol

• Eat a Balanced Diet - Lots of Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains, Low-Fat Milk

• Limit Intake of Meat, Fish, and Poultry

• Maintain a Healthy Weight

Gout - Causes and Symptoms

As talked about yesterday, Gout is a complex form of arthritis which affects the joint at the base of the big toe.

Causes of Gout - According to the Mayo Clinic, Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Urate crystals can start to form when a person has a high amount of uric acid in their blood. Uric Acid is produced in your body naturally when it breaks down purines which are found in certain foods, such as anchovies, asparagus, and mushrooms. Usually, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. However, sometimes your body produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation and swelling. About 90% percent of the time Gout is found in the base of the big toe.

Symptoms of Gout - The symptoms of Gout are most often acute, occurring at night, and sometimes without any warning. The most common symptoms of Gout are as follows:

• Intense Joint Pain - Gout usually occurs in the big toe, but it can occur in your feet, ankles, knees and hands as well. The pain is most likely to be worst within the first 12 to 24 hours after it begins.

• Lingering Discomfort - After the most severe pain from Gout occurs (first 12-24 hours), some of the joint discomfort may last from a few days to even a couple weeks.

• Inflammation and Redness - The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, and red.

Information and Facts on "Gout"

Gout is a very painful complex form of arthritis in the foot that can affect anyone who has the predisposition for the issue. According to the Mayo Clinic, Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and tenderness in joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe. The Metatarsal-Phalangeal Joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected area (50%) of the time. An Acute gout attack can make it seem as if your big toe is on fire. The joint is so tender, that even the weight of a bed sheet touching the affected person's toe can be intolerably painful. The good news is that Gout is treatable and there are different ways to treat the symptoms of gout from flaring up to much.

NewGen Orthotic Lab's "Direct Milling" Technology

What makes NewGen Advanced Orthotics Lab unique is our use of super high quality "in house" direct milling technology. As opposed to the heating method of orthotics, our orthotics are milled out of a solid block of polypropylene. The results are a super thin, extra high quality "custom" orthotic made to an EXACTING rigidity for the patient.

  Here is a picture of our warehouse ,where our orthotics are made daily.

Podiatry at a "Glimpse"

Many people suffer terrible foot pain/ankle issues but do not know where to turn. There are "many" over the counter remedies such as Dr. Scholl's Gel Insoles to try to counteract the pains of mild to serious medical conditions that go un-diagnosed. If you suffer pains in the foot area and it continues to linger it might be wise to finally bite the bullet and go see a podiatrist. According to the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) a podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), also known as a podiatric physician or surgeon. Podiatrists diagnose and treat conditions of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg.

What Are The Qualifications Of a Podiatrist? -
According to the APMA website, podiatrists are the most qualified doctors to care for your feet. They complete four years of training in a podiatric medical school and three years of hospital residency training. This training is similar to that of other doctors. Podiatrists can specialize in many fields, including surgery, sports medicine, wound care, pediatrics (children), and diabetic care.

Are Podiatrists Board Certified?
Podiatrists can earn board certification with advanced training, clinical experience, and by ultimately taking an exam. The American Board of Podiatric Medicine and the American Board of Podiatric Surgery are the certifying boards for the field.

NewGen Orthotics "Dress Orthotic"

New Gen Advance Orthotics Lab also provides a dress orthotic for those who need extra comfort for their dress shoes. The dress orthotics provide a very low heel seat, which provides extra comfort and a perfect fit for dress shoes. The Poly Dress and Poly Fashion are made for those who wear high heels, flats, and loafers. Below is a description and pictures of NewGen Advanced Orthotics Dress Orthotics...

Poly Pro Dress – Quite likely the thinnest low bulk dress orthotic anywhere. A naugahyde topcover is standard to include a padded sulcus length extension.

Poly Pro Fashion – The Poly Pro Fashion is basically the same as the Poly Pro Dress but with an added feature. The Poly Pro Fashion orthotic includes a wider grind the Poly Dress which provides extra comfort for the fashion orthotic shoe.