Blog

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that occurs when the plantar fascia tissue becomes inflamed. It can be caused by overuse or injury to the foot, and it often affects athletes who participate in running sports. The pain associated with this condition typically occurs in the heel or arch of your foot, but can also extend into other areas including:

• The bottom of your toes (ball) - especially if you have flat feet or high arches
• Underneath your big toe (gastrocnemius muscle)

Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis

The diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is usually made based on the symptoms and a physical examination. Physical examination includes:

• Pain when you press your thumb into the bottom of your foot (the plantar surface) near where it joins with the heel bone, or where it attaches to the base of your toes.
• Pain when you stand on tiptoes or walk barefoot on hard surfaces for a long time.

Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

• Rest: Rest is the first step in treating plantar fasciitis. You can take painkillers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to help relieve your symptoms and reduce inflammation. You should also avoid activities that cause pain or stress on the foot and heel area for at least two weeks.
• Ice: Applying ice packs to the bottom of your feet several times a day can help reduce swelling and pain caused by this condition. Simply fill up a plastic bag with water, place it in the freezer until it's solid (about 30 minutes), then wrap it in a towel before applying it directly to your skin for 15 minutes at a time throughout the day--or whenever necessary--to keep swelling down while also providing some relief from discomfort associated with this condition

Non-surgical Options for Plantar Fasciitis

1. Pain Relievers Pain relievers are one of the most common treatments for plantar fasciitis. They can help you manage your discomfort and reduce inflammation, but they won't cure it or make it go away completely. Some people find that taking anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen helps them feel better when they have plantar fasciitis, while others don't notice much of a difference at all. If you do decide to use painkillers, be sure not to take too many--overuse can cause stomach problems or even liver damage!
2. Padding and Taping If padding doesn't work for you (or if your doctor recommends against using it), try taping instead. There are several different kinds of tapes available on the market today: some come with adhesive backing so they stay in while others require more frequent application (the latter usually comes off after about three days).

Dr Tay Guan Tzu is a senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon whose subspecialty interests are in paediatric orthopaedics, adult and paediatric foot and ankle surgery, as well as deformity correction of the lower limb. Seeking medical attention for your foot or ankle injury? Consult Dr Tay Guan Tzu at +65 67340378 for a comprehensive assessment and suitable treatment plan today!  

What is an Ankle Sprain?

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries, affecting around 1 in 10 people at some point in their lives. An ankle sprain occurs when you twist or turn your foot and ankle too far in one direction, causing damage to the ligaments that hold your bones together. Ankle sprains can be caused by a variety of things—

• your bodyweight shifting while you're standing on your feet (for example, slipping off a step),
• landing awkwardly after jumping or falling from something high up like a skateboard ramp;
• stepping off an uneven surface such as stairs; or
• being hit by another person's foot during sports activities such as football or basketball.

Diagnosis of Ankle Sprain

When a person has an ankle sprain, the doctor will perform a physical examination. The doctor will check for tenderness and swelling around the joint, as well as listen to your description of how you injured yourself. If there are no other injuries present, this is usually enough to make a diagnosis of an ankle sprain. However, if there are other injuries or if they don't seem consistent with just an ankle sprain (for example if there is significant bruising), imaging tests like X-rays or MRI scans may be ordered by your doctor so they can get more information about what happened during injury and determine whether anything else needs treatment as well.

Treatment of Ankle Sprain

• Rest and Ice
• Compression
• Elevation
• Physical therapy (PT) is an important part of the recovery process, as it helps to strengthen muscles around your ankle. PT may also include exercises to improve mobility and balance. If you have a severe sprain or multiple sprains, you may need to wear a cast or brace for several weeks while your injury heals.

Non-Surgical Options for Ankle Sprain

• Pain relievers: Pain relievers can be used to reduce pain and swelling. They may also help you relax and sleep better, which will speed up recovery time.
• Padding and taping: Padding helps protect your ankle from further injury while taping supports it during activities such as walking or running. If you have a mild sprain, this method may be all that is needed to restore stability in your ankle joint until it heals completely on its own over time without surgery being required at all!
• Exercises: Exercises are another option for treating an unstable ankle injury since they improve strength around joints by strengthening muscles around them while also improving balance so they don't become injured again easily in future accidents like tripping over something accidentally (which happens often!).

Surgical Options for Ankle Sprain

• Arthroscopic surgery: This is a minimally invasive procedure, which involves making small incisions in the skin and inserting special instruments through them. The surgeon can then operate on the ankle joint without having to make large cuts on either side of it.
• Open surgery: This type of operation involves making larger cuts in order for them to access all parts of your ankle joint that need attention. It's usually done if you have severe damage or arthritis in one or both ankles, as well as if there are multiple fractures involved in your injury.
• Osteotomy: An osteotomy (also known as an osteotomy) is when doctors cut into bone so that it can be realigned back into place during recovery time after surgery has been completed

Preventing Ankle Sprain

• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid high heels and other types of footwear that can cause you to lose your balance or twist your ankle, such as flip-flops or clogs with a thick sole and no heel support.

Dr Victor Seah is an orthopaedic surgeon whose main area of subspecialty is in are in trauma/fractures and foot and ankle surgeries. For a comprehensive assessment of your foot and ankle conditions, make an appointment to consult Dr Seah at +65 67340378 now!  

What is Achilles Tendinitis?

Achilles tendinitis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel bone, allowing you to raise up on your toes. It's located at the back of your ankle, where it joins with your calf muscle. Tendinitis occurs when there is too much stress placed on this area of your body, causing small tears in the tissue surrounding the tendon. This can lead to swelling and pain in this area as well as stiffness or tightness when trying to move around with any sort of speed or forcefulness (such as running).

Diagnosis of Achilles Tendinitis

To diagnose the condition, your doctor will perform a physical examination. He or she may also order imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI scans to determine if you have Achilles tendinitis.

Treatment Options for Achilles Tendinitis in Singapore

The treatment options for Achilles tendinitis in Singapore include:

• Non-surgical Options - These include rest, physical therapy and medications.
• Surgical Options - These include arthroscopic surgery or open surgery (which involves an incision).

Non-surgical Treatment Options for Achilles Tendinitis in Singapore

Non-surgical treatment options for Achilles tendinitis in Singapore include:

• Pain Relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can help reduce inflammation, but they do not improve the condition of your Achilles tendon. If you have severe pain and swelling, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications that are taken by mouth or injected into a vein through an IV line. These drugs include corticosteroids such as prednisone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as indomethacin or ketorolac tromethamine (Toradol).

Surgical Treatment Options for Achilles Tendinitis in Singapore

• Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure that involves fusing the Achilles tendon to the bone. This procedure can be performed using either an open incision or arthroscopic technique. If you're considering arthrodesis for your Achilles tendinitis, you should know that it has been shown to reduce pain and improve function in studies, but it's also associated with some risks such as infection and stiffness in the ankle joint.
• Osteotomy involves cutting a piece of bone out of your heel and moving it forward so that it covers part of your Achilles tendon--this reduces stress on this area and helps prevent further damage from occurring over time. Recovery After Achilles Tendinitis Surgery

After the surgery, you must rest your ankle for at least six weeks. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to begin physical therapy exercises. You may be given a brace or cast to wear during this time. The goal of physical therapy is to help strengthen the calf muscles and improve range of motion in your ankle joint. Physical therapists use several methods to help people recover from Achilles tendinitis surgery:

• Exercises that stretch and strengthen muscles around the affected area (eccentric strengthening)
• Heat treatments
• Ice packs applied directly onto injured tissue

Preventing Achilles Tendinitis

• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Avoid high heels and flip flops, which can cause you to over-pronate, or roll your foot inward. This puts extra stress on the Achilles tendon and increases your risk of developing tendonitis.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese puts more pressure on the tendons in your feet and legs, increasing your risk of developing this condition

Dr Victor Seah is an orthopaedic surgeon whose main area of subspecialty is in are in trauma/fractures and foot and ankle surgeries. For a comprehensive assessment of your foot and ankle conditions, make an appointment to consult Dr Seah at +65 67340378 now!  

What are Bunions?

Bunions are a type of foot deformity that causes pain and discomfort. They occur when the big toe moves towards the second toe, causing it to rub against the side of your shoe. This can lead to swelling and redness around your bunion, as well as calluses on top of your toes or around them. Bunions can also cause other problems such as arthritis in other joints in your feet or ankles due to overuse from compensating for pain caused by bunions; this may lead to further complications such as tendonitis or joint stiffness

What are the Symptoms of Bunions?

• This is the most common symptom of bunions, and it can range from mild to severe.
• The bony bump on your toe can cause inflammation in the surrounding tissue, which causes swelling around it.
• Redness and warmth around your affected joint may also occur as a result of inflammation caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes or standing for long periods of time on hard surfaces (such as concrete).
• Calluses are another sign that something is wrong with your feet--they form when you put pressure on one area for too long without giving yourself enough time to heal properly between activities like walking or running long distances on hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete

Diagnosis of Bunions

Before you begin treatment, your doctor will perform a physical examination. This will help them to determine whether or not you have bunions and if they are causing any pain. Your doctor may also order X-rays or imaging tests such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans to get a better look at the bunion and surrounding bones.

Treatment of Bunions

Bunion treatment is a broad term that covers a number of different methods. The main goal of any bunion treatment is to reduce pain and improve the function of your foot, so that you can walk comfortably. The following are some common non-surgical options:

• Customized shoes with built-in orthotics (shoe inserts) can help correct alignment problems in your feet. They also provide support for your arches so they don't flatten out while walking or standing on hard surfaces like concrete floors at work or home. This helps prevent further damage from occurring as well as pain due to overuse of muscles around bunions

Non-Surgical Options for Bunions

• Pain Relievers: Pain relievers are the first line of defense against bunion pain. Over-the-counter options include ibuprofen, acetaminophen and naproxen sodium (Aleve). If you're looking for something stronger, prescription medications such as tramadol can also help to reduce your discomfort.
• Padding and Taping: Padding is another option for reducing bunion pain. You can purchase gel pads that adhere to the skin around your affected foot; these will cushion any pressure points from shoes or other tight-fitting footwear items like high heels or boots with pointed toes. Another option is taping up your toes so they don't rub together when walking around in shoes--this may also help prevent blisters from forming on top of existing bunions due to friction between swollen tissue surfaces inside shoes that weren't designed specifically for people with bunions!

Dr Victor Seah is an orthopaedic surgeon whose main area of subspecialty is in are in trauma/fractures and foot and ankle surgeries. For a comprehensive assessment of your foot and ankle conditions, make an appointment to consult Dr Seah at +65 67340378 now!  

Dr Andy Wee shared the latest trends in arthroscopic meniscus repair during the APAC Sports Medicine, All-Inside Meniscal Expert Forum on 9 Nov 2021.

The meniscus is a soft tissue structure within the knee joint that helps in shock absorption and load transmission. A damaged or torn meniscus, commonly a result of sports or traumatic injury, can give rise to knee pain, swelling and locking.

In the long run, it can also result in knee degeneration. Hence there is a growing impetus amongst orthopaedic surgeons to repair and preserve the meniscus as much as possible, whenever they treat patients with meniscus tears.

Dr Andy Wee was invited as part of the expert panel to share the current and latest treatment strategies in arthroscopic (keyhole) meniscus repair.

This meeting was held on 9 Nov, and it was attended via zoom by orthopaedic surgeons throughout the Asia Pacific region.

About Dr Andy Wee

Dr Andy Wee is skilled in arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle, and has performed over two thousand arthroscopic procedures over the last 10 years. He has performed over a thousand ACL reconstruction and meniscus surgeries alone, and has treated many national athletes with sports related knee, shoulder and elbow injuries with arthroscopic surgery.

Interested to learn more about arthroscopic (keyhole) meniscus repair for your condition? Call us at +65 6247 7958 to make an appointment to see Dr Andy Wee today!

Dr Kevin Lee was interviewed on Channel 8's health programme, Body SOS (小毛病大问题) season 10 on the recent increase in sports injuries as people take to exercising during the pandemic.

As knee injuries are common among people who play sports or do activities at competitive or recreational levels, some of the related questions and myths were discussed during the programme:

1. Is clicking in joints a symptom of sports injury? 2. Are females more prone to sports injuries involving the knee? 3. Are knee replacements the only solution for severe sports injuries of the knee? 4. What are the common treatments for sports injuries?

Watch the session below to learn more about the answers from Dr Lee. (Englsih subtitles available)  

About Dr Kevin Lee

Dr Kevin Lee is an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore specializing in treating sports injuries of the lower limb, Hip & Knee Surgeries, Arthroscopic Surgery, and Cartilage Repair.

Let Dr Lee answers your questions regarding your knee injuries today. Contact us at +65 6737 0558 or send us an enquiry here.

People with flat feet or pes planus have arches on the inside of their feet that are lowered or flattened out, causing the entire soles of their feet to touch the ground when standing.

Often you may come across people with flat feet who do not face any problems and need no treatment. However, some may get tired or aching feet after prolonged periods of standing or walking.

Can flat feet cause problems?

Having flat feet may strain your muscles, ligaments and joints, which may cause pain in your feet, legs, hips and back with activities like standing or walking.

How to know if you have flat feet?

Find out more as Dr Tay Guan Tzu discussed the commonly seen condition of the flat feet on Mediacorp Channel 8’s Body-SOS 小毛病大问题 mandarin programme.

Did you know that having bubble tea too often can lead to painful joints and gouty attacks? (Photo: Pexels/Rodnae Productions)

Dr Victor Seah has been seeing four or five patients a month with gout. These patients have shared with him that they consumed bubble milk tea regularly, although the exact amount and frequency were undetermined.

So what’s the bubble tea connection? Isn’t gout typically caused by consuming too much red meat, nuts, seafood and beer?

If you have the habit of drinking a cup a day, should you be concerned about gout?

Dr Victor Seah shares in a CNA Lifestyle article this little known fact and explains the symptoms and treatment of gout.

What is gout?

A gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes intense pain, swelling, and stiffness in a joint. This is due to the high levels of uric acid in your blood.

Normally, uric acid in your blood gets filtered out by the kidneys and gets passed out as urine. But when the levels are too high, the uric acid can build up and form needle-like crystals in the joints, particularly the big toe.

What is a gout attack?

A gout attack frequently starts with a tingling sensation, which rapidly progresses to severe pain. It is a severe, sharp and sometimes, burning pain at the joints and some patients have described it as a sensation of being poked by many needles. The pain is constant and is painful even when resting.

Gout typically affects the big toe joint of the foot, but it can also affect the ankles, knees and even wrists and elbow joints.

What are the signs and symptoms of a gout attack?

• Redness, warmth, swelling and pain can involve one or a few joints. The big toe, knee or ankle joints are most often affected.
• The pain starts suddenly, often during the night.
• There may be a fever.

What are the complications of gout?

• Uncontrolled gout can cause joint deformity, cartilage damage, arthritis, chronic pain and stiffness.
• Uric acid crystals may sometimes be deposited in the skin and soft tissues causing painful lumps, ulcerations that can get infected, and even skin breakdown.
• Urate crystals may collect in the urinary tracts of people with gout, causing kidney stones.

Dr Victor Seah is an orthopaedic surgeon whose main area of subspecialty is in are in trauma/fractures and foot and ankle surgeries.

For a comprehensive assessment of your foot and ankle conditions, make an appointment to consult Dr Seah at +65 67340378 now!