Chiropodist

[Antechinus]

I got referred to a podiatrist but not a chiropodist.
To be honest, I found they did nothing, only scanned over the soles if my feet, never once touched them. So I never went back.

Its important to check that they specialise in diabetes, some are really not interested in it, and rather than turn away a client that has made an appointment will just "wing it". You know your on the right practice when they pull out the doppler and blood pressure cuffs.

 

[Listlad]

I think so. I see a lot of diabetics with fungal issues. I think it has to do with small fibre perpheral neuropathy knocking out the sweat and oil glands in the feet. I believe there is natural antifungals in the oils. Moisturizing creams dont have these chemicals so they may moisten dry skin but not keep fungi at bay. Same with yeast infections.

Thanks. I see.

My GP at the time a few years ago ( even though she told me she knew very little about feet ) told me that she used tea tree oil on her feet to manage fungal issues including fungal infected toe nails. She recommended that to me as an alternative to medication or the varnish application solution. What’s your take on that?

I do bath my feet in warm water with a few drops of tea tree oil, occasionally. It seems to help a bit but not sure.

 

[Krystyna23040]

She recommended that to me as an alternative to medication or the varnish application solution. What’s your take on that?

Although I haven't had problems with fungal issues one of my Labradors has and I found tea tree oil to be an exceptionally effective way to treat him. I also recently used it to treat a deep dog bite on my leg (this was not from one of my dogs) and it prevented infection and helped it to heal quickly. Edited to add that the tea tree oil treatment for my dog was 100% supported by my vet.

 

[Antechinus]

Thanks. I see.

My GP at the time a few years ago ( even though she told me she knew very little about feet ) told me that she used tea tree oil on her feet to manage fungal issues including fungal infected toe nails. She recommended that to me as an alternative to medication or the varnish application solution. What’s your take on that?

I do bath my feet in warm water with a few drops of tea tree oil, occasionally. It seems to help a bit but not sure.

We seem to have a bullet proof variety here which is very difficult to manage. Some products help some people some of the time. I dont know of any which are consistently good and each brand changes it formulation frequently.

Tea tree oil is often mentioned, but I'm not convinced it works all that weĺl. Some people swear by it. But then, some of my clients swear by Vicks Vaporub. Whatever works I guess.

New laser treatment is good in that it destroys the nail infection in one or two treatments. But if the conditions remain that allowed it to occur in the first place, then chances are it will return.

Which begs the question of why it started in the first place. Which is different for everyone, of course.

Also have to consider if it is a yeast infection. These seem to make small itchy blisters about toes and the arch. Different to regular mycotic fungi.

Wearing shoes a lot also encourages fungal infections.

Wish I had a better answer but once under the nails it's hard to shift. My approach is the cut nail as short as possible and remove as much yellowy brown bebri as possible and then apply whatever potion you like. As its normal body flora its easy to reinfect so you have to keep putting the potion on till it has grown out.

Also there is 2 types. The one that grows under the nail plate and forms a yellow/brown mess under the nail. This is the difficult one. The other is in the nail plate itself. It might be white or brown and pits the nail plate. This is more moisture related and is easier to treat.

Other things to consider are nutrient deficiencies such as vit D and zinc; walking dysfunction causing microtrauma to nails. Types of footwear. Nearby coal miners have to wear waterproof rubber boots for 12 hour shifts, tinea is pretty common with them.

Mouldy toenails are tricky.

 

[Antechinus]

Y

Although I haven't had problems with fungal issues one of my Labradors has and I found tea tree oil to be an exceptionally effective way to treat him. I also recently used it to treat a deep dog bite on my leg (this was not from one of my dogs) and it prevented infection and helped it to heal quickly. Edited to add that the tea tree oil treatment for my dog was 100% supported by my vet.

Yes it can be good. But it also seems to be hit-and-miss. It will work for some but not others. Worth trying though as it may just do the trick.

A lot of podiatrist here use it on nicks and cuts during treatments.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Yes, It is a degree course here in australia as well.

When I trained over 30 years ago now, it was chiropody & podiatry course combined. We had a lot more hands on training, about 2000 hours of clinical work. Now its mostly lectures and they have to acquire clinical skills later. I'm not sure which is the better way of training professionals, but I know podiatry is much more interesting and varied than chiropody.

When I did my course in 1995 it was at least 10 hours a week in clinic including pediatric and and diabetes clinics.

 

[Listlad]

We seem to have a bullet proof variety here which is very difficult to manage. Some products help some people some of the time. I dont know of any which are consistently good and each brand changes it formulation frequently.

Tea tree oil is often mentioned, but I'm not convinced it works all that weĺl. Some people swear by it. But then, some of my clients swear by Vicks Vaporub. Whatever works I guess.

New laser treatment is good in that it destroys the nail infection in one or two treatments. But if the conditions remain that allowed it to occur in the first place, then chances are it will return.

Which begs the question of why it started in the first place. Which is different for everyone, of course.

Also have to consider if it is a yeast infection. These seem to make small itchy blisters about toes and the arch. Different to regular mycotic fungi.

Wearing shoes a lot also encourages fungal infections.

Wish I had a better answer but once under the nails it's hard to shift. My approach is the cut nail as short as possible and remove as much yellowy brown bebri as possible and then apply whatever potion you like. As its normal body flora its easy to reinfect so you have to keep putting the potion on till it has grown out.

Also there is 2 types. The one that grows under the nail plate and forms a yellow/brown mess under the nail. This is the difficult one. The other is in the nail plate itself. It might be white or brown and pits the nail plate. This is more moisture related and is easier to treat.

Other things to consider are nutrient deficiencies such as vit D and zinc; walking dysfunction causing microtrauma to nails. Types of footwear. Nearby coal miners have to wear waterproof rubber boots for 12 hour shifts, tinea is pretty common with them.

Mouldy toenails are tricky.

A young guy I knew had a fungal infection of his finger nails. He used to have to paint his nails everyday to try and get rid of it. He was told he had contracted it during his trips to Nigeria.

I had fungal infection of my toe nails a few years back and the GP prescribed medication for it and it worked. It took several months. But it came back a year or two later and a different GP didn’t want to prescribe me the same medication again as it might have caused liver issues, she said.

So basically 2nd time around I still have it and had surgical removal of part of each of my big toe nails as they were ingrowing.

 

[Listlad]

Although I haven't had problems with fungal issues one of my Labradors has and I found tea tree oil to be an exceptionally effective way to treat him. I also recently used it to treat a deep dog bite on my leg (this was not from one of my dogs) and it prevented infection and helped it to heal quickly. Edited to add that the tea tree oil treatment for my dog was 100% supported by my vet.

Well if it is good enough for the hound then it is good enough for me.

 

[ally1]

Its important to check that they specialise in diabetes, some are really not interested in it, and rather than turn away a client that has made an appointment will just "wing it". You know your on the right practice when they pull out the doppler and blood pressure cuffs.

That's why I stopped going

 

[Antechinus]

When I did my course in 1995 it was at least 10 hours a week in clinic including pediatric and and diabetes clinics.

I graduated in 1985. We hardly did anything with diabetes then as they were kind of rare. Testing was feel for pulses, needle pricks, cotton ball wipes and maybe hot/ cold sensation. Our clinics were all volunteer patients and you where randomly assigned clients. Final year was 3 days a week clinic of any foot problem (mostly biomechanics) and hand made orthotics (by ourselves) we were doing 40 -50 hours a week in the college. First year was all chiropody stuff, 2nd year a mix of chiropody and easy podiatry. Third year all new clients, assessments, diagnosis and treatments + reviews. Was very busy.