What causes Thickened Toenails?
Most thickened toenails are caused by a fungal infection in the nailplate extending under the cuticle. Oral prescription medications may be prescribed to treat the fungus in your toenails. You may be asked to take a blood test to check your liver function prior to beginning treatment. An alternative treatment for toenail fungus is a topical prescription or over-the-counter antifungal applied directly to the nailplate. While topicals are not as effective as the oral medications, they have much fewer side effects. Relief from pain of thickened toenails can also be achieved by having your podiatrist reduce the bulk of the nailplate using a rotary burr. Why do my Heels hurt in the morning? The plantar fascia is a ligament-like band extending from your heel to the ball of your foot. The planar fascia aids in supporting your arch and lifting your heel off the foot while walking. A heel spur will begin to form in response to the constant pulling of the plantar fascia on the heel bone (Fig 6.)
