Do your kids tell you everything? Probably not, and that goes triple for how they’re feeling. How was school? – Fine. How’d your math exam go? -Good. Unless you dig a little, ask some pointed questions, you wouldn’t know that something happened and it’s not all fine and good. It can be the same with…

One of the things we believe here at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center is that a well-informed patient is in the best position to make decisions about their own health care. When you have the facts, it’s easier to know what to do. If you’re diabetic, there’s a lot of information that you need to digest. You need to know how…

As the New Year begins, all of us at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center have “resolutions” on our minds. So many people resolve each year to lose weight and get in better shape – and that’s a fantastic goal to have. Even if you’re only slightly overweight, your feet can suffer greatly with heel pain stress fractures tendinitis swelling…

After a few days of cloudy, drab, wintry weather, isn’t it uplifting to look up and see the sun shining yellow-orange in the sky? The mere sight of bright colors anywhere can really put a sparkle in your day. Podiatrist Kenneth R. Wilhelm, DPM has a suggestion: start the New Year right by intentionally adding color where…

Is gout a disease of the big toe? Yes – but not always. Gout is a painful form of arthritis. When it first appears, it’s very often in the big toe joint. But gout can also affect other joints such as those in your fingers, knees, and hips. Who gets gout and why? You’re more likely to…

When you’ve got foot or ankle pain, one of the first things you might be tempted to do is treat it on your own with shoe inserts. We’re talking about the kind that you can pick up at pharmacies and big-box stores. Their packaging will tell you what they promise to fix: “heel pain;” “heavy-duty…

Have you got a well-deserved winter getaway coming up? Are you boarding a plane to visit faraway family for the holidays? Well, the last thing you want to worry about when you’re flying is dealing with swollen, aching feet. And yet, feet do have a tendency to swell on airplanes. So, as you head out…

You’ve got a lot on your to-do list when it comes to planning for the holidays: food for the party? Check. Greeting cards purchased? Check. Affordable gifts for all the siblings, children, and in-laws? Check. And unless you’re doing all your shopping online, you’re going to be doing a lot of running around from place…

Throughout the month of November, we’ve been reminding our patients that it’s Diabetes Awareness Month. We’ve talked about the hidden effects of diabetes – all the ramifications beyond just managing blood sugar. We’ve written about the risk of peripheral arterial disease. And we’ve addressed something ever-present in the life of a diabetic – the constant need to make…

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Northern Virginia podiatrist Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm wants to play a part in raising awareness of this potentially devastating disease. One way we can do that is to remind you of ways you can reduce your risk. One very specific strategy you can use is to focus on food swapping. Why food…