Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2014

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Feeling Good
Toe-tal Foot Care
Coastal Podiatry
The poor maligned feet.
Nobody thinks much about feet;
we take them for granted. We stand
on them for hours, we pound the
pavement when running or walking
and we bend them and squeeze them
into pointy-toed stilettos until they
scream for mercy.
When your feet hurt, they can stop you in your tracks.
Relief is close at hand. Dr. Rahn Ravenell at Coastal
Podiatry is dedicated to helping with all your foot
problems. He started at The Athlete’s Foot, fitting shoes
for customers, but, after attending a health careers fair and
learning about the field of
podiatry, he was hooked.
Here was a career path that would build on his experience
and allow him to step into medicine.
“I liked podiatry and I was interested in surgery,” Dr.
Ravenell said.
Dr. Ravenell, and his wife and partner, Dr. Tamika
Ravenell – they met while attending Temple University
in Philadelphia – opened Coastal Podiatry at the foot of
the Ravenel Bridge to treat a multitude of foot issues.
“Most people don’t think to call a podiatrist until
their feet really hurt, but we encourage patients to come
in as soon as possible,” Dr. Ravenell said. “And diabetic
patients should consult a podiatrist regularly to avoid
serious complications.”
Diabetics may lose feeling in their feet or suffer from blood
flow problems, which can cause wounds to be unnoticed and
increase the risk of infection and even amputation.
Flat feet, which can be an issue for many people,
especially for younger patients, is a treatable condition.
Children can benefit from early intervention, according to
Dr. Ravenell, who pointed out that surgery can help the
foot bones grow properly.
Bunion surgery is also common. Bunions are those
bumps on the side of your foot that can become
prominent as well as painful as the big toe turns toward
the second toe.
“High heels can accentuate bunions, but they are often
genetic,” said Dr. Ravenell.
Perhaps the most common complaint is heel pain. The
by barbara MILLen PatrIck
diagnosis is usually plantar fasciitis, which is caused by
inflammation of the bands of tissue that connect the toes
and the heel. It can be most painful in the morning, easing
as the day goes on.
Other common conditions include athlete’s foot,
hammertoe, neuromas, fungal infections and sprains. Dr.
Tamika Ravenell specializes in geriatric conditions and
visits retirement communities and nursing homes around
the area several times a week.
How can you avoid foot problems? Start by wearing
shoes that offer support and fit properly; if you wear
heels, alternate them with flats. Be sure to wash your feet
every day to prevent the growth of bacterial and fungal
infections. To prevent dry, cracked skin, try moisturizing
with a cocoa butter cream. For extra care, rub an
emollient-rich cream on your feet and put on socks before
you go to bed. Remember that feet benefit from exercise
such as walking.
And if your feet hurt while walking, call Coastal
Podiatry for an appointment.
Coastal Podiatry Specialty Foot Care and Reconstructive
Surgery is located at 180 Wingo Way, Suite 201. For an
appointment, call 843-856-5337; a referral isn’t necessary.
Additional information about the practice, foot care issues
and services is available at .
Drs. rahn and tamika ravenell treat a multitude of foot-related issues. Photo provided by Coastal Podiatry.