Falknor’s Needling
A new treatment has come to Riverside Podiatry in the management of plantar warts!
Verruca pedis (VPs) is the medical term for plantar warts, which are a common condition of the foot that podiatrists see regularly. Warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that has been contracted just like any other virus we can catch.
Unfortunately, warts have the ability to hide from our body’s immune system and avoid detection. This means that a wart can live within our skin for many years. Warts can cause significant discomfort and pain to many people that can cause difficulties in walking or completing simple day to day tasks.
Who is at risk of contracting HPV?
- Children and teenagers
- People with weakened immune systems
- People who have had a plantar wart before
You may ask, why are children and teenagers more at risk? This is because children are more likely to share towels or socks, and may spend more time in damp environments where the virus is likely to live, such as swimming pools.
Whilst there are populations who are more at risk of developing the virus, it can still be contracted by anyone who is in contact with it. You can reduce the risk of developing a wart by always wearing shoes around damp areas, or areas that are highly populated. It is important to note to never pick, scratch, or rub a wart to prevent spreading of the virus.
How can warts affect me?
Warts can affect each individual person differently, they can present in many different ways, they may be painful or asymptomatic, and there may only be one lesion or there may be several. When warts cause pain, you may change the way you walk to avoid pressure to the area, potentially without realising it. This can cause complications such as posture and gait change, resulting in joint and muscle pain.
How do I know I have a wart, what do they look like?
Warts can be hard, grainy or fleshy growths. There may be overlying callus that can hide the appearance of the wart or they may have black pinpoint spots commonly called wart seeds. It is a common occurrence that warts can be misdiagnosed as corns and vice versa. This is why it is imperative to have your lesions thoroughly assessed by a podiatrist to prevent mistreatments and worsening of the condition.
What treatments are available?
Over the years many treatment options have been developed in the management of wart care. Unfortunately, results vary among person to person with these treatments, which is why Riverside Podiatry is offering a new treatment for people who have stubborn, hard to shift warts.
The new treatment we are offering in addition to our other wart treatment services is Falknor’s needling! This procedure has been extensively researched and found to have a 70% success rate. We are one of very few podiatry practices that offers such a service. Falknor’s needling requires extra training and skills to be developed by podiatrists. Our podiatrists are well versed in warts and trained in the Falknor’s needling procedure. The procedure is pain free and can be conducted here at Riverside Podiatry with little downtime for you.
