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Dr. David Gent

Podiatrist (Foot and Ankle Specialist)

Dr. David Gent is a podiatrist practicing in Bremerton, WA. Dr. Gent is a medical doctor specializing in the treatment of the foot , ankle and related parts of the leg. As a podiatrist, Dr. Gent diagnoses and treats conditions of the feet. The feet are key body parts that give a person stability, absorb shock, allow for walking and standing and are necessary for overall well-being. So, the feet need expert care. Podiatrists can specialize in surgery, wound care, sports medicine, diabetic care and pediatrics.
Dr. David Gent
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I think I have an ingrown toenail. What does this usually look like?

Ingrown toenails can present in a lot of different ways. To begin with they can just be a painful area on the edge of your toe where the toenail meets the skin. As the pain and READ MORE
Ingrown toenails can present in a lot of different ways. To begin with they can just be a painful area on the edge of your toe where the toenail meets the skin.
As the pain and irritation continue There develops redness and increased pain and swelling and sometimes pus can be noted coming from the area. If this is still not treated then a granuloma can develop which is a large bulbous area on the side of the toenail that can have a bad smell to it and actually has some dead tissue. This needs to be treated and care for.

Is foot amputation the only solution for gangrene?

No, it depends upon the type of gangrene. Wet gangrene can be life-threatening and needs to be addressed quickly to prevent infection getting into the blood and spreading to the READ MORE
No, it depends upon the type of gangrene. Wet gangrene can be life-threatening and needs to be addressed quickly to prevent infection getting into the blood and spreading to the heart and being fatal. Dry gangrene is a different story. This can be monitored and specialized won’t care can be performed such as hyperbaric oxygen treatment which saturate the blood with oxygen and helps to kill anaerobic bacteria and can stimulate new blood vessel formation on healing. However, Gangrene is a serious Medical problem and needs to be monitored on a case by case basis.

I have flat feet and running is becoming painful. What should I do?

Rest your feet to begin with. If you have created a bruise to the tissue then you need to calm it down. This should only take a few days and a week at the most. While resting READ MORE
Rest your feet to begin with. If you have created a bruise to the tissue then you need to calm it down. This should only take a few days and a week at the most. While resting your feet you can evaluate your equipment and see if the shoes are starting to break down. Evaluate them to see if something changed in the style from previous shoes to make them more irritating. Get a new pair if needed. OTC orthotics are a good starting point and then a customized pair if needed.

My feet swell up in the cold. Is this normal?

No this is not normal and can be the sign of other vascular diseases. Do your feet change colors in the cold?

A glass pricked my foot and even after a month the spot hurts. What should I do?

Thank you for asking. It is possible that you still have a shard of glass in the area of irritation and that it should be assessed by x-ray and then an evaluation to see if anything READ MORE
Thank you for asking. It is possible that you still have a shard of glass in the area of irritation and that it should be assessed by x-ray and then an evaluation to see if anything should be removed.

Why are my feet so crooked?

Great assessment of your feet. Yes, you have a genetic predisposition to develop feet similar to your mom's feet. protecting the toes, stretching them morning and evening and READ MORE
Great assessment of your feet. Yes, you have a genetic predisposition to develop feet similar to your mom's feet. protecting the toes, stretching them morning and evening and using padding and making sure not to wear shoes that cramp up the toes. Pads can be over the counter pads, orthotics or custom made devices just for your feet.

I am experiencing foot pain while sitting. What could be the reason?

This is a good question. You are thinking about your feet and how they are functioning for you. There are many reasons for stiffness with a few common ones to be a lack of stretching READ MORE
This is a good question. You are thinking about your feet and how they are functioning for you. There are many reasons for stiffness with a few common ones to be a lack of stretching and mobility for the ankle and foot joints, increased weight gain and pressure on the feet, long term immobilization with inactivity as well as different types of arthritis with Osteo Arthritis and age or previous trauma being the most common.

Can I run with flat feet?

Of course you can run and do most anything you want with flat feet. In fact running will help your feet but I do recommend either orthotics to help give more support to the arches READ MORE
Of course you can run and do most anything you want with flat feet. In fact running will help your feet but I do recommend either orthotics to help give more support to the arches or supportive running shoes to help decrease the chronic stresses of the feet. Flat feet are know for being very stable structures with a lot of shock absorption.

Does swelling around the ankle indicate a serious injury?

No, swelling in and of itself does not just automatically mean an injury. However, it should be assessed if it has recently started.

Why am I experiencing ankle pain after two years of arthroscopic surgery?

There are many different reasons for post surgical pain. The type of pain would be based off of the type of surgery performed. In the ankle there can be nerve irritation from the READ MORE
There are many different reasons for post surgical pain. The type of pain would be based off of the type of surgery performed. In the ankle there can be nerve irritation from the incision site. There can be arthritis of the ankle and if there was a tear in the cartilage then the bone can experience stress and be almost a stress fracture presentation.

I have a corn in my foot. Can corn cap remove that?

This is dependent upon the location of the corn and also if you have neuropathy or not. The reason for this is that the pad can have acid in it and it is important to be able READ MORE
This is dependent upon the location of the corn and also if you have neuropathy or not. The reason for this is that the pad can have acid in it and it is important to be able to feel the burn on the skin that it creates prior to developing a blister. However, yes a corn pad, cap can help to remove the corn.

Can nerve damage be repaired in the foot?

Yes, nerve damage can be repaired but it is dependent upon the type of nerve damage and the original cause.

Is it ok to massage plantar fasciitis?

Yes, this does help the ligament and soft tissue.

What causes pain under your foot?

The Underside of the foot has a lot of different structures depending upon the location. The heel, arch, ball of the foot all have different reasons for the pain. I would need READ MORE
The Underside of the foot has a lot of different structures depending upon the location. The heel, arch, ball of the foot all have different reasons for the pain. I would need to have more specific information to give a better answer.

How do you know a child's foot is broken?

Usually an x-ray can identify a fracture. However, in a child there are open growth plates which can be confused with a fracture and therefore a doctor's assessment along with READ MORE
Usually an x-ray can identify a fracture. However, in a child there are open growth plates which can be confused with a fracture and therefore a doctor's assessment along with the x-rays would be needed to assess a child's foot for a fracture.

How do you test for ankle instability?

The ankle has ligaments on the inside and outside which stable the ankle structures. When these ligaments are damaged the ankle can slide forward or backward with excessive motion. READ MORE
The ankle has ligaments on the inside and outside which stable the ankle structures. When these ligaments are damaged the ankle can slide forward or backward with excessive motion. The excessive turning in of the ankle can also be a sign of instability.

When should you see a doctor for foot pain?

If you suspect an injury or if the pain has failed to resolve after several days of self treatment then I would recommend following up with a Podiatrist.

Should you wear a walking boot for a sprained ankle?

Yes, a walking Cast boot can stabilize a sprained ankle and strengthen it to allow for a transition to an ankle brace.

Can you walk after ankle surgery?

This is dependent upon the type of ankle surgery. However, a lot of times the surgeon will provide a walking cast boot that will allow for some walking on the surgical side.

How long does it take for heel pain to heal?

This is determined by the type of heel pain and how long it has been going on before treatment was initiated. Specific stretching and massaging and anti inflammatory medication READ MORE
This is determined by the type of heel pain and how long it has been going on before treatment was initiated. Specific stretching and massaging and anti inflammatory medication all help to speed up the healing.