Nine Conditions that Cause Foot Pain

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Almost everyone has a foot problem during their lifetime because feet are often neglected, leading to major problems later. In addition to heel pain from heel spurs, there are other causes of foot pain. When you are experiencing discomfort in your feet, it is important to visit a knowledgeable podiatrist for an examination that may include X-rays to determine what the problem is in the feet. A podiatrist will look at the X-rays and your feet to find these issues that will require some type of treatment to reduce your discomfort along with improving your mobility.

Foot Issue 1: Plantar Fasciitis

When you are feeling overall pain across the bottom of a foot, you probably have plantar fasciitis. This is a painful condition that is caused by overall inflammation in the bottom of the feet, requiring pain medications and rest.

Foot Issue 2: Hammertoes

Hammertoes are a type of toe deformity that causes the toes to curl downward, leading to pressure on the toes while walking barefoot or wearing shoes. Choosing roomier shoes or wearing orthotic devices inside the shoes is recommended for this condition.

Foot Issue 3: Bunions

If the side of your foot hurts, then you may have a bunion. This condition is caused by wearing tight shoes that change the shape of the joint at the base of a big toe. Wearing shoes that fit properly can help you to overcome this painful problem.

Foot Issue 4: Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is caused by a transmittable fungal infection that will make the skin on the feet feel itchy. The application of medications that contain antifungal ingredients can eliminate the fungus, but you should also get rid of any contaminated socks or shoes.

Foot Issue 5: Blisters

Blisters on the feet are common after strenuous physical activity, such as hiking. You are more likely to develop one or more fluid-filled blisters when you have moisture inside your socks or your shoes.

Foot Issue 6: Plantar Warts

Plantar warts occur on the bottom of the feet, leading to sole or heel pain. These thick growths are caused by the human papillomavirus, but a surgeon can remove warts with a special freezing method.

Foot Issue 7: Ingrown Toenail

Ingrown toenails are one of the most common causes of foot pain with millions of cases each year. This condition occurs when a toenail grows into the side or the corner of a toe, leading to inflammation.

Foot Issue 8: Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the large toe of one or both of the feet. However, the discomfort from gout can radiate to other areas of the feet. You should take anti-inflammatory medications while monitoring your diet to overcome gout.

Foot Issue 9: Neuropathy

Diabetics can develop neuropathy of the feet that causes radiating pain or numbness that is especially noticeable at night. Regular foot care is essential for diabetics to avoid having this condition, and diabetics should monitor their blood sugar levels frequently.

Ways a DUI Lawyer Can Help You

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If you or someone close recently got a DUI in Virginia, it helps if you understand the ramifications of such a citation. If this is your first DUI, you need more information on what to do next. Do you need an attorney to help you deal with your first DUI?

The great state of Virginia considers your first DUI a class one misdemeanor. You’ll have to pay somewhere between $250 and $2, 5000 on your first DUI. You might also incur a one-year suspension of your driver’s license. If you test positive for alcohol consumption and have a BAC of 0.15 percent or higher, your sentence increases to a minimum five day stay in jail.

Virginia Administrative Penalties

Your license gets suspended for one year for a first offense DUI in Virginia. To get your driver’s license back, you’ll need to complete an alcohol safety and education class. Drivers with a BAC at or over .15 are required to use an ignition interlock device when their driver’s license is reinstated.

Virginia Criminal Drinking and Driving Criminal Penalties

There remains no mandatory minimum period of incarceration for DUI offenders. The only exception to this rule is if the driver also had an underage passenger in the vehicle with them. Also, if the driver registers .20 BAC when stopped, they’ll be incarcerated for a minimum of 10 days.

Also, if a minor passenger was present in the vehicle when pulled over, the fine might increase from $250 to at least $750, but not more than $2,500. Extra expenses incurred in addition to these fines include other costs such as applicable restitution mandated by the court. Your present conviction might determine further punishment for future DUIs for up to ten years.

Using Legal Counsel for Your DUI

Having a qualified lawyer present during your trial might allow you to plead down DUI charges to lesser criminal offenses. Whether you might plead to a lower charge is determined by the knowledgeability of your legal counsel. Don’t take a chance with your representation. Please contact our law firm today for additional information on the benefits of obtaining a lawyer to deal with your DUI.

When is the Best Time to Collect Social Security?

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People often wonder when they should start collecting social security benefits. You can start collecting 100% of your social security benefits at your full retirement age, which, if you were born in 1960 or later, is 67. If you wait a little longer, however, you can collect more per year, and if you take your benefits early, you’ll collect less.

At age 68 (assuming you were born in 1960 or later), you can get closer to 108% of your benefit, at age 69, 116%, and at age 70, when the benefit tops out, 124%. You can also take a reduced benefit starting at age 62. If you start collecting as early as possible, you’ll get about 70% of your full benefit. At age 63, you’ll get 75%, at age 64, you’ll get 80%, at age 65, you’ll receive 86.7%, and at age 66, you can collect 93.7%.

So when should you start collecting social security benefits? There are four things to consider when deciding when to take your benefits:

1. Do you need the money now? If you need the money to live at age 62, you’ll need to start collecting it then. That’s when and why most people start taking the benefit. If you don’t need the money to live, however, you’ll need to consider questions 2-4.

2. Do you plan to keep working? If the answer is yes, you don’t want to take your benefits until you at least reach full retirement age. If you take them early and keep working, Social Security will deduct $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn over a certain amount of income.

3. What is your life expectancy? Do you have any health conditions? Do people in your family typically live for a long time, or die young? If you envision a long lifetime, you’ll want to wait to take benefits, because you’ll be losing years of increase in benefits. If you have a short life expectancy, you may want to start taking benefits early at age 62, so you don’t miss out on several years’ worth of benefits only to collect for a few years.

4. How much could you earn by investing the benefits if you took them early? You may not need the money to live on, but if you take the benefit, and then invest the full amount instead of spending it, you could potentially acquire a nest egg that is larger than the amount of extra benefits you would have received by waiting.

There is no one right time to take Social Security benefits, and it will depend on your circumstances. For more information on social security benefits, or for help calculating or applying for yours, visit the Social Security website.

Going Green: Things to Consider When Building Accessory Dwelling Unit

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Home Living: Going Green

The majority of home improvement projects reduce the resale or market value of a home. That is not, however, the case with accessory dwelling units. They are considered to be tools in the fight against climate change. Many of the people who are willing to make the investment in building ADU’s consider themselves to be environmental enthusiasts. ADU’s are more likely to add resourcefulness to property than a traditional renovation.

What is a Green Home?

A green home is a type of domicile created for the sole purpose of being environmentally friendly. The primary focus of green homes is to maintain sufficient use of building materials, water preservation, and energy conservation. Ideally, green homes should be healthier for the people living inside of it, compared to a standard home.

Benefits of Going Green

The benefit of green homes is that any home can be made into one or renovated later. ADU’s that have been constructed with environmentally friendly materials tend to be more robust and expensive to build. This is due to the number of high-quality building materials and rigorous construction processes they undergo.

People who live in green homes save more each month than those who live in traditional homes. People living in green homes also used significantly less energy and water in comparison to those who lived in standard homes.

Living in green homes could also mean a reduction in healthcare costs. For example, living in an eco-friendly home could mean fewer visits to the doctor. With the increasing number of insurance companies offering to discount policies that cover green homes, it’s safe to say that living in a green home can also cut back on insurance cost.

The Process

Building an eco-friendly home is a skill that changes consistently as more advancements in technology are made. With scientific breakthroughs emerging, the process you undergo to build a green dwelling today may be different for your neighbor tomorrow.

Building an ADU in Portland exclusively with environmentally eco-friendly materials does not have to be expensive. This is a process you can complete yourself, all at once, or over time. You can do this by building on your own land and adopting reuse practices. You may also want to consider installing energy efficient windows and environmentally friendly lighting.

If you go through a construction company, you may find that this can be an expensive process. Architects and traditional construction companies tend to charge additional fees to cover the amount of time spent researching the information needed to complete this type of process.

Green Home Building Companies

If you are able to partner with a green home building company, it will be a benefit in the long run. These type of companies save you time and money in the building process because of the amount of knowledge they have in this particular field.

These companies are considered low maintenance in operation as some of their practices include using rainwater as an alternative measure when installing plumbing fixtures. The purpose is to reduce water waste. They also ensure that no trash makes it into landfills. This is especially beneficial for the environment and ensures your ecological footprint leaves less of a mark.