Jane Andersen, DPM

Caring.com Expert

About

Jane Andersen, DPM, is a podiatrist in private practice in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Indiana University at Bloomington. She then attended the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California, followed by a three-year advanced surgical residency at Stanford University Medical Center and DVAMC in Palo Alto, California. She is board certified in foot surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

Dr. Andersen provides care to all types of patients and especially enjoys seeing the geriatric population in her area. As a podiatrist, she uses conservative care and surgery to treat all aspects of foot and ankle pathologies, including foot pain, deformities, injuries, and skin diseases, as well as bone and joint diseases. She also values preventative care, especially in patients with diabetes or vascular disease.

Dr. Andersen is the past president of the American Association for Women Podiatrists, Inc. She is also a member of the Public Education and Information Committee of the American Podiatric Medical Association. She has been interviewed for and featured in many television shows, radio shows, and magazine and newspapers articles, including USA Today, the New York Times, Oprah Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, and Working Mother.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Friday December 02, 2011

    1. What could be some causes for ankle swelling?

      Answer - There are multiple causes of ankle swelling. If the swelling is limited to one ankle, it can be caused by tendinitis, a cyst or other soft tissue mass, varicose veins, trauma, infection or arthritis, amongst other things.

  2. Friday June 10, 2011

    1. What could be causing dad's hot, itchy feet at night?

      Answer - There are several possible causes of hot and itchy feet. One of the more common causes is athlete's foot, a fungal infection of the skin. With this problem, you will likely see scaling, flaking or cracking of the skin on the bottom of the feet or between the toes...

  3. Thursday May 12, 2011

    1. Why do I get cramping in the arch of my right foot when exercising?

      Answer - There are several reasons you might be experiencing foot cramps while exercising. Here are some ideas and tips: 1. Dehydration can be a cause, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your pilates class. 2. Cramping can also be caused by a lack of potassium or calcium in your system...

  4. Saturday March 19, 2011

    1. What would cause a stinging feeling in the pads of my toes?

      Answer - There are many causes of tingling, burning or stinging in the pads of the toes. Depending on the location and which toes, it can be caused by a benign enlargement of a nerve in your foot called a neuroma. Another possibility is a condition where a nerve gets trapped at the level of the ankle...

  5. Thursday February 24, 2011

    1. Should we see a podiatrist about a black toenail caused by neuropathy?

      Answer - Black toenails are usually caused by a collection of blood under the nail. If it's a recent event, the blood can and should be drained. If not, the black discoloration will slowly grow out over time.

  6. Thursday January 13, 2011

    1. What might my mom's unexplained but severe foot pain be?

      Answer - There are so many different things that could be causing pain and swelling in your mom’s foot. Sometimes, unfortunately, the true diagnosis isn’t always obvious to even the best of doctors right away. If I were seeing your mom, there are several steps I might consider ta...

  7. Sunday December 26, 2010

    1. I have foot pain but my podiatrist says the swollen area is just fat!

      Answer - When a patient comes to see their podiatrist for foot pain, sometimes it is difficult to diagnose. Your foot's reaction to the treatment so far is very valuable information in establishing the true cause of your problem. There are many causes of pain in the back of the foot including tendinitis, arthritis, fractures and stress fractures to name just a few...

  8. Friday October 01, 2010

    1. What could cause chronic leg pain?

      Answer - Sometimes pain that radiates down the legs is caused by problems with the lower back, but it’s difficult to diagnose your pain without a physical examination. You should first be evaluated by your primary care doctor. He or she can determine if you should see an orthopedist or a neurologist. Yourur heel pain is best evaluated by a podiatrist...

  9. Monday September 13, 2010

    1. What can be done for skin breaks between my toes?

      Answer - Often times, skin cracks or breaks between the toes are caused by a fungal infection known as athlete's foot. It can cause itching and burning as well. This type of skin infection should be treated with topical antifungal medication. There are several good over the counter products like Lamisil and Lotrimin...

  10. Friday July 09, 2010

    1. Are swollen feet and legs normal after hip surgery?

      Answer - You should absolutely contact your orthopedic surgeon. It could be a sign of a blood clot and should be evaluated as soon as possible.

  11. Tuesday May 11, 2010

    1. How Can I Help Dry Ashy Feet?

      Answer - There are many reasons for dry, ashy feet. Simple dry skin is one of them and should respond to a good moisturizer such as Eucerin or Bag Balm. Another common cause of scaly skin on the feet is fungus, commonly called athlete’s foot. If you have been using a good moisturizer on your mother’s feet eet...

  12. Monday April 05, 2010

    1. What can be done for burning, painful feet?

      Answer - Your friend’s burning feet can be caused by a variety of reasons. Peripheral neuropathy is the most likely cause. Peripheral neuropathy is a disease that can cause numbness, tingling, or terrible burning in the feet, especially at night. Neuropathy has many causes, including diabetes, alcohol abubuse...

  13. Sunday November 22, 2009

    1. Can toenail fungus cause numbness?

      Answer - Your husband has two very common problems associated with aging: toenail fungus and numbness in the feet. It is important to realize, however, that these problems are not linked. Toenail fungus is caused by a variety of common fungi that can also cause athlete's foot...

  14. Thursday November 12, 2009

    1. What can I do about recurring calluses on my feet?

      Answer - Recurrent foot calluses are a very difficult problem. There is no permanent cure for many types of calluses. There are ways to help your pain including regular trimmings by a podiatrist, use of creams(such as urea based creams like Carmol), and custom orthotics which can take the pressure off the painful areas...

  15. Saturday October 24, 2009

    1. What is the best way to treat plantar fascitis?

      Answer - There are many ways to treat plantar fasciitis (a common pain on the bottom of the heel or the arch). Initial treatment should include the following: • Avoid walking barefoot • Stretching exercises (for the foot and calf) • Good supportive shoes • Over the counter arch supports, with a firm arch • arch • Massage with a frozen bottle of water...

    2. Is recurring foot pain common?

      Answer - Sometimes gout (an arthritis caused by an increase in the uric acid in your body) can cause chronic pain. More commonly, though, gout will cause acute, sudden pain with redness, heat and swelling in a single joint, commonly in the foot. The only way to accurately diagnose gout is by analyzing the fluid from the painful joint...

    3. I have chronic athlete's foot fungus... it's awful.

      Answer - You may need to see your podiatrist for evaluation and treatment. In a difficult case of athletes foot (fungus) like yours, he or she may take a sample of your skin or nails to accurately diagnose your problem. They may prescribe a different medication than you have already used (be sure to bring a list of what you have tried and for how long)...

  16. Wednesday October 21, 2009

    1. Are Swollen Feet a Warning Sign?

      Answer - Your father should discuss his condition with his doctor, but it's not an automatic cause for alarm. Although swollen feet aren't a normal part of aging, swelling does happen more commonly among older adults. Because swelling (edema) can have many causes, it's sometimes a warning sign of a problem -- but not always...

  17. Tuesday October 20, 2009

    1. What Causes Toenails to Become Thick and Yellow?

      Answer - There are many possible causes of yellowing, thickened toenails. The two most common are fungus and trauma.

  18. Thursday October 01, 2009

    1. How foods help gout pain?

      Answer - While there are no foods that have been proven to relieve symptoms of a severe gouty attack, there is some anecdotal evidence that tart cherry juice may be helpful. Food choices are extremely important in preventing attacks. It is important to avoid these types of foods: • beer • wine (especiallyally...

    2. Could these foot problems be serious?

      Answer - Any lump, especially if it is new, should be examined by your podiatrist for a diagnosis. There are many possible reasons for a lump (including an abscess), some of which are serious and some of which are not. An abscess is usually serious, and often requires antibiotics.

  19. Wednesday August 26, 2009

    1. What Can I Do About an Open Sore on the Foot That Won't Heal?

      Answer - A foot that has an open sore that isn't healing should be evaluated by a podiatrist or other physician for diagnosis and treatment. If the wound has been present for a while, it needs medical care both in order to avoid infection and in order to see what the underlying cause might be.

    2. What's the Best Way to Deal With Swollen Feet and Ankles?

      Answer - The first and best way to bring down swelling (edema) in the feet and ankles is to find and treat the underlying cause, if there is one. That's why you should bring the problem to the attention of a doctor or other healthcare provider when you notice an increase in swelling in one or both feet that doesn't go down or is accompanied by pain or redness...

  20. Friday July 17, 2009

    1. How Do I Trim an Older Person's Toenails?

      Answer - The best way to trim the toenails of an older adult at home is to trim them straight across, if possible. Rounding the edges encourages ingrown toenails. If the nails are thick, try soaking the feet in warm water prior to trimming.