A podiatrist is a specialist who focuses on your feet and ankles. We are quite simply "The Experts" on your feet, heels, and ankles and should be the very first doctor you call when you experience pain or other problems with them. In addition to heal pain, I've also listed many of the other problems podiatrists treat in this book.
The DPM after our name stands for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. Most people know that podiatrists deal with foot, heel, and ankle problems and work with seniors, or diabetics, or people with poor circulation; what most people don't know is that podiatrists treat patients of all ages. A podiatrist is also well-qualified to help children and young adults with the problems that they can experience with their feet, heels, and ankles. Podiatrists are required, just like any other doctor, to be liscensed by the state in which they practice. When medically necessary, podiatrists can perform surgery to correct or remedy problems. Before we recommend surgery, we will explore the many conservative therapies and remedies that are available for our patients and then recommend the very best treatment. As medical science advances and new therapies become available to the public, podiatrists are increasingly able to offer their patients some of the most state-of-the-art care available.
Conservative Heel Care
Also known as non-surgical treatment, conservative heel care is used to treat most heel problems with dramatic results. Any initial visit to a prodiatrist's office will start with a patient history and physical examination. Diagnostic x-rays and laboratory tests can also be used to help determine the best course treatment.
Non-surgical treatments are called for in most cases including medical conditions which preclude the option of elective surgery, time commitment constraints, and elderly patients with many medical conditions. In spite of not being able to opt for foot surgery many patients find great relief from pain and discomfort through the use of conservative heel care treatments.
Custom-made heel supports are known as orthotic devices and are worn under your heel and the arch of your foot. These devices are molded to be anatomically matched to your heel and they do more than just provide support. Orthotics are designed to realign your feet and heels to a neutral or natural position to alleviate pain in your feet, legs and back, as well as to restore balance, improve sports performance, and relieve foot fatigue.
Research shows that the majority of heel problems can be directly connected to skeletal imbalance. More and more people tend to have some amount of either hyperpronation (flat feet) or hypersupination (high arches). The prescence of these conditions can cause the heel to be unstable during normal everyday activity. This constant stress on the heel can lead to pain in the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips, and back. Orthotics can improve function in the heel by compensating for existing imbalances and in most cases can relieve or prevent the associated pains.
How do you know if the use of orthotics is right for you? If you have an obvious imbalance that causes such symtoms as flat feet or high arches, or if you have external misalignments such as "knock knees", "bow knees", in-toeing, or out-toeing you are probably a good candidate for orthotics. If you participate in an activity that places stress on your feet or if your work requires you to be on your feet for extended periods of time orthotics could be beneficial. The use of orthotics is just one of the conservative foot treatments used in our offices. They can be used to treat foot, heel, and arch pain and to prevent sports injuries or improve sports function. Orthotics can be used to treat children as well as adults. The best way to findout if orthotics can help you is to make an appointment with us for an exam.
ESWT
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy treatments use high power sound waves to end chronic heel pain without painful surgery. This treatment is now being offered by our office as an alternative to heel surgery. The discovery of ESWT came about somewhat by accident. Shock wave therapy is used regularly by urologists to break up and disperse kidney stones. Urologists began reporting that patients who had kidney stones treated showed increased bone density and new tissue growth. This led to studies for using shock wave therapy for soft tissue injuries and the results were amazing. 75 to 80% of patients with soft tissue injuries were reported to be healed or greatly improved following ESWT.
Shock wave therapy works by purposely targeting trauma at the pain site. This stimulates the diseased tissue and activates your body's own healing process. Blood and oxygen rush to the site, activating a metabolic response that fosters healing by the growth of new connective tissue. This is what becomes damaged and torn when you have plantar fasciitis or heel spur pain. The most important and exciting aspects of ESWT are that it ends the pain, the procedure is not painful, there isn't a lengthy recovery period, and there are no side effects.
Autologous Platelet Concentrate
Autologous Platelet Concentrate is a procedure that is done to stimulate healing. Blood is drawn from the patient, spun in a centrifuge, and the platelets (the growth and healing factors of the blood) are drawn out afterwards. After the platelets are drawn out, they are re-injected into the damaged tissue in the plantar fascia. This stimulates healing at a rate of five times more quickly than the healing rate of normal blood vessels.
Foot and Ankle Surgery
In a few cases heel problems do not respond to conservative treatments. A podiatrist can best determine when surgery might be beneficial. In cases when pain or deformity persists surgery may be needed to restore full function.
Prior to surgery a podiatric surgeon will review your medical history and perform an examination. Specific medical tests may be required before undergoing surgery. These tests may include X-Rays, blood tests, urinalysis, and blood flow studies to determine the circulatory status of your feet and legs.
The length and method of postoperative care that is needed is determined by the type of surgery performed. All postoperative care includes some degree of rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Other elements can include bandages, splints, surgical shoes, casts, crutches, and canes. Recovery can be quickened by carefully following your podiatrists's instructions.
There are a wide variety of non-surgical treatments being used by podiatrists today. Cortisone injections, oral and topical medications, and heeling taping or strapping are all examples of conservative heel care. Other options are exercise, custom-made walking shoes, physical therapy, and orthotics.
Orthotics
Custom-made heel supports are known as orthotic devices and are worn under your heel and the arch of your foot. These devices are molded to be anatomically matched to your heel and they do more than just provide support. Orthotics are designed to realign your feet and heels to a neutral or natural position to alleviate pain in your feet, legs and back, as well as to restore balance, improve sports performance, and relieve foot fatigue. How do you know if the use of orthotics is right for you? If you have an obvious imbalance that causes such symtoms as flat feet or high arches, or if you have external misalignments such as "knock knees", "bow knees", in-toeing, or out-toeing you are probably a good candidate for orthotics. If you participate in an activity that places stress on your feet or if your work requires you to be on your feet for extended periods of time orthotics could be beneficial. The use of orthotics is just one of the conservative foot treatments used in our offices. They can be used to treat foot, heel, and arch pain and to prevent sports injuries or improve sports function. Orthotics can be used to treat children as well as adults. The best way to findout if orthotics can help you is to make an appointment with us for an exam.
ESWT
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy treatments use high power sound waves to end chronic heel pain without painful surgery. This treatment is now being offered by our office as an alternative to heel surgery. The discovery of ESWT came about somewhat by accident. Shock wave therapy is used regularly by urologists to break up and disperse kidney stones. Urologists began reporting that patients who had kidney stones treated showed increased bone density and new tissue growth. This led to studies for using shock wave therapy for soft tissue injuries and the results were amazing. 75 to 80% of patients with soft tissue injuries were reported to be healed or greatly improved following ESWT.
Shock wave therapy works by purposely targeting trauma at the pain site. This stimulates the diseased tissue and activates your body's own healing process. Blood and oxygen rush to the site, activating a metabolic response that fosters healing by the growth of new connective tissue. This is what becomes damaged and torn when you have plantar fasciitis or heel spur pain. The most important and exciting aspects of ESWT are that it ends the pain, the procedure is not painful, there isn't a lengthy recovery period, and there are no side effects.
Autologous Platelet Concentrate
Autologous Platelet Concentrate is a procedure that is done to stimulate healing. Blood is drawn from the patient, spun in a centrifuge, and the platelets (the growth and healing factors of the blood) are drawn out afterwards. After the platelets are drawn out, they are re-injected into the damaged tissue in the plantar fascia. This stimulates healing at a rate of five times more quickly than the healing rate of normal blood vessels.
Foot and Ankle Surgery
In a few cases heel problems do not respond to conservative treatments. A podiatrist can best determine when surgery might be beneficial. In cases when pain or deformity persists surgery may be needed to restore full function.
Prior to surgery a podiatric surgeon will review your medical history and perform an examination. Specific medical tests may be required before undergoing surgery. These tests may include X-Rays, blood tests, urinalysis, and blood flow studies to determine the circulatory status of your feet and legs.
The length and method of postoperative care that is needed is determined by the type of surgery performed. All postoperative care includes some degree of rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Other elements can include bandages, splints, surgical shoes, casts, crutches, and canes. Recovery can be quickened by carefully following your podiatrists's instructions.
Also, stop in the office at anytime and ask for our "Kick Heel Pain" book to get all the information you can want and need. visit us at 1725 Western Ave., Ste. C, online at http://www.vailfoot.com/, or give us a call to set up an appointment at (419) 423-1888
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