Treatment Specialties

If you have a foot or ankle problem, you are not feeling the pain alone. Four out of every five Americans eventually suffer from some sort of foot problem. These problems can eventually cause pain throughout the skeletal structure, and manifest themselves as pain in the knee, hip or back.

Podiatrists are specially trained physicians whose clinical and surgical training allow them to diagnose foot and ankle problems and provide a treatment plan tailored to the specific needs of the patient.

Problems & Procedures

Diabetic Foot Care

People with diabetes are at a high risk for developing problems with their feet. More than half of diabetics lose sensation in their feet due to nerve or blood vessel damage, and can hurt themselves without knowing it. Diabetic patients can develop what we call neuropathy, which is a damaging effect to the nerves that makes it difficult to feel pain, pressure, heat and cold. To make things worse, diabetes slows healing and weakens the immune system, so what may seem like only a minor injury can quickly become a major problem for diabetics.

Dr. Axt and his staff are very experienced in treating diabetic patients. We perform a thorough podiatric evaluation, including a detailed medical history, foot examination, evaluation of the skin and blood supply and diagnostic testing, which can be very important, including doppler or ABI studies, to evaluate blood flow. We also do a simple test, called the Semmes-Weinstein test, in the office with a tuning fork in order to check the level of feeling in the foot. X-rays and other tests, such as bone scans and MRI, may also be utilized.

In many cases, the best treatment for diabetic patients is prevention. This may be accomplished by educating patients in the care and treatment of their feet. We train all of our diabetic patients to examine their feet on a regular basis with a schedule of podiatric care to help identify and prevent problems that can become long-term. Dr. Axt and his staff will examine your feet regularly, teach you about self-care, provide foot maintenance and recommend special footwear that may be needed.

Reconstructive Foot Surgery

Pain and discomfort in your feet and ankles can be relieved through reconstructive foot surgery, as many conservative treatments, protective pads or cushions, only provide temporary relief. When more conservative treatment methods fail or are not an option, reconstructive surgery is often effective in treating many foot disorders.

Surgery may be performed to treat conditions caused by:

Congenital defects
Improper footwear
Physical stress
Accidents

Infection
Neoplastic Disorders
Arthritic Disorders

It can also help alleviate pain from sprains, fractures, bunions, warts, corns, flatfeet and other common problems.

The surgery performed depends on the type and severity of the condition, but can restore function and stability to the foot, as well as relieving pain and restoring proper appearance. Surgery can involve any part of the foot and may involve tendon, bone, joint, tissue or skin repair. Screws, pins, wires and plates may be required to help the foot heal and ensure a full recovery. Reconstructive surgery can often be performed on an outpatient basis with minimally invasive techniques. Recovery time depends on the type of condition being treated.

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next