Houston Podiatrist | Manage Foot Heel Pain, Neuroma, Ingrown Toenails & Bunions

With summer in full swing, here’s a warning to make sure to put sunscreen in a place too often overlooked. The feet are ignored when it comes to protection from the sun and applying sunscreen. The feet are more exposed to sun this time of year — not just on the beach but also when wearing sandals and flip-flops. Therefore, sunscreen is a must. Checking for cancer and pre-cancerous spots is part of our regular exam at Diagnostic Foot Specialists. We urge everyone to look for them on your own. Skin cancers on the feet can have a worse fatality rate within five years of diagnosis compared to other skin cancers elsewhere on the body, mostly because of the delay in diagnosis and recognition. If you have any new or unusual spots on your feet, please call us so you can be screened for skin cancer of the foot

Both Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Derek Rose of the Bulls have injured their ankles during recent games. They are the leaders of their respective teams and both say they will play in the next game but how effective will they be.

An ankle sprain is an injury to one, two or three of the lateral ligaments that stabilize the ankle. The more of the ligaments injured, the more serious the injury and the longer it takes for recovery. Once a ligament is injured, it must heal thoroughly or else it will not function properly. This can result in someone becoming a “chronic ankle sprainer.”

The Lakers have tried to slow down Chris Paul but having him defended by Kobe, but the ankle sprain will certainly limit how effective that defensive philosophy will be. Your ankle needs to be stable to make the cuts that NBA players do as second nature and even Kobe Bryant can’t stay with Chris Paul if his ankle is not near 100%

Rose, on the other hand, uses his quickness as an offensive advantage. ESPN Sports Science says “He changes direction with cuts that take around two-tenths of a second, putting force on his body about three times his body weight. His speed and acceleration largely come from a vertical leap that places high pressure on the ligaments in his lower body that make him maybe the fastest baseline-to-baseline player in the history of the NBA.” The injured ankle will definitely slow his offense down, but he is such a team leader, that even at less than 100%, he needs to be on the floor

Many athletes receive Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy injections for injury like this. This procedure, where the athletes own blood is spun down to form a concentrate of growth and healing factors, can, according to some studies, decrease healing time by 50%. This treatment proved to be effective with the treatment of Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans last season.

Foot neuromas are common findings and are often referred to as intermetatarsal, interdigital or Morton’s neuroma. Symptoms may range from numbness, tingling, sharp pain or muscle cramping in the foot or toes. The most common treatment for this ailment usually consists of one or two cortisone injections. If relief is not obtained with the injections, most doctors will surgical excise the neuroma. An alternative treatment, which is the standard of care in our practice, is the injection of 4% alcohol sclerosing solution into the neuroma. This solution effects the transmission of pain from the nerve and therefore decreases or eliminates the pain. The treatment usually consists of a series of injections that is done in the office and can be done in a matter of minutes. In a recent study of 100 patients 82% had 100% relief from this non-surgical treatment for this common foot ailment. If you have been told that your neuroma requires surgical excision, make an appointment at Diagnostic Foot Specialists at 713-862-3338  or 979-774-3668