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

Hate Your Foot, Not the Shoes

dfstexas — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:01:45 +0000

A bunion is a bump the protrudes on the side of your foot just behind your big toe. This condition is usually inherited and becomes irritated by your shoe but not caused by it. As part of the problem your big toe maybe leaning towards or overlapping your second toe

The question most people want to know, how did I get a bunion? The bunion is not a “growth” of bone, but rather a bone that has moved out of position. As the bone, in this case, the first metatarsal moves further and further, you begin to see a bump and eventually your big toe moves toward the second toe. This knob on your foot can be very painful, especially when wearing tight, stylish, high healed, constricting shoes.

We at Diagnostic Foot Specialists perform the “mini-tight rope bunionectomy “ which repositions the bone that has moved and is out of alignment. This procedure allows for correction of painful bunions without the cutting and fixating of the bone that a traditional bunionectomy requires.

Don’t hate the shoes…. Get the bunion fixed and wear your beautiful shoes again pain free.

Contact Diagnostic Foot Specialists for more information and to schedule an appointment

Bryan/ College Station Laser Toenail Fungus Removal

dfstexas — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:11:29 +0000

Diagnostic Foot Specialists, located at the Physicians Centre in Bryan, now uses a laser to treat toenail fungus. The treatments use specially designed laser beams, which goes through the toenail and safely reduces the infection in the nail bed that cause Onychomycosis — more commonly known as toenail fungus.

The laser toenail fungus removal procedure requires three safe, quick treatments with little or no discomfort. The toenail laser fungus treatment is performed in the office with no anesthesia. The gentle laser light beam has no effect on healthy tissue and will treat only the infected area of the toenail. No oral drugs are used in the laser toenail fungus removal treatment, eliminating the total-body side effects of traditional oral medications.

Many clinical studies show that laser toenail fungus treatment is safe, reduces fungal infection, and promotes clear toenail growth with the three simple treatments. If you suffer from embarrassing toenail fungus and want to find out if this treatment can help you, call our office to make an appointment at (979) 774-3668

Houston Bunion Surgery Need Not Be Long and Painful

dfstexas — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 04:48:25 +0000

Dr. Leisten has been now using a new surgical procedure for the correction of the painful bunion deformity via a device called the “Mini-Tightrope” for about 3 years. The Mini-Tightrope type bunionectomy eliminates the need to correct the bunion deformity with an osteotomy and screws. The Mini Tightrope employs a strong non-absorbable “Fiberwire” that is use to correct joint misalignment. Advantages to the Mini-Tightrope procedure include immediate weight bearing, prevention of recurrence of the deformity, no bone healing involvement allowing for a quicker healing time and the more rapid return to normal activity

Mini-Tightrope Bunionectomy Heals Faster Than Most Traditional Procedures

dfstexas — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:06:51 +0000

Houston Ankle Sprains can be a PRICEless Inconvenience

dfstexas — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:13:30 +0000

There’s no question, ankle sprains are inconvenient! They usually occur from turning the foot in while it is pointed down. When this occurs there is an abnormal amount of stress on the ligaments on the lateral or outside of the ankle. You can tear this ligament; and if the injury is severe, you can tear all three ligaments or even worse, break your ankle or a bone in your foot. Most commonly it is the front one that is injured.

However, the treatment is not the same as it was in the past. Now, many sports medicine specialists believe best thing to do with an ankle sprain is to walk on it in a boot or brace. So, if you injure your ankle remember this PRICElees information to treat your ankle. The first thing you want to do is Protect it with a little stirrup splint on it to protect the joint; then, start walking on it. If you can tolerate walking on it without an assistive device, like crutches or a cane, do that. However, if you need a cane or crutch for a few days, use it. Weight bear as you can tolerate while protected with a splint, the better off you are going to be. The evidence tells us that you are going to recover faster and easier.

Immediate treatment is PRICE – Protection (splint); Rest (not walking around doing your normal activities); Ice; Compression (wrap it); Elevate it (elevate your foot frequently throughout the day). This all done immediately helps the healing process.

The doctors at Diagnostic Foot Specialists also offer Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy to speed up the healing time of ankle injuries along with other soft tissue ailments of the foot and ankle

Full recovery requires you to be able to squat completely, look the same on both sides with no pain, duck walk, sprint, and run with fast cuts going right and left. If you can do all those things, then you can return to your activities like playing basketball.

Skin Cancer of the Feet–Commonly Overlooked

dfstexas — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:03:40 +0000

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

Crocs: Comfy, Colorful…But What About Support?

dfstexas — Sat, 14 May 2011 14:42:15 +0000

Like them or loathe them, Crocs are (likely) here to stay as a footwear choice for Houston-area residents. Sure, they are durable, colorful, and comfortable, but how do Crocs fare from a foot support standpoint?

Not too bad, actually. According to WebMD.com, some doctors are even recommending them to patients with foot problems.

“These shoes are especially light,” says Harold Glickman, DPM, former president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). “They have huge room in the toe that affords the front part of the foot lots of room, especially for people with bone deformities like bunions and hammer toe.”

For people with diabetes, Crocs offer added value in the protection they provide. Because people with diabetes have reduced circulation in their feet, Glickman says, they’re at higher risk for open sores and wound infection. The spare room and antibacterial properties of Crocs help combat these problems.

“I do not have stock in the company or work for the company, but I recommend them to patients all the time, and I wear them all the time,” Glickman tells WebMD. “I wear them when I’m operating for three or four hours at a time and I get the sense I’m standing on water — no leg pain, no back painback pain, and no arch pain.”

Is a sprain ankle going to sideline Kobe Bryant and Derek Rose for the playoffs??

dfstexas — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:45:28 +0000

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.

Non-surgical Treatment of Foot Neuromas in Houston/Bryan Texas

dfstexas — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:21:10 +0000

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

No “Kid”-ding: April is National Foot Health Awareness Month!

dfstexas — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:14:43 +0000

(The following is excerpted from the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Website, APMA.org.)

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, and the APMA is putting its best foot forward to help combat the epidemic of childhood obesity.

APMA’s “Podiatrist Keeps America Moving” campaign shines the spotlight on childhood obesity and how proper foot health plays a vital role in keeping children active and healthy. In addition to a good diet and routine exercise, a visit to your local Diagnostic Foot Specialists office can help keep the feet of Houston-area children pain-free, which encourages kids to remain active and stay fit.

Diagnostic Foot Specialist Dr. Amy Haase is our pediatric foot care specialist. Dr. Haase has years of experience in providing the specialized care–kind words, a warm smile, and an easy-going demeanor– that her young paients enjoy and their parents/guardians appreciate.

Contact Diagnostic Foot Specialists of Houston today for more information: 713-862-3338 (FEET).