Ingrown Toenails and Needle-Free Injection

We'll get you in right away!
Ingrown toenails can be very painful. In addition, if they are not treated early, an infection can set in.   Thus, we make sure that patients with ingrown toenails are seen right away.  Ingrown toenails usually resolve very quickly after the ingrown portion of the nail is removed.

Neuroma
If you have severe pain, or electric shock type pain, or numbness, or tingling, and often feel like you have to take off your shoe and rub bottom of your foot?you may have a "neuroma." This is a swelling of a nerve and you should come in for evaluation and treatment. Relief might only be only a few treatments away.

Neuroma is a sometimes painful nerve enlargement of one of the nerves of the body.  When it occurs within the foot it usually happens in one of the nerves going to the toes in the forefoot.  The nerve that a neuroma most commonly forms within is called the intermetatarsal nerve and is one of the many branches within the foot that have traveled from the spine. A neuroma can occur between any of the long bones (metatarsals) in the forefoot, but is most commonly encountered in the intermetatarsal nerve between the 3rd and 4th metatarsals and toes.  This is a Morton's neuroma as described Dr. Morton almost 100 years ago.  If a neuroma occurs between any of the other long bones, it is not called a Morton's neuroma, but is just called a neuroma.  Cold laser could be a very effective alternative treatment to traditional treatments.

Bunions
This bony bump on the outside edge of your big toe is a form of arthritis. It indicates that degenerative changes are taking place in the bone beneath. In fact, the bunion may be causing your first toe to push inward against your second toe and create a hammertoe. Not all bunions result in complete swinging-in of the big toe. There are simple bunions that appear on the side of a straight big toe and others on the top of the big toe joint, (as opposed to the side.)

Only surgery can clear up your problem once and for all. There are several different surgical procedures, and in most cases they are done on an ambulatory basis. There is no need for hospitalization for the average person. Some bunion procedures don't even require stitches after minimal incision.

Hammertoe
Hammertoe is a permanent deformity of one of your middle toes-probably the big toe's neighbor-in which the joint has become bent up and twisted.

Correcting a flexible hammertoe is classified as minor surgery. A flexible hammertoe is one that can be manually straightened out by putting pressure on the top to force it to lie flat.
Another type of hammertoe surgery can be performed when the hammertoe is more rigid. This is called arthroplasty. It can be done under local anesthesia and will permanently eliminate the pain. In both cases you can usually return to work immediately.

Corns
A corn is a hard, thickened area of skin found on the top of, the tip of, or between your toes. It's round and yellow. If yours is reddish, you've got an inflamed corn. A corn has a central core that descends into your flesh in a cone-shaped point killing all the normal cells in its way.

Chronic corns are caused by a hammertoe condition. Recurring corns can be eliminated through a minor surgical procedure. Additionally, collagen treatment brings relief to some corn sufferers and is the treatment of choice for those who are unable to undergo surgery.

Fungal Nails
Fungal toenail infections can occur after years of microtrauma to the toes, from shoes that don't fit properly.

When the nail matrix is infected, your best bet is to have the nail surgically removed. Anti-fungal drugs can also be applied to the nail, and can be combined with periodic professional cleaning of the nail.

Heel Spurs/Plantar Fasciitis
This is a bony protrusion on the bottom of your foot caused by a growth of calcium that has begun to project downward and is touching your plantar fascia. (The thick piece of tissue underneath the skin on the sole of your foot).

If your pain is acute, take an analgesic like Tylenol or another over-the counter painkiller. If this is not sufficient, ultrasound therapy, electrogalvanic stimulation, and special footbaths can help. Heel spur surgery is designed to correct whatever biomechanical problem is causing the spur in the first place.

Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation of the thick piece of tissue underneath the skin on the sole of your foot . It is often caused by unusual stress (increased exercise regime) and a biomechanical abnormality of the foot. It can be associated with a heel spur, a bony protrusion on the bottom of your foot caused by a growth of calcium that has begun to project downward and is touching your plantar fascia.
Proper stretching exercises, ultrasound therapy, Cold Laser will help significantly.   We can help a custom made orthotic to correct the abnormal stress on the plantar fascia. Other treatments include "Shock-Wave" therapy (Orthotripsy). Surgery is sometimes needed and is designed to correct whatever biomechanical problem is causing the spur in the first place.  

Calluses
Layers of dead, thickened skin that also form to protect bones and tissue. If you are on you feet a lot, you may need additional cushioning.  To reduce calluses, buff calluses with a pumice stone or brush. Apply moisturizer and wear socks to bed.  If calluses are caused by structural foot problems, you may need custom orthotics. Sore calluses are almost always the result of these problems, and they won't go away until the underlying problems are corrected. 

Tendonitis
What is tendonitis?  Tendonitis (also spelled tendinitis) is inflammation of a tendon.  What is a tendon? A tendon is a flexible connective tissue structure that connects a muscle to a bone.  Inflammation is the localized response of the body to injury caused by chemical, physical or biological agents. Most tendonitis that is seen by health care providers falls under the physical category and is related to overusing the tendon, most commonly in athletic endeavors.  The localized response of inflammation within and around a tendon is associated with several noticeable physical symptoms.  They are: redness, swelling, heat, pain, loss of function or motion of the tendon, and sometimes fever.  Tendonitis can affect any tendon of the body, but there are several tendons of the lower extremity that have a high likelihood of developing tendonitis.