Finding Pain Relief in Your Feet
Your feet.
They take you from here to there each and every day. Month after month and year after year, your feet work tirelessly, and yet they seem to be the most underestimated part of our bodies.
But did you know that over the course of a single day, your feet normally take a cumulative force of 200 tons? This is possible due to parts such as the Achilles tendon, which happens to be the strongest tendon in your body. And, as the average person walks 110,000 miles throughout their lifetime – don’t even try to do the math! – it is mind-boggling how often we tend to neglect our feet.
The point is, your feet are the natural shock absorbers of your body. And, being the heroes that they are, we should start paying closer attention to them.
Many of us can go days without taking more than a passing glace at our feet until one day we wake up with that pain, that lump, or that itch. It may begin as minor inconvenience, then suddenly it takes over your life. No more morning jogs, no more wearing your favorite pair of shoes – just pain and aggravation.
There is good news, however. Here at Southern California Foot & Ankle Specialists we provide some of the most advanced and respected podiatry services in the region. Maybe you are just now starting to notice a bunion, or maybe heel pain is making your workdays unbearable. Maybe you have been diagnosed with diabetes or you just want to stay on top of your foot health.
If you are looking for expert foot care, we offer great services to fit your specific needs – from heel pain and bunions to flat feet and sports injuries.
Want to know more about some of our services? Keep reading! Or just visit our service page online.
Digital X-Rays
The right treatment starts with the right diagnosis. That being said, some cases cannot – and should not – be diagnosed before taking a closer look at what may be going on internally. Digital X-ray machines are the tools that come into play whenever we need to pinpoint exactly where and how the injury occurred.
X-ray machines have been around for over 100 years, and throughout the decades, this method has been continuously improved – they are faster, safer and overall better for both patients and doctors. We are able to provide this service within our office and without having to refer our patients elsewhere.
Ankle Arthroscopy
The name may sound a little scary, but this type of surgery is actually a great advancement in the surgical world. Through this method, ankle surgery can now be minimally invasive.
Here is how Ankle Arthroscopy works: we use a metal tube a little smaller than a pencil, which is inserted through a tiny incision in the skin. This metal tube contains a camera, light, and tiny tools at its end. This allows the captured images to be projected onto a screen which enables us to efficiently maneuver the tools beneath the skin.
Because the images are magnified on a screen and the incision is so small, it is easier for us to quickly locate and correct the damage without causing too much disruption to the surrounding tissue. This results in a significantly shorter recovery period.
Wondering for which type of conditions this procedure is used? Well, here are some:
- Repairing damaged cartilage or ligaments
- Extracting loose fragments
- Removing painful bone spurs
If ankle arthroscopy is a consideration for your condition, we will be sure to explain how exactly it would benefit you.
Biomechanical Evaluations
Since taking your very first steps, walking has become second nature. Kick out one foot, connect heel to the ground, and then the rest of your foot follows. Bring your other foot forward and do the same.
It may sound like a simple task, but whenever this movement deviates even slightly from the ideal walking-gait, you can potentially be exerting too much strain on your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints.
Before you know it, a sharp pain on your heel is there every morning or your ankles scream out in protest whenever you try to move them around – that is what we call flawed, or bad, biomechanics. And, we can help you with that too!
Whenever your walking gait is flawed, you are at a higher risk for developing these conditions and many others:
- Ankle sprains
- Pinched nerves
- Sports injuries
- Heel pain
- Bunions
As is true with most things, being prepared and taking preventative measures is the key. So, if you are experiencing any pain or if you have noticed that the way you walk is just not quite right, we have the tools to perform biomechanical evaluations to clarify what exactly may be the issue.
Once we know the exact imbalance that is at play, we can recommend the best treatment to address it, including physical therapy or custom orthotics.
Worker’s Comp
Although we treat a multitude of conditions – from ingrown toenails to sports injuries – our medical professionals are also experienced in workers’ comp foot or ankle cases.
Unfortunately, we are aware that injuries can happen even when we are just trying to do our jobs. So, we are dedicated to providing the best foot care available to ensure that your recovery goes as quickly and safely as possible.
Second Opinions
We always welcome providing second opinions as well. Here at Southern California Foot & Ankle Specialist we understand that human error is very much a reality – gathering as much information and insight as you can before moving forward with any type of treatment is always a good idea.
Maybe you have just received a diagnosis or treatment recommendation from a doctor, but you still have some lingering questions or doubts. Or maybe you just want a set of fresh eyes to look over an already existing condition. No matter your situation, we are happy to help you!
Contact Us Today!
So, if your feet are giving you grief or if you just want to stay on top of your foot health, come visit Southern California Foot & Ankle Specialists at our Ladera Ranch office. You can call us at (949) 364-9255 and schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. Or, if you prefer, you can request an appointment online through our handy contact form.