Neuromas are extremely painful. Patients often experience pain and burning in their toes that is worse with shoes. Most often these neuromas are more common in women than men and usually become more painful with time. Some people feel pins and needles, some experience numbness and some just have a pain in their toes with walking. A neuroma usually occurs in the front of one's foot between the toes. Typically it is located between the 3rd and 4th metatarsals and affects woman in the 4th to 6th decade of life. High heel shoes and pointed shoes often make the pain worse and it is common to take off your shoes and want to rub the front of your foot.

One of the most highly successful therapy options we have available is injections of dehydrated alcohol. The alcohol acts to dehydrate the nerve and stop the transmission of the pain signal. In our clinic we use an ultrasound guided injection. This allows us to visualize the nerve and the needle at the same time making sure we inject perfectly every time. The success rate for this procedure and the elimination of pain approaches 90%. If you are contemplating surgery and would like a second opinion to see if this therapy is appropriate for you contact us today. 

If you are experiencing any foot or ankle pain, give us a call at 425-391-8666 or contact us online.

The questions that arise before bunion surgery are numerous. Here are some of the most common and their answers.

1. How long is the recovery following bunion surgery?

The recovery really depends on the procedure that is performed. Some bunion surgeries you can walk on immediately and some require a cast. The great news about our bunion surgeries is that none of them require any period of non-weight bearing. We use the latest technology to minimize down time.

2. Will my bunion come back?

The most important part of bunion surgery is proper procedure selection. There are many different types of bunion surgery so it is important to choose a podiatrist that treats a lot of bunions. We have treated thousands of bunions and always have two doctors present for your operation.

3. When can I get back to activities or running?

Again, this depends on the bunion procedure you required in order to fix the pathology. Some can resume activities in a few weeks and some it is a few months. It is very important to follow the post-operative instructions for the best results.

4. What is the post-operative course like?

We have taken years to develop our post-operative course to maximize the best possible outcomes for our patients. We start early, aggressive range of motion exercises and physical therapy. We see our patients get back to pre-surgical activity levels sooner and with less pain and swelling. We provide a list of supplements andactivities to our patients to improve healing times and range of motion.

In closing, the best advice I can give you is to see a podiatrist that preforms a lot of bunion surgeries. At Issaquah Foot & Ankle, we have the most advanced treatment protocols available for bunions. We have an onsite surgery center that can save both time and money. If you would like a second opinion or a first opinion we would love to help you. Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or contact us online to make an appointment today.

The weather is turning and we are all getting outdoors to enjoy it. Some of the more common conditions that begin to come into the office with this change are stress fractures and shin splints. Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, usually occurs with increased activities especially running. This syndrome is often characterized by pain running along the inside of one's legs or shin. There is typically no swelling and pain slowly increases with more physical activity. The average patient that develops shin splints have a foot that is pronating or flattening out too much.

In addition, usually a tight calf muscle is present and a recent change in activities. We have perfected an advanced protocol that is highly successful for patients with shin splints. Our clinic specializes in modern therapies for athletes that allow them to continue to exercise and resolve the pathology at hand. Shockwave therapy or EPAT, increases blood supply to the irritated tibia and helps restore muscle function. EPAT, extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology has been used on Olympic and professional athletes alike to help them return to activates faster and healthier. We have used this for years on our shin splint patients in conjunction with a prescription orthotic and stretching exercises and have seen excellent results. If you are sidelined and are ready to enjoy the summer please come visit us and we will help get you back on your feet.

Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or contact us online to make an appointment today.

Baseball season is just around the corner and foot and ankle injuries are commonplace with this warm weather sport. One of the most likely injuries with baseball is the ankle sprain. The ankle sprain can occur on the inside of the ankle, the outside of the ankle or even a high ankle sprain. The ankle sprain can lead to permanent pain or disability and is important to have evaluated. Initial treatment should be ice and an anti-inflammatory and no weight bearing until evaluated by a podiatrist. If pain and swelling persist it could be necessary to obtain and MRI to rule out any soft tissue damage.

Another common injury is heel pain, this can be from plantar fasciitis, heel bursitis or even a bone bruise to the heel bone. Players often experience pain with their first couple steps or pain at the end of the day. Stretching of the calf and icing of the heel are usually very helpful for this condition. However, it is important to have this evaluated to prevent it from getting worse and decrease the amount of time a player will be dealing with this condition. Overall, we recommend players do a warm up and then take a good 10 minutes to work on stretching of the lower extremity. Good luck and play ball!

If you are experiencing any foot or ankle pain, do not hesitate to call us at 425-391-8666 or contact us online.