Iontophoresis is a procedure used to treat excessive sweating in the hands or feet. The procedure involves one or a series of short, 10- to 20-minute sessions in the doctor’s office during which a light electrical current is passed through water into the feet. The current is gradually increased until the patient experiences a slight tingling …
Physical therapy can often help decrease the pain and swelling in a painful area of the foot or ankle. Heel spurs, bursitis, plantar fasciitis, bunions, corns and calluses, as well as many post-operative surgical conditions, respond well to physical therapy. Common kinds of physical therapy may include hot packs, massage, paraffin baths, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, …
Neurolysis is a therapeutic procedure used to treat neuromas. During this nonsurgical procedure, the affected nerve is chemically destroyed via seven weekly injections of ethanol mixed with a local anesthetic. Because nerve tissue has an affinity for ethanol, it absorbs the substance, which, after repeated exposure, becomes toxic and destroys the pain-causing nerve. Neurolysis has a success …
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is used to treat chronic heel pain (plantar fasciitis). “Extracorporeal” means “outside of the body.” During this noninvasive procedure, sonic waves are directed at the area of pain using a device similar to that currently used in nonsurgical treatment of kidney stones. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy is prescribed for patients who …
Cryotherapy is a standard treatment for warts that uses a very cold substance (usually liquid nitrogen) to freeze and deaden the tissue. Cryotherapy can be done in a doctor’s office and takes less than a minute. During the procedure, the doctor applies the liquid nitrogen to the wart using a probe or a cotton swab. Liquid …
If untreated, skin blisters and cracks caused by Athlete’s Foot can cause serious bacterial infections. The treatment of Athlete’s Foot depends on the type and extent of the fungal infection, so it is important to consult our practice before choosing a therapy. Athlete’s Foot can usually be treated with antifungal creams. Re-infection is common, so it is …
Hammertoe is a deformity of the second, third, or fourth toes. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, causing it to resemble a hammer. Left untreated, hammertoes can become inflexible and painful, requiring surgery. Hammertoe surgery can be done on an outpatient basis in the doctor’s office or a surgery center using …
There are many kinds of toe problems requiring surgery. These include removal of: Bunions, an enlargement of the bone and tissue around the joint of the big toe. Hammertoes, which are frequently caused by an imbalance in the tendon or joints of the toes. Neuromas, an irritation of a nerve between the third and fourth …
A neuroma is an abnormality of a nerve that has been damaged either by trauma or as a result of an abnormality of the foot. Neuromas occur most often in the ball of the foot, causing a pinched and inflamed nerve. In cases of chronic nerve pain from neuromas, surgery may be recommended. During neuroma procedures, an …
Painful calluses on the ball of the foot are caused by an abnormal alignment of the metatarsal bones. There are five metatarsal bones in each foot, each consisting of the long bones behind each toe. The metatarsal bone behind the big toe is called the first metatarsal, and so on. The most common metatarsal surgery …
