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admin, Author at Anderson Podiatry Center - Page 13 of 21 Anderson Podiatry Center

admin, Author at Anderson Podiatry Center - Page 13 of 21 Anderson Podiatry Center

Author: admin

Sports and Exercise Training – Ouch! What do I do if I’m Injured? Part 2

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Sports and Exercise Training – Ouch! What do I do if I’m Injured? Part Two of Two

By Anderson Podiatry Center, in consult with Dr. Stephen Wilkinson, DPM, Sports Medicine Specialist at Anderson Podiatry Center

Injury Treatment Plan
In our last blog we covered the steps Dr Wilkinson takes to obtain a complete analysis that forms the basis of a sound and effective treatment plan for foot and ankle and lower extremity injuries. Those who become injured during training can benefit from an efficient, effective treatment plan to keep downtime to a minimum and still be able to reach their fitness or event goals.

This time we’ll explore some of the nutritional, physical and mental approaches Dr Wilkinson uses to help you get past your injury, get to your event or goal and help prevent future occurrences.

At Anderson Podiatry Center and our Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dr Wilkinson uses a mind and body restorative process and training redirection to help you meet your goals. This includes addressing nutrition, sleep, mental attitude, injury mechanism, training or exercise schedule as well as equipment and the potential of your current injury. He thereby devises a rehabilitation program specific to your needs. Advanced modalities are used when needed to accelerate healing. The following explains his approach to these individual parts of the rehabilitation process:

Moving Past your Injury – Focus On:

1. Nutrition

  • Although a basic nutrient allocation of 20-30% fat, 10-30% protein, and 45-65% carbs is optimal for those with an active lifestyle, requirements of activity, work and family make this easier said than done. Dietary balance should also be adjusted based upon the unique situation of each athlete. I.e. heavier athletes may include weight loss as a goal, and injured athletes may benefit from an adjustment in the recommended nutritional ratios and/or additional supplements.
  • It is not uncommon to see deficits in calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and iron. Test values are used to indicate replacement or supplements in the correct combination.

2. Sleep

  • The demands of modern life have contributed to a Healthy People.gov report that approximately 25% of average Americans have insufficient sleep half of the time. This, unfortunately, includes athletes, who have increased sleep demands during training, injury or illness. Sleep evaluation and intervention often involves a sincere allotment of time per daily and required activities, in addition to assessment with regards to activity required for sports goal success. Lower priority activities may need to be curtailed: a potentially tough decision but something’s gotta give to provide the long-term sleep requirements for progress in training and/or injury healing.
  • When sleep requirements for training exceeds the amount of daily sleep time available, additional time may be needed to safely reach goals despite many athletes’ desires to charge forward. Here, the vision and experience of a sports medicine consultant can be essential.

3. Mental Attitude

  • Possibly the most beneficial development that occurs when we strive to achieve more involved fitness or event goals is the process through which athletes improve their mental attitude. Improvement in self-confidence and improved self-image can often elevate an athlete’s success capacity beyond what was formerly believed. Important in this process is the conscious control of physical and emotional stress which must include appropriate and attainable goals and small interval reward breaks to allow for physical healing and mental reward for a job well done.
  • Visualization and self-talk, either alone or with a motivation/visualization coach is important preparation for success. Mental preparation and mental toughness require the acceptance of a fluid process with ups and downs in reaching a goal. The ultimate success of this process involves arriving at the final event both physically and mentally prepared.

4. Injury Mechanism

In foot, ankle and lower extremity sports injuries, understanding the injury mechanism is critical to successful intervention. In sports injuries, even in the most complex cases, there is typically a single event or pattern of recurring events that is at fault.

  • Single act injuries are often improved and resolved by isolation, rest, and regeneration.
  • Injuries from chronic repetitive mechanisms can often be overcome through improved balance and redirection of forces to other targeted areas.

The sports medicine consultant can be essential in determining the offending mechanism and developing a recovery program for effective intervention.

5. Training or exercise guidance: schedule and equipment

Once the site and mechanism of injury are identified, a training schedule and specific rehabilitative equipment can be utilized to isolate injury areas, protect healing tissue, and strengthen supportive structures to allow for recovery. Often previously ignored core strengthening exercises, including those for posture and balance, can be performed on readily available equipment such as treadmills and ellipticals. We target larger protective muscle groups and pay specific attention to joint alignment and position, which can have a significant impact on energy utilization and other muscle function. Core strengthening and joint mechanics are often ignored by athletes due to time constraints or lack of specific training with regards to their importance. Attention to these areas in training not only promotes injury healing but also may elevate the athletes post-injury performance above pre-injury levels.

6. The potential of your current injury

The importance of understanding the athletes’ degree of injury and potential recovery cannot be overstated. Most injuries can be overcome with simple interventions. Occasionally, the extent of injury and the recovery potential requires an adjustment in goals and/or time to reach those goals. Additionally, some injuries may require advanced modalities such as prescription orthotics, regenerative medicine modalities, or corrective surgical interventions. As stated previously, appropriate evaluation and management with a clear understanding of time table and athlete goals is essential to success. Sports medicine consultants with proven event success can be essential to this process.

7. Advanced Modalities

These can include custom orthotics and regenerative medicine products:

  • Orthotics: custom-made shoe inserts that are designed to correct abnormal or irregular foot or leg biomechanics. While over-the-counter foot orthotics are available and may help people with mild symptoms, they normally cannot correct the wide range of symptoms that prescription foot orthotics can. Prescription orthotics are custom made to fit an individual’s unique foot structure. If you exercise and train often, you most likely can benefit from an orthotic that best addresses your particular activity, shoe gear, and foot type.
  • Regenerative medicine: an exciting new option for fast healing with little downtime, these products stimulate your body at the cellular level, giving it the power to regenerate injured joints and tissues. At Anderson Center for Regenerative Medicine, we use three types of regenerative medicine products.

If you have an important goal to accomplish and are hindered by running or exercise pain, foot problems or injury, ankle injuries, plantar fasciitis or other problems, give Dr Wilkinson a call at Anderson Podiatry Center and Anderson Center for Regenerative Medicine. He is ready to listen and understand, and to help.

To make an appointment with Dr. Wilkinson, Click HERE

Dr. Wilkinson is an ultra-runner, having completed many 50 and 100-mile races. As a Podiatrist who has successfully weathered his own sports injuries in the past, Dr. Wilkinson enjoys working with patients who are also athletes pursuing their own fitness goals. He believes in injury prevention through gait analysis, biomechanics, and sound, reasonable training techniques but is also an astute provider of clinical and surgical methodology to help return injured athletes to their playing field. Learn more about sports medicine injury treatment

Judy’s Story: Finally, Relief from Neuropathy

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Judy Schmidt was at the end of her rope. After more than 20 years of debilitating neuropathy, countless doctors’ appointments, and pain that just wouldn’t let up, she was ready to quit. Finally, she found hope for her neuropathic pain.

Life Before Neuropathy

Judy was a woman with a life. She had run a successful business for more than 30 years, and had no plans to stop. She was a wife and a mother, and had a very active social life. She walked five miles every night, and loved to dance with her husband. Life was good as she experienced no symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

A Devastating Diagnosis

Suddenly, Judy started to feel burning in her feet. “It just kept getting worse and worse. I went to the doctor, and he said I had neuropathy, or tarsal tunnel syndrome,” Judy says.

“The pain was getting so bad that I couldn’t sleep at night, and I had to go on narcotics. I eventually had to end my career five years earlier than I wanted to because the pain was so severe.”

In a Wheelchair

“I ended up in a wheelchair because I just couldn’t walk any more. I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t go to the store. And, I couldn’t feel my feet anymore, yet I was in excruciating pain 24/7,” Judy says.

She tried everything. Acupuncture, chiropractic care, medication. “They recommended that to reduce the pain we put a pain pump in my stomach to release medicine constantly in my system, and I refused,” says Judy.

She was ready to travel across the country for treatment. “I tried to get into several major hospitals, but they said there was nothing they could do for me.”

Ready to Give Up

“I became a recluse,” Judy recalls, “I didn’t go out with friends anymore, because I couldn’t walk and keep up with the social activities.”

After two nervous breakdowns from being in nonstop pain, and a diminished quality of life, Judy was ready to give up on her nervous system and peripheral nerves. “I’m not that kind of person, I always try to stay very positive and think there’s someone out there who has it worse than me. But, the pain wears you down mentally, and I just got to the point I didn’t want to live anymore.”

A Daughter Steps In

Judy’s daughter Tammy saw that her mom was on a downward spiral. “I felt that I was losing my mom and it was time to do something,” Tammy says. As a nurse who had spent 20+ years in the medical field, Tammy was determined to find a solution.

She went online, did her research, found Dr. Anderson, and made an appointment.

Finally, Joy

Both of Judy’s daughters made the trip from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins to take Judy to see Dr. Anderson, and they finally felt like they had a solution. “They believed in him immediately, and they were dancing in the exam room,” Judy says.

Dr. James Anderson, DPM, says “Judy was suffering from severe neuropathy and nerve pain, and was a great candidate for nerve decompression surgery in both legs.”

Nerve decompression surgery takes less than an hour, patients can walk the next day, and most patients experience little to no pain during recovery.

Judy’s Life Today

Just a few weeks after surgery, Judy came back to see Dr. Anderson, and this time, she was crying tears of joy.

“I moved my toes for the first time in twenty years. I felt the pedal of the car, and carpet under my toes, and I can walk!”

Judy is back to living: walking, driving, grocery shopping, and of course, spending time with her daughters. She is building up her strength again after so many years of not being able to stand and walk.

“To me, this is a miracle,” Judy says, “ I feel like I have my life back, and I am so grateful to Dr. Anderson. My husband and I are going to be dancing again by the end of the year.”

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Don’t wait any longer to see if we can help you make your Neuropathy a thing of the past!

Book Now

Julie was always in pain! Finally she was provide relief.

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Julie’s story – Chronic Pain Testimonial Solution

She was always in pain. After seeing many doctors and having dozens of test and procedures, she finally was provided a correct diagnosis. Unfortunately before she could arrive at it, she was informed she needed to remove her gall bladder. Which she did!

Finally she was referred to Dr. Demetrio Aguila who diagnosed Julie with post-herpetic-neuralgia – chronic pain after Shingles. Dr. Aguila operated on Julie removing painful neuromas from her intercostal nerves. After the successful operation she felt a new pain that was masked by the old chronic pain. In the second surgery the doctor removed a bone spur and another neuroma.

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 329-8158, Broomfield location (303) 997-2795, Surgery Center (970) 329-8158, or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

Sports and Exercise Training and Injury: The Good, The Bad, and The Answer

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sports exercise and injury

The Goal (aka: The Good):

Just imagine that you have trained for a running event, such as a full marathon or half marathon, for anywhere from three to six months and have spent thousands of direct and indirect dollars in preparation. Or you have spent time and money revitalizing your exercise routine in a determined effort to meet your fitness goals. You are organized and motivated and, if you are training for an event, have chosen a specific race date. Perhaps you have scheduled vacation time off, and prepaid all expenses. You also try to balance the rest of your life as well: eating, sleeping, working, and being an engaged and active member in your important relationships.

The Injury and aftermath (aka: The Bad):

Then the unthinkable happens. You start to feel foot or leg pain and become injured during your training or workout routine, placing your preparation and any event goals in jeopardy. To make matters worse, you take more time to visit a well-intended sports medicine specialist, local podiatrist or other care provider who does not understand who you really are or your motivation. You receive his or her best recommendations that include generic and un-customized directions that often include abandoning your running or activity goals, not taking into account that you are physically and mentally invested. You may even decide to continue with your current training or exercise routine and soon find that you are getting worse instead of better.

The Answer:

What do you do? At Anderson Center for Regenerative Medicine I recommend that you consider our total athlete evaluation and rehabilitation program before you are forced to submit to regret and disappointment.

Here is where I come in:

  • I examine all aspects of who you are in total.
  • I begin by understanding your goals as completely and specifically as possible.
  • I learn the past and recent history of your fitness and its evolution.
  • I trace your health and training or exercise progression in all aspects from the origin of your idea to your current status.
  • I use over thirty years of office experience and road and ultra-running experience to understand what you are going to need to reach your goal and maintain optimal foot, ankle, and lower extremity health.
  • I access the physical and mental assets you possess to reach the finish line.
  • This includes nutrition, sleep, mental attitude, injury mechanism, training or exercise schedule and equipment, and potential of your current injury.
  • As a Podiatrist specially trained in sports medicine, I am able to present and use advanced modalities to stop your foot or ankle pain or injury progression and move you back to the starting line. These can include nutrition and training guidance as well as custom orthotics and regenerative medicine products. Surgery is a last resort.

In essence, I use a success centered mind and body restorative process and training redirection to help you meet your goals to include healing your current injury, preventing future injury, and completing your event or attaining your fitness goals.

If you have an important goal to accomplish and are hindered by running or exercise pain, foot problems or injury, ankle injuries, plantar fasciitis or other problems, give me a call at Anderson Center for Regenerative Medicine. I am not only ready to listen and understand, I am also ready to help.

To make an appointment with Dr. Wilkinson, Click HERE

Dr. Wilkinson is an ultra-runner, having completed many 50 and 100-mile races. As a Podiatrist who has successfully weathered his own sports injuries in the past, Dr. Wilkinson enjoys working with patients who are also athletes pursuing their own fitness goals. He believes in injury prevention through gait analysis, biomechanics and sound, reasonable training techniques but is also an astute provider of clinical and surgical methodology to help return injured athletes to their playing field. Learn more about sports medicine injury treatment. By Stephen Wilkinson, DPM

Tammy’s Story: ESTIM for RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome)

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A Decade of RLS

Tammy was suffering from RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome), and had been for more than ten years. “I saw at least five different doctors over the years looking for a solution,” Tammy says. “But no one had any answers, and I never found relief.”

“I tried all the medications, and nothing worked,” Tammy says. “I started to feel like it was all in my head.”

Hitting Rock Bottom

Many people who suffer from RLS begin to feel isolated and alone, and this was happening to Tammy. “I’m a very social person, and I couldn’t go to movies or just a simple dinner with my family.”

Tammy was afraid of being out in public and having her RLS symptoms start to kick in. “A lot of people think RLS only happens at night, but for me it was happening all throughout the day too,” Tammy explains. “You never know what’s going to trigger your symptoms, and then you won’t be able to sit down.”

Tammy finally hit rock bottom when she couldn’t do any activities outside her home, and she was only sleeping two hours a night. “I hit the point where I just had to do something,” she said.

ESTIM for RLS

Tammy went to Dr. James Anderson for an appointment, and he recommended ESTIM for RLS.

“ESTIM is a non-surgical treatment that we use to treat RLS and neuropathy,” Dr. Anderson says. “There is scientific, objective evidence that this treatment works to repair the nerves, and Tammy is a great example of what it can do.”

Dr. Anderson also recommended MLS laser treatment, another non-surgical approach that works in conjunction with ESTIM to repair the nerve damage.

How Does it Work?

ESTIM is an electrical stimulation treatment. “We use this to send various pulse waves into the leg, and it can stimulate the nerves to want to repair themselves,” Dr. Anderson explains.

The MLS laser works more on the cellular level. Dr. Anderson says, “The mitochondria is the “energy-creating” part of your cells. The laser works by targeting the mitochondria specifically in the nerve cells to help repair the damaged nerve tissue.”

After 16 ESTIM treatments, Tammy was shocked at the results.

Sleeping All Night Long

“It’s almost unreal,” Tammy says. “I can go to a movie, or dinner, and spend time with my family. I am sleeping all through the night and it’s wonderful!”

After having the treatment, Tammy sat in her recliner and watched six movies in a row, just because she could.

“I didn’t have one episode, and I’m so grateful! I’m now experiencing what it feels like to be normal, and it is amazing.”

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If you or someone you love has been suffering from RLS, please come see us. We have treated hundreds of patients successfully, and we would love to help you get your life back.

Learn about more treatment options for RLS. 

To make an appointment, click here.

Matt’s Testimonial of his Bunion Treatment at Anderson Podiatry Center Experience

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Matt had a truly great experience at Anderson Podiatry from the moment he walked in and was greeted by the receptionist. The environment was very comfortable, and all doctors and nurses were incredibly knowledgeable and helped him understand what to expect from beginning to end. Matt had bunions on both of his feet since he was a small child, and within the past year they had gotten so bad he could not walk, run or be very active without experiencing extreme pain.

If your big toe points in towards your second toe, or if there is a bump on your big toe join- you may have a bunion. However, if your big toe looks normal but there is a bump at the base of your pinky toe you may have bunionette. Bunions are a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe when the big toe pushes against the next toe. It is usually self-diagnosable with the main symptoms being bone deformity, pain, and stiffness. Bunion surgery itself is performed to reduce pain and fix the deformity. Bunions and bunionettes can make you dread putting on your shoes, but the specialists at Anderson Podiatry Center are experts in treating both of these conditions, and can help you get back on your feet by treating the underlying cause of bunions and bunionettes, not just the symptoms. Some options include, custom orthotics and corrective surgery- and with all insurance plans accepted, there is no reason not to be soon.
The best thing about Matt’s surgery was the fact he can now play with his dogs, go on runs, and be active the way he wants to be without having to hold anything back.

Matt would absolutely recommend his family and friends to Anderson Podiatry Center.

3 Reasons Custom Orthotics Work

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Summer is finally here, and we all want to be outside enjoying the warm weather and sunshine! Unfortunately, increasing our activity level can cause unwelcome and nagging pain that limits our ability to walk, hike, or take on a running race. There is a solution however, so read on!

Today, let’s discuss custom orthotics and how they can likely benefit you. Custom orthotics can be very effective in treating many common issues including plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and chronic joint pain.

If you are experiencing chronic, unresolved foot pain, custom orthotics might be right for you. Here’s why.

1. They are made for your foot, not anyone else’s 

The over the counter shoe inserts (Dr. Scholl’s for example) only provide some additional cushioning and can’t compare to a prescription custom orthotic in arch and foot support. By the time a patient makes an appointment to see a foot doctor, they have often tried one or more different store-bought orthotics without much success or relief.

The process we like to use to make custom orthotics involves making a plaster mold of your feet in a biomechanically corrected/ideal position. This allows us to get an exact replica of your foot, which can be used to create an insert that is not only comfortable, but also highly supportive of any painful joints and tendons, and again, made specifically for you.

2. Technology has improved

Gone are the days of clunky, heavy inserts. Those were not pretty, they only fit in a few shoes and must have weighed five pounds each! But, they worked great and helped relieve pain.

The good news is, over the past 20 years or so, the technology and materials used for orthotics has greatly improved, so today’s orthotics are much lighter and thinner and can be used in a variety of athletic and dress shoes. This way, whether you are running a marathon, walking around the office, or attending a social event, your feet can have the support and comfort they need without having to be in tennis shoes all the time.

3. More comfort, less pain 

Because that’s the whole point, right?

Most chronic foot pain is the result of daily wear and tear on the structures in your foot. Better, biomechanically corrected support results in less day-to-day damage and inflammation, and most importantly, less pain.

So whatever your particular foot aches and pains are, there is likely a custom orthotic option for you. I would encourage you to make an appointment to discuss what those options are. Even if you have had other inserts in the past that have not helped, I would recommend not giving up on orthotics just yet.

Come on in and discuss your options. Your feet will thank you for it.

Get Rid of Embarrassing Toenails

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What Is Toenail Fungus?

As a podiatrist,  I have heard toenail fungus described in many different ways, and none of them are nice.  Gross, icky, thick, brittle, deformed, disfigured, discolored nails are one of the most common foot issues that we see. In most cases, this is caused by a fungal infection of the toenails. Studies have estimated that up to 20-25% of the general population is affected by this ailment, and possibly up to 35% of diabetics.

Fortunately, in most cases this infection doesn’t cause any other health issues, and remains confined to the toes. For those that have this infection, the main complaint is cosmetic. In some cases, however, the infected nails can lead to chronic pain due to nail thickening, or even chronic ingrown nails.

Do Home Remedies Work?

Over the years, there have been many treatments attempted for this with most of them having rather dismal results.  There are more over-the-counter topical treatments for this then I care to count. There’s even more “home remedies.”  Unfortunately, these types of treatments rarely help. We don’t see much improvement in appearance, and they don’t cure the infection.

Over-the-counter medication for the treatment of athlete’s foot has also been shown to have little effect. Treating this infection with oral anti-fungal medication has been shown to have better results than with topical treatments. But, overall, the cure rates with this medication have been disappointing.

The Treatment That Works

A more recent advancement in treatment is laser therapy. We have been treating the nail with the PinPointe laser system for many years and have been very pleased with the results! This treatment involves direct laser therapy to the nails. It directs heat underneath the nail to a temperature that kills the infection but does not burn or harm your toe.

For most people, this procedure takes 3 to 4 treatments spaced out every three months or so. However, it can take up to a year to fully grow out the infected nail and replace it with a healthy nail.

We also use a prescription-grade topical treatment shown via studies to be the most effective topical treatment available. When combined with the laser, we see excellent results. It quickly reduces the yellow discoloration, thickness, and brittleness of the nail, so it looks better while the nail is growing out. Patients love it!

The final step is using an anti-fungal nail polish that helps prevent it from returning. We want our patients to have clear nails that last.

Don’t Wear Socks To The Beach

So, if you are currently wearing socks to the beach because you are embarrassed by your toenails, this treatment is for you. It’s time to ditch the socks and let your little piggies out to play again.

We know toenail infections can be embarrassing and frustrating, but the only way to get rid of it is to seek the appropriate treatment.

Please don’t wait any longer to schedule an appointment, and discover your treatment plan to get healthy toenails.

Call us today, and mention this blog for a free phone or office consult.

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To learn more about how we treat nail fungus, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.

*Free office consult: Complete new patient appointment and exam not included.

What Causes Restless Leg Syndrome?

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restless leg syndrome causes

The Symptoms of RLS

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a common issue for many people. Studies have estimated that between 10-15% of the total population may be affected. 5% severely so, and the subsequent lack of sleep causes a devastating effect on mental and physical health and life expectancy.

Often, these patients complain of an uncontrollable urge to move their legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It typically happens in the evening or nighttime hours when sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily. Many describe the feeling as “ants are crawling through my legs,” or “soda running through my veins.”

Diagnosis is based on the type and severity of symptoms and there is no blood test or imaging study that can be used to diagnose RLS. Treatment is usually aimed at relieving the symptoms and improving sleep. Typically, doctors prescribe medications that mask these symptoms. These have varying success rates usually related to the severity of the symptoms. Those with milder symptoms typically get better relief, but the medication can create unwanted side effects and even the threat of addiction.

What Causes RLS?

So, what causes Restless Leg Syndrome? For several years, Dr. Anderson and I, along with several other doctors from the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons (AENS) have been treating patients for pain and numbness due to neuropathy caused by pinched or compressed nerves in the legs.

Often the treatment involves surgical decompression of the nerves which is similar to carpal tunnel release. In addition to pain, burning, and numbness, these patients will often also complain of the restless leg symptoms described above, and difficulty sitting or sleeping. Patients with more severe symptoms are desperate for relief, as it creates exhaustion and strains work and interpersonal relationships, and well-being.

We almost universally see dramatic post-operative improvements in the RLS symptoms along with improvements in the pain, burning, and numbness from the neuropathy. We began to wonder what the potential link between nerve entrapment and RLS could be. That’s what inspired us to begin doing research. Dr. Anderson has published one scientific study already. There are other upcoming  studies that provide consistent data to show that RLS can be reversed with decompression techniques.

15 Years of Suffering From RLS

Today, I want to tell you about one particular patient case. In this case, we see how RLS symptoms can be significantly improved by nerve decompression surgery, and how to test this prior to surgery to see if this type of surgery will help.

This patient is a 52 year-old female with a 15 + year history of RLS. She had significant issues with sleep and had been treating this with drug therapy, Iron supplements, vitamins, and diet changes with no improvements.

For about a year prior to her first visit with me, she had been wearing an activity monitor to track her sleep. She quickly realized that on most nights she was showing signs of significant movement every 20-30 minutes. She didn’t always fully wake up but was concerned that her poor sleep quality was becoming a problem.

Is It A Pinched Nerve?

One technique that is very helpful to test if pinched nerves are causing the symptoms is to perform diagnostic nerve blocks at the affected nerves. This simply involves injecting a small amount of cortisone and local anesthetic next to the nerves. If the nerves are chronically pinched and damaged, then the injection will temporarily calm them down.

Most often these patients will have 5-7 days of relief of their symptoms after the injections. If so, then it is likely that nerve decompression surgery will help that patient. If the injections do not provide relief, then the surgery will not likely help.

Today, Her Symptoms Are Gone

For this patient, the injections gave her quite a bit of relief for about 2 weeks. Once the symptoms started to return, she was ready to schedule the surgeries. I do not typically operate on both legs at once so I performed surgery on her right leg first, then her left leg 3 weeks later.

Her symptoms resolved quickly and she has not had any return of RLS in 6 months after surgery.

This type of surgery is very successful for 85-90% of RLS sufferers who are appropriate candidates. They can often return to their lives with little to no symptoms.

If you or someone you love has been suffering from RLS, please come see us. We have treated hundreds of patients successfully, and we would love to help you get your life back.

Learn about more treatment options for RLS. 

To make an appointment, click here.

Sherrie’s Anderson Podiatry Center Experience with Dropfoot

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Sherrie’s experience with Anderson Podiatry was wonderful from the moment she placed her call to the second she was in the chair talking to Dr. Anderson. Sherrie was treated for a condition called drop toot, which is a general term for difficulty lifting the front part off the foot. It is caused by weakness of the muscles that lift the front part of the foot. Sherrie’s drop foot was in her left leg and caused by neuropathy, which made her ankle tilt forward and diluted her strength.

When strength is an issue, walking is obviously effected. You may not be able to push of the ground with your feet as well or lift your feet off the ground if you are experiencing drop foot. In fact, falls also become more probable which puts people’s safety at great risk.

Dr. Anderson performed surgery on three spots and untangled the nerves in her leg- and to Sherrie’s delight, the surgery corrected her problem! The best aspect of the outcome of Sherrie’s surgery is that her drop foot is gone; she can walk normally and has regained great strength and stability. Allowing her to live her life normally again without having to consider the risk of falling.

Sherrie would absolutely recommend her friends and family to Anderson Podiatry Center. She found that the Anderson Podiatry crew worked as a team to help each other, with the goal of putting patients first. Anderson Podiatry’s compassionate, friendly doctors are skilled at finding the root of foot, ankle, and lower leg problems.