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How to Know if You Need Surgery for Your Chronic Foot Pain

Posted on July 26, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

If you’re suffering from foot pain that just won’t go away, you’ll try almost anything to find relief. Pain medications, physical therapy, orthotics, braces, special shoes, rest, ice, heat, massage…the list goes on.

But chronic pain is usually a side effect of something even bigger—chronic damage to the affected joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The severity of this damage is often the most important criteria to consider when determining the best treatment.

What happens to your body parts from regular and long term damage?

Chronic damage to a joint leads to osteoarthritis.
Chronic damage to tendons causes thickening and scarring of tendons as well as possible rupture or tearing.
Chronic damage to ligaments creates joint instability, which can lead to arthritis and worsening of tendon issues.

In most cases, this damage is not going to be isolated to just one structure. Rather, people who suffer chronic pain usually have all of these structures damaged to some degree, and the parts that are the most severely damaged usually determine the best course of treatment.

Is it time for you to consider surgery?

First, we’ll need to determine how bad the damage is. This is where all those x-rays, MRIs, blood work, etc. come into play. X-rays will show severity of arthritis and an MRI will show the severity of damage to tendons and ligaments.

For more severely damaged structures, conservative treatment may have a low chance of success and https://websitetest8.striveenterprisetest.com/anderson-center-for-surgery/surgical treatment may be more likely, but rarely will an x-ray or MRI be the absolute deciding factor of treatment for a chronic issue. It’s just another bit of info to factor in.

Every patient is different, and I tailor the treatment of chronic pain to the particular demands of each person, based on their lifestyle. Together, we decide whether conservative treatments can successfully help with chronic foot pain. If not, it might be time to consider surgery, which, in most cases, can help you get back on your feet sooner, and hopefully pain-free!

How to Stop Tendonitis Progression

Posted on July 19, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

We all know living an active lifestyle is an essential component to being healthy. Whether you are a mega multi-marathon runner, an avid tennis player, a yoga instructor, or a mall walker, your exercise is an important part of your daily routine. However, this healthy lifestyle of yours is threatened when injuries arise in your feet, such as tendonitis. Tendonitis is common and painful, but there are ways to keep the tendonitis progression to a minimum.

Tendonitis progression can affect various muscles in the body, including the feet. Posterior tibial tendinitis, for example, is an inflammation of the tendon that runs from the inner ankle to the shinbone. Some symptoms to look for to determine if you do indeed have tendonitis are:

Pain that increases when the affected area moves, such as when walking
A cracking or grating feeling when the injured tendon moves
Swelling
Redness and heat from the affected area
The development of a lump along the tendon
Difficulty standing on your toes
Pain on the inside of the foot or ankle

Tendonitis is a common injury, and is caused by the repetition of a particular movement over time. Though not as common, it may also arise after a sudden injury. Some of the risk factors which increase the likelihood of getting tendonitis are:

Age- Tendons become less flexible and more susceptible to injury the older you get.
Certain jobs- If your job consists of repetitive movements, awkward positions, frequent
Overhead reaching, vibration, or forced extension you have a greater risk of hurting the tendon.
Diabetes- Though experts are unsure why, people with diabetes tend to have a higher risk of developing tendonitis.
Sports- The most common cause of tendonitis comes from sports injuries, especially in sports like running, swimming, basketball, tennis, golf, etc.

Whatever reason caused your tendonitis they all have the same risk: the injury is progressive and will worsen if untreated!

So, how do you stop this progression? The answer is simple, start treatment right away! Treatment options include:

Rest, ice and elevation- these steps can often help alleviate pain.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy and AmnioFix Therapy– Anderson Podiatry Center has been doing these treatments to repair feet and ankle tears longer than anyone in the Rocky Mountain region.
Custom orthotics– These are made by a podiatrist from a mold of your actual foot to help give you the best results.
Surgery– If the tendon is torn too badly, surgery may be the best option.

Before starting any treatment, it is extremely important to have your injury properly evaluated. All too often people think they have tendonitis, when in fact they have a tendon tear. The huge problem with this is that the two injuries are treated differently.

Dr. Anderson of Anderson Podiatry Center explains the concern with this. He says, “People have been known to stretch a suspected tendonitis, as it’s recommended sometimes. If the tendon is torn it will damage it more.” He also says how with a mild tear surgery may be avoided with regenerative medicines like Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy and AmnioFix Therapy.

Again, the earlier you get your tendon checked by a podiatrist the better. Podiatrists are able to determine the extent of the injury, and get you the care you need before your injury progresses any further.

Get treated, and get back to your healthy lifestyle!

5 Ways to Fix Your Hallux Limitus- The Pain in Your Big Toe

Posted on July 12, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

Walking is an essential function in your daily life. So, if you experience pain in your toe, especially when you walk, it can be extremely frustrating and debilitating. What’s worse, the pain is often exacerbated with certain footwear, such as flip flops, so now you struggle walking and are limited in what shoes you can wear. Luckily, there are options.

Hallux limitus is an arthritic condition that limits the motion and function of the big toe joint. Hallux limitus is similar to a bunion. It is often painful, and can make it difficult to walk. Some symptoms to look for with hallux limitus are:

A grinding or grating of the big-toe joint when you move it
A bone spur grown on top of the big toe joint
Swelling and inflammation
Deep, aching, chronic pain
Stiffness and limited motion
Overall joint tightness
Difficulty wearing shoes like high heels, flip flops, and other low support shoes

Hallux limitus, like bunions, is progressive! If left untreated the symptoms worsen and turn into hallux rigidus- no motion of the big toe joint
at all. Hallux rigidus is more painful than hallux limitus. The pain can be so severe that it often decreases your activity, makes you afraid to take long walks, and takes away your ability to run altogether.

Also, hallux limitus when left untreated often leads to other foot and ankle problems. When you have such pain in your big toe you often overcompensate to alleviate the pain, which puts extra stress on other parts of your foot and ankle. Now, you not only have pain in your big toe, but your foot and ankle as well.

Hallux limitus is usually caused by two factors: genetics or an injury to the big toe joint. Some people are born with a predisposition to conditions like arthritis or high or low arches, which can all lead to foot problems like hallux limitus later in life. Also, hallux limitus can stem from repetitive movements, or damage to cartilage in the toe.

Again, hallux limitus is progressive, and only gets worse the longer you wait, which is why early treatment is vital! Seeing a podiatrist will reveal the exact stage of your hallux limitus, and then help to determine the most appropriate action to take out of the five common treatments. The treatments include:

Custom Orthotics– Unlike over-the-counter orthotics, custom orthotics, made by a trained podiatrist, take a mold of your actual foot. They then create orthotics specifically designed to correct your individual foot problems.
Cortisone Injections- These are injected directly into the joint to reduce swelling and inflammation, however they are only short term solutions that may damage the joint.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy– This new tissue regeneration therapy can be used as an alternative to surgery that has a fast recovery time.
AmnioFix Therapy– This new, regenerative medical product containing organic cellular components enhances healing, reduces scar tissue formation, and reduces inflammation.
Surgery– In the more advanced stages of hallux limitus surgery may be needed.

Of the treatments above, the Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy and AmnioFix therapy have shown to be the most successful in early treatments. When used before hallux limitus progresses too far they can even prevent the need for surgery all together. Come visit your podiatrist in Fort Collins or Broomfield for further consultation.

New Treatment for Arthritic Feet and Ankles: Avoiding Joint Replacement or Joint Fusion

Posted on June 28, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

Arthritic pain in the foot and ankle is on the rise. With our active aging baby boomers many may find their activities starting to be limited because of this affliction. It is common for many to use anti-inflammatories, such as Advil, for pain. Although this may help temporarily with the pain the long term use may have negative effects.

As wear and tear takes place on our joints from use, or in some cases injury, the cartilage begins to wear thin. The cartilage that lines the joint is very slick, and when it begins to diminish you may eventually have bone rubbing against bone resulting in pain.

At the end of the treatment options lies the possibility of surgery to replace the joint. An example of the surgery is an ankle replacement or fusion of a joint. This can be done to the ankle joint or other joints in the foot. Without a joint your pain can go away, but you’ve now created the need for other joints to make up for the lack of motion in the joint that is now fused. Eventually, they may become arthritic. We have a new solution for you!

Before you consider the surgical risk and extreme lay up of a fusion or joint replacement, consider joint denervation. So what is joint denervation? Simply put, it’s the removal of the nerve branch that tells you the joint is painful.

We have had a high success rate with this surgical concept and minimal down time and risk. The idea is to decide which branch supplies the majority of sensation to that joint and remove it. We usually remove one or two nerve branches, and these branches don’t supply muscles, so you are not made weaker. The numbness that you are left with has minimal to no consequences compared to how much the pain is limiting your activities. In the rare event of no improvement you’re no worse off and you still have the more major surgery option.

The nerves we remove are in the lower leg, and the surgery takes less than thirty minutes. Where the nerve is cut it is buried into muscle so the tip of the nerve is not sensitive. People are able to walk immediately or within a few days. Contrast this with a minimum of six weeks, non-weight bearing recovery when a joint is fused, on top of the increased risk with a major surgery.

So, if you’re facing the pain of arthritis and have the fear of a fusion or joint replacement consider a second look. Don’t give up those activities you like to do, and consider this exciting new option. Please give us a call and we’ll discuss if this is an appropriate procedure for you.

How to Get Rid of Ugly Toenails?

Posted on June 21, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

Toenail fungus is a frustrating and embarrassing condition. It’s made even more difficult by the fact that there aren’t many long-lasting treatment options available. At Anderson Podiatry Center, however, we offer hope with our Laser Nail Treatment. We have a lot of experience treating fungal nails as we were the first in the Rocky Mountain area to introduce the laser nail concept in 2008. We feel we have refined our treatments to maximize the potential improvement this technology can offer.

Fungal nails (onychomycosis) have commonly been described by our patients as an “icky” condition. It can be painful, make nails difficult to trim, and many times embarrassing. Other treatment options can include topical, which you apply directly to the nail. This treatment, however, has a very low success rate. Oral medication called Lamisil can also be used. It can have a toxic effect on the liver, but I would consider it the second most successful option. It can be used in select situations, sometimes in combination with laser, but we discuss this on a case-by-case basis.

Finally, the laser option I feel gives you the best opportunity to help with your fungal nails. The laser we use is a Pinpointe Laser and was designed exclusively for the treatment of this kind of condition. The original research showed that in 88 percent of patients, it was effective in improving their nails. From our experience, we have found this to be true.

The laser treatment is safe and pain-free. It works on the simple concept of creating a tremendous amount of heat in the nail. The heat is what kills the fungus. The laser light pulses so quickly into the nail that patients rarely experience the sensation of heat in the nail.

So, please consider these options for your fungal nail. Because of our vast experience combined with this excellent technology, we can offer you the best chance of helping you with your nail concerns. We can give you the best chance of not being embarrassed to show your ugly toenails or constantly having to hide them with polish.

Restless Leg Syndrome: Finally, a New Option to Help You and Your Partner Sleep Better- Part 2

Posted on June 14, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

As discussed in the previous blog post, RLS can be extremely difficult to live with, especially with the limited treatments available. However, there is hope with nerve decompression treatments. Keep reading to find out more about this revolutionary treatment, and how it can help you!

Dr. James Anderson, the founder of Anderson Podiatry Center, explains, “Over the past several years it has been discovered that the source of your RLS symptoms might be in the very place where the symptoms are: your legs. There are two, maybe three nerve tunnels, in your legs that are causing RLS in many cases.”

Again, the treatments discussed in part one of the post may offer short term relief for RLS symptoms, but they are not an actual solution, and the medications often have bad side effects. Anderson Podiatry Center for Nerve Pain, however, offers nerve decompression treatments, which may give long-lasting relief by treating what they believe the underlying cause of RLS is, not just the symptoms.

Their nerve decompression treatment is extremely successful, with 80-90% of patients getting better. It’s so successful, in fact, that they are submitting for publication what they consider to be the first study on RLS and nerve decompression treatment.

Dr. Anderson explains how they’ve put nerve decompression to the test statistically by studying 40 patients who went through a rigorous trial of before and after treatment. The results were very promising with high success rates.

Dr. Anderson perfectly sums up exactly why nerve decompression treatments may be the best solution to RLS. He says, “People do all this stuff- not sleeping, they take drugs, they just keep suffering- and they can have a relatively simple surgery in 40 minutes and it’s done! Typically, they walk out of surgery, and have relief in just a few days.”

What’s worse is the enormous lack of sleep mixed with having to take drugs can have a huge effect on your general health. Because of this, many people with RLS also suffer from weight gain, depression, and a huge decrease in activity level.

Don’t let RLS control your- or your partner’s- sleep anymore. Get help, and get back to your old self again!

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): Finally, a New Option to Help You and Your Partner Sleep Better- Part 1

Posted on June 7, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

You crawl into bed wanting nothing more than to drift blissfully off to sleep. You fluff the pillows just right, wrap up in your favorite blanket, close your eyes, and…suddenly have an irresistible urge to move your legs.

This isn’t exactly the ending you -or your partner- were hoping for. In fact, your uncontrollable urge to move your legs might even land you on the couch. Thankfully, there is a new option to help, which will be discussed more later on.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system disorder that creates itchy, creepy crawly, “pins and needles” sensations in the legs. The sensations are strongest when you’re lying or sitting down, which is why sleeping can be so difficult.

As discouraging and even painful as RLS may be, it’s often very frustrating for your partner as well. Unless they enjoy that driving-on-a-dirt-road feeling while lying in bed, your RLS symptoms probably drive them crazy.

RLS affects up to 10% of the population. It’s most common for middle-aged and older women, though men and younger children can contract it.

Though the exact cause of RLS is unknown, it is widely speculated that genetics play a huge role, as nearly 50% of people with RLS have a family member with the condition.

Factors that may contribute to RLS include:

Chronic diseases-Iron deficiency, Parkinson ’s disease, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and kidney failure are often accompanied by RLS symptoms. When these conditions are treated, RLS symptoms often subside.
Medications- Anti-nausea drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cold and allergy medications containing antihistamines have been known to worsen RLS symptoms.
Pregnancy- Some women will experience RLS during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. It typically goes away around a month after delivery.
Sleep Deprivation-If a person is sleep deprived it may trigger symptoms, or worsen existing RLS symptoms.
Alcohol- Alcohol use can intensify RLS symptoms. Limiting, or even eliminating alcohol use may help relieve symptoms.

Although there generally is no cure for RLS there are many treatment options, including:

Avoid certain substances that worsen RLS, such as alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
Seek treatment for any current medical conditions, like the ones listed above, that RLS is associated with.
Physical therapy, stretching, baths, massages, exercise, and relaxation techniques before bed may help alleviate symptoms.
Medications, which are often prescribed with severe symptoms.

The above treatments can often help alleviate symptoms of RLS, but again they don’t cure it. Also, medications don’t always work and can have very bad side effects. As mentioned above, there is hope with a new treatment option offered by Anderson Podiatry Center.

Now that you have some background knowledge on RLS stay tuned for next week’s post to learn about nerve decompression treatments, and how with them you can finally find the relief you need.

The One Thing Regarding Your Nerve Pain

Posted on May 31, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

I recently read a book called The One Thing. The concept was simple: with all the noise and distractions that we have in our lives it’s important to focus on that one thing that is most important. Not an easy task.

Some of you may have remembered the movie City Slickers where the cowboy character Curly challenged the City Slicker character played by Billy Crystal who seemed to be going through a midlife crisis, and he needed to find that one thing.

At Anderson Podiatry Center for Nerve Pain when we explain nerve conditions in the lower extremity we try to keep it simple. We must play the role of a teacher, as most patients have no idea about our concepts of treating nerve conditions. We constantly have to introduce patients to the new concepts that we follow. So whether its neuropathy, drop foot or restless legs it gets back to that one thing.

It may not be by accident that you don’t know about the one thing. Some of you are not aware of the one thing as no doctor has told you, and most of all Big Pharma would never like for you to know what I’m telling you. They would rather keep you on the drugs. So what is this one thing? In one-word: compression. Yes, compression of nerves.

We all are born with nerve tunnels in the legs. Five of them lie below the knee. You probably have heard of carpel tunnel in the hand. There are several other nerve tunnels in the arms that frequently become tight and squeeze or compress the nerves traveling through them. NO one questions this, and drugs are frequently one of the last treatments recommended. The legs and feet should not be any different.

Sadly, the medical awareness and understanding of the tunnels in the lower extremity are 30 years behind understanding of the upper extremity. Why must medicine continue to offer less than optimal solutions for your neuropathy and restless legs problems? Why aren’t’ you educated about the potentials to have a chance of a permanent solution to your problem? The reasons are multiple, but that’s a discussion for another day.

So for now please open your mind to what I have been doing since 2002. When you come in we listen to where your symptoms are, and based upon that my attention is directed to one or more of these five tunnels. It’s really a very simple concept. We don’t discriminate. We simply treat the lower extremity like the upper extremity.

So, I challenge you to reconsider your options when you’re told that you have neuropathy or restless legs and there is nothing you can do except take drugs and live with it. Others may tell you that your nerve symptoms are from your back and you need a back injection, surgery or chiropractic care. It’s a constant story: my back or neuropathy.

Consider the one thing. It could be that your problem lies where your neuropathy pain or restless legs symptoms exist in the leg. We’ve learned not to discriminate because we consider the one thing. And because of that knowledge I feel we are better able to give you a chance at permanent reversal of your problems.

Please give us an opportunity to help you understand that one thing: compression. It may make the difference between years of drugs, being inactive, weight gain, depression and lack of sleep.

Don’t do what most people do, give up searching and never learn about the one thing: compression, and the five nerves that it affects.

Custom Orthotics vs. Over-the-Counter Arch Support

Posted on May 24, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

Okay, I’m going to come right out and say it: custom orthotics, made from a mold of your foot, are better than over-the-counter arch supports. How can I say this? Because I’m neutral on the subject.

You see, during normal motion while walking or running, the foot can sometimes roll too far to one side. The rolling of the foot too far inward is called pronation. Rolling too far outward is called supination. Both conditions are often painful, and can cause other problems.

A normal foot in motion is neutral. The foot and ankle maintain a straight line, and it doesn’t roll too far to one side or the other.

Herein lies the key difference between custom orthotics and over-the-counter arch support: custom orthotics are designed to hold the foot in neutral, whereas over-the-counter arch supports are not.

The neutral position created by custom orthotics stabilizes the forefoot to the rearfoot. Think of a car with the front and back wheels out of alignment—the wear and tear that ensues is a direct result of the wheels not lining up correctly. I’ve seen patients who have worn over-the-counter arch supports for months and are still dealing with pain. After switching to custom orthotics, their pain goes away.

The most glaring reason to use custom orthotics instead of over-the-counter arch supports is when the forefoot is tilted onto the rearfoot. Think of driving a car with a flat tire on the front driver’s side. The car doesn’t need something to support it in the middle; it needs the front balanced with a new (inflated) tire. In the flatter-footed population, the front “flat tire” is the big toe joint. A custom-molded orthotic will support the flat arch by supporting, or “inflating”, the first toe joint, which will bring the foot to neutral. Over-the-counter arch supports can’t do this.

A custom orthotic will help the front and back of your foot work together, creating a more efficient, one-component system. An over-the-counter arch support, on the other hand, will be soft and fluffy and will only support your arch.

Custom orthotics can get you back to the level of activity that will improve your fitness and happiness. So, put it in neutral to get moving!

4 Ways Your Weight Affects Your Feet

Posted on May 17, 2016July 1, 2025 by admin

Your feet are a vital part of your daily activity; they are responsible for carrying your entire body around. When you suffer from foot pain, whether temporary or chronic, everyday activities suddenly—and frustratingly—become much harder to accomplish.

There are many causes for foot pain, but a common culprit is your body weight. As troublesome as foot pain is, it’s not hopeless!

It’s important to remember that your feet not only carry your body weight; they also absorb the impact of each step you take. When they’re carrying more weight around, they’re put under more stress, which in turn puts more stress on the tissue and wears down the foot structure. Being overweight by even 25 pounds increases the stress on your feet.

Here are four of the main ways that your weight can negatively affect your feet:

Tendon Inflammation – Carrying too much weight causes you to change your posture, which shifts your body weight to the inside. This weight shift puts extra pressure on your arches and tendons, often resulting in tendonitis.
Plantar Fascia Inflammation – The plantar fascia is the soft band of tissue on the sole of your foot that connects the heel bone to the toes. When it becomes inflamed it causes plantar fasciitis, a stabbing sensation in the heel that makes it painful to walk.
Osteoarthritis – This is the breakdown of cartilage in joints. Though this most commonly affects knees and hips, it also causes swollen and stiff joints in your ankles.
Nerve Pain – Burning, tingling, or numbness are typically a result of nerve pain, which stems from neuropathy and neuromas.

As discouraging as foot pain can be, there are ways to reduce or even eliminate it. Losing weight is one of the best ways to decrease foot pain, but since walking or even standing can be uncomfortable, it can be difficult to exercise.

Here are a few other ways to help decrease your weight-related foot pain:

Try regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine is a minimally invasive treatment that is particularly helpful with tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Regenerative treatments like AmnioFix change growth factors to the body’s own stem cells that reduce inflammation and scar-tissue formation to enhance healing. These treatments have minimal lay up so you can continue to work out and even do weight-bearing exercises.
Wear sufficiently cushioned shoes. Being overweight makes it difficult to bend over, and flip-flops or other slip-on shoes seem to be a good choice because they are easier to put on. These shoes offer little to no support, however, and will only make your foot pain worse.
Invest in orthotics. Custom orthotics are an excellent way to correct foot misalignment and decrease pain. Anderson also points out that “custom orthotics are hugely important, and take the support you need from shoe to shoe.” Orthotics combined with AmnioFix are commonly used in treating weight-related foot pain.
Do low-impact exercises. Low-impact exercises like swimming and cycling are a great way to shed some weight without the pain of higher-impact workouts like running or hiking.

Whether your foot pain is weight-related or caused by something else, it’s important to understand that foot pain is never normal, and you don’t have to live with it.