Neuropathy – Page 2 – Anderson Podiatry Center

Does healthcare have it wrong when it comes to chronic nerve pain?

Posted on August 12, 2021July 1, 2025 by admin

Opiate Addiction

Chronic nerve pain is a very common problem and maybe dangerous because of the overuse of narcotics and the potential for opioid addiction. And as you may have heard in the news approximately 80,000 – 90,000 people have died from drug overdoses annually in recent years. Chronic pain is becoming a big health crisis in this country. The purpose of this blog is to help you challenge what you’ve been told about chronic nerve pain and look at a new approach that gives you hope for a permanent solution.

First, what is nerve pain?

Nerve pain is commonly referred to as neuropathic pain. The symptoms of neuropathic pain include burning, tingling, numbness, and sharp stabbing pain. These nerve pain symptoms may make activities difficult because of pain or lack of balance from numbness. Numbness can cause an additional risk as the pain signals that normally go to the brain from the foot may not warn of a sore or injury because of damage to the nerves. For many, sleeping may be difficult as even sheets touching your skin may be painful. The nervous system can be divided into two areas. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system which includes nerves traveling into the arms and legs. When talking about neuropathic pain, we’re referring to pain in the peripheral nervous system. In the lower extremity, this includes the nerves that extend from the spinal cord down into the legs and feet. Nerve pain can be from various causes. Neuropathy is one of the most common. Neuropathy can be caused by diabetes diabetic neuropathy, from unknown causes idiopathic neuropathy , or related to other causes such as alcoholism, toxins, chemotherapy, and autoimmune disease. Chronic nerve pain may also be caused by injuries such as a fracture, a severe sprain, or even surgery. This is commonly referred to as regional pain syndrome. But the symptoms for all of these can be very similar in terms of how they present.

The conventional approach

The medical advice many patients are hearing can be divided into two categories.

Live with your pain or take drugs – For many, the pain treatment includes taking pain medications such as Lyrica or Gabapentin. In severe cases, narcotics may be recommended. These medications may help with the symptoms but do nothing to get at the cause. Many patients are told they have no other choice. So, whether it’s called neuropathy or chronic regional pain the treatments may be similar. Lyrica and Gabapentin have side effects that include weight gain and narcotics have the risk of addiction or overdose. So, the options you’ll hear are to live with it or take the medication.

Treat your back to help the symptoms in your feet and legs – Other patients are told that the neuropathic pain is from the back. Treatments are then offered that may include chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, or injections in the back. For others, it may even include back surgery or placing a nerve stimulator in the back. Again, the healthcare community including neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists are all trained to look at the back. Very few are well trained in the evaluation of the peripheral nervous system in the lower extremity.

So, if it’s not metabolic and treated with medication or it’s not from the back and treatment is focused on the wrong source what’s another option?
The peripheral nervous system!

How do we treat neuropathic pain?

Treating the root cause of a problem, avoiding opioid addiction

The conventional medicine approach I just described could be considered as blowing on the smoke but not putting out the fire of nerve pain. As a peripheral nerve surgeon, I deal with patients that have chronic pain and various types of neuropathies and for many patients, the problem isn’t what we used to think it was. For some chronic pain can be from damage to nerves from trauma or from surgery. The pain from these nerves can be blocked by the removal of the damaged nerve branch in many cases. Surgery on the back, nerve stimulators in the back, and injections in the back can be avoided. This approach offers a better chance for permanent resolution. In the case of neuropathy, whether it’s diabetic or non-diabetic, it could be from tunnels that have become tight.

Research to support that diabetic neuropathy is reversible

We now know that the diabetic nerve will swell because of a sugar molecule that resides in the nerve tissues attracting water to the nerve. Because the nerve is swollen, it will now be subject to more pressure when it passes through nerve tunnel such a s the carpal tunnel in the hand. One study has shown this change of dimension in the similar tunnel in the foot, the tarsal tunnel. [1] The research that I’ve done includes two studies that give objective evidence with EMG testing of the diabetic nerves before and after the nerve tunnels are opened in surgery that the nerves are now functioning better. Larger impulses from the stimulated nerve go into the muscles that the nerve supplies after surgery compared to before the tunnel was opened. For many, there is at least an 80 chance of reversal of diabetic neuropathy symptoms. [2] [3]
There are other studies to support this concept. [4] [5] [6] Therefore the neuropathy you’ve been suffering from may be from compression in multiple nerve tunnels in the lower extremity much like the carpal tunnel in the hand.
So, if you’ve been told that it’s irreversible because it’s metabolic this may not be true. Yes, diabetes does affect the health of the nerves as do other metabolic problems, but there can also be an issue with nerve compression in tight nerve tunnels that is the cause. Why haven’t you heard this? This information is being drowned out by marketing. As an example, $272 million dollars were spent in 2018 to market one drug alone, Lyrica. [7]

The new way of looking at Chronic nerve pain- A solution to opioid addiction

Because of this new approach, many are looking for a peripheral nerve surgeon as another option. The treatments may include other non-surgical treatments. However, the focus of the treatment is to deal with the area of compression or nerve injury and by doing so, we are much more likely to have a long-lasting and possibly permanent effect on the patient’s chronic pain. This is important to know because the opioid crisis is almost at an epidemic proportion.

This information should challenge what you’ve been told about your chronic nerve pain. Hopefully, you’ll look deeper at this novel approach and judge for yourself. Armed with this information maybe you or someone you know can be saved from the potential risk of medicating your nerve pain. If you’ve been hiding in the bushes waiting for another option, please give us a call.

References

[1] Dauphinee: www.aens.us/images/aens/Lee-Dauphinee-2005.pdf

[2] Anderson: NIM Study Published

[3] Anderson: https://ur.booksc.eu/book/82143501/aa3266

[4] Zhang: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0032-1320029

[5] Zhang: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=surgical+decompression+of+painful+diabetic+neuropathy+zhang+clinical+efficacy&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart

[6] Dellon: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15566708/

[7] Fierce: https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/kantar-tallies-6-5-billion-for-pharma-ad-spending-2018-abbvie-humira-ranks-as-top

What to Know About Arthritis Foot Care and What You Can Do

Posted on April 8, 2021June 30, 2025 by admin

Arthritis is a very common problem in the foot and ankle area and can occur in different locations. Because the foot has so many bones, there are many joints that can become painful.

Symptoms

First, it is important to understand what the symptoms of arthritis are. Symptoms tend to present as a deep, dull type of pain that occurs when you first get up in the morning, Then after you take a few steps, it can gradually get better. As the arthritis becomes more severe, it can present all the time, particularly when you’re active. Understand that arthritis occurs when the cartilage that lines the joint becomes worn down and thinner. In severe situations it can wear down to bone. Cartilage is very slick- even slicker than ice! It acts that way to let your joints move more easily.

Causes

There are a multitude of causes that can result in arthritis. It could be from gout attacks, where inflammation in the joints destroys the cartilage, or even rheumatoid arthritis, where patients have autoimmune diseases that can affect the joints.

There may have even been an injury to the joint or bone that caused the cartilage to be damaged. This is especially common in the ankle joint in the case of someone who is a chronic ankle sprainer or has had an ankle fracture. All these conditions can be called “secondary arthritis” as they are related to another issue.

For many that suffer from arthritis, it is commonly referred to as primary arthritis, meaning there is no direct cause. As we age from using our joints, the cartilage tends to wear down

Lastly, the most overlooked cause is foot structure. Very few doctors are trained to evaluate foot structure and foot biomechanics. Some foot types, particularly flat feet, might lend themselves to wearing down joints more than feet that have a normal biomechanical structure.

Where does arthritis occur most commonly?

It occurs most commonly in the great toe joint, ankle and midfoot. In the great toe, it will frequently cause a stiff toe joint, referred to as Hallux Rigidus. It can also occur in the midfoot area, halfway between the toes and the ankle in the arch area. This is also more common as we get older. Finally, it can occur in the ankle joint, especially if you have had multiple ankle sprains, or if you have any kind of history of ankle fracture- this lends itself to a greater possibility of having ankle arthritis at some point in your life.

Five things you can do

Avoid inflammatory foods: Foods high in sugars and carbohydrates should be reduced. Why? Because they create inflammation in your body. Breads, sugar and white flour should be avoided. Also watch out for fructose as this is used in many beverages such as fruit juices and is probably worse than just scarfing down a candy bar. Instead of fruit juice, choose to eat the actual fruit as it’s much healthier for you. This will also help keep your weight down.
Exercise: Yes, that is right, keep moving. Maybe if you used to run and it bothers you too much, consider biking or walking. You may want to take on swimming or other activities. Make sure to modify the frequency and duration because motion helps your body create more growth hormones which can help repair your joints.
Consider supplements: Supplements such as Turmeric, Sam-e , Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen may also be effective and help fight inflammation.
Avoid anti-inflammatories: While they may make you feel good today, the long-term effects are negative for your joint health. An exception to this would be if you have an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis that is managed by your doctor.
Use more supportive shoes: If you think you may be an overpronator, meaning you have flat feet, supportive shoes should be considered. You may also want to use an inexpensive over the counter arch supports.

Treatment

Support the foot and ankle: Oftentimes orthotics are recommended as they are custom-made inserts that go in the shoes. They are especially important to help stabilize the bony areas that can lend themselves to arthritis.
Repair and restore the joint: At Anderson Podiatry Center, we do this using stemcell treatment. Regenerative medicine is something we have been using now for over a decade and has been extremely useful for ankle joint problems, great toe joint pain, and pain in the midfoot area and the mid arch. It has proven to show improvement 80-90% of the time.
Block your ability to feel the pain: We do this by shutting off pain signals to the brain. In some cases, especially if the arthritis is in the midfoot or up by the ankle, we can remove one or two branches in the lower leg that block your ability to feel the arthritic pain in your foot or ankle. This is also especially useful and has prevented many patients from going through ankle replacement surgery or ankle fusion surgeries (which have a significant risk factor and recovery time).
Joint surgery: In the worst-case scenarios, when all else fails, there may be a need for revision of a joint by scoping it in the example of an ankle joint. Or finally a joint replacement or fusion.

In summary, if you have these problems, it is important to understand that there’s a lot that you can do to repair your condition. And at Anderson Podiatry Center, we can offer non-surgical approaches and low invasive procedures such as stem cell or nerve resection, which may avoid more major joint replacement surgeries. Do not assume that you have to have an ankle joint replacement or other joints fused to treat your arthritis. Consider the options that you can do first, and if you are still struggling and want to get back to full activity, consider our unique approach.

What Is the Best Treatment for Drop Foot?

Posted on March 16, 2021June 30, 2025 by admin

Drop foot can be a very frustrating problem, and there are many potential causes for it. Before we get into things, it is important to understand what drop foot is. It is the lack of strength to pull your foot or toes upwards, or the ability to move your foot sideways away from your opposite foot. There are approximately five different muscles involved with the weakness that can create drop foot. We won’t be going over these muscle groups in this blog, but it’s important to understand that drop foot can affect both sideways and upwards motion to varying degrees.

When you walk with a drop foot, it may be difficult for your foot to clear the ground. The foot may also want to slap against the ground when your heel hits the floor, or be in such a downward position that you must flex your knee upwards for your foot to clear the ground. This is referred to as a steppage gait and can make walking exceedingly difficult to the point where it has a significant effect on mobility.

What Are the Causes?

Spinal-cord drop foot can be associated with your back, which is referred to as radiculopathy, caused from compression or irritation to the spinal nerves in the lumbar area.
Strokes can be associated with drop foot.
Sciatic nerve trauma, usually caused from hip or knee surgery.
Trauma to the nerves in the leg that stimulate the muscles to contract
Compression of the common peroneal nerve. Compression of this nerve tunnel may be associated with both diabetic and non-diabetic neuropathy. It is often assumed that the drop foot is from a sciatic nerve that was stretched and damaged from hip replacement surgery or knee surgery, because the common peroneal nerve tunnel becomes compressed. Anderson Podiatry Center has successfully reversed drop foot for many patients who were told it was from their back or from damage to the sciatic nerve.

What Is the Common Peroneal Nerve?

The common peroneal nerve is the most overlooked cause of drop foot. It is a branch of the sciatic nerve, and as the sciatic nerve courses down the back of your hamstring area, it divides. One branch goes towards the bottom of the foot, down the back of the calf, and the other branch goes around the outside of your leg, just below the knee.

It’s in this area that the common peroneal nerve tunnel is located. Just beyond the nerve tunnel is the branches that send signals to the leg muscles to contract. When the tunnel is tight, the branches don’t send strong enough signals, and the muscles become weak. This is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand. This can be the case in diabetes, where there’s compression involved, or non-diabetic neuropathy, because the tunnel can become tight.

At Anderson Podiatry Center, we deal a lot with peripheral nerve disorders and evaluate peripheral nerve issues. Many doctors are not fully trained in the evaluation and treatment of peripheral nerve problems. So, for many of you reading this blog, the potential is that you may have been told there is nothing you can do. You may have had a hip or knee replacement surgery and your sciatic nerve was damaged, which has resulted in drop foot due to the common peroneal nerve.

Treatment

To quickly answer the question as to what the best drop foot treatment is, it’s surgery (especially if the drop foot is significant). If there is high potential that the nerve is compressed, surgery would be the best option because it can give you the most profound improvement.

If there is a delay in surgery, especially after trauma or a surgery that could have caused this, it could lessen the effectiveness of the drop foot surgery. Many say that if you have had a surgery, such as hip replacement, and drop foot occurs, you should wait around six months to a year to see if it improves. However, we strongly disagree with this approach and suggest that if it’s been 2-3 months since surgery, and there is no progression towards improvement, surgery on this nerve tunnel should be performed. Waiting may limit how much improvement the patient gets.

ESTIM: This is a non-surgical treatment that involves multiple visits and electrical stimulation. This is performed with local anesthetic injections, that in combination repair nerve damage and improve circulation to the nerves during treatments.
Tendon transfer surgeries and joint fusions: These surgeries have always been available in conventional surgical training to help stabilize the foot and ankle.
Ankle bracing: there are many types of ankle braces that also may help. In most cases, these are prescribed by the doctor.

In summary, the two most important aspects about drop foot treatment are:

If you’ve had surgery or an injury, and after the first two to three months you’ve not experienced improvement, do not put yourself in a position where you may lessen the effectiveness of the surgery by waiting. With that being said, we’ve also seen patients, years after a surgery caused by drop foot, that still still see improvement on their mobility from drop foot surgery. When surgery is performed, most patients see significant improvement of their lifestyle, even if they have less than 100 percent improvement of their muscle strength.
If you have neuropathy or back problems, don’t assume that you don’t have compression of the common peroneal nerve. It is commonly associated with diabetic and nondiabetic neuropathies.
To conclude, it is not always the case that surgery is the best treatment, but for those whose mobility is significantly impacted, proper assessment of the common peroneal nerve is important. The recovery time and risks are minimal, compared to other surgical options, and if surgery fails, the other options will always be there. When the drop foot is minimal other options such as ESTIM may be considered. So if you or someone you know suffers from drop foot, please consider the common peroneal nerve tunnel as a potential cause.

The Most Common Foot Problem: Plantar Fasciitis

Posted on March 4, 2021 by admin

We are frequently asked, what is the most common foot complaint? Without a doubt, plantar fasciitis is at the top of the list. Oftentimes, it is referred to as heel pain, or heel spur pain. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis often occur first thing in the morning, as the pain exists on the bottom of the heel and is irritated with those initial morning steps. You may hobble to the bathroom, or to go make some coffee, and after a few minutes the pain wears off. However, as it becomes more severe, you may notice the pain throughout the day, and it can come on gradually or all at once.

Plantar fasciitis is seldom caused by trauma. Although it could be caused by you falling on your foot and striking your heel, in most cases, it’s something that just happens and is unpredictable. Foot biomechanics can also play a role.

While plantar fasciitis is a common foot problem, it rarely occurs in your teenage years or early twenties Why is this? One of the ideas is that the fascia loses its elasticity over time. The fascia runs from the ball of the foot to the heel, where it attaches. With every step you take, as the arch flattens, the fascia pulls from its attachment point (aka the heel). When your foot is not bearing weight, the arch is relatively high, but as soon as your bear weight the arch flattens and pulls on the fascia.

This pain from the common foot problem can become very disabling as it can go on for months, or even years in some cases. It is important to note that an x-ray can sometimes show a heel spur, where the fascia attaches to the heel. The old school idea is that this was the source of the pain, however this is seldom the case. If surgery is ever performed to eliminate your plantar fasciitis (using small incisions to partially release the fascia), nothing is done to the spur. Patients have a remarkably high success rate with this form of surgery, proving that it is not the spur. In fact, the spur could have been created by the fascia pulling from your heel.

What Can You Do For Plantar Fasciitis?

Since plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot problems, it is also the one that has the most treatment options. It can get confusing because everyone, including your shoe salesman, will claim to have the solution.

But the actual treatment solutions for plantar fasciitis are limited. There are many options that can help a bit, as these are referred to as “band-aid approaches”. These band-aid approaches include anti-inflammatories, icing, and stretching. They are fine to try, and in some cases can help a lot, but it’s important to do these at the earliest stages of your heel pain.

You can also try using supports, and if the shoes you wear for walking, hiking or running are worn down, consider replacing them. If these attempts fail, or if you find yourself having to go back to these approaches time and time again, it may be time to seek professional help.

Orthotics

Orthotics are one of the foundational things that a podiatrist will use. Orthotics help hold and support the foot better so that the fascia does not want to pull away from the heel. It is important that the orthotics being made utilizes either a casting technique, or a digital system by taking a non-weight bearing, impression of your foot. This captures the foot in its ideal functional position in order to get more precise control of your foot. Orthotics minimize how much that fascia is pulling from your heel by supporting your bony structure better.

Stem Cell Treatment

Podiatrists traditionally used cortisone injections to treat plantar fasciitis, but at Anderson Podiatry Center, we still do this on occasion, but recommended the consideration of stem cell treatment. It’s been known from recent studies that the fascia is not truly inflamed, but rather it’s tissue is breaking down and in need of repair. So what better way to do this than with stem cells (we typically use placenta cells).

Shockwave Treatment and Laser

Shockwave sends powerful sound waves into the heel area. This traumatizes the heel, but puts your body into a repairative mode that helps repair the fascia. We also use a treatment called MLS laser which helps by improving the functionality of the mitochondria in your cells to repair the fascia.

Surgery

Surgery is done on occasion, but only after conservative measures have failed. It’s typically done with a scope, and we make a small incision on both sides of the heel. Patients can ambulate immediately, but usually have to wear a movable cast for approximately two-four weeks. Success rate for this is quite high.

If your attempts to remedy your heel pain are not working, it may be time to move on to a more aggressive treatment plan. The longer you wait to see a podiatrist, the more time and treatment options you may need to eliminate the pain.

Three Ways Peripheral Neuropathy Can Affect Your Walking

Posted on February 17, 2021June 30, 2025 by admin

For many, neuropathy becomes a common and difficult part of their life. It’s been estimated that 25-30% of people in the U.S will experience neuropathy at some point in their life. Peripheral neuropathy refers to the nervous system outside of the spinal cord and brain area. It is the nerves that go down into the foot & leg, or into the arms & hands. The symptoms of Peripheral neuropathy can include burning, tingling, numbness, and oftentimes weakness. It usually affects both feet, but not always – which is why peripheral neuropathy can affect walking. There are many nerve fibers directly underneath the skin called sensory nerves, and when these nerves start to die away it inhibits you from feeling pressure, resulting in not being able to feel your feet on the ground. People may also not be able to feel hot and cold on their feet.

Dibaetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy affects approximately 50-70% of those with diabetes, and when severe can result in ulcers and even amputation.It could start with something as simple as a callous that the patient cannot feel. This then creates an ulcer which can become infected. Oftentimes because there is a lack of feeling, the patient has no pain, and therefore no warning signs. If this results in an amputation, the situation can become life threatening. If you do not have diabetes, it is important to know that many people may be prediabetic, and the first signs can be symptoms of neuropathy in the feet. So if you have never been diagnosed with diabetes, but you’re getting neuropathy symptoms, there’s a chance that you could be pre-diabetic.

There are other types of neuropathy including chemotherapy induced neuropathy and alcoholic neuropathy. Aside from diabetic neuropathy, the most common diagnosis patients are given is idiopathic neuropathy – meaning neuropathy from an unknown cause.

What Are The Benefits Of Walking?

The benefits of walking are both mental and physical. Mentally, exercise has been shown to help people emotionally. Exercise can help increase dopamine levels in the brain (dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with the feel good sensation you have after exercise).It is also thought that exercise can help you sleep better. The importance of sleep has become more apparent as it not only helps you feel better the next day, but can also help with high blood pressure, cancer and diabetes. Walking may also help to keep your weight down, which can have a big impact on controlling your blood sugar levels, blood pressure and even joint arthritis.

So how does peripheral neuropathy affect your walking? To better understand, I’d like to clarify the three ways neuropathy can have an effect on walking.

Number 1 – PAIN

If you are in a lot of pain from the burning and tingling in your feet, maybe you’ll feel uncomfortable to go on a walk. If the pain is mild, you can still go for a walk, but maybe just not as far as you could before. So if your symptoms are not that painful, that’s even more of a reason to consider walking.

If your pain is manageable while you walk, it’s a good idea to gradually increase the frequency and duration each time you walk. One principle to remember is that your body needs rest days. So rather than walking every day for 25 minutes five or six days per week, it may be better to walk four days for 35-45 minutes. Why? It’s thought that those extra minutes (for example, 35 minutes) tend to rev up your metabolism more for a longer period after the aerobic activity. This leads to more calories burned and better cardiac health. If walking is too painful, consider biking, swimming or pool exercises instead.

Number 2 – NUMBNESS

If your nerves are significantly damaged, you may experience numbness in your feet. This also serves as another factor that suppresses your desire to walk. Why? Because your ability to feel your feet on the ground has been reduced.

When your ability to feel your feet on the ground diminishes, you could feel unstable and possibly walk with a wider gait. In some cases you may even shuffle due to the lack of feeling. This can be a challenge, and it might make you even more susceptible to falling. For this scenario it is best to walk on flat surfaces and avoid walking or hiking on irregular terrain.

Number 3 – WEAKNESS

Another symptom caused by peripheral neuropathy is weakness. This ranges from mild to severe in the case of drop foot, which is when it’s difficult to pull your foot or toes upwards. You could also be experiencing what I call “weakfoot”, meaning it’s difficult to push your foot off the ground. Again, it is most important to avoid irregular terrain, so it is important to consider or experiment with other forms of exercise.

If you have weakness or numbness that is not too severe, and you’re able to walk for exercise, then make sure your shoe selection is good. Generally, a shoe with more support (which is called a motion control shoe) should be used. Additionally, keep an eye on your shoes and make sure you do not overwear them to the point that they start to break down.

These are the ways that neuropathy can affect your walking. Please understand that it is important to seek treatment if you’re experiencing neuropathy. Contrary to what conventional medicine says, you do not have to live with it or take medications. At Anderson Center for Neuropathy and Chronic Pain, we can reverse the symptoms of neuropathies with surgical or non-surgical means.

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for your mental and physical well-being. We hope this blog gives you a better understanding of peripheral neuropathy affect walking and how it impacts exercise regimen.

Treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet Broomfield and Fort Collins. Call or email us today.

Exercises to Improve Walking for People 50+ with Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy can make walking more challenging due to loss of sensation, muscle weakness, and balance issues. However, staying active with gentle, low-impact exercises can improve mobility, reduce discomfort, and enhance overall stability.

Safety Tips Before You Start

Choose a stable surface – Perform exercises near a chair, wall, or countertop for support.
Wear proper footwear – Supportive, non-slip shoes reduce the risk of falls.
Go slow and listen to your body – If you feel pain, dizziness, or weakness, stop and rest.
Exercise at the right time – If neuropathy worsens at certain times of the day (e.g., after long periods of standing), adjust your routine accordingly.
Stay hydrated and take breaks – Dehydration and fatigue can increase fall risks.

1. Gentle Stretching for Flexibility

As we age, muscles naturally become tighter, increasing the risk of falls. Stretching helps keep the legs flexible and reduces stiffness.

Seated Calf Stretch (Safer Alternative)

Sit in a sturdy chair, extend one leg, and gently pull your toes toward you using a towel or band.
Hold for 20-30 seconds per leg.

Ankle Circles (Improves foot mobility)

While seated, lift one foot and slowly rotate your ankle in circles to increase flexibility.
Do 5-10 circles in each direction.

2. Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise for Better Circulation

Aerobic activities increase blood flow and nerve function, helping slow neuropathy progression. Safe options for older adults include:

Seated Marching – Sit tall in a chair, lift one knee at a time in a marching motion. (Great alternative to walking!)
Slow, short walks indoors – Use a walker or cane for added support if needed.
Water aerobics or pool walking – The water provides natural support, reducing strain on joints.
Stationary cycling (with back support) – Helps strengthen legs without impact on the feet.

3. Calf Raises for Strength and Stability

Weak calf muscles can make it harder to lift the heels and maintain balance while walking.

How to do it: Stand near a chair or counter for support. Slowly rise onto your toes, hold for a few seconds, and lower back down.
Modifications: If standing is difficult, try a seated version by pressing the toes down while lifting the heels off the floor.
Reps: Aim for 10-15 repetitions for 2-3 sets.

4. Leg Raises to Prevent Falls

As neuropathy weakens the hips and legs, walking can feel unsteady. Strengthening these muscles can improve control and confidence.

Seated Leg Raises (Easiest Version) – Sit in a sturdy chair, straighten one leg, hold for 5-10 seconds, then switch sides.
Standing Side Leg Raises – Holding onto a chair, lift one leg to the side, keeping your torso straight. Lower slowly and repeat 10 times per leg.
Modification: If standing is too difficult, try side leg lifts while seated.

Final Tips for Success

Start with shorter sessions (5-10 minutes) and increase gradually.
Focus on posture – Keep your chest lifted and shoulders relaxed while exercising.
Consider a balance aid – If you feel unsteady, use a cane or walker when doing standing exercises.
Try chair exercises – If standing is difficult, most exercises can be done while seated for safety.

By practicing these exercises regularly, adults 50+ can improve strength, reduce fall risks, and regain confidence in walking despite peripheral neuropathy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is peripheral neuropathy, and how does it impact mobility?

Peripheral neuropathy involves damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, often leading to sensations like burning, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the feet and legs. This nerve damage can hinder your ability to sense the ground, making walking challenging and increasing the risk of instability and falls.

How prevalent is diabetic neuropathy, and what are the potential dangers?

Diabetic neuropathy affects 50-70% of individuals with diabetes, potentially leading to severe complications such as ulcers and amputations. Symptoms often start with numbness, which can mask injuries, allowing them to become serious. Even without a diabetes diagnosis, neuropathy symptoms may indicate pre-diabetes, necessitating early intervention.

What advantages does walking offer for those with neuropathy?

Walking provides numerous benefits, including improved mood, better sleep quality, weight management, and enhanced heart health. It helps regulate blood sugar levels and can reduce the risk of complications like high blood pressure and joint issues. Walking can be a safe and effective exercise with proper precautions.

How can pain from peripheral neuropathy affect walking?

Pain from neuropathy can deter walking, but managing the pain and gradually increasing walking duration can be beneficial. When walking becomes too painful, alternatives such as cycling, swimming, or water aerobics can provide similar health benefits without exacerbating the pain.

What steps should be taken if neuropathy causes numbness or weakness?

Numbness and weakness can compromise balance and safety. It is crucial to walk on smooth, even surfaces and wear supportive shoes to prevent falls. For severe symptoms, consider low-impact activities like swimming or stationary biking to maintain fitness without risking injury. Regular monitoring and appropriate footwear are key to managing these challenges.

Are Custom Orthotics For Foot Problems Right For You?

Posted on December 8, 2020 by admin

There are two basic principles to consider when dealing with your feet and your lower extremity pains that you may have. First, do you think you have a foot that over flattens, otherwise called pronation? As foot specialists, we have been trained in biomechanics and believe that most patients are born with different foot types. If you tend to overpronate the bony structure of your foot, you cannot adequately support the foot. This results in soft tissue structures being stressed more. Orthotics simply position the foot so that the joints can support the foot and demand less of other structures.

Secondly, do you have a condition that continues to plague you in spite of attempts with anti-inflammatories, icing, resting or maybe even physical therapy? Do you find that if you lay off from running or walking and return to it, the same problem occurs? If this is you, then this blog is right for you! Let’s find out if custom orthotics for foot problems are right for you.

Over-pronation

Let’s address your first concern. Over pronating is a very simple concept to understand. People tend to flatten their arch or roll their foot inward too much and too often. The old adage is, if you walk in the sand and you can’t see much of an arch, this could be an indication of pronation. This is somewhat true in most cases, but it may be more complex than that. Some people have an arch that doesn’t over flatten; but if you look at their heel from behind, their heel tends to roll in quite a bit. It does not stay perpendicular to the ground.

Different kinds of feet present different kinds of pronation. Sometimes, a professional is the best to tell you if you are an overpronator. If you have tried various treatments and you have had a problem that’s been persisting; for over one, three, six or twelve months – it is an indication that your foot structure needs additional support. The following are some conditions that are oftentimes bettered or totally eliminated with the use of orthotic devices.

Achilles Tendonitis and Plantar Fasciitis

Pain on the bottom of the heel is referred to as plantar fasciitis. It’s one of the most common problems to be treatable. Tendon on the backside of your heel or running up the Achilles tendon, is, oftentimes, Achilles tendonitis. Orthotics can treat this a great deal. In many cases, treatment options such as anti-inflammatory stretching and physical therapy just don’t knock it away.

Bunions and Foot Deformities That Are Treated With Custom Orthotics

Bunions are a prime example of this, especially if it’s in early stages and not painful yet. There is a chance of a foot deformity where you can feel growth on the back of your heel; also called the Haglund’s deformity or pump bump. Patients can benefit from orthotics in this situation. In both cases, the biomechanics of your foot might allow you to have a progression of a bunion or progression of the bump on the back of heel.

Stiff Toe Joint

Also referred to as hallux limitus or hallux rigidus, this is an arthritic condition in its early stages and can be healed with orthotic devices.

Painful Ankle

The ankle in itself can have arthritis and orthotics may benefit that. There are stabilizers or stirrup tendons that help stabilize the outer side and the inner side of the ankle. If you have overpronation, these tendons tend to have to be overused because they’re trying to stabilize the foot that is unstable.

Knee Pain

Orthotics have a proven track record of helping what is called chondromalacia patella, which occurs when the kneecap is not centered over the knee joint, thereby causing arthritis between the knee joint and the femur bone. There are instances when people have a higher Q-angle and their knee angulates inward so the thigh and lower leg are not in a straight line. By supporting the foot more this can lessen the angulation at the knee with every step that is taken. The patella can then stay in better alignment and may be less likely to wear down the cartilage. If you have any of the above conditions or just simply have a problem that persists for a long time, orthotics may be just the way to go for you.

Finally if you find yourself in pain in the ball of your foot maybe you’re feeling like your sock is wrinkled but it isn’t. You may be suffering from a nerve enlargement called a neuroma (mortens neuroma) . Orthotics can help as they support the area to lessen the rubbing of a ligament against the nerve.

This blog will serve as a guideline for your consideration of custom orthotics for foot problems and what they are useful for. Depending on your condition, orthotics may be a part of the solution or the only treatment that is needed. So remember to consider if you think you’re an overpronator and are having difficulty getting rid of a chronic problem in the foot or ankle.

What You Should Know About Bunion Treatment

Posted on November 17, 2020 by admin

What Are Bunions?

You have all seen a person wearing beautiful sandals, but notice a big bump or protrusion on the side of their foot by the big toe. Or maybe you’ve seen an area of the shoe by the big toe that is being pushed out- looking as though it wants to bust through. This is a bunion.

There are several hereditary factors that can cause bunions; and the most popular opinion is that shoes aggravate it. Bunions become a big issue when they start to cause skin irritation, redness and swelling, so it’s fair to look into bunion treatment options before things get bad.

Why Do We Get Bunions?

There are varied factors that lead to the formation of bunions. As foot specialists, we believe that in most cases shoes can aggravate the problem, but are not usually the main cause. In fact, the foot type you’ve inherited has a lot to do with creating the bunion.

The first metatarsal (the bone that leads down to the great toe joint) needs to be very stable. Many people tend to over-flatten their feet in their arch, causing instability of the first metatarsal. This results in an abnormal pulling of the tendons which causes the big metatarsal to move away from the others, thus creating the bunion bump. To simplify, the bump is caused by the misalignment of the first metatarsal and the second metatarsal.

There are other bunion formation theories that involve the shape of the tarsal bones (these are the small cube-shaped bones in your arch). Some believe that the different shapes of these bones associated with your first metatarsal leads to more instability, and therefore can create the bunion deformity angle.

Treatment:

There are various bunion treatments that can be attempted, such as padding, wearing different shoes, custom-made orthotics or cortisone injections. Oftentimes these can help, especially if the bunion is at an earlier stage, but in many cases these options are only a temporary fix.

It is important to know that as time goes on and the deformity of the bunion gets worse, people can even develop an arthritic condition in the great toe joint.

For many patients, surgery is the most popular bunion treatment option because it is considered a permanent correction. We discuss this very carefully with patients because it can lead to risks such as recurrence, infection, nerve injury, or slow/delayed bone healing.

The Most Popular Surgical Options:

There are different approaches taken to correct a bunion surgically – the simplest being what is called the Silver bunionectomy (also known as the McBride bunionectomy). This involves shaving off the extra bone on the inside of the big toe. Another common procedure is the Austin Bunionectomy, where the bone by the big toe joint is pricesely shifted over towards the second bone; therefore reducing the angle between the two bones.

Depending on the severity of the deformity, other bunion treatment options may take precedence – such as the removal of a wedge of bone towards the arch. This is reserved for more severe deformities and will also close the angle down to bring the first metatarsal closer to the second metatarsal.

At Anderson Podiatry Center, we believe we have perfected these techniques to give our patients the maximum correction, so they can get back to normal activity in their shoe gear. For most patients, it takes six to eight weeks to achieve this. If you’ve started noticing difficulty in wearing shoes, and are therefore limiting your shoe selection, please book an appointment to discuss treatment options. A consultation with us can go a long way; let us help you get back to pain-free activities.

Does Chronic Pain Affect Your Personality?

Posted on October 15, 2020July 1, 2025 by admin

The term chronic pain syndrome is used quite a bit nowadays since so many people experience it. In many cases, people even end up with drug addictions because of it. Here, we will discuss what qualifies as chronic pain and the various ways it affects you physically and mentally.

What is Chronic Pain?

The most common notion is that chronic pain is caused from nerve damage, possibly by trauma or from surgery. You may be in a car accident and suffer whiplash or a fractured ankle, and right after your surgery to repair the fracture chronic pain will ensue. The trauma of surgery or an injury can trigger chronic pain. This may be surprising, but something as simple as an ankle sprain may create a state of chronic pain.

The medical terms you may have heard for these conditions are Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, abbreviated as CRPS, and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, abbreviated as RSD. RSD was the term used to describe the pain patients thought they were consigned to and had to learn to live with. In 1993, the terminology was changed to CRPS, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, but some still will use the original terminology. When you hear that someone is going to a pain clinic for treatment, this is most commonly what they have been diagnosed with.

Neuropathy and Restless Legs Syndrome

Problems such as neuropathy and restless legs syndrome can also be included in the chronic pain group. The symptoms of neuropathy can include burning, tingling, numbness, and pain, and is more common in the lower extremity than the upper. Neuropathy is often associated with diabetes, but can also be called idiopathic neuropathy, meaning it’s from an unknown cause. Restless legs syndrome can also be considered a chronic pain problem when it is severe. The symptoms associated with it are a nervous or restless type feeling in the legs that makes it difficult to sit still. Sufferers are often awoken by this feeling in the night and must get out of bed to relieve the symptoms. Other symptoms include a creepy crawly sensation, cramping and jerking in the legs. All these symptoms make it difficult to have uninterrupted sleep and ultimately affect your personality.

Chronic Pain and Your Personality

With chronic pain syndrome, the body goes into a fight or flight mode. This changes the chemistry within the brain; creating emotional issues where people want to isolate themselves – all resulting in depression. When a great part of your time is spent thinking about and focusing on your pain it can become very difficult to focus on other things or people. This feeling of isolation can lead to a depressive state.

Chronic pain can also cause significant anxiety – the feeling of hopelessness that a problem may never get resolved. Patients may also feel a loss of control, not knowing what to do and are desperate for help or improvement. In this case of restless leg syndrome, there can be severe sleep deprivation which also causes depression and anxiety in the inevitable terrible night of bad sleep.

A study reports that people with chronic pain may tend to worry more, which causes them to be less inclined to participate in novel activities. The desire of wanting to go out and explore the world goes away, ultimately minimizing the pleasures of life.

There’s also evidence that chronic pain can cause an alteration of how communication between brain cells takes place, thereby reducing your ability to effectively process your own human emotions. Without the ability to monitor your emotions, people experience a lack of control or misinterpretation of what is happening. The main way to treat this problem is to find the cause of the issue.

Weight Gain and Depression

Weight gain that comes with lack of activity and lack of sleep can also cause personality changes. When sleeping becomes difficult and your focus is on your chronic pain, it reduces one’s self-esteem. The combination of lack of sleep, the emotional stress of the pain and potential side effects of the medication taken for these disorders make it difficult to get up each day, let alone be active.

This lack of activity can commonly lead to weight gain. Why is this so important? We know that lack of exercise has a negative effect on the biochemistry of your brain, and the potential for weight gain can also have an effect on one’s self esteem. The relationship between one’s physical and mental self is very important, and if you are not being greeted by the great looking self you once saw yourself as you can experience hardship.

At Anderson Podiatry we provide many options, including working with peripheral nerve disorders, that can get to the root of these problems rather than treating the symptoms with medications. We like to describe this method as “putting out the fire” rather than simply dealing with the smoke. So, if you’re questioning if you have mood or personality disorders from your chronic pain, please come visit us. Do not lose hope as we’ve been able to help many get back to feeling like themselves.

How to Avoid a Visit to the Doctor’s Office When Experiencing Heel Pain

Posted on October 1, 2020July 1, 2025 by admin

One of the most common foot complaints is heel pain, which is commonly referred to as Plantar Fasciitis. Here we’ll discuss how to prevent a visit to the doctors office when experiencing heel pain and what you can do at home to help alleviate your symptoms.

The symptoms of heel pain often start at the bottom of your heel and are very prevalent when first getting up in the morning. This is a very common complaint, and even though the pain can gradually get better throughout the day, it’s important this is treated right away. When plantar fasciitis pain is mild, you have a better chance of reversing the pain with some simple recommendations.

Shoes and Orthotics

First and foremost, the most important thing to do is to make sure your shoes are not run down. Shoes eventually wear down and do not give the foot as much support as they used to, which can cause pain. If you’re an active runner or a walker, good shoe support is key. If you are flatfooted, this becomes even more significant.

With every step you take the foot flattens, causing the fascia to pull from your heel, which can cause symptoms of heel pain. So, utilizing more support in the shoe can be very beneficial. If you don’t believe your shoes are worn down, another option would be to buy over-the-counter shoe inserts, which are also known as orthotics.

There are many options when purchasing orthotics, and you can typically find them in an athletics store. However, be careful when going to an orthotics outlet because oftentimes these devices can cost several hundreds of dollars- and you’re better off seeing a podiatrist to have custom orthotics made to work for your foot type. Ideally, you should not be spending more than $10-$15 for store-bought inserts.

Icing the area of heel pain from plantar fasciitis

Icing is often used to treat sports medicine injuries and can also be employed for the reduction of pain and inflammation caused by heel pain. If you do choose to ice the area, it’s important to do it for 10 minutes twice a day. You can also roll your heel on a frozen plastic bottle as this can be beneficial.

Stretching

Stretching before you get up in the morning can also help as it can reduce the pain and inflammation of the plantar fascia. In order to stretch this area correctly you should keep your knee straight and put your foot up towards you. By keeping your knee straight you are stretching your calf and achilles tendon; this will allow your ankle to flex up more and thereby lessen the need for excessive pulling of the fascia. The band of tissue you can feel beneath your skin in the arch is the fascia. It is often suggested to be careful with this because there have been cases where this can actually worsen the symptoms.

Another way to help stretch the achilles, calf and plantar fascia is by using a night splint. Although they have shown to be useful for many, they can also be an annoyance and reduce sleep quality.

Anti-Inflammatories for heel pain from plantar fasciitis

Anti-inflammatories can also be taken. These medications help with the pain and inflammation for those experiencing mild plantar fasciitis. Anti-inflammatories can be taken for approximately one or two weeks to see if they help.

Cut Down on Activities

Lastly, it’s important to back off your activity level. While moving around may be a part of what you do, it’s not helping your heel heal! You can back off entirely, or even cut it down by 50%. One of the most common causes of heel pain is doing too much too soon. When people take up a new form of exercise, such as walking or running, it is important to factor in days of rest- especially since your body requires long periods of rest when injured. Resting is as important as the stress you put on your body to become more fit. Therefore, if you’re walking or running five days a week, maybe cut back to just two or three to see if there is improvement.

If you’ve attempted these treatments for heel pain from plantar fasciitis approximately three to four weeks and have seen no results, it’s probably time to consider professional attention as you may need more aggressive treatment options. Even so, it is important to note that early and aggressive intervention can spare you a trip to the podiatrist’s office.

Our Revolutionary Approach to Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment

Posted on September 4, 2020 by admin

The name “restless legs syndrome” does not do the severe nature of the condition justice as it has been said that 10% of the population suffers from restless legs; and out of those, half have it severely. Restless leg syndrome is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease and is twice as common in female patients. Here at Anderson Podiatry, we have a revolutionary approach to the treatment of restless leg syndrome and are eager to share our findings with you.

Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome

The symptoms of restless leg syndrome almost always occur at night or at rest, making it difficult for those suffering to fly on a plane or sit in a movie theater. That’s the frustrating thing about restless legs; during the day you may be functioning just fine; but once it’s time to go to bed, it all starts up again. Day after day, the same symptoms occur. At first, it may be mild, but then it can become more severe until it’s consistently happening every night.

Symptoms are experienced in the legs; particularly from the knee down rather than above. The symptoms can be a combination of cramping, a creepy crawly sensation- like bugs or ants are going on your skin, pain, or jerky legs. However, the most prevalent symptom is an anxious or nervous feeling that makes you want to get up and walk. In fact, most patients have said this is what they have to do during the night.Restless leg syndrome comes on quite slow, and because of this, patients do not realize the severity of the condition. In fact, many in healthcare do not even realize the severity, and their hands are tied because, in many cases, they’re not sure how to help.

Aside from all the physical symptoms, maybe the worst of them all is the psychological effect. This includes the anxiety people experience during the day- not wanting to think about what’s going to happen when they go to bed at night- to the anxiety of being up at night when everybody else in the world seems to be sleeping. Then comes the morning and you are absolutely exhausted.

The good news is, for many of you, you can come out of the bushes because at Anderson Podiatry, we understand how severe this is. In fact, we actually have a solution for many people suffering from restless leg syndrome. This is something we’ve been practicing for approximately seven years.

The Conventional Approach to Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome

In conventional medicine there’s no known cause for restless leg syndrome, so people are often left helpless. In many cases, people also find that their doctors or loved ones do not understand the severity of the problem. This is incredibly unfortunate because restless leg syndrome is a very serious problem that can affect people’s general health. Recent studies have shown that there’s a higher incidence of early death with people experiencing severe restless legs due to lack of sleep. This lack of sleep can cause all sorts of secondary problems, such as increased incidence of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

In the world of conventional medicine, the treatment options are very minimal. They usually involve pharmaceutical medications that deal with dopamine levels in your brain, or band-aiding the pain with medications that are used for treatment of neuropathy (namely Lyrica and gabapentin). Outside of this realm of drugs is the possibility that some of your restless legs could be caused by your back. Maybe you have a pinched nerve in your back that could be radiating symptoms in the leg.

So basically, the restless leg syndrome treatment options are relegated to two things; either it’s coming from the back, or in the vast majority of cases, it’s something the medical community does not know how to treat. However, many of these treatments, especially the drugs, can have detrimental side effects patients don’t like, including significant weight gain.

Our Concept

At Anderson Podiatry we prefer to call this disorder “restless legs compression syndrome” because we’ve been able to reverse the symptoms by opening up tight nerve pathways in the lower extremity. When the nerve tunnels become tight it can be damaging, which results in restless legs syndrome symptoms for many. For most, the success rate is incredibly high and there is minimal chance of worsening the condition. We also treat patients with restless leg syndrome non-surgically by utilizing laser and e-stim. Both of these treatments help to restore more normal nerve function and have proven very effective. However, for many patients with severe restless legs, the surgical option may be the best treatment of choice.

So you may be wondering, what do we do when we do surgery? We’re basically opening up nerve tunnels- usually three, but sometimes just two. Two of these nerve tunnels are in the lower leg just below the knee, and third is down in the front of the lower one-third of the leg. These tunnels can create a lot of pressure on the nerves in the legs. Instead of treating you with pharmaceuticals, or hoping that maybe treatment of the back will help, we have found that the fire is truly in the nerve tunnels of the lower extremity. While many treatment options simply blow away smoke from the fire, we believe that we’re able to get rid of the problem by directing our attention to the flames.

Many people are desperate for a solution, and our method of treatment is something you’re not going to hear conventional medicine speaking to. Why? Well, in many cases, it’s because big pharma has no interest in supporting what we’re doing, as it would be contrary to what they want you to think (that restless leg syndrome patients have to be on medication).

In conclusion, if you’re looking to target the direct cause of your problem, consider coming to our office for evaluation of restless leg syndrome treatment. For many, surgery may not be the option you desire, and this is a decision that we can mutually discuss. If you have any other further questions, please contact our office to get a better understanding of how our treatment options work. It’s time for you to get your life and sleep back.

Please visit our YouTube channel, where we have plenty of information about what we do, as well as testimonials from patients that have successfully gone through our surgical procedures and nonsurgical treatment options.