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Category: Patient Testimonials

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.

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.

Elsie’s Story: Heel Pain & Knee Pain

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Walking On My Toes

Elsie didn’t have time for heel pain. She loved being active and going for runs, and suddenly heel pain had stopped her in her tracks.

“I was walking on my toes,” Elsie said. “The pain was so bad, I couldn’t put any pressure on my heels. So I had to stop running and I was looking for a solution.”

Heel Pain, Gone

Elsie came to see Dr. James Anderson, DPM, and tried conservative treatment first.

Dr. Anderson said, “Elsie had plantar fasciitis (heel pain). We tried orthotics first, but nothing was really helping her. Instead of doing surgery, we recommended stem cell treatment. Often, patients can avoid surgery, and experience pain relief with only one stem cell treatment.”

“I had the stem cell treatment,” Elsie said. “After only one week, the pain was totally gone!”

Two years later, she came to see Dr. Anderson for a follow up appointment, and she was back to running and her heel pain had not returned.

Then, Knee Pain

Elsie had started to have knee pain, and mentioned it to Dr. Anderson. “I wore my cartilage down on the top and bottom of my knee, and it was hurting when I ran.” she said.

Dr. Anderson had good news. “We have recently integrated our practice, and are now offering stem cell treatment for knee pain as well as shoulder and hip pain.”

Elsie was thrilled, “I’m a firm believer in stem cell,” she says. “Because I have not had any trouble with my foot since my injection.”

Dr. Anderson treated her with the newest regenerative product that contains umbilical cord stem cells. “Umbilical cord stem cell treatment has the highest concentration of stem cells, growth factors, and proteins, so it’s a highly-effective product and can help patients avoid surgery,” Dr. Anderson says.

The Power of Stem Cell Treatment

“Stem cell treatment is a really powerful tool,” Dr. Anderson explains. “Because it works by stimulating your body’s natural ability to heal.”

“As we age, our bodies begin to degenerate, and we start to have pain. But, stem cells have the ability to become any kind of cell. They can become bone, tissue, tendon, or cartilage. So, it’s an amazing treatment option for a variety of conditions.”

“We’ve treated plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and arthritis in the joints with stem cell therapies for years, and now we can treat knee pain, shoulder pain and hip bursitis as well.”

Back On Track

Elsie had the stem cell injection in her knee two weeks ago. “This week I was hurrying to do something, and I didn’t even mean to, but I started to run, and it didn’t hurt at all!”

“My knee just keeps feeling better and better every day,” Elsie says. “In another week or so, I’ll be back out there, running again.”

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Summer Special!

Now offering a FREE new patient exam and consultation! Expires 6/30/18. *X-Rays, testing and treatment not included.  

Call us today! Just mention this blog to receive the offer.

Learn more about regenerative medicine here.

Grace’s Story: Arthritis in Big Toe Joint

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On My Feet All Day

As a kindergarten teacher for many years, Grace was used to being on her feet all day. “I was busy,” Grace says, “And I just didn’t have time to address all my aches and pains.”

Grace had pain in her big toes, but she ignored it and kept up with her active life, and her daily one-mile walks. “I just sucked it up,” Grace says, “I think a lot of people do that when they are busy.”

Then The Pain Kicked In

When Grace retired from teaching, suddenly the pain kicked in. “I was having trouble walking because of the pain. Finally, I got tired of dealing with it and decided to find treatment.”

Grace went online, began researching, and soon found Dr. James Anderson, DPM. “I didn’t realize I had arthritis in my big toe joints,” she said. “You just know you have pain, but you don’t really know what’s going on until you go in and make an appointment.”

Regenerative Medicine + Surgery

Dr. Anderson says, “Because of the arthritis, there was a bone spur on her joint. I recommended surgery to remove it and clean up the bone. Then, we could follow up with a regenerative medicine injection.”

Grace decided to have the surgery, and then followed up with the regenerative injection, and laser therapy to help reduce inflammation and prevent scar tissue from forming.

“Regenerative medicine works by stimulating the body’s natural ability to heal, and the stem cell components help to regenerate the damaged cartilage,” says Dr. Anderson. “If we see the patient early enough, we can often use regenerative therapies to avoid surgery completely.”

“For Grace, this treatment approach helped us to save her joint and improve function! Many times, patients will have to have a joint fusion or replacement, and we were able to prevent that.”

Hitting the Trails Again

It wasn’t long before Grace was living the retired life she had hoped for. “I’m back to doing anything that I want,” Grace says.

“I can go hiking, and I can travel! I walk two miles every day, and I can wear any shoes I want to!”

Her advice for others is this. “Don’t wait any longer to address your pain. The longer you put it off, the more damage can occur. And then, that’s more time and money you will have to spend to resolve it.”

“Take the time to take care of yourself. It’s important.”

Call today to make an appointment, and we can discuss treatment options with you.

To learn more about regenerative medicine, click here. 

Jacque/tarsal tunnel, drop foot, neuropathy, mortons foot

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Jacque’s experience at Anderson Podiatry was wonderful; she felt welcomed and safe, especially during the time of her surgery. According to Jacque, everyone was incredibly kind and she felt well taken care of as all of her questions were answered.

Jacque was treated for tarsal tunnel, and along with that she developed drop foot, neuropathy, mortons foot. The Anderson Podiatry team performed the surgery to release some of the nerves, and Jacque is now healing up very nicely.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is described as ankle pain due to a compressed nerve. If you have muscle weakness, twitching, tingling, loss of balance, numbness, burning, prickling sensations, and/or nerve pain in your legs or feet, you might be experiencing neuropathy, or nerve damage. Neuropathy can have many causes, like diabetes, infections, injury,, and cancers, and can worsen over time.

The trained specialists at Anderson Podiatry Center know what it’s like to experience neuropathy: which is why we were the first doctors in the Rocky Mountain region to offer nerve decompression treatment that offers long-lasting relief. Our world-renowned podiatrists use the latest technology to reveal the exact stage of the neuropathy and determine the most appropriate actions to take. Our varied and affordable treatment options for neuropathy include, a non-invasive, conservative treatment package that includes diagnostic testing, MLS® Laser Therapy, Electrical Nerve Stimulation (ESTIM), and nutritional counseling, as well as revolutionary nerve decompression surgery

The best aspect of the surgery has been that the neuropathy is basically gone, she does not have the drop foot anymore. It is the best outcome she could imagine since she could feel that her leg and foot have not dropped since the surgery.

Jacque would absolutely recommend Anderson Podiatry to her friends and family, and in fact- she already has!

CJ’s Story: Chronic Tendon Pain (The Power of Regenerative Medicine)

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CJs testimonials chronic tendon pain

The new year is here, and for many of us that means it’s time to focus on our health, and address some of those lingering issues we’ve been putting off.

Today, I will share a success story of a patient who was dealing with chronic joint and tendon pain for several years. My goal is to help instill hope in many of you who have been experiencing similar pain, and have perhaps given up on finding a solution. So, here we go.

52, Healthy and Active

This patient is a 52 year-old female, who was healthy and active. We will call her CJ. She came into my office with a variety of foot complaints. The primary issue was chronic joint and tendon pain in her right foot and ankle, and this had been going on for several years.

Seven years prior, a horse stepped on her foot and she was diagnosed with a “hairline fracture” and wore a cast for three months. Once she was out of the cast, she could get back to activity with little pain. However, over the next five to six years, she started having more and more pain in the area that began to significantly limit her activity. This gradually led to weight gain, which only made the problem worse.

Plantar Fasciitis, Arthritis and Tendon Pain

When I first saw CJ, she was planning on having gastric bypass surgery, but was concerned that she would not be able to exercise properly after the surgery because of her foot and ankle pain. She had previously been treated for plantar fasciitis by another doctor.  She had steroid injections and wore a night splint, but neither treatment seemed to give her any relief.

During her initial exam, her X-rays showed that the old injury had been more than just a hairline fracture. She had evidence of post-fracture arthritis in two joints in the middle of her foot. The fracture had healed, but left joint damage behind. Her other main issue of ankle pain was diagnosed as a partial tendon tear. This had likely been aggravated by compensating for the joint pain.

Regenerative Medicine + Surgery

Many times, when patients present with arthritis, tendon pain, or plantar fasciitis, we use regenerative medicine therapy to help stimulate healing and avoid surgery altogether. But, in CJ’s case, we needed to use several different treatments to help address all the issues that had been accumulating for all these years.

We performed surgery to repair the tendon tear and used regenerative injections to help heal the joint damage. To better support the damaged joints, we fitted her for custom orthotics. She then began physical therapy to improve her strength, balance, and flexibility.

Ten Weeks Later

CJ was on crutches for four weeks after the tendon repair. But, once we cleared her to start walking, she progressed quickly. She was highly motivated and committed to her therapy and post-operative rehab. Ten weeks after surgery and regenerative therapy, she was already back to walking and elliptical workouts daily. She still has the occasional sore muscles, but no longer has anywhere near the pain she did before. CJ is still considering gastric bypass surgery. But, she now feels she will be able to lose the weight without it since she can exercise without pain.

So, if you or someone you love is struggling with daily foot or ankle pain, please don’t wait any longer to address it. Call today to make an appointment, and we can discuss treatment options with you.

2018 can be your last year to deal with chronic pain. It’s time to get on the path to healing, together.

Raymond’s Story: Decades of Chronic Foot Pain

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24 Years in the Military

Raymond Evans was accustomed to toughing out pain. But after serving for 24 years in the military, he was experiencing chronic foot pain that had become debilitating. Now working in the mail business, Raymond’s job required him to be on his feet all day every day, and it was becoming harder and harder for him to get through the day.

Many Diagnoses, No Relief

Raymond went to doctor after doctor to try to find a solution. “I was diagnosed with a bone spur, and plantar fasciitis, and I was seeking treatment but I wasn’t getting any relief,” Raymond says. “It was getting to the point that sometimes I would have to crawl to get from point A to point B, and I was worried I was going to lose my job.”

Finally, A Referral That Brings Hope

Raymond was being treated at the VA Center nearby where he lives in Spearfish, South Dakota. He had tried many treatments, and even more holistic options like acupuncture and yoga, but nothing was working.

One day his doctor referred him to Dr. James Anderson, and the seed of hope was planted.

A Specialist Six Hours Away

“I didn’t know much about Dr. Anderson at the time,” Raymond said, “But I knew he was a specialist in his field, and that’s what I needed.” Although Fort Collins, CO is  6-hour drive from where Raymond lives in South Dakota, he was more than ready to make the trip. “I would have gone across the country to get help at this point,” Raymond said. “I was having trouble just walking, and I needed answers.”

A Treatment Plan That Worked 

“Raymond had seen multiple doctors for this chronic pain in his left foot. After a thorough physical exam and testing, I diagnosed him with arthritis,” Dr. Anderson says. Dr. Anderson recommended a nerve resection in Raymond’s foot to help with the pain.

“We performed surgery on one nerve above the ankle, and he got relief from that, so we did a second surgery to resect the other nerve,” Dr. Anderson explains. He also used a regenerative injection during surgery to stimulate the cells heal faster. “Sometimes we use regenerative treatment to help patients avoid surgery altogether, but in Raymond’s case, this was a great option to save him from needing a much more painful and intense surgery to fuse the joints together.”

Chronic Foot Pain, Gone

Today, Raymond is back on his feet. “I give Dr. Anderson 10 out of 10 stars,” Raymond says. “He takes the time to really figure out what’s going on. He has the passion, and he knows what he’s doing.”

Raymond is back to work on his feet every day, and he has resumed his normal activity level without pain. He also has custom orthotics made just for his feet, and he wears them every day to help provide continued support.

Raymond’s advice to other is this. “If you are in pain, don’t let it go on and on without addressing it. Eventually it can get to the point that you are struggling just to get through each day. I feel like this treatment saved my job, and in a lot of ways, really, it saved my life. I am truly grateful.”

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Learn about more treatment options for arthritis and chronic foot pain. 

To make an appointment, click here.

Zelda’s Story: RLS Non-Surgical Treatment

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No Solution for RLS?

Zelda had struggled with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) for years. The constant need to move her legs and creepy-crawly sensation was keeping her awake at night and affecting her daily activities. “I went to different doctors,” Zelda says, “But they told me there was nothing they could do.”

When You Can’t Sit Still

Zelda’s RLS symptoms didn’t just flare up at night, she was having a hard time getting through her daily activities as well.

“I couldn’t go to church anymore. I couldn’t go to a movie, or sit down to crotchet or even eat a meal.” Zelda says. She tried taking a medicine called Tramadol, but most of the time, it didn’t help. She eventually tried spraying Icy Hot on her legs just to dull the pain.

Finally, An Answer Online

The constant need to get up and pace was taking a toll on Zelda. “I couldn’t stay still, and I couldn’t get any relief,” she says.

Finally, one day, her daughter got online to look for answers, found Dr. James Anderson, DPM, and made an appointment.

RLS Non-Surgical Treatment

Zelda met with the Dr. Anderson, and he recommended a combination of ESTIM and MLS laser treatment. Dr. Anderson says, “This was a great option for Zelda because she was able to avoid surgery, and get the relief that she was looking for.”

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.”

All the Difference

For Zelda, this treatment made all the difference. Before she even finished her treatment, she was reporting 90-95% improvement in her symptoms.

“Now, I can sit. I can eat, and I don’t have any pain. I’m sleeping through the night, and the jittery feeling is gone,” she says. Zelda is back to the activities she loves. She can crotchet, go to the movies, and go to church. Her advice for others experiencing RLS symptoms is this.

“Just make an appointment because there is no one else out there doing this. Even if it only helps 75%, it’s worth it. To be able to sleep, and live your daily life again, it makes all the difference in the world.”

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Learn about more treatment options for RLS. 

To make an appointment, click here.

Shelly’s Story: Searching for an “RLS Cure” at 2:30am

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shellys story restless leg syndrome
Five days after surgery, Shelly hiked up Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins, CO

Shelly was no stranger to 2:30am. Like many people who struggle with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), she was used to being awake while the rest of the world was asleep. Finally one night, she had enough. She went online, typed in “RLS cure” and began searching for a solution. What she found would change her life.

When You Just Have to Move

Shelly had been suffering from RLS for years. As a teacher, she was struggling with being exhausted all the time. “It seemed like I never got a full night of sleep, or settled into that deep “REM” sleep. I was continuously being interrupted by my legs tingling, twitching, and jerking. It felt like I just had to get up and move around no matter what I tried,” Shelly says.

When Medication Isn’t Enough

“The symptoms would start around 7:00pm every night. And it just got worse from there. Eventually, I started experiencing the symptoms earlier and earlier in the day. I just couldn’t figure it out,” Shelly says. “If I walked too much, if I didn’t walk enough…I just couldn’t ever find a pattern of movement that would give me relief.”

Shelly went to her PCP, and began trying medication after medication. “Over the counter meds didn’t even touch it. One medication kept me up all night, another one totally changed my personality. I was just out of it all the time,” Shelly remembers. “I really, really wanted to get off the medication and was hoping to find a doctor that would support that.”

The Breaking Point

For most people, there comes a point when you realize just how bad it is. For Shelly, that came on a car ride.

“My son was playing football, and we had to travel about two hours away from home to watch his games,” Shelly remembers. “I could barely make it down there. We constantly had to stop the car so I could get out and move. And it just hit me. I couldn’t go to the movies. I couldn’t sit in the car. As soon as I sat down, I had to get up and move. I was constantly frustrated, and I just wasn’t enjoying the little things in life anymore.”

Searching for an “RLS Cure” at 2:30am

Finally, one night Shelly began searching online and she found a story that got her attention. She read about a woman named Bonnie who had nerve decompression surgery and finally was able to sleep after 20+ years of suffering from RLS. Shelly remembers reading through to the end of her story and being in tears. “I thought, ok, this is it. This is what I’m doing,” she says.

From Michigan to Colorado

Shelly lives in Michigan and was ready to make the trip to Colorado for treatment. She called and spoke with Dr. James Anderson, DPM, over the phone and felt confident in her decision.

“He answered all my questions, and supported my desire to get off medication,” Shelly says. “That was a big deal to me.”

Shelly traveled to Fort Collins, CO, and had nerve decompression surgery on one leg first to make sure she would get the results she was hoping for. And she did.

Dr. Anderson says, “Because Shelly traveled for treatment and she had a great immediate result on the first leg, we felt confident that this was going to be the right approach for her. Ultimately, the goal is to resolve her RLS symptoms. The surgery takes about an hour, and we go in to open up nerve tunnels that have become compressed in the leg and cause these symptoms.”

Within days, Shelly had surgery on the second leg. “I felt a huge difference immediately,” she says.

Shelly Restless Leg Syndrome Cure
“I can now go to my son’s football games and sit, and enjoy every minute of it.”

Life Today

Shelly traveled back home to Michigan, and she slept all night long. “My husband said my legs were so still, he wanted to poke me to make sure I was still alive,” Shelly says, laughing.

“Within a week, I felt like I was back to being myself. I’m finally getting that deep sleep I need. My memory is better. I’m alert. I’m rested. My family just couldn’t believe how immediate the change was.”

“I’m happy to report that I can now go to my son’s football games and sit, and enjoy every minute of it.”

Shelly’s advice for others is this.”If you are struggling with RLS and it is affecting your quality of sleep and day-to-day activities, please consider giving Dr. Anderson and his staff a call. They will be very helpful in answering any questions that you might have. I am truly amazed by how this surgery has helped me. My symptoms are virtually gone. I wish I would have done this years ago!”

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Summer Special!

Now offering a FREE new patient exam and consultation! Expires 6/30/18. *X-Rays, testing and treatment not included.  

Call us today! Just mention this blog to receive the offer.

To watch Shelly share her story, click here.