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Introduction
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There are many medical informational podiatry web
sites. This is not one of them. If you have a foot problem you
could check these websites (which are listed in links) for up-to-date
medical information. This website offers my own personal and professional
slant to certain foot problems which I have seen and experienced
over my 15 years of practice. In the office I have the privilege
of meeting some amazing people and the added opportunity to help
get them back on their feet (so to speak). Often, people literally
do come limping in and leap away.
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Any foot problem (and some knee, hip and back problems)
can be evaluated and treated by a podiatrist - fractures, sprains, tendonitis,
chronic pain, skin problems, ingrown nails, bunions, diabetes - you
name it. Podiatric medical training provides us with a broad medical
understanding of the body combined with specific skills related to feet
which include surgery, biomechanics, orthotics, wound care, and general
foot care. Many medical professionals have a very limited knowledge
of what podiatrists are actually trained and licensed to do. We are
the only professionals who approach foot care from a "whole body"
medically based perspective. My post-graduate training was in biomechanics,
which means that I spent more time learning about conservative than
surgical approaches to treating foot pain. A biomechanical approach
is essentially anything that alters the way the foot hits the ground
or functions within footwear. I have developed a special interest in
chronic pain and arthritis.
Sometimes the cause of foot and lower extremity pain is
easily identifiable and treatable. I especially love it when one appointment
is enough to get people back to their activities and regular footwear.
When it is not the case, especially with chronic pain, I take a holistic
approach which simply means that I'm willing to consider any number
of external or internal factors that may be contributing to the body's
dysfunction, including but not limited to physical factors (anatomy,
biology, etc) . I believe that sometimes the origins of pain are rooted
in emotional, mental and spiritual issues. I also believe (because I
see it in the office every day) that the urban lifestyle can be extraordinarily
damaging in many different ways to our bodies, our psyches and our spirits.
Sometimes physical pain is the only clue that change of some kind may
be needed in a person's life..
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