Does bunion surgery have to be painful? In this video excerpt from an interview from Chattanooga's Award Winning Foot Surgeon, your will lean about bunion surgery and concerns about post-op pain. Bunions are a correctable problem. You don't have to live with painful (treatable) bunions.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning foot surgeon with a surgical podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He invented and a patented surgical instrument designed to simplify bunion surgery and flatfoot surgery. He publishes articles teaching other foot doctors about his methods to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Plantar Fasciitis Explained By Chattanooga's Foot Surgeon
Of all complaints seen by podiatrists, heel pain is the most common. But just because it is common, does not mean that it isn't a real pain. Most people suffering from plantar fasciitis symptoms describe a sharp pain in the bottom of the heel first thing in the morning when they step out of bed. Many others will also get pain after getting up off the couch watching TV or after sitting and working at a computer. There is almost never any recollection of an injury. It usually just seem to come on gradually. The inflammation gradually gets worse over time. Although some patients do have bone spurs or heel spurs associated with the inflamed plantar fascia, the spur isn't usually the problem. The good news is that most people with pain in the bottom of the heel can get better quickly and without surgery. There are many simple and effective treatments available. Dr. Christopher Segler of the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga (a heel pain specialist) discusses the treatment options so that you can get relief from your heel pain.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, award winning foot surgeon and heel pain specialist who says heel surgery can (and should) be avoided in most cases of plantar fasciitis or heel spurs. He recommends simple and effective treatment or advanced non-surgical therapies for chronic heel pain. Don't let someone talk you into heel surgery! His surgical podiatry practice is at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. If you or someone you care about has heel pain, you can request a FREE copy of Dr. Segler's book "No More Heel Pain; A Guide to Understanding Heel Pain Causes and Treatments" at http://www.AnkleCenter.com.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, award winning foot surgeon and heel pain specialist who says heel surgery can (and should) be avoided in most cases of plantar fasciitis or heel spurs. He recommends simple and effective treatment or advanced non-surgical therapies for chronic heel pain. Don't let someone talk you into heel surgery! His surgical podiatry practice is at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. If you or someone you care about has heel pain, you can request a FREE copy of Dr. Segler's book "No More Heel Pain; A Guide to Understanding Heel Pain Causes and Treatments" at http://www.AnkleCenter.com.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Do Shoes Cause Bunions?
New video excerpt from an interview with Dr. Christopher Segler of the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga explains the relationship between bunions, shoes, and foot pain. Don't toss out all those Jimmy Choo shoes just yet!
Dr. Christopher Segler is an award winning foot and ankle surgeon with a podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He is the inventor of a patented surgical instrument designed to simplify bunion surgery and flatfoot surgery. He publishes articles teaching other surgeons about his techniques and how to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an award winning foot and ankle surgeon with a podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He is the inventor of a patented surgical instrument designed to simplify bunion surgery and flatfoot surgery. He publishes articles teaching other surgeons about his techniques and how to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Fearing Pins with Bunion and Hammertoe Surgery
Today I got a question from a patient who is thinking about surgery for bunions and hammertoes. She explained that a friend of hers had a similar surgery. She said that her doctor pinned the hammertoes. In addition, he put a plaster cast around the front half of the foot. Her friend was wearing a surgical shoe, but that the pins and cast would have to stay in place for at least 5 weeks!
So the question is… is it necessary to have pans sticking out of the end of the toes after you have hammertoe surgery. The other question is how long does it take for someone to really recover.
There are many ways to fix hammertoes. In the cases described here, the patients also had bunions and decided to have surgery to fix both of those problems at the same time. Many times as a bunion forms, the big toe will move over against the second toe and push the toe out of alignment. This causes the hammertoe deformity.
If this is the case, fixing the hammertoe alone is not a good idea. Without fixing the bunion that is pushing into the second toe, the hammertoe deformity is likely to develop again.
When the hammertoe is straightened, something has to be done to keep the toe in alignment while it heals. One way to do this is to drive a pin in the end of the toe through all of the bones in shish kebab fashion. I personally don’t like this method. Although it is simple and inexpensive, it does have additional risks.
A pin sticking out of the end of the toe is a portal for bacteria and can lead to an infection. Whenever you walk or move the foot, the skin moves back-and-forth across the pin. Over time, the bacteria that normally grows on the skin can work its way down the pin as it pistons relative to the skin.
Because the pin is driven into the bone, this can lead to bone infection. Bone infections, also known as osteomyelitis, are very difficult to treat and often lead to amputations. This is a very serious complication.
A better way to correct a hammertoe is to put an implant in the joint that is corrected when the foot surgeon out the toe. This implant is completely contained within the toe. There is no exposed tendon and no additional risk of contracting an infection. There are both absorbable and nonabsorbable implants available to surgical podiatrists for this procedure. The nonabsorbable implants are typically made of titanium or surgical stainless steel.
These implants do cost more than the pin that’s typically left sticking out of the end of the toe. Medicare will not pay for these types of implants. For my patients, this is no longer a problem is I have decided to opt out of Medicare. I believe it’s important to make sure the patient has the best treatment available, not just the cheapest treatment.
Regardless of which method you and your foot doctor choose, it does take about six weeks for the corrected hammertoe to heal. It is necessary to wear either a surgical shoe or a fracture walking boot while you recover. Most people can walk while they are recovering. It’s not always necessary to use crutches.
If the pin is sticking out of the end of the toe, it is typically necessary to leave in place anywhere from four to six weeks. Much of this depends on the patient’s age, how well the person is recovering, and whether or not an infection develops.
Although this can be an inconvenience, there are other methods. It’s important to discuss your expectations and desired activities with your foot surgeon before you have any foot surgery. Making sure that you understand what will be required for you to recover, to make sure that you can get back to activities you enjoy as quickly as possible.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning foot doctor with a surgical podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He invented the patented surgical instrument that simplifies flatfoot surgery and bunion surgery. He publishes articles and teaches other surgeons about his unique methods to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
So the question is… is it necessary to have pans sticking out of the end of the toes after you have hammertoe surgery. The other question is how long does it take for someone to really recover.
There are many ways to fix hammertoes. In the cases described here, the patients also had bunions and decided to have surgery to fix both of those problems at the same time. Many times as a bunion forms, the big toe will move over against the second toe and push the toe out of alignment. This causes the hammertoe deformity.
If this is the case, fixing the hammertoe alone is not a good idea. Without fixing the bunion that is pushing into the second toe, the hammertoe deformity is likely to develop again.
When the hammertoe is straightened, something has to be done to keep the toe in alignment while it heals. One way to do this is to drive a pin in the end of the toe through all of the bones in shish kebab fashion. I personally don’t like this method. Although it is simple and inexpensive, it does have additional risks.
A pin sticking out of the end of the toe is a portal for bacteria and can lead to an infection. Whenever you walk or move the foot, the skin moves back-and-forth across the pin. Over time, the bacteria that normally grows on the skin can work its way down the pin as it pistons relative to the skin.
Because the pin is driven into the bone, this can lead to bone infection. Bone infections, also known as osteomyelitis, are very difficult to treat and often lead to amputations. This is a very serious complication.
A better way to correct a hammertoe is to put an implant in the joint that is corrected when the foot surgeon out the toe. This implant is completely contained within the toe. There is no exposed tendon and no additional risk of contracting an infection. There are both absorbable and nonabsorbable implants available to surgical podiatrists for this procedure. The nonabsorbable implants are typically made of titanium or surgical stainless steel.
These implants do cost more than the pin that’s typically left sticking out of the end of the toe. Medicare will not pay for these types of implants. For my patients, this is no longer a problem is I have decided to opt out of Medicare. I believe it’s important to make sure the patient has the best treatment available, not just the cheapest treatment.
Regardless of which method you and your foot doctor choose, it does take about six weeks for the corrected hammertoe to heal. It is necessary to wear either a surgical shoe or a fracture walking boot while you recover. Most people can walk while they are recovering. It’s not always necessary to use crutches.
If the pin is sticking out of the end of the toe, it is typically necessary to leave in place anywhere from four to six weeks. Much of this depends on the patient’s age, how well the person is recovering, and whether or not an infection develops.
Although this can be an inconvenience, there are other methods. It’s important to discuss your expectations and desired activities with your foot surgeon before you have any foot surgery. Making sure that you understand what will be required for you to recover, to make sure that you can get back to activities you enjoy as quickly as possible.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning foot doctor with a surgical podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He invented the patented surgical instrument that simplifies flatfoot surgery and bunion surgery. He publishes articles and teaches other surgeons about his unique methods to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Can I Drive After Bunion Surgery?
When anybody starts thinking about foot surgery, they start to realize her to have limitations after the procedure. Aside from having some limitations of walking, people next start to realize that they might not be able to drive a car.
For any kind of surgery, anesthesia can impair your ability to think and drive. That is why all hospitals and surgery centers require someone to come with you on your date of surgery to make sure that you can get home safely. He should never drive within 24 hours of having surgery under any circumstances.
In terms of foot surgery, many people feel confident enough to drive immediately after the procedure. However, what is a wise choice. If you have an immobilizing device such as a fracture walking boot, cam walker, cast, or posterior splint he should never drive an automobile. All of these immobilization devices make it very difficult for you to feel the pedals in the car. It is very easy for a fracture boot to become lodged between the gas pedal and the brake.
While I was in residency, I had one patient who had had bunion surgery and decided to drive her car. One morning when getting ready to come into the office to see me for her postoperative follow-up appointment, she got in her car, and proceeded to lose control and drive it straight through her garage. So be very difficult to explain to an insurance agent.
About a year ago, at another patient here in my office in Chattanooga, who had an ankle fracture. He was wearing a fracture walking boot in order to provide stability to the injured area. Although he had been instructed not to drive a car while wearing the boot, he thought he could handle it. Unfortunately, he lost control of his car and drove into the Hardees restaurant. Fortunately no one was injured.
One of my instructors and residency used to always tell patient that driving a car while wearing a fracture walker was a “personal legal decision.” The reality is that if you get into an automobile accident while wearing one of these immobilization devices, the investigating officers will almost always consider the accident to be your fault.
Even if you are only wearing a surgical shoe to provide stability after bunion surgery, a 2008 study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery investigated the motor skill ability of patients who had had bunion surgery.
In that study, the investigators took 28 patients who had undergone bunion surgery on the right foot and evaluated them. They used a custom-made driving simulator in order to compare the bunion surgery patient’s abilities regarding total brake response time, reaction time, and actual brake time. The bunion surgery patients were compared to a group of 28 subjects who had not had surgery. These two groups were matched for age, driving status, and sex.
What the investigation found was that two weeks after bunion surgery on the right foot, 75% of patients were unable to complete the test. This showed that two weeks after bunion surgery, most patients will be unable to safely operate a car. Interestingly, however. Six weeks after bunion surgery the patients' reaction, brake, and total brake response times were even better than they had been before the bunion was surgically corrected.
The study concluded that it is safe to operate a car six weeks after bunion surgery, but not before. It’s always important to use common sense. Although it may be a minor inconvenience, if you can make arrangements to have a family member help you with transportation while he recovered from your bunion surgery, it will be much safer. He will also likely to recover faster because you won’t have pressure applied to surgical repair while the area is healing.
It typically takes about six weeks for the bone to heal after bunion surgery. If you were forced to apply the brakes, or if you are involved in a collision, there would be a substantial risk that the bunion correction could be damaged. If you have had bunion surgery, it is always important to discuss your plans with your foot surgeon, before you drive a car, just to make sure that you won’t have any problems.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning foot doctor with a surgical podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He invented the patented surgical instrument that simplifies flatfoot surgery and bunion surgery. He publishes articles and teaches other surgeons about his unique methods to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
For any kind of surgery, anesthesia can impair your ability to think and drive. That is why all hospitals and surgery centers require someone to come with you on your date of surgery to make sure that you can get home safely. He should never drive within 24 hours of having surgery under any circumstances.
In terms of foot surgery, many people feel confident enough to drive immediately after the procedure. However, what is a wise choice. If you have an immobilizing device such as a fracture walking boot, cam walker, cast, or posterior splint he should never drive an automobile. All of these immobilization devices make it very difficult for you to feel the pedals in the car. It is very easy for a fracture boot to become lodged between the gas pedal and the brake.
While I was in residency, I had one patient who had had bunion surgery and decided to drive her car. One morning when getting ready to come into the office to see me for her postoperative follow-up appointment, she got in her car, and proceeded to lose control and drive it straight through her garage. So be very difficult to explain to an insurance agent.
About a year ago, at another patient here in my office in Chattanooga, who had an ankle fracture. He was wearing a fracture walking boot in order to provide stability to the injured area. Although he had been instructed not to drive a car while wearing the boot, he thought he could handle it. Unfortunately, he lost control of his car and drove into the Hardees restaurant. Fortunately no one was injured.
One of my instructors and residency used to always tell patient that driving a car while wearing a fracture walker was a “personal legal decision.” The reality is that if you get into an automobile accident while wearing one of these immobilization devices, the investigating officers will almost always consider the accident to be your fault.
Even if you are only wearing a surgical shoe to provide stability after bunion surgery, a 2008 study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery investigated the motor skill ability of patients who had had bunion surgery.
In that study, the investigators took 28 patients who had undergone bunion surgery on the right foot and evaluated them. They used a custom-made driving simulator in order to compare the bunion surgery patient’s abilities regarding total brake response time, reaction time, and actual brake time. The bunion surgery patients were compared to a group of 28 subjects who had not had surgery. These two groups were matched for age, driving status, and sex.
What the investigation found was that two weeks after bunion surgery on the right foot, 75% of patients were unable to complete the test. This showed that two weeks after bunion surgery, most patients will be unable to safely operate a car. Interestingly, however. Six weeks after bunion surgery the patients' reaction, brake, and total brake response times were even better than they had been before the bunion was surgically corrected.
The study concluded that it is safe to operate a car six weeks after bunion surgery, but not before. It’s always important to use common sense. Although it may be a minor inconvenience, if you can make arrangements to have a family member help you with transportation while he recovered from your bunion surgery, it will be much safer. He will also likely to recover faster because you won’t have pressure applied to surgical repair while the area is healing.
It typically takes about six weeks for the bone to heal after bunion surgery. If you were forced to apply the brakes, or if you are involved in a collision, there would be a substantial risk that the bunion correction could be damaged. If you have had bunion surgery, it is always important to discuss your plans with your foot surgeon, before you drive a car, just to make sure that you won’t have any problems.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning foot doctor with a surgical podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He invented the patented surgical instrument that simplifies flatfoot surgery and bunion surgery. He publishes articles and teaches other surgeons about his unique methods to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Small Problems, Big Obstacles After Foot Surgery
Whenever planning for foot or ankle surgery, it is important to consider how extensive the surgery will be, and whether or not you will be able to walk. Many people underestimate the difficulties of not being able to walk while recovering after foot surgery. Although most people tend to worry about the pain that they have after foot or ankle surgery, this is not typically the biggest problem.
One patient explained that after having foot surgery, she can get around to be very difficult. She said that her doctor did explain that she would have to be non-weightbearing that she underestimated the difficulty and discovered that even minor tasks that could seem challenging.
She explained that even the simplest tasks take a LOT longer when you do it on crutches or in a wheelchair. Even though she has a ranch style home, which has no stairs, she still famished needed help.
Like most homes, some doorways are not quite big enough to get through with a wheelchair. This makes it difficult to move from room to room.
Other things that she previously took for granted like getting a bowl from a high cabinet like the one below is virtually impossible without help.
Because she has a stacked washer and dryer, she found the same is true of doing laundry. Getting anything out of the basement is impossible.
Moving from the kitchen to the dining room with a plate of food is a real challenge as well. . Fortunately, she has recruited the help of her husband without any difficulty. For anyone living alone, all of these tasks can prove to be very difficult.
Because of this it is important to make sure that you discuss what your living situation is like, prior to foot surgery. Many people don’t even think about one or two stairs in a split level home as much of an obstacle, until they have foot surgery.
As long issue plan ahead, even more extensive surgeries requiring crutches or a wheelchair can go smoothly. But it’s important to be realistic about your expectations in the amount of help, you will have while recovering.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning foot doctor with a surgical podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He invented the patented surgical instrument that simplifies flatfoot surgery and bunion surgery. He publishes articles and teaches other surgeons about his unique methods to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http:www.anklecenter.com.
One patient explained that after having foot surgery, she can get around to be very difficult. She said that her doctor did explain that she would have to be non-weightbearing that she underestimated the difficulty and discovered that even minor tasks that could seem challenging.
She explained that even the simplest tasks take a LOT longer when you do it on crutches or in a wheelchair. Even though she has a ranch style home, which has no stairs, she still famished needed help.
Like most homes, some doorways are not quite big enough to get through with a wheelchair. This makes it difficult to move from room to room.
Other things that she previously took for granted like getting a bowl from a high cabinet like the one below is virtually impossible without help.
Because she has a stacked washer and dryer, she found the same is true of doing laundry. Getting anything out of the basement is impossible.
Moving from the kitchen to the dining room with a plate of food is a real challenge as well. . Fortunately, she has recruited the help of her husband without any difficulty. For anyone living alone, all of these tasks can prove to be very difficult.
Because of this it is important to make sure that you discuss what your living situation is like, prior to foot surgery. Many people don’t even think about one or two stairs in a split level home as much of an obstacle, until they have foot surgery.
As long issue plan ahead, even more extensive surgeries requiring crutches or a wheelchair can go smoothly. But it’s important to be realistic about your expectations in the amount of help, you will have while recovering.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning foot doctor with a surgical podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He invented the patented surgical instrument that simplifies flatfoot surgery and bunion surgery. He publishes articles and teaches other surgeons about his unique methods to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http:www.anklecenter.com.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
What is a Bunion?
A bunion is a nothing more than a bump or enlargement of the bone and joint at the base of the big toe. This joint is called the first metatarsophalangealjoint (MPJ). A bunion forms when the joint becomes misaligned and the bone or soft tissues at the big toe joint start to move out of place. What happens is that the big toe starts to bend over toward the other toes. This causes the bone to stick out. The soft tissues that are covering that bone Denbigh come irritated red and inflamed. This causes a painful knot of bone. Because this joint carries the majority of the body´s weight while walking, bunions can become extremely painful. Eventually the big toe joint itself may become arthritic, stiff and sore. This can make walking and fitting into shoes extremely difficult.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an award winning foot and ankle surgeon with a podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He is the inventor of a patented surgical instrument designed to simplify bunion surgery and flatfoot surgery. He publishes articles teaching other surgeons about his techniques and how to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an award winning foot and ankle surgeon with a podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He is the inventor of a patented surgical instrument designed to simplify bunion surgery and flatfoot surgery. He publishes articles teaching other surgeons about his techniques and how to decrease pain after foot surgery. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.
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