Scottsdale Foot and Ankle Doctor - Silicon injections to replace lost fatpad

1 In 5 Women In Arizona Will Suffer a Fracture from Osteoporosis!

2011-11-17T11:00:00.001-07:00

Everyone hears their grandparents, parents or someone they know talk about having osteoporosis. But what is it? Osteoporosis is a loss of bone density causing a thinning of the bone. Density of bone is what we call the structure of bone making it strong. The less dense the bone,

the weaker it gets. This is not a disease of the very elder population only. It mostly affects women over the age of 50. Last time I checked, 50 does not count as elderly! It is estimated that HALF of women over the age 50 will have hip, wrist or spine fracture in their lifetime.

Researchers estimate that 1 in 5 American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. Men can also have osteoporosis, but this usually occurs after 70.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFASInMotion Foot & Ankle SpecialistsAssociate Professor Midwestern UniversityInMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604Scottsdale, AZ 85254office phone 480 948-2111inmotionfootandankle@gmail.comwww.inmotionfootandankle.com

heel pain and prefabricated orthotics

2011-03-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

Researchers investigated the effects of foot orthoses and heel inserts on plantar pressures in older adults with plantar heel pain. Thirty-six adults aged over 65 years with plantar heel pain participated in the study. Using the in-shoe Pedar system, plantar pressure data were recorded while participants walked along an 8 meter walkway wearing a standardized shoe and four different shoe inserts. The shoe inserts consisted of a silicon heel cup, a soft foam heel pad, a heel lift, and a prefabricated foot orthosis. The greatest reduction was achieved by the prefabricated foot orthosis, which provided a fivefold reduction compared to the next most effective insert. The contoured nature of the prefabricated foot orthosis allowed for an increase in midfoot contact area, resulting in a greater redistribution of force. The prefabricated foot orthosis was also the only shoe insert that did not increase forefoot pressure.

My practice has been using prefabricated foot orthosis as a standard method of alleviating heel pain on a patients initial presentation, with excellent results over the last five years, it is very cost effective and I have found only a small precentage of patients actually need custom orthotics.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Associate Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com
www.inmotionfootandankle.com

Ankle Replacement - Ankle Pain

2011-03-14T14:18:00.001-07:00

Ankle Replacement Provides Pain Relief in Gouty Arthritis

Last Updated: March 07, 2011.

Total ankle replacement provides significant pain relief and good functional results in patients with painful gouty ankle arthritis, and it is associated with a low risk of complications, according to a study published in the Feb. 16 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. MONDAY, March 7 (HealthDay News) -- Total ankle replacement provides significant pain relief and good functional results in patients with painful gouty ankle arthritis, and it is associated with a low risk of complications, according to a study published in the Feb. 16 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Alexej Barg, M.D., from Kantonsspital Liestal in Switzerland, and colleagues studied 19 ankles from 16 patients with chronic gout who were treated with a non-constrained three-component total ankle arthroplasty. Prosthetic component stability was evaluated using weight bearing radiographs. Postoperative pain relief, functional outcome, and quality of life was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, a 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score.
The researchers found that there were no intraoperative complications among these patients. Due to painful prosthetic loosening, one patient had both ankle replacements revised 4.7 years after the initial operation. Improvements were seen in all clinical measures: there was a significant decrease in the average VAS pain score, significant improvement was noted in all eight categories of the SF-36 score, and a significant increase was seen in the average AOFAS hindfoot score.
"The mid-term results following total ankle replacement in patients with gouty ankle arthritis are encouraging. Postoperatively, all patients had significant pain relief. Furthermore, we observed substantial improvement in ankle function and quality of life," the authors write.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Associate Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 604 Scottsdale, AZ 85254
office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com
www.inmotionfootandankle.com

Complex regional pain syndrome

2011-03-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

Case Study: Chronic neuropathic foot pain as a result
of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

by Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS

Bruce Werber,
DPM,FACFAS

A 54 year old female presents with sharp pain, burning, tingling and numbness at the dorsal aspect both feet, left worse than right increasing over the last 12 months. There is no history of trauma. There has been an insidious onset and intensity is not related to activity or shoe gear. Patient also notices red discoloration at dorsum of feet. There has been prior treatment with Neurontin and Lyrica without any success. Pain level reported at 6/10 on average. Pain periodically awakens patient from sleep. Life and work activities are limited by this discomfort.

PMH: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, chronic low back pain, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, gastric reflux, environmental allergies, moderate overweight.

Past surgery: Cholecystectomy, hysterectomy

Social history: 2 alcohol drinks per day, and 1-2 cigarettes per day

Medications: Tenormin, Nexium, Soma, Darvocet,Catapress, Lipitor

Medication Allergies: NSaids, Neurontin, Lyrica

Pertinent Physical Examination

Fig. 1: pre treatment photo

Vascular Exam : Widespread telangectasias or vasculitic lesions covering the dorsal feet bilateral from toes to ankle (see Fig. 1). Otherwise, vascular exam is normal, with pulses at 2/4 for dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial bilateral. Capillary refill is also normal bilateral, with limbs level and elevated. There are no prominent varicosities in the upper or lower leg bilateral.

Derm Exam: Normal except for telangectasias identified in vascular exam, hallux pinch callus bilateral.

Neuro Exam: DTR patella and achilles are diminished bilateral, positive Tinels at posterior tibial nerve (tarsal tunnel) bilateral, as well as at the deep peroneal nerve at the level of the first metatarsal cuneiform joint bilateral. Common Peroneal, Superficial peroneal are normal with percussion. Palpation of the deep peroneal nerve at the first metatarsal cunieform joint level recreates the patients pain. Raised leg exam is negative for pain or discomfort, except for tightness of the hamstring. Monofiliment testing revealed loss of discrimination from toes to mpj level, vibratory was intact

Musculoskeletal Exam: Functional hallux limitus bilateral, with decreased stiffness of the medial column bilateral, less than 5 degrees of dorsiflexion available with the first ray loaded, moderate functional ankle equinus bilateral.

Gait Analysis: Reveals inverted heel contact, perpendicular midstance to heel off, with the forefoot abducted at midstance to heel off, and a medial rolloff evident, slightly early heel off.

Imaging: No significant osseous pathology noted, there is faulting noted in the lateral exposure at the navicular cunieform joint and metatarsal cunieform joint level, similar bilateral.

Labs: Primary care physician noted all within normal limits.

IMPRESSION: Entrapment neuropathy of the deep peroneal nerve, possible vasculitis.

TREATMENT PLAN: Diagnostic nerve block of the deep peroneal nerve left.

Summary of patients response and treatment course

Diagnostic nerve block did provide significant relief for several hours and patient noted that the vasculitic lesions disappeared around the injection site for about 24 hours.

Patient underwent surgery to decompress the deep peroneal nerve bilaterally. Patient noted significant relief of her symptoms and also noted the vasculitic lesions diminished markedly from the dorsum of her foot. The postoperative course was uneventful and patient was discharged after 12 weeks. She reported pain level was 1-2/10 on average and she was sleeping again.

Approximately 8 months after discharge, almost one year after surgery, patient returns with diffuse foot and leg pain, the vasculitic lesions have recurred and have started to spread from the dorsum of the foot to the ankle. The patient reported that they had almost disappeared entirely for several months.

Examination at this visit revealed a spread of the neuropathy, with the patient failing monofiliment testing to the entire foot, vibratory sensation is also diminished but not absent. Proprioception was intact. Now there was positive Tinels at the common peroneal nerve, superficial peroneal nerve and posterior tibial nerve with proximal radiation. No other changes noted in the physical examination. A common peroneal nerve block, provided significant relief for the patients symptoms. It was unknown what the causative etiology was.

Fig. 2: post spinal stimulator implantation

Patient was given a course of Medrol since the pain was so severe and with the common peroneal nerve block, the patient achieved temporary relief. Patient was then referred to pain specialist, the workup found no additional findings. Physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and acupuncture were initiated over the course of 8-10 weeks. The patient had no response to this, but she did continue to respond to periodic nerve blocks and Medrol when the pain became overwhelming. It was thought at this time that the patient had developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) presenting with painful neuropathic signs. At this time, a trial of a spinal stimulator was performed, with excellent outcome. Patient's pain diminished markedly. The vasculitic lesions gradually diminished, sensation was reported to be improved and decreased pain was noted.

Patient then had a permanent spinal stimulator implanted for the treatment of Chronic neuropathic foot pain as a result of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

The patient has done well since that time. She continues to experience periodic discomfort at the lateral ankle along the sural nerve, but it is only a 1/10 on the pain scale. The vasculitic lesions have essentially resolved and patient is able to sleep, and resume her normal life style activities.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Associate Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com
www.inmotionfootandankle.com

2011-02-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

Will you be able to reverse Pre Diabetes/ Borderline diabetes foot pain? If you are pre diabetic it means that the high blood sugar may start to do some really bad things to the body. I always tell the diabetic to try to reverse this fast as permanent damage can be done to the body. The eyes,kidney and legs can all be lost with this illness. Remember that Pre diabetes/Borderline Diabetes foot pain is serious business. If you have full diabetes the damage can spread faster as more bad glucose is circulating longer in the body

The nerves are small and thin but when they go they bring pain. When the nerves are losing the fight, there will be symptoms such as tingling in the toes. There may be numbness in the legs and feet. When numbness sets in, it is a danger sign that the foot may be lost. At this point a reversal of the blood sugar is critical. These are small warning signs of a coming bigger problem. The main problem is that since the nerves are so small once they have become damaged they are nearly impossible to reverse. Pre Diabetes or Borderline Diabetes foot pain is serious since diabetic nerve damage is almost impossible to repair. It is a must to remove this high glucose out the body as naturally and fast

From experience I can tell you that there are no diabetes medications that can reverse this nerve damage. It is best to try to cure this naturally and bring the nerves back to life. This is the oly way the pain will leave. It is important that I mention that recently 2 more diabetes medications were removed from the market due to the damage it was doing to the heart. I do not know how so doctors can still prescribed this dangerous drugs. It is best to treat Pre Diabetes or Borderline Diabetes foot pain and all diabetic problems naturally

Finally though there is some encouraging news, there is a diet that has been helping the little nerves in the foot to regrow. It helps remove the pain in the foot of the diabetic

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle SpecialistsAssociate
Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 604Scottsdale, AZ 85254
office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com
www.inmotionfootandankle.com

2010-10-21T09:01:00.002-07:00

Does This Patient With Diabetes Have Large-Fiber Peripheral Neuropathy?

The Journal Of The American Medical Association, April 21, 2010 – Vol 303, No.15 1526-1532

Results:
Out of 1388 identified articles, 9 articles were on diagnostic accuracy and 3 articles were on precision of diagnosing large-fiber peripheral neuropathy. It was found that the most useful examination findings were vibratory perception with a 128-Hz tuning fork and pressure sensation with a 5.07 Semmes-Weinstein monofilament. Other tests that were included were deep tendon reflexes as well as dermatological exams, which were looking for the evidence of ulcerations or pre-ulcerative lesions.

Conclusion:
When diagnosing a diabetic patient with LFPN, a thorough physical exam along with a detailed patient history is needed. Abnormal results from the vibratory and monofilament testing alone or in combination help aid in the correct diagnosis of LFPN. Those tests, combined with ulcerations or pre-ulcerative lesions help make the precision of the diagnosis that much greater. Nerve conduction studies along with nerve biopsy and skin biopsies can provide additional valuable information as to the degree of nerve damage, as well as axonal degeneration.

Dr. Werber of inMotion foot and ankle specialists, has an expertise in diagnosing and treating diabetic sensory neuropathy, and patients with non diabetic peripheral neuropathy as well. We have biopsy techniques that are utilized in the office, and Dr. Werber is trained in performing nerve decompressions that may be contributing to the neuropathic pain.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS

InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists

Associate Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com

www.inmotionfootandankle.com

nerve pain from increased pressure = tarsal tunnel syndrome

2010-10-21T08:54:00.002-07:00

Tibial Nerve Decompression in Patients with Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Pressures in the Tarsal, Medial Plantar, and Lateral Plantar Tunnels. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 124 (4), 1202-1210.

Scientific Literature Reviews
This article evaluates the pressure in the tarsal, medial plantar, and lateral plantar tunnels with the foot in various positions in patients with tarsal tunnel sydrome before and after surgical release of the tunnel roofs and inter-tunnel septum.

Methods:
Ten patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome underwent tibial nerve decompression for this study. Using an IntraCompartmental Pressure Monitor System, the tarsal, medial plantar, and lateral plantar tunnel pressures were measured before and after surgical release of the roof of each tunnel and the intertunnel septum. Each of these measurements was taken with the foot in neutral, dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, pronation, supination, and pronation with plantarflexion. The average of three readings in each position in every tunnel was recorded. An identical study was done on tweleve cadaveric models to compare these results with those of symptomatic patients.

Results:
Of the six foot positions tested, significantly higher pressures were found in the medial plantar (by 24 mmHg) and lateral plantar (by 26 mmHg) tunnels during pronation and all three tunnels had significantly higher pressures during pronation with plantarflexion compared to the neutral position. The pressure during pronation in the tarsal tunnel was significantly lower than with pronation with plantarflexion. Decompression of each tunnel significantly decreased the pressure in all positions except neutral where (p=0.01) Excision of the septum led to a further decrease in the medial and lateral plantar tunnel pressures during pronation. Although cadaveric models had similar pressure readings as the patients, the lateral plantar tunnels during pronation were significantly higher in symptomatic patients.

Conclusions:
This study demonstrates the need to release the tarsal, medial plantar, and lateral plantar tunnels and the intertunnel septum when performing a tibial nerve decompression in order to reduce the pressure in each compartment. Since the pressure is greatest at pronation or pronation and plantarflexion in each tunnel, it is suggested to control the amount of pronation, through custom orthoses, post operatively or as a non-operative treatment.

Dr. Werber at InMotion foot and ankle treats this problem with minimal incision surgery, quick recovery, good outcomes and will everything possible to treat the patients without surgery if at all possible.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle SpecialistsAssociate
Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com
www.inmotionfootandankle.com

2010-10-13T06:54:00.001-07:00

The Dreadmill: Common Causes of Stress Fractures

We all know what fractures are. Many of you have probably fractured a bone or two in
your lives. You fall out of a tree or get violently tackled on the football field and suddenly
you’re in the hospital and the doctor is telling you you’ve got a broken bone. While this
is easily understood by most, when prefaced by the term “stress”, people are often
confused when they’re told they have a fracture. It’s not uncommon for podiatrists to
hear this response after telling a patient they have a stress fracture: “but doctor, I don’t
remember any trauma to my foot”. While they may not recall any specific traumatic
event causing the fracture, the patient indeed suffered trauma significant enough to
cause a fracture, it just wasn’t the type of “trauma” everyone thinks of when discussing
fractures.

A stress fracture is a very small fracture in a bone, and is sometimes referred to as
a “hairline fracture”. These fractures can occur anywhere in the body’s 200+ bones;
however, by far and away the most common place to suffer a stress fracture is in the
foot. This is because the feet bear the weight of the entire body. Often times, stress
fractures are related to “overuse”, usually resulting from sports, overtraining, or sudden
increases in activity without proper conditioning. Sports like running, basketball, football
and even tennis are common activities where athletes develop stress fractures. While
participation in some activities put you at an increased risk for the development of stress
fractures than others, it is important to realize any physical activity where the foot is put
under high stress or subjected to repetitive forces and high impact landings can lead to
a stress fracture.

One common activity is running on the treadmill, or rather the “dreadmill”. When running
on a treadmill, at the same speed and the same incline setting for long periods of
time, you’re essentially taking your foot and slamming it over and over again on a hard
surface in the exact same spot. This is a good way to cause a stress fracture in your
foot. To prevent this, if you must use a treadmill, try changing the speed and incline
you run at frequently, so as to mimic running outside more closely. This way you’ll
constantly be adjusting how your foot strikes the ground, which dampens the stress
placed on any one spot in the foot.

Stress fractures are more common in women than men, for one main reason:
osteoporosis. This is compounded by two other common conditions in women: eating
disorders and irregular menstrual cycles. These two conditions contribute to the
development of osteoporosis, which can occur very early in life and should not be
considered a problem only in older women. Now, this is not to say men aren’t also
susceptible to stress fractures, because they can get them, it’s just important for women
to be aware of the increased risk of stress fractures.

The most common locations in the foot for a stress fracture are the second and third
metatarsals (long bones of the foot which run between the midfoot and the toes). They
can also occur in the heel and in a bone located at the top of the midfoot and in front
of the ankle called the “navicular”. Stress fractures in this funny sounding bone are

particularly difficult to heal because of inadequate blood supply.

Some common symptoms you may experience should you suffer a stress fracture are
pain that starts gradually, gets worse with weight-bearing activities and slowly gets
better with rest, possible swelling, tenderness to touch and possible bruising.

If you have a painful area in your foot, you can’t remember doing anything to hurt it
in the recent past, and you frequently participate in physical activities like the ones
described above or you’ve just started exercising more often, you should consider
seeing a podiatrist. He/she can perform a few simple tests in the office to rule out other
possible causes and will be able to pick up on a stress fracture, should that indeed be
what is causing you problems. Your doctor will be able to give you the proper treatment
and help you get back to your normal activities as soon as possible.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Associate Professor Midwestern University

InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604Scottsdale, AZ 85254
office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com

www.inmotionfootandankle.com

2010-10-12T17:20:00.002-07:00

Greek Health System Opts for Amputation as Money-Saver

This Saturday, one of Greece’s most respected newspapers, To Vima, reported that the nation’s largest government health insurance provider would no longer pay for special footwear for diabetic patients. Amputation is cheaper, says the Benefits Division of the state insurance provider.

The new policy was announced in a letter to the Pan-Hellenic Federation of People with Diabetes. The Federation disputes the science behind the decision of the Benefits Division. In a statement, the group argues that the decision is contrary to evidence as presented in the international scientific literature. Greece’s National Healthcare System was created in the early 1980s, during the tenure of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. Papandreou, an academic, won election under the slogan, Αλλαγ?, which is the Greek word for Change.

2010-10-12T17:18:00.001-07:00

Preventing a 23% Medicare physician payment cut is one of several major tasks Congress faces when members return Nov. 15. The American Medical Association and dozens of other medical societies are reminding lawmakers that stopping the reduction before it takes effect on Dec. 1 is crucial to keeping Medicare sustainable.

The AMA, 65 national medical societies, and 24 state societies sent a letter to Congress on Sept. 29 asking members to stabilize Medicare physician pay, at least through 2011. Congress adopted short-term delays of the cuts several times in 2010, including once after contractors for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began to process Medicare claims with the cuts.

2010-09-01T12:19:00.000-07:00

The State of the Economy Can Be Accurately Predicted by Women’s Shoe Buying Habits!

A skeptic you say? Here is a true story borrowed from an article in the Chicago Tribune by Barbara Brotman. Turns out there is good evidence that the Dow Jones Industrial Average can be predicted very well by the Nordstrom’s Shoe Index (my favorite shoe store as well!)

"The biggest swing in spending has been in retailers, such as Saks and Nordstrom, that target high-income consumers, a pickup that coincided with the rally in the stock market." — economist Michelle Meyer.

The science of economic analysis has taken a leap forward with the discovery of a new, highly accurate economic indicator: The Nordstrom Shoe Index.

Economists were intrigued to find that statistics on consumers' attitudes toward the economy coincided with the actions of a single consumer in Chicago. Taking a closer look, they found that they could track consumer confidence and its resulting influence on the nation's economy simply by following this consumer's interactions with the shoe department at Nordstrom.

The phenomenon came to light during a recent surge in consumer confidence. Barbara relates that she happened to be at Nordstrom buying eye shadow. Something, possibly a premonition of consumer confidence, drew her to the nearby shoe department. She began browsing high-heeled sandals, though she did not need a pair of high-heeled sandals, as her husband would later point out. But then she saw them: brown leather sandals with that thick-strapped look that stops just short of dominatrix, strips of leather accents in a fetching shade of salmon and a breathtakingly high heel.

She bought them.

The Nordstrom Shoe Index spiked.

The same day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average went up 21 points.

The purchase also mirrored the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, which in April reached its highest point since September 2008.

Analysts noting the Nordstrom Shoe Index phenomenon were particularly cheered at the price the Nordstrom Shoe Indexer paid — $224.95. They reasoned that consumer confidence had to be surging pretty high for anyone to spend that much on a pair of sandals.

Moreover, the increase in the Nordstrom Shoe Index was accompanied by a high Lying to Spouse score. When her husband asked how much the sandals cost, the consumer claimed they were only $180. Though this still resulted in an increase in the Spousal Irritation Industrials, analysts noted that 20 percent represented an impressive level of lying, significantly above the routine 5 percent spousal lie discount.

However, stock market bears warned of a correction. And sure enough, within days, the Nordstrom Shoe Indexer began to have buyer's regret.

Trying on the shoes at home to defend the "$180" purchase to her spouse, she realized that the heel was so high as to cause intense pain, and not just because of the bunion problem. The heels threw her entire body onto the balls of her feet. She could barely walk in them.

For two days, she vacillated. (Really? Why do we do this to ourselves over cute shoes?)

In the same time span, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 236 points

She brought the shoes into the office one day and tottered along a carpeted hallway, trying to decide whether she could take the pain. An economics debate broke out when several female colleagues stopped to say that her shoes were darling. Upon learning of the pain problem, some counseled her to be practical and return them. Others argued she should man up and wear them no matter how much they hurt because they were so white hot. (Pick some new friends!)

The Dow Jones, aka the Jimmy Choo, rose 49 points, apparently on hope of persuasion.
The direction of the nation's economy hovered in limbo as the Nordstrom Shoe Index progenitor agonized. Stock brokers chain-chewed antacids. Hedge fund managers gnawed on their fingernails. Institutional investors fanned themselves.

Finally, the indexer decided that she couldn't justify spending $224.95 on shoes she could wear only while sitting at her desk.

On Friday, she made the call: Back they would go.

The Nordstrom Shoe Index plummeted.

The Dow Jones dropped 173 points the same day. The Standard and Poor's 500 Index fell 20 points.

Some analysts use complex mathematical formulas to predict the behavior of the economy. Some stock-picking experiments have tried dart boards.

The Nordstrom Shoe Index, however, has earned its place in the economic indicator pantheon. A nation searching for signs of financial direction should consider this:

Barbara laments that she still want a pair of really cute, but lower-heeled, sandals.

Ladies…we all knew our shoe shopping habits were important, but now we know the economy depends on it!

Shop On!
as written by Dr. Crane

From Sewing to Surgery: A Brief History on Tailor’s Bunions

2010-08-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

If you have a bunion on the outside of your foot, where the 5^th toe meets the 5^th metatarsal bone of the foot, you don’t just have a bunion, you have a Tailor’s Bunion. And if you have a Tailor’s Bunion, you can blame those who lived during the Renaissance period for your pain. You read that correctly, people who lived in the 14^th century were responsible, at least in part, for the profession that eventually led to the naming of the Tailor’s Bunion. First, a brief history lesson, then more about your condition.

During the Middle Ages, clothing was merely a means of concealing the body. Then came the Renaissance period, where people sought to accentuate the human form not only in the arts but in the fabric they wore on their backs. Gone were the days of wearing a loose robe that had been so easily created from a single piece of cloth. People began shortening, tightening, cutting, piecing, and sewing swatches of fabric together in an eventually successful attempt to bring into prominence the contours of the human body. This, ladies and gentlemen, marked the emergence of tailoring and, as a matter of fact, the birth of fashion itself. It is not too difficult to imagine that with a growing demand for shaped clothing, came also a growing need for someone who could shape the clothes. First came the “cutter”, whose job was to make the patterns. Then came the “tailor”, who did the sewing.

Now, fast-forward a few hundred years, and you could find tailors in every town or city, sitting crossed legged in their shops, sewing away at their newest conceived design. Consequently the outside of their feet, especially the heads of the 5th metatarsals, would be rubbed on the floor with such vigor that it began to hurt. They would go on to develop prominences, or “bunions” on the outsides of their feet, which was simply the body’s way of protecting itself. This is exactly how the Tailor’s Bunion got its name.

Your next question, logically enough, may be how is it that you can have a Tailor’s Bunion if you are in fact not a tailor, and perhaps you don’t even sit crossed legged. The answer is again related to fashion: inappropriate shoe wear. Just like it’s cousin, the bunion on the big toe, a Tailor’s Bunion can form as a result of wearing shoes with a tight toe box. Increased pressure of the foot against the inside of your shoes can, over time, result in the metatarsal bone moving and ultimately the formation of a bunion. In patients with wide feet, a Tailor’s Bunion tends to be one of the more common complaints because even though these patients have wide feet, they still tend to wear standard sized shoes, which leads to increased pressure on the sides of the feet, particularly the toe joints.

Whether you have wide feet, you’re a tailor who still sits on the floor crossed-legged, or you have a Tailor’s Bunion for some other reason, the good news is that this problem is most often completely curable. If you have pain associated with your bunion, you can use over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers to help alleviate your pain. If your pain has persisted for a long time or if the drugs don’t help your pain, then your doctor may decide it’s time to recommend surgery. Wearing appropriate shoes is another important aspect of treating a Tailor’s Bunion. These special shoes, or any shoe geared towards people with wide feet, can be very effective in avoiding the development of a bunion or reducing the pain associated with bunions. These shoes are best used in conjunction with bunion pads, and in many cases can make your everyday activities much easier on your feet.

If you have a Tailor’s Bunion, you should consult your Dr. WERBER today to see what course of action is best for you to return to your regular activities, whether that be a physically demanding job, daily exercise or becoming the next big Design Star!

silicon implant for painful foot lesions

2009-04-22T12:39:00.004-07:00

Historical perspective
Over the centuries in addition to trimming calluses and padding them externally, or using modification to shoes, accommodative orthotics and surgery to alter biomechanical function, no conservative method is generally available that can effectively prevent pressure calluses or diabetic ulcers.
In the past 30 years a multitude of surgical procedures have been developed but are not flawless and certainly not without risk. Many of these procedure require the removal or repositioning of bone, realignment of joints, several days or weeks of recovery.
In the next few blogs I will discuss alternative to surgery with new biomaterials that give long lasting relief, based on good research over the last 40 years.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Associate Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com

www.inmotionfootandankle.com

foot and ankle problems check out my blogs

2009-02-16T22:27:00.003-07:00

Injectable Silicone for Corns, Calluses, Metatarsalgia
Do you have painful corns or calluses, pain across the ball of your foot (metatarsalgia) check out my blog on a new method of treating this very uncomfortable problem.

ankle replacement
do you have ankle pain that has not been relieved by anti inflammatory medication, bracing, orthotics you may be a candidate for ankle joint replacement, check out my blog discussing joint replacements

Ankle pain, sprain
Do you have a history of ankle sprains, and now your ankle or both ankles hurt, can't pursue the activities you love to do, this pain limits your exercise. We have methods to alleviate that pain surgical and non surgical.

Painful bunions
do you have ugly feet? ugly bumps on your toes, do these bumps hurt when you put on shoes? Read my blog about bunion and hammertoes

Ankle replacement
New technologies are here that have markedly improved ankle joint replacements, reducing the risks, improving outcomes, function, with decreased recovery time, read my blog about these new ankle replacements

Platelet Rich Plasma, treating heel pain, tendon injuries
If you have tendon injuries and or heel pain check out my blog on platelet rich plasma, there are new methods of treating heel pain, tendon injuries utilizing your own blood. In addition to other techniques that decrease your pain, much quicker than they have in the past, No cortisone injections, our understanding of this very common problem has improved.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Associate Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com

www.inmotionfootandankle.com

Ankle Joint replacement - artificial ankle

2009-02-12T16:46:00.001-07:00

What was left of Dan Sivia's ankle simply didn't work. He limped through his 30s by sheer force of will, one foot almost completely immobile from repeated broken bones and surgeries.

Then a doctor offered his last hope: an ankle replacement.

A what? Sivia knew about hip, knee, even shoulder replacements. But ankles?

His confusion is understandable: The first ankle replacements of the 1970s were abandoned when they couldn't withstand the pounding of daily life. A second generation in the '90s lasted longer, but never became really popular.

Now the nation is embarking on a new generation of artificial ankles designed to work more like the joint you're born with, a move specialists hope finally will offer less pain and more function to thousands who hobble ---- although it's too soon to be sure.

"These third-generation prostheses really mimic a natural ankle, which is really what makes them different," says ankle specialist Dr. Steven L. Haddad of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute and an orthopedic surgery professor at Northwestern University.

If the newer implants pan out, it's a market ripe for growth. More than 200,000 people seek care for ankle pain annually, with few options for the severely damaged. More than 8,000 a year get their ankle bones fused, a last-ditch treatment after years of suffering, while surgeons perform between 2,000 and 2,500 ankle replacements.

While Medicare pays for ankle replacements, which Haddad says can reach $50,000 including a three- to five-day hospital stay, many other insurers don't. And a review in September's Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons cautions that so far, there is little research to tell how long newer versions will last ---- and that few hospitals have much practice in implanting them.

But for Sivia, the surgery restored an ability to walk that the 39-year-old thought he'd forever lost. His leg was crooked from a series of breaks that began in childhood and included a crushing ankle fracture at 28. A decade of pain later, he sought out Haddad. Then he spent 17 months on crutches, with external pins holding bones in place, as Haddad rebuilt his leg. The last surgery, the ankle implant, came in July.

"When I got to rake my own lawn ---- I've done it three times just because I can," the Waukegan, Ill., man said with a laugh. "I'm riding my bike. I'm doing all the things everybody else is doing."

Haddad says ankle sufferers tend to move like sidewinder snakes, one foot gingerly turned out to the side while the other foot does the heavy pushing to walk. They might have standard arthritis. But usually, fractures from years earlier ---- sometimes broken ankles, but often broken legs that left the entire lower limb out of alignment ---- simply made the ankle and its cushioning cartilage wear out.

Fusion ---- eliminating the pain-causing friction by permanently connecting ankle bones so they won't move ---- is usually an easy operation, with about 5 percent who fail to heal. The disadvantage is a stiff ankle that limits the foot's range of motion and eventually causes a domino effect, wearing out smaller joints in the foot, which cause more pain until they, too, are fused.

Hence the quest for artificial ankles that would allow a fully flexible foot and normal gait.

That's not an easy task. The ankle joint is smaller than the hip and knee and must absorb more force than its sister joints, Dr. Keith Wapner of the University of Pennsylvania told a recent American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting.

The Food and Drug Administration began clearing so-called third-generation ankle implants in 2005, versions that Wapner expects to last longer. Each model is slightly different, but consists of two attached parts. Surgeons drill a tunnel into the lower leg bone and slide in the stem of the artificial joint. A bottom piece connects to the top of the foot. Thin plastic hooked to one side functions as cartilage. Bone then grows into the implant, holding it in place.

In Europe, doctors also can use a similar but three-piece artificial ankle, where the plastic cushion is free-floating. Amid questions about whether that approach is better or worse, the FDA is evaluating whether to allow it here.

So which is better, fusion or replacement?

It all depends on age and activity. Even if these new ankles last more than a decade, as Haddad expects, someone who jogs or mountain-climbs will wear theirs out faster than someone who is sedentary. Also, different patients have different risks of wound infections.

"If you're someone who does not mind having additional surgeries on your ankle in the future as a trade-off to get better function, then a replacement is a better option," Haddad tells patients. "If you want to take care of it once, you have to opt for a fusion."

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFAS
InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Associate Professor Midwestern University
InMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists
10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

office phone 480 948-2111
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com

www.inmotionfootandankle.com