Podiatry FAQ

Are you considering laser treatment for a fungal nail infection? You don’t need to worry about having to deal with pain. Laser therapy for fungal nails done by a professional podiatrist should not hurt. sometimes you may feel warmth on the nail plate as the beam of light penetrates your problem nail, but otherwise the treatment is pain-free, nor does it damage any of the surrounding tissues as well as having very minimal side effects. Laser will destroy the infection-causing fungus beneath your nail at its source which makes this a safe and effective option. There are also other nail infection treatment methods available and we would be happy to discuss them in detail with you and help you determine the best type of treatment that would work for you.

Humans have many sweat glands on the soles of their feet and since fungus grows in the dark, moist places while moisture that gets trapped in our socks and shoes make it the suitable environment for fungus to grow. Fungus can grow not just on your feet; it can grow and attack your toenails as well! Infected toenail becomes yellow, thickened and brittle. By treating your feet and shoes with anti-fungal powder or spray you can avoid allowing toenail fungus grow on your feet or toenails or by simply changing your socks more frequently, and airing your shoes out between wearing. Pools, hot tubs, gym locker rooms, showers and other wet and warm and damp areas are a breeding ground for fungi to grow as well. It is a good idea to wear some shower shoes or slippers in public places such as these. If you have caught toenail fungus, Professional Foot and Ankle Center doctors can help by offering treatments such as topical or oral medication, laser therapy, trimming and debridement of the damaged toenails, or in some severe cases, destruction of the toenail root or matrix

Usually, the length of time it takes to recover from foot surgery depends on the type of surgery performed on your feet. For instance, a surgery performed on an ingrown toenail may cause pain for a day or so and the patient may require soft footwear or shoes that do not put pressure on the toenail for 1 to 2 days after the procedure. However, if you are having a hammertoe surgery or a bunion removal the recovery period will is 4-6 weeks in a specialized shoe that does not allow any bending in the front part of your feet thus allowing the surgery area to heal properly. These shoes allow you to be able to put full weight on your feet during the healing. More complicated foot procedures such as back foot surgery; the recovery can even take and may require you to be off your feet with crutches which could take as long as 4-6 months (not all of that time would be on crutches).

The short answer is yes, there are home remedies for warts which can help you to a certain degree. Most of the over-the-counter wart removers have the same percentage of the acid considered safe by FDA. You have to be very careful not to expose areas around the wart with topical pads as those areas can burn the surrounding skin and cause blisters, ulcer, or infection. Since warts are caused by viruses and occur mostly around sweat gland areas on the soles of your feet and palms of your hands, drying agents or antiperspirants mat also be helpful. Enhancing your immune system by taking a multi-vitamin every day and possibly reducing the chances of getting the virus. In most cases, debridement is the best way to accelerate the elimination of the wart’s viral tissue. Other home treatment remedies that have contradictory results is the use of duct tape with caution.

PFAC offers you a list of podiatrists and allows you to search specifically for a foot doctor in Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, South Bay, Wilmington, Lomita, Torrance, Carson, Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, North Hollywood, Woodland Hills, Sun Valley, Marina Del Ray, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Van Nuys, Valley Village, Toluca Lake,, Redondo Beach & Harbor City, California who takes Medicare. Simply visit Professional Foot and Ankle Center to see a list of podiatrists that take Medicare near you.