Health Care and Medical Blogs » foot surgery

Bunion Surgery- Tips for Choosing a Foot Doctor

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:12:21 +0000

Having things like bunion surgery, hammer toe surgery, or other foot surgery procedures can be scary. Your feet are what keep you going and give you the ability to do things, after all, and you must take care of them to make sure that they are always ready to go when you need them.

Surgery for any reason is scary and when you need specialty surgical procedures performed on your feet, it is okay if you are a little worried. Finding the right foot doctor should help alleviate your fears and give you peace of mind.

In order to find the best foot doctor, you have to consider a few different elements. You have to think first about their reputation and their years of experience. While all doctors have to start somewhere, you will generally get much better results from someone who has been around for awhile.

Taking the time to check out the years a foot surgeon has been in business and how reputable they are will make a big difference in how satisfied you are with the services that you receive. Of course, if you do have insurance you need to start there.

If you have insurance that will be covering your bunion or other foot surgery, you’ll have to immediately narrow your list to providers who are available within your insurance network. If you do not have insurance or they will not cover the procedure, this is not an issue that you need to worry about.

After you ensure that you have a reputable list of doctors and that they are within your insurance network (if applicable), you can move on to figuring out other elements to help you choose the best provider for your needs.

Look at the costs of different services as well as payment plans that you can find. When you don’t have insurance, finding options that will allow you to make payments or arrange for the surgery ahead of time can truly be a lifesaver.

Although you should never put the price of surgery ahead of your health, it is going to affect what you can get and which providers are going to be most appropriate for your needs. Keep these considerations in mind so that you can be absolutely certain that you are getting the best foot surgeon available for the cost, no matter what type of treatment or foot surgery you might need.

Dr. Kim’s 9 Secrets for Physical and Mental Health

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:00:43 +0000

There are many different Los Angeles foot surgeons; consequently it can be very difficult to choose the best or most qualified. There are a few different things one can look at when choosing a foot doctor. First of all, it is important to find a board certified foot surgeon. The process to become credentialed in the field of plastic surgery is very difficult. By choosing a board certified plastic surgeon, one can be assured that they are being treated by an experienced professional. In addition to certification, many people look to reviews and recommendations to choose the best foot surgeon. Word of mouth can be one of the most powerful forms of advertising. A trusted friend can give honest advice about his or her experience. Online reviews can also be helpful as one can see a wide range of opinions on a particular surgeon.

Even though reviews and credentials are very important, it is still hard to distinguish between foot surgeons when there are so many. The next thing one should look for is a foot doctor who is not only qualified and well-recommended, but is dedicated to knowledge and goes above and beyond to help his or her patients. At Kim Foot & Ankle, Dr. S Don Kim and his team of SuperSpecialists do just that. A SuperSpecialist is a doctor who not only focuses on a particular area of podiatric medicine, but also seeks out more new information to ensure that they are on the cutting edge of medical advances. Usually a patient would much rather visit someone who is dedicated to finding new information during his or her career than a surgeon who is using outdated practices.

Dr. Kim has been the Medical Director of Kim Foot & Ankle Centers, Inc. since 1991. He is an expert in all aspects of podiatry, but is a SuperSpecialist in ankle reconstruction surgery. He truly has a passion for helping his patients regain their ability to move through their lives pain-free. In addition, Dr. Kim is active in the community and is the director of the Kim Foot & Ankle Charity foundation. Since 1997, Dr. Kim has held an annual shoe drive. His goal is to ensure that no person regardless of age, race, or income be without a decent pair of shoes. His goal for 2010 is to collect 20,000 pairs of shoes by July 31, 2010.

Dr. Kim firmly believes that prevention is the best way to stay healthy! From this belief, Dr. Kim has developed 9 Secrets of Health. As a young Long Beach podiatrist, he became unhappy that some of his patients were not getting better, even after treatment. After extensive research, he discovered that these patients were not improving because of their unhealthy lifestyle! His 9 Secrets have helped many people to improve their physical and mental health.

Beautiful Feet, Today

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:42:44 +0000

When non-surgical treatments can no longer alleviate the pain of bunion surgery can relieve the pain and correct any related foot deformity caused by the bunion to help you resume your daily activities. A foot surgeon can help you decide what surgery procedure works best for you. Whether you have just begun exploring treatment for problematic bunions or have already decided what surgeon will perform the surgery, you should also consider what caused the bunion in the fist place.

The bunion is a problem caused by a foot deformity. The bone which joins the big toe to the foot becomes prominent on the outer border of the foot. The resulting protruding bump is what is knows as a bunion. Foot surgery can correct this with modern surgical techniques.

When you visit the foot surgeon to have a consultation he or she will also do a physical examination to assess the extent of the misalignment of the soft tissue damage and to check for other foot deformities such as hammertoes, which can be treated with hammertoe surgery.

An experienced and licensed foot doctor can check your feet for bunions and other similar problematic features such as corns and hammertoe. One of the important factors to having foot surgery is the dramatic reduction of foot pain after surgery along with a significant improvement in the alignment of the big toe. After your bunion surgery you will have to consult with your surgeon about what shoes you can wear and if your surgeon has any shoe restrictions for you to follow.

After you research which doctor you will have your surgery with, one factor that should determine your surgeon is a the he or she have extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of foot ailments as well as surgical procedures of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and some knowledge of cosmetic surgery.

Having Strong Foot Arch Support In Your Shoes

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:02:59 +0000

A fine pair of top designer shoes can be one of the most prized belongings in any woman’s shoe collection. As a result, high heels have become a unique fashion statement in their own right. Cedars Sinai Medical Center foot specialists say, however, that when these types of shoes are worn on a daily basis, a host of issues can develop in a person’s feet.

Common problems are metatarsalgia, hammertoes, bunions, and arch support issues. As expected, recent research suggests that uncomfortable or ill-fitting shoes, especially those with a heightened heel, can both cause and aggravate foot and toe issues which sometimes necessitate bunion surgery.

Women are not the only ones who need to be aware of what they wear on their feet. Men also have to be concerned with the perils of uncomfortable shoes. Particularly rigid work boots or tight dress shoes can cause major foot problems leading to foot surgery. For both men and women, physical activities and sports can cause foot discomfort and conditions.

The trouble with high heels is that they shift the body’s weight disproportionably towards the front of the foot. This causes excessive pressure on the front portion of the foot as opposed to equally spreading the body’s weight throughout the whole foot. Poor cushioning can also add to major foot pain and sometimes make hammertoe surgery necessary. Specialized structures and tissues in the foot help to prevent injury by supplying cushioning right where it’s most needed. Nevertheless, the foot is unable to accomplish this alone. Cushioning and arch support in the shoes help to rebalance weight and absorb the energy of activities such as walking, running, jumping, and heavy lifting. Be sure to wear proper shoes with adequate arch support and cushioning.

Stiff shoes are another major reason why feet can develop painful conditions for both men and women. In women, shoes with toe areas that are narrow or that squeeze the toes together are the culprits for most common types of foot irritation. High heels also cause issues, since they do not provide the foot with enough support in the arch of the foot which can be a key reason for foot pain. For men, hard, flat work shoes can present their own set of challenges. These types of shoes don’t have supportive arches, so they are not good choices for daily footwear. The Cedar Sinai Medical Center cites that poor choice in shoes can cause flat feet to develop, especially during repeated physical strain on the feet such as in athletic activity or heavy lifting. For more information about proper foot care through the use of properly fitting footwear, contact your Cedar Sinai Medical Center foot experts to learn more.