The Achilles tendon is commonly injured especially after activity such as hiking or basketball. Common disorders include rupture, partial rupture, versus tendinitis and tendinosis. The latter is more long term and involves scar tissue.  Treatments involve protective weight bearing, non-weight bearing, physical therapy, surgery, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy. What Is the Achilles Tendon? A tendon … Read more

It is very important for a patient with heel pain to see the podiatrist to make sure there is not an calcaneal fracture. This is the bone at the heel. Signs of a fracture include bruising, redness and swelling. In addition to physical examination, an x-ray is required to diagnose the fracture. Depending on the … Read more

Os trigonum syndrome involves an extra bone on the back of the ankle. Tendons that control important functions of the foot pass through this area. The extra bone causes pain as the tendons rub against it. X-rays need to be taken to differentiate the condition from a fracture in the Steida’s process, a part of … Read more

Plantar fibromas are knots on the plantar fascia, the ligament on the bottom of the foot. There may be more than one, and they can be quite painful. Treatment for the condition involves off weighting, corticosteroid injections, and less commonly, surgical excision. What Is the Plantar Fibroma? A plantar fibroma is a fibrous knot (nodule) … Read more

Biopsy is a very important procedure done quite often in the office to diagnose a skin lesion. This may be for a suspicious skin condition or to diagnose a fungal infection. An outside lab looks at the specimen to establish a diagnosis for further follow up. Skin Growths from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo. … Read more

Talar dome lesions are areas of cartilage damage in the ankle. These result from an injury such as an ankle sprain. They can progress. If the pain is deep and soft tissue pathology isn’t suspected the problem may be with the lesion. After conservative therapies such as physical or extracorporeal shockwave therapies have been done … Read more

We are more familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand, but this condition occurs in the ankle. The tibial nerve is entrapped causing tingling in the foot. Treatment involves corticosteroid injections to free scar tissue around the nerve, orthotics to decrease strain on the nerve, and surgical release of the nerve. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome … Read more

Haglund’s Deformity is a bone spur in the back of the heel. It is often called pump bump because this type of shoe irritates it. Sometimes a protective sac called a bursa can build around it which itself can be painful. Icing, changing shoegear and surgical resection of the spur are some treatments for the … Read more

Ganglion cysts are a common condition we see. These are gelatinous bumps usually on the top of the foot. They are usually extensions of joint capsules. They change in size because fluid goes back and forth between the capsule and the cyst. Treatment involves compression, aspiration of cyst contents and surgical excision of the cyst. … Read more

Crossover toe is a very complex condition. It is also called pre-dislocation syndrome or plantar plate tear. It usually occurs on the lesser toes, most commonly the second. The joint is destabilized and can start to cross over towards the great toe. Diagnosis of this condition is important, especially when it is done early. The … Read more