If you need to keep off your foot after surgery, then you can do this one of several ways. A scooter can be a very good option. If you have to use a scooter then you can plan on that ahead of time also. There are different ways of getting a scooter. One would be to use a medical supply company that could deliver it and possibly your insurance would pay for it. Many times our patients will look on craigslist, offer up or next-door and either buy a used one or in some cases they can just borrow one on a site such as next-door. 

Either way make sure that you practice with the  scooter, and make sure it is going to work in your situation. For example you may want to make sure that you’re on the main floor of your house where are use your scooter. Also, make sure that you have a plan to get up and down the stairs to you Your house. So you might need to use crutches for the house, and then keep the scooter in the car. You need to come up with a plan how to do this. Remember, it is easier to get your scooter before surgery and go through scenerios of where and how you are going to use it. When you’re done with the scooter you may be able to simply list it on craigslist or offer up or next-door and be done with it. 

If you are experiencing foot or ankle pain, give us a call today at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online.

Bunions can be a very difficult pathology to deal with as a patient. The majority of patients that have bunion pain are typically female between the ages of 25-55. Etiology of the bunion remains a mix of genetics and environmental factors like shoes and activity levels. Bunions can develop on the inside or the outside of the foot. Bunion on the inside of the foot can also be called metatarsus primus varus or hallux abductovalgus. Bunion on the outside of the foot is called a tailor’s bunion. Bunions can be extremely painful with activities especially as people change activities like beginning to run or do exercises that require a lot of movement.

There are many different options to relieve bunion pain. The options are categorized as surgical or conservative. From a surgical standpoint it depends on the severity of the bunion as to which procedure is selected as well as the recovery time is correlated to this. Conservative care can be useful for many patients that have a new onset of bunion pain or are not ready to have it fixed surgically. There are prescription orthotics that can be specifically used to address bunion pain as well as lubricating injection series to reduce the painful joint. I get a lot of questions about conservative measures about strapping and padding for the bunions however these measures do not typically work and will not reverse a bunion.

If you have bunion pain and would like to discuss either conservative or surgical measures we are here to help. Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today.

It may be helpful to have your house set up for easy navigation and getting around.

For example, if you’ve got crutches a scooter or a walker, then practice ahead of time and make sure it will all work in your location. If you’ve got a couch downstairs and you don’t want to go up and down your stairs you may want to plan on setting up some type of a bed on your couch on the main floor. If you have to go up and down the stairs, some of our patients will go up and down on their "rear-end" so that they don’t have to try and balance with crutches. 

We like to go over these details and more at your "preop" appointment.   

We are happy to further discuss in person, if you would like to see myself Dr. Timothy Young or my partner Dr. Brandon Nelson. Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online.

There’s several different things to think about in preparation for upcoming foot surgery. 

It is important to think about these things before hand and to plan ahead of time. 

There will be things to do to your surgical site to help make sure things heal correctly. For example, you can get a shower protective sleeve to go over your foot and calf. 

When you have a bath or shower it will help to have a plastic chair outside of the shower.

And a plastic chair inside of the shower.  I recommend using a hand held shower head that has a long flexible hose. These are about $20 at Home Depot and very easy to install. This way you can be sitting in the shower and not worrying about having to keep your balance. Also having the plastic chair inside the shower gives you a place to sit while use that hand held shower head and hose. Once you’re done you then have a plastic chair outside of where you can dry off and again not be sitting there balancing yourself.  Note that it can be very hard to get in and out of a bathtub, the shower may be best (at least initially). 

If you are experiencing foot or ankle pain, please give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online.

One of the most common patient complaints to a foot and ankle physician is heel pain. It is important for patients to understand there are many other causes of heel pain and we will review some of those today. A short list of these would include lumbosacral radiculopathy, plantar fascial rupture, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Baxter’s nerve entrapment and fat pad atrophy.

Lumbosacral radiculopathy:

The most common cause of back pain leading to heel pain is nerve entrapment around L4-S1 vertebral level. Most patients will have a history of back pain or heel pain that manifests. It is important to consider an MRI of back for this or any EMG NCV which are nerve conduction studies. Often times physical therapy for nerve medication can help control the symptoms.

Plantar fascial rupture:

Ruptures of the plantar fascia are relatively uncommon, but can occur for patients that have had ongoing heel pain. The majority of patients that we see rupture their fascia have had some sort of high impact activity like football players or long distance runners. Diagnosis of the rupture often includes an MRI treatment can depend on the varying degree of the rupture in the site of the rupture. There many options for plantar fascial rupture including repair.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome:

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a nerve entrapment that is similar to carpal tunnel. Usually involves the posterior tibial nerve and branches that wrap around the heel. Many patients will describe burning or tingling in predispositions, this include patients with diabetes or a flatfoot. Often times an MRI or nerve conduction study is needed to verify this. Treatment often can require steroid injections or decompression of the nerve.

Baxter’s nerve entrapment:

This is a common condition that a lot of physicians will not recognize as this is a tough diagnosis. This can be undiagnosed or underdiagnosed relatively easily. This often times can be confused a tarsal tunnel syndrome as well. One of the key diagnostic indicators for this is inability to move your fifth digit. Again often times advanced imaging is utilized and a steroid injection and sometimes decompression the nerve is required.

Fat pad atrophy:

Fat pad atrophy is typically seen in older or obese patients. The majority us have a nice cushion on the bottom of the heel to help with shock and provide support. Often times there are thinning in other areas of the foot that can be identified help clue physicians in. This usually can be solid with a prescription orthotic and a rocker-bottom soft tissue.

If you have heel pain, call Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists today at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online.