Q: "Will my Bunion Get Worse?"

A: Unfortunately, yes it may.  There are a number of measures you can take to avoid worsening the deformity including a change in the shoe types you wear and taking wearing custom made inserts.

Q: "Is hammertoe surgery painful?"

A: Pain is a very subjective thing.  Some people tolerate pain well and recovery from surgery quickly.  Others not so much.  Have you had previous surgery? How did you handle the anesthesia? How quickly did your wounds heal? Did you have large scars that never went away? Did you follow instructions carefully? Many factors can dicatate succesful surgical outcomes.

Q: "Why are my toenails discolored, do I have a fungus?"

A:  Most likely, yes.  There are other conditions such as poor diet and psoriasis that can lead to toenail discoloration and thickness, however the most common cause is onychomycosis (toenail fungus).

Q:"How did I get my toenail fungus?"

A: Many surfaces are covered with bacteria, fungal,yeast and viral particles.  Most fungi are community aquired (pool, gym, spa, household) and start as a skin infection and progress to a toenail infection. 

Q: "Can I use Vick's vapo-rub on my toenails?"

A: Certainly.  However currently there is no data in medical literature to support anti-fungal capabilites of vicks vapo rub.  Clinically I have seen an increase in hydration of a fungal toenail with the use of Vick's most likely due to the petroleum base as the delivery vessel however I have yet to see it cure nail fungus.

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Q:"Why is my heel painful?"

A:  Heel pain is usually realted to a ligament on the bottom of the foot called the plantar fascia.  An inflammation of this ligament is called plantar fasciitis.

Q:"Why do I always sprain my ankle?"

A: the ligaments on the inside and outside of the ankle are often put under stress throughout our lives.  Individuals with a history of ankle sprain have a higher incidence of sprained ankles due to the laxity of those ligaments from previous injury which makes them more succeptable to subsequent sprain.

Q:"What are the best types of shoes to buy?"

A: In short, a shoe that fits properly is the best purchase you can make. Many brands make shoes the fit properly.   A shoe must fit well with regards to the front (forefoot) center (midfoot) and heel.  A shoe with a stable last (center between the sole and upper) will give more support over a long period of time.  Many running shoe brands also offer varying densities of heel foam which provide all levels of motion control, an important factor for many people who have an unstable foot.  Heels are not ideal.  Limit their use, or have a thin supportive insert made that can provide some stabilty.

Q:"How often do I replace my running shoes"

A: It will depend on the amount of mileage you are running, however after approximately 4-6 months materials in modern running shoes begin to lose stability.

Q:"Are sandals and flip flops bad for my feet?"

A: Not really, however that being said wearing sandals can make aches and pains you are having worse because of lack of support.  There are however improving sandal technologies that provide decent arch support.