Do you often think that you have a pebble in your shoe but can't find anything when you remove your shoe? You may have a neuroma, a condition that causes pain in the ball of your foot or your toes. Dr. Eric Feit and associates at Precision Foot and Ankle Centers offer treatment for neuromas pain and a variety of other foot and ankle conditions. They have office locations in Torrance, San Pedro, and Downtown Los Angeles.

How do neuromas develop?

Neuromas occur when the tissues surrounding a nerve thicken. They often form around the nerve that serves your third and fourth toes. You may be more likely to experience a neuroma if you injured your foot, wear tight shoes or high heels regularly, have flat feet or high arches, or jog or run. Women are more likely to get neuromas than men.

What are the symptoms of a neuroma?

The pebble-in-the-shoe sensation isn't the only symptom you may experience if you have a neuroma. You may also notice one or more of these symptoms:

• Burning between your toes or in the ball of your foot
• Increased pain when you stand on your tiptoes, put pressure on the ball of your foot or push off when you run
• Numbness or tingling in the ball of your foot or your toes

How are neuromas treated?

Wearing low-heeled shoes that provide plenty of cushioning and room for the front of your foot may help reduce your pain, as can shoe pads that reduce pressure on the neuroma. Ice and over-the-counter pain relievers may also be helpful.

If treating your neuroma at home doesn't help, our foot specialists can offer several effective treatments, including:

• Cortisone injections or prescription anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief
• Alcohol Injections which includes a series of 3-7 injections every 7-10 days. This helps to kill the affected nerve and alleviate pain. This prevents the need for surgery in more than 50% of patients.
• Orthotics, padding or taping to realign your foot
• Surgery to release your nerve or remove part of it if other treatment methods don't help.

Are you concerned that you may have a neuroma? Schedule an appointment with the podiatrists at Precision Foot and Ankle Centers by calling (310) 791-1092 for the Torrance, CA, office, (310) 548-3311 for the San Pedro office, or (213) 747-7272 for the Los Angeles office.

Find out ways to stave off bunion pain and to prevent the need for surgery.

Bunions are one of the most common foot deformities and it often affects the joint at the base of the big toe, causing it to stick out. This hard protrusion can make it uncomfortable or even painful to put on shoes or walk. Of course, bunion surgery isn’t recommended for correcting the deformity unless it’s severe. Luckily, our Torrance, CA, podiatrists Dr. Eric Feit, Dr. Alona Kashanian, and Dr. Pooya Lashkari can help you get your symptoms under control with these simple conservative treatment options.

Wear the Right Shoes

While not a treatment for quelling bunion pain exactly, wearing the right shoes is the best way to prevent symptoms from happening in the first place. Only wear shoes with a wide toe box that won’t bunch up toes or put pressure on the bunion.

In some cases, even with the right shoes, it might be a good idea to apply a non-medicated pad to the bunion before putting on shoes to prevent friction and discomfort.

Sometimes our Torrance, CA, podiatrists will prescribe custom orthotics, or shoe inserts, which will go inside the shoes to reduce the amount of pressure being placed on the bunion, as well as other areas of the feet. Orthotics can also provide cushioning and support for your feet.

Ice and Anti-Inflammatories for Flare-Ups

You may find that even with the best shoes sometimes walking around all day or being on your feet causes bunion pain and swelling to emerge. When this happens you have a few choices. You may choose to take a simple over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen, which can reduce both pain and swelling temporarily or you may choose to ice the bunion (or both!).

Just make sure to always wrap an ice pack in a towel first and never apply ice directly to skin. Leave the ice on the bunion for no more than 15 minutes at a time. During this time, give yourself permission to kick up your feet and just relax.

When to Consider Surgery

Surgery is rarely needed when it comes to treating a bunion. It’s only time to consider surgery if your symptoms are persistent, severe and don’t respond to any other treatment options. This is not a cosmetic procedure, so you shouldn’t get a bunionectomy only if you want to improve the way your feet look. Of course, if you are dealing with serious symptoms we would be happy to discuss your treatment options with you.

Precision Foot and Ankle Centers have offices in Torrance, San Pedro, and Los Angeles, CA, to serve you better. If you are having trouble getting your bunion pain under control don’t hesitate to give your podiatrists a call.

Find out what might be causing your heel pain and how our podiatrists in Torrance, San Pedro, and Los Angeles can help.

There are many things that could be causing your heel pain, so if this problem is happening to you, it’s time to visit our podiatrists Dr. Eric Feit, Dr. Alona Kashanian, and Dr. Pooya Lashkari to find out what’s going on—read below to learn more!

About Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the soles of the feet starting at the heel bone and ending at the toes. If the fascia is overstretched or overworked, it can lead to microtears and inflammation which then results in heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis heel pain is often a stabbing pain that is worse when first getting up in the morning or after long bouts of sitting. The heel pain may also radiate in the arches of the foot and be accompanied by stiffness. While the lessening of symptoms may tempt you to workout or go on your regular run, you may find that symptoms will only get worse after physical activity.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Heel Pain

When one tissue, ligament, or muscle is affected within the foot this affects other structures within the foot, which can lead to further dysfunction and problems such as stress fractures and bursitis. Not treating the issue means dealing with pain and discomfort when you don’t have to suffer. Plus, the longer your heel pain lasts, the harder it’s going to be to treat. This is why it’s important to treat your heel pain as soon as possible.

If you aren’t sure what is causing your heel pain it’s a good idea to visit our foot doctors in Torrance, San Pedro, and Los Angeles for a definitive diagnosis. After all, you want to make sure that you are providing your feet with the most effective treatments possible.

Here’s How We Can Help

Whether you aren’t sure if you are dealing with plantar fasciitis or your symptoms aren’t responding to self-care, it’s important to turn to our foot specialists when you can’t seem to handle foot problems on your own.

Here are some of the treatment options we offer when your heel pain isn’t alleviated with simple at-home measures,

• Physical therapy and exercises
• Night splints
• Custom functional orthotics (shoe inserts)
• Cortisone injections (to alleviate severe pain and swelling)
• PRP injections (for chronic or severe heel pain cases)
• Surgical repair

Precision Foot and Ankle Centers has offices in Torrance, San Pedro, and Los Angeles, CA, so if you are dealing with heel pain, give us a call to find out what’s going on and how to best treat it. Phone (310) 791-1092 for the Torrance Office, (310) 548-3311 for the San Pedro Office, (213) 747-7272 Los Angeles Office.

Do you have a sports injury? Physical activity is good for you, but sometimes you can hurt yourself when you play sports or work out. A podiatrist can get you back in the game. Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot and ankle sports injuries. Precision Foot and Ankle Centers, which has offices in Torrance, San Pedro, and Los Angeles, CA, offers treatments for sports-related foot and ankle injuries. Dr. Eric Feit, Dr. Alona Kashanian, and Dr. Pooya Lashkari are your podiatrists for the treatment of sports injuries. 

Types of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are injuries that happen when people exercise or play sports. The most common types of sports injuries are sprains, strains, knee injuries, dislocations, and fractures. Acute traumatic injuries include things like sprains, strains, cuts, and fractures. Overuse injuries include things like stress fractures. These injuries may happen over time, usually from repetitive training, like serving a volleyball or throwing a football. 

Causes of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries can result from a number of different causes. Sports injuries can be caused by a number of different factors. Improper gear, poor training methods, and accidents can lead to sports injuries. Not warming up or stretching before exercising or playing sports can also cause sports injuries. Martial arts, basketball, football, boxing, and hockey carry the highest risk, but non-contact sports also carry risk. 

Preventing Sports Injuries

Athletes need to rest between practices, events, and games. A lack of sleep and muscle fatigue predisposes athletes to sports injuries. Stretching an important prevention technique that should become habit for all athletes before starting activities or playing sports. Protective equipment, like helmets, pads, and shoes are also important for injury prevention.

Sports Injury Diagnosis

A proper diagnosis is key to treating an injury. Your podiatrist will start with a physical examination, with attention given to the areas of complaint. You will also go through your medical history with your doctor and he or she may order x-rays or other imaging tests to confirm a diagnosis. 

Treatments for Sports Injuries

Your doctor will develop a treatment plan that may combine more than one type of treatment, depending on your specific needs. Some common treatments for sports injuries include medication, physical therapy, steroid injections, ice and heat, orthopedic casts, splints, and range of motion exercises. Your doctor may recommend surgery for your injury if your symptoms are severe enough. 

A sports injury can affect your day-to-day activities and make your life miserable. If you have a sports injury, call Precision Foot and Ankle Centers at (310) 791-1092 today to schedule an appointment in Torrance, CA, (310) 548-3311 to schedule an appointment in San Pedro, CA, and (213) 747-7272 to schedule an appointment in Los Angeles, CA. We will help you get back to a healthy and happy life.

You wish your foot problems would resolve. At your doctor's recommendation, you've tried new shoes, rest, and some medications, but the pain does not go away. At Precision Foot and Ankle Centers in Torrance, San Pedro, and Los Angeles, CA, your podiatrists want you to return to an active lifestyle and may advise surgery on your foot. Learn the rationale behind some of the operations Dr. Eric Feit, Dr. Alona Kashanian, and Dr. Pooya Lashkari may propose.

Your feet and ankles

They're complex structures. Just one foot alone contains 26 bones in addition to blood vessels, ligaments, and tendons. When something is amiss, the problem may disrupt your daily routines, keeping off your feet or causing you continual pain. Additionally, some foot and ankle conditions, such as bunions, diabetic wounds, and flat feet, impact overall health and personal appearance, too.

Arthritis Research in the UK finds that a wide variety of degenerative conditions necessitate foot and ankle surgery. They include:

• Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, which can lead to ankle replacement surgery
• Bunions, changes in alignment of the joints at the base of the big toe
• Diabetic ulcers, infected and often life- and limb-threatening wounds resulting from poor circulation
• Plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the connective tissue between the heel and big toe

Additionally, physical injuries, such as fractures and sprains, may require surgery. If neglected, a severe ankle sprain may lead to joint instability, the inability to bear weight and arthritis. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society says that ankle arthrodesis surgery uses grafting materials to strengthen severely injured or malformed ankles, to relieve pain and to promote mobility.

Do you need surgery?

Only your podiatrist at Precision Foot and Ankle Centers in Torrance, San Pedro, and Los Angeles can tell. He or she will examine your foot and how you walk. X-rays and other imaging techniques reveal problems not obvious on visual inspection.

Often, your foot doctor will attempt symptom relief first with conservative measures such as:

• Rest
• Ice
• Elevation
• Compression bandages, soft casts, crutches, canes, and other mobility devices
• Customized shoe inserts (orthotics)
• Over-the-counter pain medications
• Steroidal injections
• A change in footwear

If ineffective, however, surgery may be in order. Thankfully, the professional staff at Precision Foot and Ankle Centers are well-qualified in many of today's most effective and least invasive lower extremity operations, including innovative endoscopy surgeries.

Concerned about a foot or ankle?

Please don't wait. Contact one of our three convenient Precision Foot and Ankle Centers for a professional consultation. If you do need surgery, you'll be in the best of hands. For an appointment at our Torrance location, phone (310) 791-1092. For San Pedro, call (310) 548-3311, and in Los Angeles, call (213) 747-7272.