Most New Yorkers can’t get on a subway without reading some kind of healthcare advertisement; and yet somehow so many people are unaware of exactly what a podiatrist is. Our podiatrists at Midtown Podiatry came up with a few facts that will answer some of your questions!

1. Podiatrists must be educated. It’s true of all podiatrists — New York and otherwise — but people in NYC are much more likely to believe that it’s possible to ‘cheat the system’. Fortunately, that’s almost impossible — there’s a basic State exam that every podiatrist has to pass; and if you have been to one (or are currently going to one) that can’t show you their certificate, find a new podiatrist, plain and simple.

2. Your feet are critically important to your overall health. Especially in the Big Apple where we all walk everywhere and there’s precious little soft ground to be found, even a minor maladjustment in your foot can cause everything from back pain to intestinal distress.

3. Your feet are not made to walk in shoes. Of course, it’s not exactly hygienic to walk around without shoes on, especially in a densely-packed city, so shoes have their purpose — but studies have shown that bare feet actually deal better with the millions of tiny impacts against hard surfaces that city life forces on them. The podiatrists at Midtown Podiatry are trained to deal specifically with the kinds of small problems that creep up when you wear shoes for your entire life.

4. Podiatrists are health-care professionals. Podiatry, NYC‘s opinions aside, isn’t just about bunions and ingrown toenails. Podiatrists are intimately familiar with the effects that foot health has on the entire body, and as such they have just as much if not more anatomical and systemic understanding as a general practitioner. They treat infections, diseases, and deformities of the foot just like a GP treats any general infection, disease, or deformity — just with more focus and thus greater clarity.

5. The foot is the early-warning system for your entire body. Think about gravity. The fact is that because of that ubiquitous force, many diseases from heart disease to diabetes often leave telltale signs in the foot before they appear anywhere else in the body. That makes the podiatrists at Midtown Podiatry a lot more than just someone who helps you walk right — he can and does save lives on a regular basis.

If you would like to meet with one of Midtown Podiatry’s trained podiatrists, with locations in Midtown, Gramercy Park, Wall Street, Union Square and Glen Cove, you can conveniently make an online appointment, or call us at any of the locations.

By: Paul J Betschart, DPM

If you are having heel pain that seems to continue to get worse every day; you may be suffering from a common foot condition called Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the tendon that runs along the bottom of our foot. Patients that come into our office at Midtown Podiatry usually complain that the pain begins with slight heel discomfort and then becomes very painful as days go by.

Plantar fasciitis is usually associated with foot deformities such as high arches and flat feet. External factors such as walking (which can easily affect New Yorkers that spend their days walking around), running and exercising with non-supportive or worn out shoes, and slight sudden weight gain can cause sudden inflammation of the plantar fascia. Eli Manning, the quarterback of the New York Giants, has been diagnosed with this painful condition back in 2009 in his right foot due to his intense exercise regimen.

This condition can be easily corrected with proper treatment.  Initial treatment for plantar fasciitis consists of cortisone injections, padding and strapping, stretching and strengthening exercise, ice therapy, taking anti-inflammatory medication, proper orthosis (insert), shoe gear and physical therapy. For very painful and long-standing plantar fasciitis we do Radio Frequency Treatment.

If you are experiencing discomfort due to a heel pain, it is time you called Midtown Podiatry in New York City. You can meet with our physicians in one of our offices in Midtown, Gramercy Park, Union Square, Wall Street or Glen Cove.

By: Ameneh Aminian, DPM

There are women all over New York City, and all over the world, who are dying to fit in to this season’s Manolo Blahniks, Jimmy Choos, or Christian Louboutins but are having trouble due to those darn bunions! Bunions do not only affect women however; both genders can experience extreme discomfort from them that can ultimately interfere with their daily life.

Not all bunion surgery is the same; in fact, there are over 100 different types!  At Midtown Podiatry, we have noticed that most people who come into our offices complaining of a bunion fall into one of four categories:

1. Simple Bunion -
   • This is a small bump, so the procedure for it is fairly simple. Our physicians would take just off the bump. Since this is a minor procedure the recovery period is also minor, with about 3-4 weeks in a surgical shoe(s) and one month in sneakers with weight bearing throughout.
2. Typical Bunion –
   • This is a mild to moderate deformity.  For this type of bunion, our physicians will usually take off the bump, surgically break the bone and move it into a better position, held with a screw or a pin. This type of bunion surgery is actually the most common and requires patients to recover for 3-4 weeks in a surgical shoe(s) then follow that with a month in sneakers with weight bearing throughout.
3. Severe Bunion –
   • For this type of bunion surgery our physicians will most likely fuse bones (join two separate bones together) to make a dramatic and permanent correction using plates and or screws. This type of bunion correction surgery is not as common and could require the patient to recover for up to 6 weeks in crutches and a month in a sneaker.
4. Bunion in the elderly –
   • To treat bunions in the elderly our physicians remove the bump as well as some bone. The recoveries time for this a quick one; about 3- 4weeks in surgical shoe and a month in sneakers.

It is NORMAL to have stiffness, swelling, and limited range of motion for months after a bunion procedure! The patient must always be ready for the recovery!

If you have been suffering from a bunion and have been considering getting the corrective surgery, our podiatrists at Midtown Podiatry, with New York locations in Midtown, Gramercy Park, Union Square, Wall Streetand Glen Cove, will be with you every step of the way! Our Board Certified physicians have become experts in Bunion Surgery throughout the 16 years our practice has been open. If you are ready to experience life without the pain a bunion causes or want to fit in to this next coming season’s must have high heels, don’t waste another minute! Call one of our offices today or visit us online to make an appointment!

By: John J. Doolan, DPM