Podiatrist Recommended Women's Boots!

Podiatrist Recommended

Women's Fashion Boots

A Blog dedicated to:

How to find good looking shoes

that are good for your feet

and are pathology specific.

Harley-Davidson's Jocelyn Boot

John Fleuvog Hopefuls Luxon

Chuck Taylor All Star Boot

Dr. Martens Jaden Vegan Boot

John Fluevog Piccolomini Boot

Dansko Tami Neutral

Frye Veronica Bootie

John Fluevog Audra

John Fluevog Soft Rock

John Fluevog Anna

Fit Flop Mukluk

Fit Flop Elin

Fit Flop Skandi

These boots are a great option for people looking for all-day comfort and fashion. Remember, no matter what type of boot you choose for yourself, it must meet four criteria to be comfortable: 

First, it must have a thick rigid sole that you cannot bend or flex. A thin, flimsy sole that bends and flexes will cause excess motion through your foot joints, which can lead to an increased chance of injuries such as fractures and sprains, arthritis, bunions, hammertoes, mechanical strain, and PAIN. An excellent shoe is a shoe that limits motion so that you have less pain, less damage, less chance of injury and, an added bonus, prettier feet. As you walk through life, you are either beating up your feet or you are beating up your shoes - if you think what your shoes look like after a couple of years of use - without the protection of a thick rigid sole - that damage is going to be happening to your joints. 

Second, you need arch support. Whether it is built into the shoe, over-the-counter arch support or a custom-molded orthotic - it is important to biomechanically control your arch. When patients say to me that they have great arches and don't need arch support, my answer is that bridges have arches but engineers still put struts under them to decrease mechanical strain. Proper arch support will help decrease knee, hip, and lower back pain as well as stop or slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes and soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis and plantar fascial strain. Talk to your Podiatrist about whether or not your insurance plan pays for you to get custom-molded orthotics. They are often a covered benefit. You only have one set of feet and once they break down - you don't get a new pair. Invest in your body and purchase good shoes and get orthotics. It's the same rationale as a dentist telling you to brush and floss on a regular basis and a dermatologist telling you to wear sunscreen. You need to protect your body because it is just a matter of time until it tries to go south on you. 

Third, you need a wide and preferably soft toebox. This will decrease pressure on the toes, which will help prevent ingrown toenails, hammertoes, bunions, Morton's Neuromas, and painful corns and calluses. 

Forth, you need a shoe with rearfoot control. Backless shoes such as flipflops and mules are not good enough for your feet. If you are not biomechanically controlling the rearfoot with at least a strap, you are forcing your toes to curl down to stay in the shoe, which promotes deformities such as hammertoes and bunions and increases the chance of knee, hip, and lower back pain. Without rearfoot control, you are forcing all of your tendons, ligaments, and joints to work harder to stay in the shoe. This also causes 'tired-leg syndrome' and leg fatigue. 

If you have any severe foot issues or systemic diseases, please check with your Podiatrist to make sure that a particular boot is correct for you. I encourage patients to bring in one bag of shoes so that we can check each shoe together and have a discussion about what will or will not work for their feet. Proper shoegear is absolutely crucial! 

My goal as a Podiatrist is to keep my patients as active as possible for as long as possible with as few problems as possible. And this goal can be achieved with the help of proper shoegear. 

For more information about comfortable shoes, please check out my other articles:

My Feet Hurt! Top 10 Things to do to Alleviate Foot Pain Today.

https://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-feet-hurt-top-ten-things-relieve.html

Shoe Recommendations for Patients Recovering from Lisfranc Injuries. 

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/04/podiatrist-shoe-recommendations-for.html

Have a great day!

Dr. Cathleen McCarthy

:)

Podiatrist Recommended: Your Three Day Plan to Less Foot Pain.

Your Three Day Plan

To Alleviating Foot Pain

Step One:

Immediately, stop walking barefoot, stop wearing flip flops, stop walking around the house wearing only socks and stop wearing flimsy bedroom slippers. 

Step Two:

Purchase RX CROCS and wear them as bedroom slippers around the house. It is important that you wear the strap to the back. The RX Crocs are approved by the American Podaitric Medical Association for Diabetics and works wonders if you are suffering from heel pain or any forefoot pain. They also help alleviate knee, hip and lower back pain. 

Step Three: 

Find a New Balance store and purchase either the New Balance 928 or the 1540. If you are extremely sedentary and have trouble reaching your feet to tie your shoes, purchase the NB 812 with velcro straps. While you are at the store, purchase diabetic socks - even if you are not diabetic. They are amazing. 

Step Four:

REST. For the next three days, whenever you are sitting, elevate and rest your feet. Ice your feet with a bag of frozen vegtables for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day - unless you are diabetic, have poor circulation, have nerve damage or have a history of gout. 

If you are doing all this and you do not get significant pain relief within three days, you need to make an appointment with your local Podiatrist for further evaluation. 

If you have been walking around with a "dull ache" in your feet that is like a nagging tooth ache or you have unexplained swelling - you could potentially be walking around on a broken bone or stress fracture. Most Podiatrists can take X-rays in their offices and offer complete treatment for foot problems such as fractures, sprains, bunions, hammertoes, corns & calluses. If your Podiatrist immediately jumps to suggesting surgery for your bunions or hammertoes, please get a second opinion from a more conservative biomechanical-focused Podiatrist. You should only consider foot surgery after you have tried and failed conservative, non-surgical treatment.

After your Podiatrist properly diagnoses and treats your foot issues, ask him or her about getting Custom-Molded Orthotics, which are often covered by your insurance. CMO's are prescription arch supports that are custom-molded to your feet and hold your foot in the biomechanically correct and neutral position which helps to alleviate foot, knee, hip and lower back pain. CMO's also help slow or stop the progression of bunions, hammertoes and joint changes such as osteoarthritis and Hallux Rigidus. Your Podiatrist can also add "sweet spots" that off-load painful calluses on the bottom of your feet. 

Just remember, if you are limping or compensating for more than three days - it is very tough on your knees, hips and lower back and you are throwing off your biomechanics. The quicker you deal with foot and ankle pain, the better. Most problems with the foot and ankle are very treatable using gentle non-surgical treatment. When you see people limping around with terrible biomechanics - that usually did not happen overnight. The reality is that as soon as we start compensating or limping for any reason - and we ignore it and keep walking  - our bodies get used to it and that becomes our new normal. After decaades of this, we end up in a situation where our bodies start breaking down and it interferes with our ability to have an active and healthly lifestyle.

Don't wait. If you are limping, after three solid days of doing the things discussed here - please make an appointment to see your Podiatrist. 

As I always tell my patients - my job as your Podaitrist is to keep you as active as possible for as long as possible with as little problems as possible - so that you see less of me because you are out there having fun!

For more information - please go to the upper right hand corner of this blog and find the search butteon where you can search: 

"My feet hurt - top ten things to do to alleviate foot pain" 

and

"Shoe Recommendations for patients recovering from a Lisfranc's fracture." 

Have a lovely day,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:)

Dansko Veda - Podiatrist Recommended Comfortable Shoe

DANSKO VEDA

Super-Comfortable Shoe for Fall 2013

I love these Converse-ish looking Dankso shoes! 

What makes the Dansko Veda shoe so comfortable is that it meets all four requirements that a shoe must have to be comfortable: it has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, a wide toebox, rearfoot control and it can accommodate your orthotics or an over-the-counter arch support. 

I also love the price! I found these on 6pm.com for a $28, which is a 60% discount. These are hard to find in stores, but you can try on Dansko shoes at local retailers such as Dillards and smaller stores catering to hospital employees such as nurses. Try a scrub store to find the Dansko Professional shoe, which is excellent for anyone who works on concrete surfaces for long hours. 


This Shoe is Recommended for Patients with:
* Plantar Fasciitis / Heel Pain (wear with arch supports or heel cushions for more comfort)
*Mild to Severe Hallux Limitus
*Hallux Rigidus
*Mild to Moderate Bunions
*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunions 
*Mild to Severe Over-Pronators
*Mild Achilles Tendonitis 
*Hammertoes
*Capsulitis
*Morton's Neuroma
*Metatarsalgia
*Osteoarthritis
*Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis (wear with a cushioned insole)
*Tendonitis
*Anyone Recovering from a foot fracture (i.e. Jones, metatarsals, toes, ect.) 
*Mild Ankle Instability
*Chronic Pain Syndromes (wear with a custom molded insert with an appropriate topcover such as EVA or plastizote - your Pod will be able to help you with this)


This Shoe is NOT Recommended for Patients with:
*Diabetics with Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
*Diabetics with Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)
*Diabetics with a history of foot Ulcerations
*Geriatric 
*Leg Fatigue in the Elderly
*Muscle Weakness
*Charcot Foot
*Severe Edema (Swelling)

For more information about what makes a shoe comfortable, please go to the search box on this blog (Upper right hand corner) and look up "My Feet Hurt" for an article about ten easy things you can do to significantly alleviate foot, knee, hip and lower back pain. 


Have a great day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Podiatry Recommended Comfort Sandals For Spring.

SUMMER DRESS SANDALS 

Dansko Scarlett

Sanita Darcy

Dansko Nina

These are three great options for a sandal that you can dress up or down for the summer season. The first two are going to work better for anyone who has Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint) or any other forefoot problems that make it difficult or painful to wear heels while the Dansko Nina is a great option for someone who knows they can comfortably wear a heel.

What makes these three sandals superior to most are that they each have a thick, rigid sole that is protective of the foot joints. Less motion means less mechanical strain, which translates into less pain, decreased chance of injury and more comfort. Each sandal has forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping, which is necessary for more comfort. If a shoe doesn't have a rearfoot strap, then you are forcing your joints, muscles, tendons and ligament to work harder to stay in the shoe. Instead of forcing your foot to do the work - make the shoe do the work!   

If you get 'tired legs' by the end of the day wearing flip flops or a backless sandal, try bumping up to one of these first two sandals. There are no good flip-flops! If your shoe does not have a thick rigid sole and rearfoot control, you are causing mechanical strain, which can promote all types of deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, osteoarthritis as well as knee, hip and lower back pain.

Remember, there are four requirements for a shoes: 

1. A thick, rigid sole (crucial!!)

2. Wide, soft toebox

3. Arch Support 

4. Rearfoot control 

The Dansko Scarlett and Sanita Darcy are Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Tailor's Bunions

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Tendonitis

*Metatarsalgia

*Osteoarthritis

*Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Hallux Limitus (Limited Range of Motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Hallux Rigidus (No motion of the first toe joint)

*Patients who've had a surgical fusion of the first toe joint

*Sesmoiditis

*Brachymetatarsalgia

*Mechanical Strain

*Mild Ligament Laxity

*Mild Hypermobility

*Mild Overpronation

*Patients recovering from foot fractures (Check with your doctor!)

The Dansko Scarlett and Sanita Darcy are NOT Recommended for Patients with: 
*History or Foot Ulcerations
*Diabetics
*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)
*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
*Charcot Foot
*Severe Hypermobility
*Severe Over-Pronation
*Severe Ankle Instability 


*The major difference between wearing the first two sandals versus the Dansko Nina is - do you have any forefoot problems? If you have Hallux Limitus, Hallux Rigidus, Sesmoiditis, Metatarsalgia, Capsulitis, Morton's Neuroma (to name a few) - I would opt for the first two sandals as they will put less pressure on the forefoot structures. If you know that you can wear a heel comfortably then the Dansko Nina would be a good option for a comfortable sandal. 



Hope all is well!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

  

Orthofeet: a Review of the Stretchable Mary Jane

Review of the Orthofeet Stretchable Mary Jane.

         The Orthofeet Stretchable Mary Jane is a wonderfully comfortable shoe for women who suffer from painful bunions, hammertoes, corns and toenails. This shoe has a thick rigid sole that limits motion across the bottom of the foot, which allows for more comfort. It’s also light and comes with an excellent insole that provides cushion and arch support for more biomechanical control of the foot and ankle, which translate into less knee, hip and lower back pain! The insole can be removed so that you can replace it with your custom-molded orthotic if needed.  

What sets this shoe apart from others is the Spandex toe box, which decreases pressure on tender toes. This shoe is considered an ‘Extra-Depth’ shoe, which means that it has extra room for the toes.
Many people aren’t aware that Medicare approves this type of shoe for most patients who suffer with diabetes with the added complications of diabetic neuropathy and/or peripheral arterial disease. Medicare has a wonderful program that pays for diabetic patients to receive one pair of extra-depth shoes with three sets of custom inserts (each lasting four months) each calendar year. Medicare provides this program for their diabetic patients because research has shown that if they get diabetic patients into proper shoes and inserts, Medicare saves billions of dollars in hospital bills resulting from diabetic ulcers, infections, and amputations. This is one of many styles of shoes that the Medicare program covers. 

If you aren’t diabetic, these shoes can be purchased from Footsmart.com and, if you are diabetic, many Podiatrists offer the extra depth shoe program through their offices. 
I recommend that if you are diabetic, make an appointment with your local Podiatrist for your annual diabetic exam and, he or she will determine if you are medically eligible for the program. If your Podiatrist doesn't offer the program through his or her office, you can request a prescription to send you out to a facility that does offer the program. We've offered this program to our patients for over a decade and the patients love the shoes and inserts for the comfort and I love it because it decreases diabetic related complications! Remember, if you are suffering with painful feet, I recommend that you follow up with your local Podiatrist for evaluation and treatment. There are many non-painful, non-surgical options that can significantly decrease your foot pain. As an added benefit, I also love the fact that Orthofeet shoes are made in America! 
 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Danko Clog - Comfortable Shoe For Certain Foot Types.

The Dansko Clog

Let me preface this review by saying that the Dansko Clog is not for everyone! There are patients with certain foot types and medical conditions that I would never dream of putting into a Dansko Clog because it would be a disaster for their feet. That being said, I have many patients (including myself) where the Dansko Clog is the very definition of comfort. In Podiatry school, when I went from sitting all day in classes for two years to suddenly being thrown into 14 hour days on my feet on torturous concrete hospital floors for another four years of school and residency, I suffered horribly from heel pain, swelling in my feet and tired leg syndrome. I was a broke student and I made a very painful $95 splurge on purchasing the Dansko Clog and they were one of the best investments I've ever made!

What's great about the Dansko Clog is the thick, rigid and therefore very protective sole. I always feel extra safe wearing my Dansko clogs because if anyone ever tried to mug me, these shoes are so strong that I'm convinced I could effectively use them as a weapon (forgive me, I'm originally from New Jersey!). If you are suffering with forefoot pain of any kind, this may be the perfect shoe for you. They also have decent arch support, a wide toe-box and rear-foot control. I do not recommend the Dansko shoes that don't have rear-foot control as they force the person wearing them to scrunch down their toes to keep in the shoe, which can cause 'mechanical strain' and 'tired leg syndrome' at the end of a long day.

The Dansko Clogs do not accommodate any type of inserts but, in my experience, they don't need extra arch support. It is the one shoe where I don't have to (or need to) wear my orthotics. 

In general, the Dansko Clog is great for healthy, young, active patients who are on their feet all day, especially on concrete floors. I would never put anyone who is elderly or has any type of muscular or nerve disorder in these shoes as they are simply too heavy. 

Dansko Clogs Are Recommended For Patients With:

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Haglund's Deformity

*Mild to Severe Metatarsalgia

*Mild Bunions & Tailor's Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis of the Forefoot Joints

*Hallux Limitus (Limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Hallux Rigidus (No motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis

*Possibly Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Mild Tendonitis

*Mild to Possibly Moderate Over-Pronators

*Mild Hypermobility / Ligament Laxity

*Plantar Plate Injuries

*Patient's recovering or trying to heal from a fractured toe

*Patient's recovering from a fractured metatarsal bone (Check with your Pod!)

*Mild to Moderate Degenerative Joint Disease

*Over-Use Syndrome

Dansko Clogs Are NOT Recommended For Patients With:

*Weak legs

*Muscle disorders that cause instability or weakness of the legs

*Nerve disorders that cause weakness or instability of the legs

*Drop Foot

*Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics

*Diabetics with history of Ulcerations (Open sores)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Balance Issues

*The Elderly

*Anyone with prominent "bumps" on their feet, especially on the top of the mid-foot area

*Painful Calluses on the bottom of the feet (because they need more cushion in the shoe)

*Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis  (because they need more cushion in the shoe)

*Severe Hypermobility / Ligament Laxity

*Ankle Instability

My best advice to you is go to a store and try them on. You are either going to love them or hate them! Every time I put on my Dansko clogs, I feel like they have been custom made for my feet and can stay on my feet all day in comfort.

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:) 

Easy Spirit Heel Riser - Comfortable Women's Sandal...

Are you addicted to your Fit-Flop's but find that you need more support?

A wonderful alternative is...

The Easy Spirit Heel Riser Sandal.

At $24.97 at Footsmart, 
this is an excellent choice for a casual sandal that is similar to the Fit-Flop but offers more support and comfort. If you prefer to try on the sandal, J.C. Penny's usually carries the Heel Riser. 

This sandal has a thick, rigid sole that is very protective of the foot joints and offers superior biomechanical control because it has forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping. Even though the sole is thick and rigid - it has a lot of cushion that allows for more shock absorption and comfort. 

 If you are currently wearing the Fit-Flop
(or any flip-flop!) and you are experiencing rearfoot pain such as Achilles Tendonitis or heel pain, I highly recommend that you "bump up" to a shoe with rearfoot control! With the Easy Spirit Heel Riser, you get the added benefit of the midfoot and rearfoot strapping, which offers more biomechanical control of the midfoot and rearfoot joints - resulting in less mechanical strain of your tendons, muscles and joints. Not to mention your knees, hips and lower back! More biomechanical control means less mechanical strain, less chance of injury and significantly more comfort. 

Overall, I highly recommend the Easy Spirit Heel Riser for casual wear because it is protective of the foot, has good biomechanical control, wide, soft straps and it's lightweight. 
Not to mention the price is fabulous!

This Sandal IS Recommended For Patients with:

Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

Mild to Moderate Bunions

Metatarsalgia 

Morton's Neuroma

Capsulitis

Sesmoiditis

Hallux Limitus 

(Limited range-of-motion of the 1st toe joint)

Hallux Rigidus 

(No motion of the 1st toe joint)

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Mild Tendonitis

Mild Achilles Tendonitis

 Corns & Calluses

Mild to Moderate Edema (Swelling) 

Mild Hypermobility

 

This Sandal is NOT Recommended For Patients with:

Diabetes

Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

History of Ulcerations

Charcot Foot 

Moderate to Severe Hypermobility

Ankle Instability

Posterior Tibial Dysfunction

Drop Foot

I have as yet to talk to a patient who owns this sandal that doesn't love this sandal!

Hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:) 

For More Info - 

Check out my articles on this blog:

"My Feet Hurt - Top Ten Things to Do To Relieve Foot Pain Today."

and

"Shoe Recommendations For Patients Recovering From Lisfranc's Fractures." 

You can go to the 'search' box at the top of the page and search:

My Feet Hurt

Shoe Recommendations

Encore of 'Top 10 Things To Do To Relive Foot Pain Today"...

My Feet Hurt!

Top Ten Things 

To Relieve Foot Pain Today...

The following advice may not be popular but it is highly effective! 

It's straight forward, common sense medicine and --

it sure beats surgery! 

Give it a try and I would love to hear how it works for you...

1.

Stop Walking Barefoot.
Forget about what people say about being barefoot being "natural" -- being naked is "natural" but we all wear clothes to protect our bodies from the elements.
It's wise to protect your feet also. 
There's nothing "natural" about walking around on concrete all day!
Plus, if your feet weren't hurting, 
you wouldn't be reading this.

2.

Stop Wearing Flip-Flops.
Zero biomechanical control.
Try an experiment -- have someone video you on their cell phone from behind as you walk barefoot or wear flip-flops.
Now video you doing the same thing while wearing proper shoes with arch support.
Pay attention to what is happening to your feet, ankles and knees.
Not pretty, is it?
Lots of extra wear-and-tear on your joints, muscles and tendons.  
Remember, you're either beating up your feet -- 
or you're beating up your shoes.
If you think what you're shoes look like after several years of wear, 
what do you think is happening to your joints?

 

3.

Stop Walking Around the House Wearing Only Socks.
Minimal protection!
Zero biomechanical control. 
Although I do recommend wearing socks with shoes, if you are walking around the house in only socks -- that is only slightly better than being barefoot. 

 

4.

Stop Wearing Flimsy Bedroom Slippers.
If your slippers are flexible or bend too easily, 
you may be causing damage to your joints as well as setting you up for potential injury.
If you like to wear slippers in the house, 
at least look into getting"Diabetic Slippers" 
even if you are not diaabetic. 
These slippers offer more protection and are probably ten times more comfortable. 
Foot Solutions has a great Diabetic Slipper 
and you can find many others online. 

5.

Around the house - as a bedroom slipper - 

wear Crocs RX clogs 

with the strap to the back.
Do you have heel pain? 
Knee, hip, lower back pain?
This is the cheapest and best medical advice you will ever get!!
If you wear Croc Rx Clogs with the strap to the back around the house, you will probably have a significant improvement 
in a very short period of time. 
The only time you should be barefoot and standing is in the shower! 

6.

For a great Walking Shoe - 

go to a New Balance Store and purchase a 

New Balance Walking Shoe 

with Roll-Bar Technology 

and a wide base with an extra-depth toebox.
I often write my patients prescriptions for this shoe, which can make it tax deductible and give them a 10% discount at any New Balance store. 
I truly believe that proper shoes are medically necessary for many patients because it will decrease pain, risk of injury and prevent surgery. 
Not to mention make your life more pleasant because you will have less pain and you can concentrate on staying active and having fun! 

7.

Elevate and Rest Your Feet 

and use a topical pain reliever like: 

Biofreeze or Traumeel -

both are over-the-counter and safe. 
Don't underestimate the power of rest!
As a physician, I am always amazed at the body's healing power so --
at the end of the day, 
grab a good book and put those feet up... 

 

8.

Wear Arch Support.

Either Custom-Molded Orthotics or 

a good Over-The-Counter Insert, 

which you can purchase from your local Podiatrist or your local running shoe store.  
Ten percent of people cannot tolerate arch support, which means you have a ninety percent chance that arch support can improve your life.
I wish Las Vegas had those odds! 
Good arch support can also significantly help with knee, hip and lower back pain.
I've had patients say, 
"I have high arches -- I don't need arch support"
and my response is, 
"Bridges have arches but engineers design them with struts for support."
It's the same with your foot -- 
support under the arch means less strain on the joints, tendons and muscles. 

9.

Wear Diabetic Socks 

for extra cushion 

and comfort. 
It sounds silly but I've been to lectures entitled "Current Technological Advances in Socks &
Sock Strategy."
Proper socks can decrease friction and thereby decrease calluses, corns, blisters and 
heel fissures. 
Diabetic socks may cost a couple dollars more but hopefully will be well worth it! 
 

10.

Make an Appointment with your 

local Podiatrist!

Try to find a Podiatrist that specializes in conservative, non-surgical treatment. 
In my opinion, less than five percent of patients with foot pain need surgery. I am not referring to foot "procedures" that can be done in the office such as fixing ingrown toenails -- I am referring to more serious surgeries such as bunions and fusions of joints that will permanently change your foot and ankle biomechanics.
Foot surgery is more than you think!
The foot heals slower, hurts more, and swells more because while you are trying to heal it -- 
you are walking on it!
Not to mention, recovering from foot surgery poses many risks and the results are never guarenteed.
I always tell my patients that 
the goal of surgery is 
to take an "abnormal painful foot" and turn it into an "abnormal non-painful foot."
The only time you should consider having foot surgery is if you have tried everything and completely exhausted conservative treatment and you cannot perform your normal daily activities because of the pain.
Before you have foot surgery, please get a second or even third opinion!
 Most biomechanical foot pain can be resolved using conservative, non-surgical treatment. 

***

For more information, 

please see the article on this blog for:

Shoe Recommendations for Patients Recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries.

On this Blog, you can also look up:

  Top Ten Comfortable Sandals

Top Twenty Comfortable Dress Shoes

Top Five Comfortable Walking Shoes

Top Twenty Women's Comfortable Boots




Please feel free to explore the blog!
I have lots of information, articles and shoe recommendations for people who suffer from foot pain.

Have a Great Day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)