f you visit a peripheral nerve surgeon, many will notice that we take the time to do a very thorough lower extremity examination. Most doctors are poorly trained in the evaluation of the lower extremity peripheral nervous system. It is not only about checking for feet neuropathy symptoms. We check your ability to feel sensation, check for back symptoms, loss of muscle strength, evaluate your gait and do balance testing.
Idiopathic neuropathy Idiopathic neuropathy has similar symptoms to diabetic neuropathy. However, the word idiopathic means that there is no known cause. The sensory nerves can be affected, causing burning, numbness and tingling. Also, the motor nerves may be involved causing weakness oftentimes presenting as drop foot. The autonomic nervous system may also be affected…
Jumpy leg syndrome is often referred to as Restless legs Syndrome or Willis Ekbom Disease. It afflicts approximately 10 percent of the entire population. It is also thought to run in families – genetically, those with 50 percent of family members suffering from RLS will have someone else in their family who also has Restless…
Ingrown nails are one of the most common problems that podiatrists treat. Oftentimes not only is the nail hurting, but there can be a toenail staph infection accompanying the problem. This problem can occur for anyone, but there can be additional risk when there is lack of blood flow to the foot, especially if the…
A common foot complaint you ask? How about heel pain? Most commonly felt on the bottom of your heel bone, it can be pain experienced when you first get up in the morning. For most, this is how it starts. However, after a few minutes, the pain subsides. You think to yourself, “This must…
Toenail fungus is a very common foot complaint. It is thought that by the age of 80, a high percentage of patients will have had this problem. Toenail fungus is referred to as onychomycosis. It typically presents as yellow discoloration in the nail, and the nail may also become thickened and crumbly. Although less common,…
How to deal with foot and ankle surgeries? When it comes to sports injuries, your foot and ankle are areas at highest risk of injury. Within sports themselves, injuries are common. A foot or ankle injury could result from the repetitive stress of running on hard surfaces, or from the stress of side-to-side activities in…
One of the most common foot and ankle complaints I see in my patients is pain in the ball of their foot. The feeling of your sock wrinkled, or something in your shoe? Maybe an uncommon burning or tingling in your toes? You could have experienced an increased pain while in your tight shoes, high…
What can you do if your child complains about heel pain? Sever’s disease is a problem that afflicts many active children worldwide 1. Sever’s Disease is when the growth plate on your heel bone becomes inflamed and swollen, causing pain. Another name for this condition is calcaneal apophysitis. Typically, active children ages 8-13 are at…
Why is my Toenail Discolored? Should I Worry and What Can I Do? Toenail discoloration is a common concern for many patients, and the most common complaint is yellow discoloration. The yellow discoloration can present itself in different forms. The nail itself may be discolored on the end of the nail or the entire nail….