Our Foot & Ankle Care FAQ

To a large degree, this falls under preference rather than right or wrong. There are advantages to both styles.  Whenever possible, we suggest that your doctor goes with a full-length orthotic because it will not slide or shift in your shoes and therefore is more efficient. With that being said, a possible disadvantage of a full-length orthotic may arise when switching from shoe to shoe. Because the shape of the toe area varies from one shoe to another, an orthotic may fit perfectly in one shoe but not in another shoe you may wish to wear. Conversely, a partial-length orthotic does not have this issue and can be easily transferred from shoe to shoe.  However, this style has a tendency to shift or move in the shoe until it has been worn for a time and allowed to “settle into” the shoe.  This is usually only a factor in the first week or two of wear. 

You Might Need More Than One Orthotic 

The advantage of being able to wear an orthotic in various shoe or sneaker styles does have limits.  An orthotic made for some shoes will function differently than an orthotic made for a sneaker. Orthotics made for dressy or fashionable styles are often too narrow to function correctly in what usually is a larger sneaker, work boot, or conservative dress shoe. This is why many people ultimately get more than one pair of orthotics as they do not like to go without the support and comfort that the orthotics provide for any length of time.

Are You Considering Custom Orthotics in Austin, TX?

If you are considering custom orthotics, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

Although this varies, our experience has shown us that orthotics last for many, many years—five to ten for most people. The top cover that overlies the actual plastic orthotic usually lasts from six months to five years or more for most people – depending on such variables as activity and time-worn. For example, a full-time construction worker will wear their orthotics differently than an administrator who spends much of their day behind a desk. With that being said, many people go for years without wearing down their top covers to any degree. The good news is that it is relatively inexpensive to replace the top cover and “refurbish” your orthotics once every year or two.

You Might Outgrow Your Orthotics as Your Condition Improves 

As a general rule, depending on the severity of your instability, once you “break-in” the orthotics and they have been assessed or adjusted by your doctor, the orthotics will not move or change much over time. In some instances, if your instability is rather severe, you can achieve a better structural position with your feet over time. In this case, you may choose to be reassessed by your doctor in a year or two and, in some instances, a better degree of correction can be attained.

If this is the case, a new orthotic made in an even more corrected position can improve your alignment even further and thereby allow you even better results. The great thing about this type of custom orthotic is its ability to be adjusted. In many instances, a similar result can be achieved by a simple adjustment that your doctor can many times do in the office while you wait. It is because of these factors that you should follow up with your doctor and have your orthotics and your structural position assessed periodically so that you can maximize your results and your functional capacity to the greatest degree possible.

Are You Considering Custom Orthotics in Austin, TX?

If you are considering custom orthotics, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

From pain relief to biomechanical corrections, there are many benefits of orthotics for those with foot problems. An orthotic device slipped into your shoe can redistribute weight and reduce pressure in bothersome areas. This helps to alleviate pain and discomfort caused by conditions like plantar fasciitis, for example.

Orthotics also provide additional support for arches and ankles, increasing stability and possibly even preventing falls in older people. Podiatrists can even make custom orthotics that mold to your unique feet and address your specific problems. Although they will eventually provide additional comfort, orthotics shoe inserts do take some getting used to. There will be a period of “breaking-in” time, but once you get used to them, you’ll be amazed at the difference they make.

Are You Considering Custom Orthotics  in Austin, TX?

If you are considering custom orthotics, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

This is not a straight yes or no question as the answer is highly dependant upon first, the level of instability of the muscles that cross the ankle and second, the type and or construction of the AFO.  As a general rule, if the reason you are wearing the AFO is primarily an ankle instability issue, then in most cases you can run and be very active in the AFO just as many professional athletes wear knee braces during play.

With that being said, there are varying materials that these braces are made of and some are more designed for strenuous activity than others.  You should always ensure that you communicate to your doctor that you wish to run or do other activities in your AFO so that information can be taken into account with the construction and design of your particular device.

Are You Considering Custom Orthotics  in Austin, TX?

If you are considering custom orthotics, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

 

In short, there are primarily two different types of AFOs – hinged, and non-hinged or solid AFOs. The hinged type is used when the stability of the ankle is an issue but the muscle function is intact. The solid or non-hinged AFO is used when there are varying degrees of muscle weakness or instability and the brace has to do all or part of the job the muscles are no longer able to do.  

Are You Considering Custom Orthotics  in Austin, TX?

If you are considering custom orthotics, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

There are many skin lesions that look similar to one another. We biopsy excised warts to verify that they are not a more serious type of lesion.

Are You Looking for a Plantar Warts Specialist in Austin, TX?

If you are looking for plantar wart care, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

We suggest Keryflex, a treatment protocol that allows the nail fungus to be treated with an oral antifungal while restoring the cosmetic appearance of the natural nail.

Are You Looking for a Toenail Fungus Specialist in Austin, TX?

If you are looking for toenail fungus care, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

No. The nail is formed by the matrix at the base. Cutting a notch or ‘v’ in the tip effectively does nothing to change the shape or growth of the nail into your skin.

Are You Looking for an Ingrown Toenail Specialist in Austin, TX?

If you are looking for ingrown toenail care, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

No. The nail plate of the toes is made of a specialized keratin that has no blood vessels. If you see blood while cutting your nails it is possible that you have violated the soft tissue below the nail plate. A good rule of thumb is to leave just a sliver of white at the distal aspect of the nail plate.

Are You Looking for a Skin and Nails Expert in Austin, TX?

If you are looking for skin and nail care, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

Most patients' fear has to do with the injection prior. After the application of anesthesia, the procedure is relatively quick and painless.

Are You Looking for an Ingrown Toenail Specialist in Austin, TX?

If you are looking for ingrown toenail care, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

There are three bones and two joints in each of your toes. The ability to bend your toes after surgery depends on the level of the deformity, which joints are affected, and if the deformity is flexible or rigid. Most hammertoes that require surgery don’t bend at one or more of these joints anyway. The purpose of the procedure is to rebalance the toe, mitigate the pain, and allow the foot to fit back into a shoe.

Are You Looking for a Foot Care Specialist in Austin, TX?

If you are looking for foot care, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.

When it comes to foot and ankle problems, our hope is always to solve them with the use of nonsurgical methods. Our foot doctors provide conservative care to effectively treat bunion symptoms, but the only way of correcting the condition is with surgical procedures. We may also need to operate if the bunion causes severe pain and limits or prohibits normal activities.

If you are considering a bunionectomy, you should know what is entailed with bunion surgery recovery so you can make appropriate plans. Of course, we will discuss any procedures with you thoroughly in advance, including making sure you understand what we are going to do to correct your condition, what needs to be done beforehand, and what you can expect after surgery.

Recovering from bunion surgery can take anywhere from six weeks to six months, depending on the nature of your procedure. A corrective procedure will generally take less time than a bunion removal, which averages between four to six months of recovery time.

During the recovery period, you will wear a cast or surgical boot for the first couple of weeks and stitches need to be kept dry. Once the boot or cast is removed, we will likely provide a brace for support. Because you should avoid weight-bearing on the affected foot, you can expect to use crutches.

Once we have you start placing weight on the foot, you may need a walker or continued use of crutches for support. Icing the foot and toe will help reduce inflammation and lower healing time. There will be swelling, which is normal, so you may need to switch to roomier shoes while the foot heals.

If you live in the greater Austin, TX community and are experiencing the painful symptoms that often accompany bunions, come see our expert doctors at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists. We will provide the care and treatment you need. If you need a bunion procedure to correct a bulging toe joint that is causing problems, trust your feet to a skilled, experienced surgeon who will walk you through the entire process step by step—including recovery.

Are You Looking for a Bunion Specialist in Austin, TX?

If you are looking for bunion care, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can help. Our office provides a wide variety of advanced, effective treatment options for all kinds of painful conditions. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512.328.8900.