CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS

Patient Education

Our doctor and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you. Or, for a more comprehensive search of our entire Web site, enter your term(s) in the search bar provided.

As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.

Forms
Patient Instructions
AmeriGel Post Op Kit
Epsom Salt Soaks
Hyperhydrosis (sweaty feet)
Musculoskeletal Pain (heel pain)
Onychomycosis (fungal nails)
Verruca (warts)

Patient Education
Achilles Tendon Disorders
Acute Inflammation
Ankle Fractures
Ankle Sprain
Bunions
Charcot Foot
Chronic Ankle Instability
Crossover Toe
Crutches Instructions
Diabetic Complications
Diabetic Foot Care
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
Flatfoot
Ganglion Cyst
Gout
Haglund's Deformity
Hallux Rigidus
Hammertoe
Heel Pain
Ingrown Toenail
Morton's Neuroma
Osteoarthritis
Pediatric Flatfoot
Pediatric Heel Pain
Personeal Tendon Injuries
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
Puncture Wounds
Tailor's Bunion
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Toe and Metatarsal Fractures

Links
Foot and Ankle Health Associations
The American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
American Podiatric Medical Association
Illinois Podiatric Medical Association
Pedorthic Footwear Association

Preferred Vendors
Amerx Health Care Corporation
Bako Pathology Services
Biofreeze
Burns International, Inc.
Dr Jill's Footpads
Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish
Powerstep Insoles

Shoes
Acor
Aetrex Worldwide
Brooks
CrocsRx
Dr. Comfort
Hush Puppies
New Balance
OrthoFeet
Pedors
Safe Step

Our Community Partners
Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers
Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine Services
Advocate BroMenn Medical Center
Champion Fitness
City of Bloomington
Fox and Hounds Day Spa
Girl Friday Spa and Boutique
Healthy Cells Magazine
Ireland Grove Center for Surgury
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
O.S.F. St. Joseph Medical Center
Town of Normal

Our Partners in Foot Health
Advanced Foot Care Centers, Ira Kraus, DPM, Chattanooga, TN
Affiliates in Podiatry, William McCann, DPM, Concord, NH
Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, Hal Ornstein, DPM, Howell, NJ
Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, Ben Weaver, DPM, Wichita, KS
Christie Clinic, Kim Eickmeier, DPM, Champaign, IL
Complete Foot & Ankle, Elizabeth Kurtz, DPM, Chicago, IL
Death By Pedicure, Robert Spalding, DPM, Signal Mountain, TN
Family Foot & Ankle Specialists, Peter Wishnie, DPM, Piscataway, NJ
Family Podiatry Center, Marlene Reid, DPM & Larry Kosova, DPM, Westmont, IL
Foot & Ankle Associates of North Texas, Marybeth Crane, DPM, Grapvine TX
Foot & Ankle Specialists, Bruce Werber, DPM, Mesa, AZ
The Foot Doctor of San Diego, Ronald Worley, DPM, San Diego, CA
Foundation Foot & Ankle Centers, Julie Lester, DPM, Houston TX



Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is used to treat chronic heel pain (plantar fasciitis). "Extracorporeal" means "outside of the body." During this noninvasive procedure, sonic waves are directed at the area of pain using a device similar to that currently used in nonsurgical treatment of kidney stones.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy is prescribed for patients who have experienced plantar fasciitis for an extended period of time -- six months or more -- and have not benefited from other conservative treatments. The brief procedure lasts about 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia and/or "twilight" anesthesia. Strong sound waves are directed at and penetrate the heel area to stimulate a healing response by the body. ESWT is performed on an outpatient basis. Although there are no bandages, someone will need to drive the patient home.

People who are not candidates for ESWT include pregnant women and individuals with neurological foot disease, vascular foot disease, pacemakers, or people taking medications that interfere with blood clotting (such as Coumadin).

This therapy is a safe and effective alternative treatment for heel pain and only requires a short recovery time. Clinical studies show a 70 percent success rate for treatment of plantar fasciitis using Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy.