• AminoFix injection for Plantar Fasciitis & Achilles Tendonitis
  • Arch Pain
  • Bunions And Bursitis
  • Certified Wound Care Specialist
  • Comprehensive Foot And Ankle Surgery
  • Congenital Foot And Ankle Deformities
  • Corns And Calluses
  • Diabetic Foot Care
  • Flat Feet
  • Foot And Ankle Fractures
  • Fungal Skin Infections


    • Hammertoes
    • Laser treatment for fungal nails
    • Heel Spurs
    • Metatarsal Disorders
    • Pediatric Foot And Ankle Problems & Injuries
    • Plantar Fasciitis
    • Plantar Warts
    • Reconstructive Surgery Of The Foot And Ankle
    • Sports Related Injuries
    • Traumatic Surgery Of The Foot And Ankle
    • Treatment Of Charcot Foot And Ankle Deformities
    • Treatment Of Ingrown, Fungal And Thickened Nail Conditions

    Welcome to the Patient Information Center! Here you will find information about the most common foot and ankle ailments. Click on any of the issues below to find out more about specific problems and what treatment options are available. Here you will also find links to interesting websites pertaining to podiatry. If you have any questions, feel free to Contact Us through the website or give us a call!

    Common Ailments

    Helpful Information & Links

    The path to board certification by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS) begins after graduating from an approved podiatric surgical residency program after which our doctors pass a rigorous written examination to become board qualified. Next, doctors spent up to 6 years of their initial practice time collecting various patient cases which demonstrate to the ABPS their decision-making, competency, and skills as a foot and ankle surgeon. After submission of these cases, detailed review, and acceptance to the ABPS, doctors sit for the ABPS oral examination held in Chicago, IL.

    • Dr. Paradoa has satisfied requirements by the ABPS to become board certified in Foot, Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery.

    Our patients can feel confident that they are being treated by a foot and ankle surgeon who has dedicated years of her education, training, and experience to achieving board certification status by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.
    The American Board of Podiatric Surgery website has a wealth of information about podiatry and the requirements that must be met.

    A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) is to the foot and ankle what a dentist is to the mouth, or an ophthalmologist to the eye — a doctor specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders resulting from injury or disease. A DPM makes independent judgments, prescribes medications and performs surgery. The human foot has a complex interrelation with the rest of the body which means that it may be the first area to show signs of serious conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Since the podiatric physician is often the first to detect symptoms of these disorders, he or she becomes a vital and sometimes lifesaving link in the health care team.

    The American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons is a professional society of thousands of foot and ankle surgeons. Their website contains a plethora of information about advances in podiatry and connects its members to share that knowledge.

    FootHealthFacts.org is the official consumer website of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. This is a wonderful resource of information! From what foot injuries Olympians have suffered from during the 2012 London Olympics to a growing trend in lawn mower accidents, you will find interesting, informative and compelling articles in the world of Podiatry.

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    Even though bunions are a common foot deformity, there are misconceptions about them. Many people may unnecessarily suffer the pain of bunions for years before seeking treatment.

     

    What is a Bunion?Bunion

    A bunion (also referred to as hallux valgus or hallux abducto valgus) is often described as a bump on the side of the big toe. But a bunion is more than that. The visible bump actually reflects changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. The big toe leans toward the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead. This throws the bones out of alignment – producing the bunion’s “bump.”

    Bunions are a progressive disorder. They begin with a leaning of the big toe, gradually changing the angle of the bones over the years and slowly producing the characteristic bump, which becomes increasingly prominent. Symptoms usually appear at later stages, although some people never have symptoms.

    Causes
    Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion.

    Although wearing shoes that crowd the toes won’t actually cause bunions, it sometimes makes the deformity get progressively worse. Symptoms may therefore appear sooner.

    Symptoms
    Symptoms, which occur at the site of the bunion, may include:

    • Pain or soreness
    • Inflammation and redness
    • A burning sensation
    • Possible numbness

    Symptoms occur most often when wearing shoes that crowd the toes, such as shoes with a tight toe box or high heels. This may explain why women are more likely to have symptoms than men. In addition, spending long periods of time on your feet can aggravate the symptoms of bunions.

    Bunion2

    Diagnosis
    Bunions are readily apparent – the prominence is visible at the base of the big toe or side of the foot. However, to fully evaluate the condition, the foot and ankle surgeon may take x-rays to determine the degree of the deformity and assess the changes that have occurred.

    Because bunions are progressive, they don’t go away, and will usually get worse over time. But not all cases are alike – some bunions progress more rapidly than others. Once your surgeon has evaluated your bunion, a treatment plan can be developed that is suited to your needs.

    Non-Surgical Treatment
    Sometimes observation of the bunion is all that’s needed. To reduce the chance of damage to the joint, periodic evaluation and x-rays by your surgeon are advised.

    In many other cases, however, some type of treatment is needed. Early treatments are aimed at easing the pain of bunions, but they won’t reverse the deformity itself. These include:

    • Changes in shoewear. Wearing the right kind of shoes is very important. Choose shoes that have a wide toe box and forgo those with pointed toes or high heels which may aggravate the condition.
    • Padding. Pads placed over the area of the bunion can help minimize pain. These can be obtained from your surgeon or purchased at a drug store.
    • Activity modifications. Avoid activity that causes bunion pain, including standing for long periods of time.
    • Medications. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may be recommended to reduce pain and inflammation.
    • Icing. Applying an ice pack several times a day helps reduce inflammation and pain.
    • Injection therapy. Although rarely used in bunion treatment, injections of corticosteroids may be useful in treating the inflamed bursa (fluid-filled sac located around a joint) sometimes seen with bunions.
    • Orthotic devices. In some cases, custom orthotic devices may be provided by the foot and ankle surgeon.

    When Is Surgery Needed?
    If non-surgical treatments fail to relieve bunion pain and when the pain of a bunion interferes with daily activities, it’s time to discuss surgical options with a foot and ankle surgeon. Together you can decide if surgery is best for you.

    A variety of surgical procedures is available to treat bunions. The procedures are designed to remove the “bump” of bone, correct the changes in the bony structure of the foot, and correct soft tissue changes that may also have occurred. The goal of surgery is the reduction of pain.

    In selecting the procedure or combination of procedures for your particular case, the foot and ankle surgeon will take into consideration the extent of your deformity based on the x-ray findings, your age, your activity level, and other factors. The length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure or procedures performed.

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    Vero Beach Location

    Monday:

    9:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Tuesday:

    9:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Wednesday:

    9:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Thursday:

    9:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Friday:

    9:00 AM-12:00 PM

    Saturday:

    Closed

    Sunday:

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    Sebastian Location

    Monday:

    9:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Tuesday:

    9:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Wednesday:

    9:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Thursday:

    9:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Friday:

    9:00 AM-12:00 PM

    Saturday:

    Closed

    Sunday:

    Closed