Navigating New York requires constantly using your feet – walking or taking public transit – which can strain your ankles.
A podiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in diseases and injuries affecting feet and ankles. Podiatrists go through four years of school to gain knowledge of illnesses that impact lower legs and feet.
Bunions
Bunions are hard bumps on the outside of your big toe that form when bones shift out of position in your foot, often causing pain upon formation and leading to an unsightly deformity of your toe. A podiatrist near you in NYC can diagnose and treat this deformity to reduce or eliminate chronic foot discomfort.
Although bunions usually develop over time, some individuals experience symptoms earlier. Wearing shoes that crowd your toes – particularly ones with narrow toe boxes – is one of the main culprits; other possible triggers could include injuries to the foot or neuromuscular conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Bunions tend to affect more women than men and are especially prevalent if your family history includes them.
A podiatrist will examine your feet and make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and the appearance of your toe. They may suggest conservative treatments, including over-the-counter or custom orthotic devices and pads to alleviate pressure from a bunion; cortisone injections may also help reduce inflammation; however, they’re not always practical.
If your bunion persists in causing significant discomfort and interferes with daily activities, surgery may be required to address it. A skilled podiatric surgeon may employ various surgical procedures to remove the bunion bump, correct changes to bone structure and surrounding tissues, and relieve your pain.
Tailor’s bunion, or a bunion at the base of your little toe, is another common condition that can cause discomfort. These painful bumps form when metatarsal bones shift out of alignment, leading to sore shoe rub or corns/calluses starting on affected feet. Your NYC podiatrist can surgically remove this tailor’s bunion, realign metatarsals for symmetrical feet, and provide advice about preventing this condition in the future.
Ankle Injuries
The ankle joint connects the lower leg’s tibia and fibula with your foot’s talus bone. Ligaments connect all these bones while still allowing movement of your ankle joint; tendon connections to bones also aid this process. Unfortunately, injuries to your bones or ankle joints can happen frequently, requiring medical intervention to repair.
Physical therapy may be necessary in helping the victim heal, including exercises designed to strengthen and stretch ankle muscles and gait training to get you walking normally again. Your doctor may also prescribe pain relief drugs. In more severe cases, surgery may be required.
Dr. Rimawi specializes in treating bunions and other bone bumps in the feet and sports-related foot injuries in New York City, and she is recognized as one of the top podiatrists. Her top priority is compassionate care while explaining all treatment options available to them.
She is a board-certified podiatric surgeon specializing in foot and ankle care. She has vast experience performing surgical procedures like bunion removal and hammertoe correction. Additionally, she’s passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles among her patients of all ages.
Stephanie graduated from Brooklyn College with honors and received her undergraduate and doctoral degrees from New York College of Podiatric Medicine, respectively, before completing a three-year surgical residency at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, where she served as chief resident during her third year of training. When not practicing medicine or serving patients, she enjoys running and participating in local road races in her free time. Trilingual in speaking four languages, she firmly believes all patients must be treated with respect, honesty, and professionalism while remaining respectful towards oneself and one another. Published journals and national conferences attended; active American College Foot and Ankle Surgeons membership.
Achilles Tendon Injuries
An Achilles tendon rupture or tear is a severe injury that can occur while running, jumping, or lifting heavy objects. It typically causes pain in the back of your leg near your heel and stiffness or difficulty standing or walking, as well as making loud snapping noises at the moment of injury.
A podiatrist can help you recover from this type of injury by prescribing exercises, medications, and ice packs as necessary and suggesting heel lifts or shoe inserts to alleviate pressure off your foot and ankle. They may even recommend surgery as an option should non-invasive treatments fail.
Noninsertional Achilles Tendinitis (NAT) is one of the most frequently experienced forms of injury to your Achilles tendon. NAT occurs when its fibers become inflamed just above your heel. Your podiatrist will assess any damage by looking at both feet and ankles and pressing on any affected areas to set damage to the Achilles tendon; imaging tests such as MRI or ultrasound may also be administered as further diagnostic measures to ascertain the severity of injury to this vital ligament.
If your condition is mild, your doctor can treat it with rest and medication to decrease inflammation. They may also suggest using heel lifts or inserts in shoes to relieve strain on the Achilles tendon. You can prevent injury by gradually increasing activity levels while wearing supportive footwear.
Dr. Prevete is a highly respected podiatrist in New York City. As an attentive physician who prioritizes her patients’ goals and lifestyles when developing treatment plans, she takes pride in providing personalized service. Born and raised in New York City herself, she participated in multiple road races and marathons before graduating with her doctoral degree from Queens College. After being granted this accolade, she also lectured extensively to medical students and physicians on foot and ankle surgery procedures.
Flat Feet
Flat feet (sometimes known as fallen arches) refer to feet without an angle and may cause pain and other foot and ankle conditions if left untreated. You can determine if you have flat feet by looking at your footprint when standing up; standard feet have an upward curve from tarsal bones connected by ligaments and tendons in the middle. This arch helps distribute weight more evenly over both feet to avoid overuse of one side. Not everyone with flat feet requires treatment, but if pain or other symptoms arise, it is essential to consult a podiatrist as soon as possible.
A podiatrist will conduct a physical exam and review your medical history to ascertain the source of your discomfort. They may suggest undergoing either a CT or MRI scan to examine bone and joint structures using X-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (“slices”) of bones, muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues in your body – this allows them to determine better the source of any discomfort as well as any injuries or degenerative changes which might be responsible.
Sometimes, podiatrists may recommend orthotics (customized inserts to add to your shoes) and physical therapy to reduce pain and prevent future issues. They may also suggest altering activities to limit prolonged standing or walking and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. If arthritis or ruptured tendons are the source of the issue, surgical options such as fusing bones or cutting and transferring tendons could be required to create an arch in the foot and an arch structure for improved gait.
Most people with flat feet do not experience symptoms or minor pain. However, symptoms may emerge if their tendons become inflamed or swollen due to improper footwear or overusing their foot and ankles. If this is your experience as well, early intervention could reduce surgery requirements while improving quality of life; having flat feet can affect posture as well as cause knee, back, and hip discomfort. If this sounds familiar to you, if you are suffering from flat feet symptoms, seek medical advice as soon as possible, as this could save lives!
