DoctorVikki.com - Footnotes

HELLO TO ALL!

Dr. Vikki Foley

PRE-Holiday Greetings ! The world of podiatry continues to offer daily challenges, but what would life be without them ? I suppose it’s OK to toot my own horn, it IS my newsletter. I have been elected to the Executive Committee at Los Alamitos Surgery Center. Earlier this year Wright Medical sent me to Scottsdale to learn new surgical techniques. The advances are amazing and almost all geared to quicker recovery and less down time for patients. I must admit, this past year has been a blur, professionally and personally. In addition to a busy practice, it seemed like relatives or friends were visiting Southern California every other week, which means Dr. V plays tour guide/hostess. Tom and I recently went to the U 2 concert at the Rose Bowl with 95,000 of our closest friends. At the risk of sounding like a teenager, the performance was AWESOME. It was great to see Rose Bowl filled. I’ve been there many times to watch the struggling Bruin football and the stadium is nowhere close to filled. That doesn’t stop this UCLA Alum from cheering like crazy. Hey, there’s always basketball season. Enjoy our latest newsletter, especially the very special recipe submitted by my mom, it’s called BEER BUTT CHICKEN. (don’t ask) Please forward any comments about this newsletter, we love to hear from you.

Have a wonderfully healthy and happy holiday season!

Sincerely,

Dr. Vikki

Dr. Vikki, Tom and friends at U2 Concert October 25!

NEW DIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGY FOR DR. VIKKI !

We are extremely excited about a cutting edge piece of medical equipment we’ve added dealing with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). The amazing piece of medical technology is called (PADnet). But to full appreciate the importance of the PADnet we first want to explain why the detection of PAD is so important.

PAD, also known as peripheral arterial disease, is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs. When you develop peripheral arterial disease (PAD), your extremities — usually your legs — don't receive enough blood flow to keep up with Statistics show 8-12 million Americans have PAD. Without proper treatment 30% are likely to die in five years of PAD-related heart attack or stroke.

This wonderful new medical technology, PADnet is the most effective diagnostic device that can be used by medical staff in primary and podiatric care settings to test for PAD The PADnet allows doctors to diagnose Vascular Disease earlier with a non-invasive 25 minute in-office procedure. The tests are forwarded to vascular specialists via secure Web links.

In just the first month patient feedback has been tremendous. Patients like that the test is performed in the office. So far I’ve caught early claudication changes in patients that have good pulses in their feet. Now they can be treated with medication and exercise so that they will continue to have good circulation.

The preventative aspect of using the PADnet is one of main reasons I felt it was so important to have at the office.

Groups at risk for PAD

All patients 70 years or older

Patients 50 years or older with a history of diabetes or cigarette smoking
Pain in the legs brought on by walking and relieved with rest
Pain in the legs at rest due to poor
circulation
Poorly healing wound on lower extremity
Gangrene
Injury to lower limb or foot involving vessels

If you have any questions about PAD or the PADnet, please contact the office.

Children Shoe Shopping Tips

It’s a battle repeated thousands of times weekly across the country. Parents buying shoes for their children. “What is fashionable, is not always functional,” says Dr. Foley. While parents want to keep their young ones happy and content, it's important for them to remember their most important task; keeping their children safe and protected. That's why the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) wants all parents to understand the importance of buying properly fitted, supportive shoes that offer protection and comfort. “We all want our children to look good and I often propose a compromise,” says Dr. Foley. “There are a lot of well made shoes which still look in fashion.” Unfortunately some of the most trendy shoe styles do not provide proper support for the feet. Certain shoes, such as platforms and sandals, can cause serious problems such as ankle sprains, ingrown toenails, bunions, blisters, calluses, and painful tendinitis. Parents should know that the condition and fit of the shoe is more important than any price tag or brand name.

Here are some tips to help make sure students are in the best pair of school shoes...

Check out the shoe itself. Look for stiff material on either side of the heel, adequate cushioning and a built-in
arch. The shoe should bend at the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the shoe.
Always have your child's feet measured every time you purchase new shoes, as children's feet change sizes
rapidly.
Shoes should not slip off the heels.
High-tops or boots generally help prevent ankle sprains
Limit the time children wear platform or heeled shoes. Alternate them with good quality sneakers or flat shoes
during the day.
Don't buy shoes that need a "break in" period. Good shoes should feel comfortable right away.
For athletic activities, choose a shoe that is designed for the sport your child will be playing.
Be aware that children might not complain about their foot discomfort. Proper foot care is important to the
overall health of children. Go to a podiatrist at the first sign of foot problems.

“Foot problems can lead to more serious health problems, so take a little more time when shoe shopping for your children.,” Dr. Foley said.

Ask Dr. V

If you have a question regarding a foot, toe or ankle injury, please e-mail me at drfoley@doctorvikki.com. I can always direct you to general information, but to be specific, I do require you to make an appointment and come in for a full examination. A 20-minute examination will often identify a minor problem before it evolves into a more serious situation.

DoctorVikki.com

www.doctorvikki.com

FYI - My blog is updated regularly with informative commentary and articles about health and lifestyle. Log in any time !!!!

Please enjoy the newsletter. Forward comments when you have time.

This Teacher MOTIVATED By Student !

Linda Crane

After five years of tolerating her bothersome bunions and hammertoes on both feet, Linda Crane seriously contemplated getting the problem fixed.

“I heard all the horror stories about bunion surgery, “ Linda said. “My mom was really against it. She had a bad experience with bunion surgery 40 years ago.”

So what helped her make the decision to go ahead with the surgeries?

“Believe it or not, it was a five-year-old,“ the kindergarten teacher said. “One of my students asked was was coming out of my shoe. That was enough for me.”

Off to see Dr. Foley “Dr. Foley was terrific. She explained everything to me. I was totally confident through the entire process” In the summer of 2007, Linda fixed the bunion and hammertoe on the right foot. A little over one year later, Linda returned for the same procedure on the left foot. Dr. Foley explained the exact procedure performed on Linda.

“I did a newer procedure on her called the ‘tight rope.’ It prevents the return of a bunion. I use an absorbable screw that is attached to Fiberwire and it pulls the metatarsal bones together and reduces the bunion deformity. If someone has a hypermobile foot with a bunion deformity this procedure works the best. The pain and swelling is less with this than traditional procedures. If Linda knew then what she knew now.........

“It was actually quite easy. The surgeries went smoothly as did the recovery period, ” Linda explains. “Dr. Foley and her terrific staff were great.”

Linda now fits comfortably into all her shoes, is pain free and has no fear of wearing sandals.

“I’ve referred a number of friends to Dr. Foley who had been putting off bunion surgery,” Linda says.

Dr. Foley hears this same story time after time. “The advances in bunion surgery have greatly diminished the post surgery discomfort and cut a person’s recovery period dramatically, “ Dr. Foley added.

Heel Pain in Youth Athletes: A Warning Sign

Indoors and outdoors, youth athletes stay active year-round in competitive sports, and for many of them heel pain has become “just another part of the game.” The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons advises that when a child complains of heel pain, it should be diagnosed promptly because it may be a warning sign of a serious foot problem.

Heel pain occurs frequently in children ages 6 to 14 as their feet grow and the heel bone develops. As children become more active in sports they increase their risk for growth-plate injuries and subsequent heel pain. This is especially true at back-to-school time when surgeons see an increase in middle and high school athletes experiencing heel pain with football and soccer seasons simultaneously underway.

New bone forms in an area behind the heel, known as the growth plate, and cartilage is vulnerable to severe inflammation from strain or stress. With repeated stresses and strains from over activity, the heel becomes very painful.

Even though growth-plate trauma is the leading cause of heel pain in young people, the condition can be difficult to diagnose. Parents should be concerned if a child has pain in the back or bottom of the heel, limps, walks on the toes, or seems to have difficulty participating in normal recreational activities. To diagnose the condition we examine the child’s foot and leg and often take imaging tests to rule out other serious causes of heel pain, such as bursitis, tendonitis and fractures.

In most cases, mild or moderate heel pain can be treated successfully with shoe inserts to soften the impact on the heel, anti-inflammatory medications, stretching and physical therapy. In severe cases, the foot and ankle will be immobilized in a cast and, in some instances, surgery may be necessary.

Heel pain in young people often returns after treatment because the growth plate is still forming until the age of 14 or 15. However, the risk for recurrence can be lowered by choosing well-constructed shoes with good support and restricting use of spiked athletic shoes, especially on hard fields. It also is advised that young athletes avoid competition that exceeds their physical abilities.

Should your child be experiencing ay of the aforementioned symptoms, please consult Dr. Foley. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical to full recovery.

Favorite Recipe:
Beer Butt Chicken

      1 whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 pound)
          1 can of beer (I like Becks)

For the rub
          1 tablespoon each: brown sugar and paprika
          1/2 teaspoon each: salt, pepper and cayenne pepper
          Mix in a bowl (save 1 tablespoon of rub for beer can)

Separate skin from thighs and breasts with your fingers. Dry the chicken with paper towels then spread the rub on the skin, under the skin and inside the cavity. Using a fork, poke multiple holes all over the skin (this lets out the oils).

Beer Can
          1 tablespoon each:
              ketchup, white vinegar and brown sugar
          1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
          3 crumbled bay leaves
          1 tablespoon of saved rub
          2 tablespoons of the beer mix all the above

Very important TEST THE BEER (drink 1 cup)

Open extra holes in top of can, add the mixture (save enough mix for basting twice) add remaining beer. Spray beer can with cooking oil.

Pre heat BBQ to maintain 350 degrees.

Place chicken on can, plug neck with piece of fruit or potato Place chicken on BBQ in area of indirect hear (not over burner/briquettes). if you know how to add smoke do so.

Cook for about 40 to 60 minutes until nicely browned. Brush remaining bear mix over bird and cook 'til breast reads 160 to 165 on instant read thermometer (if you don't have one, get one) about 20 additional minutes.

Carefully remove bird from BBQ (support the can) and let rest for a few minutes. Remove beer can (it is hot and is full of very hot liquid be very careful).

ENJOY!

*Submitted by Dr. Vikki's mom, Pam. (She has a thing about beer & butts, so she combined these two passions)

Victoria M. Foley D.P.M.

3840 Woodruff Avenue Suite 211 Long Beach, CA 90808
3771 Katella Avenue, #110 Los Alamitos, California 90720