Patient Testimonial: Life-Changing First Metatarsal Phalangeal Joint Fusion | Family Foot & Leg Center

Embark on a journey of transformation as you witness the life-changing impact of a first metatarsal phalangeal joint fusion in this compelling patient testimonial from Family Foot & Leg Center, under the guidance of Dr. Kevin Lam.

Concerns often arise regarding decreased activity post-fusion, but this testimonial defies common misconceptions. Through heartfelt accounts and real-life experiences, the patient shares how the fusion procedure has liberated them from debilitating joint pain, enabling a return to an active and fulfilling lifestyle.

While implants may offer alternative solutions, this testimonial reaffirms the fusion as the gold standard for alleviating first metatarsal phalangeal joint pain. Dr. Kevin Lam's expertise shines as he expertly navigates the complexities of patient and procedure selection, ensuring optimal outcomes and unparalleled patient satisfaction.

Experience the artistry of medical care at Family Foot & Leg Center, where every patient receives personalized attention and comprehensive treatment. Discover the transformative power of this procedure and embark on a journey towards renewed mobility, comfort, and quality of life.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights into the remarkable results achieved through skilled hands and compassionate care. Trust Dr. Kevin Lam and the dedicated team at Family Foot & Leg Center to guide you towards a brighter, pain-free future.

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Video transcription:

Hi.

"Hello."

How's everything feeling?

"Better, better, better. I am more than better."

Awesome. That looks great.

"You're a miracle worker.  I can't even tell you. I can hug you everyday. I would." [laughs]

Wow, thank you.

"I walk almost 3 miles a day."

Awesome. 

"Yeah, everyday. And I don't think I've been happier  in years. You gave me my life back.

You really did, yeah."

Wow. Congratulations, okay.

"Oh, I got my hug. I got my hug." [laughs]

And we make sure I cover everything for you. Now, what was your hesitation about -- a lot of times people get  hesitant about the fusion procedure.

"I really -- you know, just the thought that I would be in a boot all those weeks and I had no idea, you know, what it would be like. So I had cancelled a few times because I was scared and finally it got so bad where I said, well, now you got to do it. And I'm gonna trust you. And I did, and boy, am I happy I did."

Well you have no -- it looks like before surgery you had a lot of arthritis in this toe joint. It looks like a bunion to you but that is very arthritic.

"Yeah."

So now look at how straight it is?

"I know. Now you have to fix the other one because they don't match."

Now we'll make it match, right?

[patient laughs]

Well, whenever you're ready we'll make that one. Let's see how this one looks, okay?

"Yeah. Yeah, they just don't match, see?"

Well, this was really bad so if you look at the foot right here how this one looks right here. I mean, this was worse and then -- and this is what it looks right now this is a fusion, we fused it so she's walking off this toe right now, no problems. And she'd doing really well. We also actually made 2 surgeries right here too, 2 cuts right here, the Y osteotomy we cut the bone right here and we shift it so it looks really, really good so I would say whenever you're ready to talk about surgery on this foot, you let me know, otherwise, you enjoy your new feet, okay?

"Oh, I tell you, every morning I get up and I'm like, I feel like I'm 30 years younger."

Oh great.

"I can't even tell you, yeah. I can't even tell you."

Well you keep it up, this looks really good and we can make that one match whenever you're ready now

it's at your time now, okay, dear?

"Yeah, you bet. Thank you."

At the Family Foot & Leg Center (FFLC), we take pride in our expansive network of cutting-edge clinics spread strategically throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties, ensuring that no matter where you are in Florida, expert foot and ankle care is within reach. Our mission is to help you overcome your foot and ankle challenges swiftly and effectively, so you can return to your active lifestyle as quickly as possible. With our advanced treatment options and a team of dedicated specialists, FFLC is committed to providing you with the best care possible, conveniently located right in your neighborhood.

Revolutionizing Foot Care: The Power of Standing CT Scan at Family Foot & Leg Center

In the realm of foot care, precision is paramount. Every step, every movement, holds valuable information that can guide diagnosis and treatment. Yet, traditional imaging methods often fall short, unable to capture the full scope of foot pathologies in real-life conditions. That's where Standing CT Scan technology steps in, offering a revolutionary approach to foot diagnostics and treatment planning.

At Family Foot & Leg Center, we're proud to lead the charge in embracing this cutting-edge technology. Standing CT Scan enables us to see pathologies while patients are standing, providing a comprehensive view of foot structure and function. Unlike traditional plain films, which offer limited insights and may vary between sitting and standing positions, Standing CT Scan delivers consistent, accurate results, mirroring the weight-bearing conditions of daily life.

Why Standing CT Scan?

The significance of Standing CT Scan lies in its ability to capture foot pathologies in their natural state – under the pressure of weight-bearing. This dynamic imaging approach allows us to assess foot conditions as they present themselves during movement, providing invaluable insights into gait abnormalities, joint alignment issues, and other factors contributing to foot pain and discomfort.

The Benefits for Medial Sesamoiditis

One area where Standing CT Scan truly shines is in medial sesamoiditis. The benefits of Standing CT Scan for medial sesamoiditis are truly transformative. This innovative imaging technology allows us to precisely visualize the sesamoid bones and surrounding structures while the patient is standing, offering unparalleled insights into the extent and nature of the condition. By accurately pinpointing the location and severity of sesamoiditis, our team of skilled podiatrists can tailor treatment plans to address the root cause of the problem effectively. Whether it involves conservative measures such as orthotics and physical therapy or more advanced interventions like medial sesamoidectomy, Standing CT Scan empowers us to provide patients with personalized care that yields optimal outcomes. With this groundbreaking technology at our disposal, we can alleviate pain, restore function, and improve the overall quality of life for individuals suffering from medial sesamoiditis.

Leading the Way in Foot Care

Family Foot & Leg Center stands at the forefront of innovation in foot care. As the only practice in Southwest Florida equipped with Standing CT Scan technology, we're committed to providing our patients with the highest standard of care. Our team of experienced podiatrists combines advanced technology with personalized treatment plans, ensuring that each patient receives tailored solutions that address their unique needs.

Experience Better Technology, Better Care

In a field where precision is everything, Standing CT Scan sets a new standard for foot diagnostics and treatment. Experience the difference at Family Foot & Leg Center – where better technology means better care. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step towards healthier, happier feet.

With multiple centers conveniently located throughout Lee, Collier, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties in Florida, exceptional foot care is just a phone call away. Contact us at (239) 430-3668 (FOOT) option 2 and see the difference that Standing CT Scan can make in your foot health journey.

Don't let foot pain hold you back. Discover the power of Standing CT Scan at Family Foot & Leg Center and step into a future of better foot care today.

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Hey, this is Dr. Lam here, just came out of surgery, taken out the medial sesamoid -- medial sesamoiditis on a patient that's a diabetic and she keeps on having this pre-ulcerative lesion down there at the medial sesamoid.

So having a stand up CT scanner has been a great addition to our practice. We're able to see pathology at weight bearing, we are able to cut up the foot in different sections for us to see the pathology for the detail.

This was impossible prior to having this CT scanner. So great diagnostic tools with the suspicion for a problem we could figure out a lot of different pathologies that others may have missed.

So at the Family Foot & Leg Center "we keep you walking" -- only the best for our patients.

Well this is a case of an enlarged medial sesamoid on a patient. Medial sesamoid being right here. It's hard to see on the plain film, you can look at the lateral view right here you can't really see much of that either.

Someone else did the bunionectomy many years ago and there you go,

I'm not here to make it beautiful but she has a lot of pain sub medial sesamoid. We're gonna go all the way over here, we're gonna see on the CT scan why she's feeling the pain right here.

See that sesamoid, it's really enlarged and we did ultrasound scans about three millimeters from the surface of the skin so having the ability to be able to go through a CT scanner like this via weight bearing it is very important for patient care and we have this available at Family Foot & Leg Center for our patients, we're able to take care of this patient immediately in the office via excision of that medial sesamoid.

This medial sesamoid measured about 2 cm,as you may or may not know these bones are not supposed to be that big, they're supposed to be probably about one centimeter at most. This is the bone we're talking about, medial sesamoid right here, there are other drawings in here but this is the medial sesamoid.

As you can see, it's supposed to be nice, round, hers is very degenerated and again this is how it's supposed to look. That is very normal, we all have this -- there's enough fat, supposed to be enough fat right here to cushion this but when it's enlarged and arthritic -- and arthritic because it's probably a repeat trauma or just arthritic from years of arthritis in the first metatarsal phalangeal joint, the big toe joint, if this gets enlarged when this gets enlarged right here, the sesamoid becomes almost like a rock pushing -- trying to push through the bottom of the skin and that's happening in our diabetic patients.

So again having a CT scan and having the ability to see the CT cutting the foot into many pieces while you're standing, it's great for us diagnostically in order to help treat patients effectively.

At the Family Foot & Leg Center, only the best.

We take pride in our expansive network of cutting-edge clinics spread strategically throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties, ensuring that no matter where you are in Florida, expert foot and ankle care is within reach. Our mission is to help you overcome your foot and ankle challenges swiftly and effectively, so you can return to your active lifestyle as quickly as possible. With our advanced treatment options and a team of dedicated specialists, FFLC is committed to providing you with the best care possible, conveniently located right in your neighborhood.

Stump neuroma cured!

 

A 69 year-old female patient, she had a history of neuroma surgery here, you can see the scar and she comes in with significant pain? 

"Yes."

How much pain did you have before? 

"I couldn't walk. I couldn't walk a half a block without it totally hurting and one to ten, it was a nine.

And then you had surgery. After surgery, how much pain did you have?

After three months, the neuroma grew back. And the pain was the same as it was  before, within four or five months.

Okay so that is the complication of a neuroma surgery, it happens, we don't know why, but it happens. So that's why I tend not to do that. But this is a good example of a patient coming in with after neuroma surgery and having more pain.

So now we went to a radiofrequency ablation and with the radiofrequency ablation pretty much I stuck a probe in through here and went in and burned the nerve for you so I did not have to remake the incision. Basically, I numbed you up and burned it. So we did two treatments one month apart.

"Yes."

So after the first treatment, how much improvement have you had?

"At least 50% and the pain from the foot being squeezed was totally gone"

So this pain being squeezed is gone as you are saying? 

"It's totally gone, yes." 

Okay because sometimes when you do this you aggravate that nerve. So, with that, pain is gone.  

"That pain was totally gone. Still hurt a little bit on the bottom. Okay and then we did surgery two."

The RFA number two? 

"Right."

Radiofrequency number two we did about a month later. How much pain did that take away?

"Right now after four weeks almost there's no pain. I mean it's just I wear my shoes, the one that I am supposed to wear and when I go out at night or go out for dinner I do change and wear normal shoes."

Okay, well overall would you rate the radiofrequency as very good, very happy versus the surgery?

"Excellent versus surgery."

Good, well you still have some swelling to go believe it or not so you'll have some more healing to do and I think you'll do a lot better. 

"Thank you."

You know you've done awesome, any words of wisdom for people thinking about radiofrequency or surgery etcetera?

"I would do the radio frequency again before the surgery. I went to Boston to do the surgery at no -- did I go to Boston -- no, I went to ...I forgot where I went"[laughs] I went up north to get it done because they were supposed to be really good and the surgery was terrible."

Well, it's unpredictable, I always tell my patients, no matter who does the surgery, it's not dependable. It's not predictable.

"No, it wasn't." 

Same surgeon, same hands, same technique we can't predict. 

"Right, no."

So radiofrequency we really have no side effects to it and patients do well.

"No side effects -- I drove myself home after the surgery and just you know, started walking again without pain."

Well excellent. Well, thank you for the testimonial and a lot of people ask what to expect, so you're a perfect example, you're two months out now, you're 2 radiofrequencies in and the scar's not ours, the scars were you came in with, but look at that, she's moving good, she's recovering well and she's back to life again.

"Yes, and do the physical therapy, it helps."

Physical therapy is very important afterwards to break up the scar tissue especially if you have previous surgery.

So, awesome, well thanks for your information, I really appreciate it.

"Thank you." 

You're welcome.

🦶 Seeking Expert Foot & Ankle Care? Look No Further!

Are foot or ankle injuries keeping you from living your best life?  Meet Sarasota's renowned Podiatrist & Foot/Ankle Surgeon, Dr. Isin Mustafa! With a passion for healing, Dr. Mustafa specializes in treating a wide range of podiatric issues to help you regain your mobility and comfort.

Comprehensive Medical and Surgical Excellence For Your Feet, Ankles, and Lower Legs

🏥 Foot & Ankle Injuries

🏃 Sports-Related Problems

🩹 Surgical Solutions

💼 Workplace Injuries

 

📍 Location: 3110 Fruitville Commons, Sarasota, FL

📞 Call to Schedule: 239-430-3668 (Option 2)

🌐 24/7 Online Scheduling: naplespodiatrist.com/offices

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Regain your footing today! Step into a life of comfort and movement with Dr. Isin Mustafa's exceptional care. Book your appointment now! 🩺🦶

If you reside in Sarasota, FL, and are in need of exceptional foot and ankle care, the Family Foot and Leg Center is the ideal choice for you. Featuring the expertise of Dr. Isin Mustafa, this center is committed to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care. From their experienced and qualified staff to their state-of-the-art technologies, the Family Foot and Leg Center is dedicated to improving your foot and ankle health. Don’t let foot and ankle discomfort hold you back—visit the Family Foot and Leg Center today and take the first step toward healthier, pain-free feet and ankles.

Common Pickleball Injuries That Require a Podiatrist's Attention

Pickleball has gained immense popularity in recent years as a fun and accessible sport for people of all ages. However, like any physical activity, pickleball carries the risk of injury. While some injuries may be minor and self-treatable, others may require professional medical intervention. In this blog post, we will explore some common pickleball injuries that may necessitate a visit to a podiatrist.

 

1. Ankle Sprains:

Ankle sprains are among the most prevalent injuries in pickleball. The quick lateral movements and changes in direction can put significant stress on the ankle joint, leading to sprains. Podiatrists are well-equipped to diagnose and treat ankle sprains, providing options such as immobilization, physical therapy, and specialized footwear recommendations.

2. Plantar Fasciitis:

Plantar fasciitis is a condition characterized by inflammation and pain in the plantar fascia—a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. The repetitive jumping and pivoting motions in pickleball can strain the plantar fascia, causing micro-tears and inflammation. Podiatrists can offer various treatment modalities, including orthotics, stretching exercises, night splints, and recommendations for appropriate footwear.

3. Achilles Tendinitis:

Achilles tendinitis is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. The explosive movements and sudden stops involved in pickleball can put excessive strain on this tendon, leading to pain and swelling. Podiatrists can provide treatment options such as physical therapy, stretching exercises, orthotic devices, and recommendations for modifying gameplay techniques to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.

4. Stress Fractures:

Pickleball involves repetitive jumping and rapid changes in direction, which can contribute to the development of stress fractures in the feet. Stress fractures are small cracks in the bone caused by overuse and excessive repetitive impact. A podiatrist can diagnose stress fractures through imaging techniques and may recommend rest, immobilization, and gradual return to activity protocols to allow for proper healing.

5. Blisters and Calluses:

Pickleball players often experience blisters and calluses due to the repetitive rubbing and friction caused by quick lateral movements and abrupt stops. While blisters and calluses can be managed at home, a podiatrist can provide professional care, including blister drainage, callus removal, and recommendations for preventive measures and footwear modifications to reduce recurrence.

While pickleball is generally a low-impact sport, injuries can still occur. It is essential to listen to your body and seek medical attention if you experience persistent pain, swelling, or any other concerning symptoms. Podiatrists specialize in foot and ankle injuries, and they can provide a tailored treatment plan to help you recover and get back to enjoying the game. Remember to prioritize proper warm-up, wear appropriate footwear, and practice good technique to reduce the risk of injuries while playing pickleball.

Congratulations Dr. Lam & Dr. Chapman - Top Doctors of 2024!

 Congratulations to Dr. Lam & Dr. Chapman for earning the title of Naples Illustrated Top Doctors of 2024! Here's to your well-deserved recognition and the positive impact you make on countless lives. 

#TopDoctors #NaplesIllustratedTopDoctors2024 #CollierCounty #Naples #NaplesIllustrated

Revolutionizing Nail Fungus Treatment: The Power of 1064nm Laser

Nail fungus, medically known as onychomycosis, is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It's not just a cosmetic concern; it can cause discomfort, embarrassment, and even lead to complications if left untreated. Fortunately, advancements in medical technology have brought forth innovative treatments, one of the most promising being the use of lasers. Among them, the 1064nm laser stands out as a powerful tool in combating this stubborn ailment.

Understanding Nail Fungus:

Before delving into laser treatment, it's crucial to understand the nature of nail fungus. Fungal infections of the nails typically occur when microscopic fungi gain entry through a small trauma in the nail, thriving in warm, moist environments such as sweaty shoes or damp socks. This leads to the nails becoming discolored, brittle, and thickened, often accompanied by a foul odor.

Traditional Treatments vs. Laser Therapy:

Historically, treating nail fungus has been challenging. Traditional methods such as topical creams, oral medications, and nail removal surgery have limitations in effectiveness, long treatment durations, and potential side effects. Laser therapy, however, has emerged as a revolutionary alternative.

The Power of 1064nm Laser:

At the forefront of laser treatment for nail fungus is the 1064nm wavelength laser. This specific wavelength, often generated by Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) lasers, penetrates deep into the nail bed without causing harm to surrounding tissue. Here's how it works:

1. Precision Targeting: The 1064nm laser precisely targets the fungal infection without affecting healthy tissue, ensuring a highly focused treatment approach.

2. Thermal Energy: Upon reaching the fungal cells, the laser emits thermal energy, effectively destroying the fungus by disrupting its cellular structure. This process is known as photothermolysis.

3. Stimulated Healing: In addition to eliminating the fungus, the laser stimulates the body's natural healing response, encouraging the growth of healthy nail tissue.

 

Advantages of 1064nm Laser Treatment:

The use of 1064nm laser therapy for nail fungus offers several advantages:

1. Non-Invasive: Unlike surgical procedures, laser treatment is non-invasive, requiring no incisions or anesthesia.

2. Painless: Patients typically experience minimal discomfort during the procedure, with no downtime afterward.

3. Quick Procedure: A single treatment session usually takes around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the severity of the infection and the number of nails affected.

4. High Success Rates: Clinical studies have shown promising results, with significant improvements in nail appearance and fungal clearance rates.

5. Safety Profile: The 1064nm laser has a proven safety profile, with minimal risk of side effects or complications when performed by a qualified medical professional.

In the realm of nail fungus treatment, the 1064nm laser represents a game-changer. Its ability to precisely target and eliminate fungal infections while sparing healthy tissue makes it a highly effective and safe option for patients seeking relief from this persistent condition. As technology continues to advance, laser therapy is poised to revolutionize the way we approach nail fungus treatment, offering hope for healthier, clearer nails without the drawbacks of traditional methods.

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The Family Foot & Leg Center (FFLC) prides itself on its network of cutting-edge clinics strategically positioned throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties, ensuring accessible expert foot and ankle care across Florida. Our goal is to swiftly and effectively address your foot and ankle challenges, enabling you to resume your active lifestyle promptly. Equipped with advanced treatment modalities and staffed by a team of devoted specialists, FFLC is dedicated to delivering top-notch care conveniently situated in your local community.