I watched the Oscars and the annual fashion show on the red carpet.  While all the women were glamorous from head to toe, by the end of the night most of them were either barefoot or carrying their shoes looking for a place to sit.

Although high heels and stilettos may make women’s legs more shapely and elegant, they are not an everyday shoe.  Most of these shoes offer little to no support for your feet and can cause pain because all your weight is forced to the balls of your feet, pinching the toes together. In some cases, the imbalance can lead to sprained ankles or even worse - ankle fractures from falling.

A lot of these shoes may make foot problems worse and speed up the formation of such problems as bunion’s, hammertoes, corns, callous, pinched nerves, and many more deformities.

So, the question I get is, “How can I wear heels and be comfortable?”  First thing is find out what is causing the discomfort.  If all the weight of your body is forced onto your forefeet, you need to wear a lower heeled shoe of about 1 ½ inches in height.  A completely closed-in shoe will give more support than a sling back, peep-toe shoe, or sandal.  Padding and wider shoes will often help, but wider shoes may slip off the back of your heels.  A custom device called an Orthotic can be made to fit into heels that will keep the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones in a proper position and prevent the imbalance and discomfort.

Stretching your toes both toward the leg and down helps to strengthen your feet. Stretching the calves and the arch will also help.  Your Podiatrist can show you Exercises specific for you to ensure correct form and position.  Your foot doctor will go over the pros and cons of different styles of shoes to determine what is best for you.  Be sure to bring a pair of high heeled shoes that you frequently wear to your appointment to be evaluated for wear patterns and unequal weight distribution.

I will not tell you to give up high heels.  I will simply help you achieve the comfort you desire so you may wear high heels on occasion.

For more information on high heels and your feet, feel free to contact Dr. Bowman at Houston Foot Specialists by either calling 713-467-8886 or at our website www.houstonfootspecialists.com

Having foot or ankle surgery is not as bad as some make it out to be if you are prepared.   In this blog, you will learn some tips from foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Bowman and Houston Foot Specialists.

First, and most important is to ask your podiatrist before the procedure any questions you may have.  If your podiatrist has written orders for lab work, X-rays, or MRI, have them done in advance so your foot and ankle surgeon is prepared -  and, yes, surgeons have to prepare just like the patient.

Tips for Before Surgery:

Have a cooler set up by the bed or couch with ice packs and food and drinks so you don’t have to get up and down.

Have a waterproof cast cover to keep your foot dry when you bathe.  Trash bags with tape do not work, and if your bandage gets wet your chance of infection increases.

If you are on blood thinners, aspirin, or ibuprofen, stop taking it at least 5 days prior to surgery unless your doctor specifically authorizes its use.

If your surgery requires crutches, get them in advance to practice using them.  Your podiatrist or staff can show you how to get used to them.

If given a post-op shoe or a walking boot, make sure you bring it with you to surgery.

Have all prescriptions filled before the surgery.

Remember, do not have anything to eat or drink after midnight the day before the surgery.

Tips the Day of Surgery:

It is normal to be nervous the day of surgery.  The surgery center or hospital will give you something to help with this.

Wear loose fitting clothing.

If advised, take any medications you normally take with just a sip of water.

Do not wear any jewelry, makeup, nail polish, body piercings, contacts leases, or dental appliances.

If you have any metal in your body, make sure you tell the pre-op nurse.

Leave all valuables at home.

Bring photo ID (such as your driver’s license) and health insurance card with you.

Bring your post-op shoe or walking boot if given one.  Some doctors have them at the surgery center or hospital for you.

Have a friend or family member with you to drive you home.

Most foot and ankle surgeons will have written post-operative instructions with do’s and don’ts.  Make sure to read these before your surgery and have them handy after.  If you follow the instructions carefully, you will have much less post-operative pain, swelling, and chance of complications.  Every patient is different, so your instructions may be tailor-made for you.

Your recovery will go more smoothly if you are prepared before surgery. If you have any questions, it is important to ask before surgery.   Dr. Bowman is available to answer any questions you may have.

Chronic ankle sprains, also known as ankle instability, are usually due to repetitive accidents or injuries to the ankle joint.   This differs from an acute ankle sprain when only one injury occurs.  I often get asked by my patients, “Why does my ankle give way simply from walking?”  I answer by asking, “How many times have you sprained your ankle and how often does it give out?”  The answers vary, but most often I hear a patient has had a minimum of 3 prior ankle injuries.  Some patients tell me the ankle gives way once a week.

The ankle joint is a complex joint made up of Tibia, Fibula, and Talus bones and numerous ligaments.  Chronic ankle sprains or instability occur when one or more of the ligaments are either ruptured or stretched to the point that the ankle continually subluxes or “turns under”.
When you meet with your foot and ankle specialists, he or she will perform a simple non-painful test called an anterior drawer sign.  If the test is positive, you have damaged the ligament to the point where it no longer can do its job.  An X-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, or MRI may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.  

The next question we get usually get is, “When can I return to my activities?”  This depends on the severity of the injury to the ligament.  Treatment is RICE : Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.  Your podiatrist may strap the joint with tape in a certain position or place you in a brace or walking boot for a period of time.

If the ligament is completely ruptured, it will often need surgical repair..  The good news is if surgery is needed, the ankle will be difficult to injure again. After they heal, most patients will often say, “My ankle feels so much stronger compared to the uninjured ankle.”  

The most important information is how to prevent an ankle injury.  If an injury is due to trauma, like a fall at work or car accident, then there isn’t much you can do to prevent it.  If you are participating in sports or strenuous exercise, then your podiatrist can show you simple strapping techniques or fit you with a brace to wear in your athletic shoe that will help prevent an injury.

If you do injure your ankle, you should always have it checked by a podiatrist the same day it happens if at all possible.  Many times fractures can occur and need immediate treatment.   Most podiatrists have digital X-rays in their office and can get the results in 30 seconds.  Treat any injury to the ankle as a serious issue to help prevent it from becoming a chronic problem.

If you suspect you have chronic instability of the ankle, contact Dr. Bowman’s office at www.houstonfootspecialists.com or call 713-467-8886.