Yesterday a woman was accused in Houston of killing a man in a bizarre murder. Investigators say she stabbed a man with her Stiletto Heeled shoes. Now being a podiatrist this caught my attention.

Investigators found the woman in the apartment of the victim in the Parklane Luxury Condos in what in Houston is called the museum district. Another tenant dialed 911 around 4am telling dispatchers someone was being assaulted.

When officers arrived, Ana Lilia Trujillo answered the door to the unit on the 18th floor of the high-rise. That’s where they found the 59 year old males body. According to Houston police the man was stabbed multiple times. The weapon according to investigators was a Stiletto Heeled shoe.

Investigators detained Trujillo and questioned her at the scene. The killer was initially cooperative, but she reportedly stopped talking to police who transported her downtown for further questioning. The victim lived in the condo, but Trujillo did not and was visiting. Their relationship is unknown.

The victims name has not been released. The motive remains unknown as the investigation continues. Trujillo, 44, is being charged with murder.

All this time I thought Stiletto Heeled shoes were bad for your feet causing many injuries and deformities but never would have guessed they could literally kill.

Dr. Jeff Bowman of Houston Foot Specialists can take care of all you foot and ankle problems due to high heeled shoes. Call his office at 713-467-8886 or online appointments are available at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved

No it isn't wrapping your feet with sushi paper, submerging your feet in stir fry or rolling your foot on Boudin balls! So what does your doctor mean when he says to use "RICE" therapy?

RICE is a common acronym for:

1. Rest
2. Ice
3. Compression
4. Elevation

"RICE" therapy is commonly used in the treatment of sprains, strains and other minor injuries. It is also used as a supplemental treatment after surgeries.

This concept is an attempt to reduce inflammation to injured areas. Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury. Think of it like how our nation responds to natural disasters like Super Storm Sandy that ripped through the Northeast recently. In response to the damage we sent thousands of relief workers to the damages areas. Similarly our bodies send thousands of inflammatory cells to help "clean up" the disaster. This response of the body sending blood cells to the area is known as inflammation and it in itself is very painful.

The purpose of "RICE" therapy is to conservatively reduce the painful inflammation.

Rest: this is important so as to not further any damage and increase inflammation.

Ice: cold temperature causes the blood vessels in the skin and damaged tissue to contract-reducing the amount of inflammatory fluid to the injury site.

Compression: by wrapping with an ACE bandage the fluid is squeezed from the area so as to not accumulate and swell.

Elevation: like a river flows downhill from a mountain, inflammatory blood and body fluid follow gravity. With an elevated limb, the inflammation has a harder time "climbing" uphill to cause swelling.

All of these modalities try to reduce inflammatory swelling that causes pain associated with injury or surgery.

So warm up some cinnamon flavored rice milk, enjoy some rice cakes, watch some Rice Owl football and get your "RICE" therapy on!

If you have suffered any type of injury to your foot or ankle, contact Dr. Bowman right away by calling (713) 467-8886 or check out our website for more information and online appointments at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

Dr. Jeffrey N. Bowman
1140 Business Center Dr. #510
Houston, TX.  77043

Scanning the headlines of major sports news this week you might find a common trend among some of the biggest names in professional sports. Last week, New York Yankee Captain Derek Jeter underwent foot surgery for a fractured left ankle. Olympic Silver medalist McKayla Moroney just had screws placed in her ankle. NFL stars Pierre Garcon, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ahmad Bradshaw, Bart Scott, Sean Lee and DeMarco Murray all have suffered foot injuries. One of the most famous professional athletes, Kobe "The Black Mamba" Bryant is out with a bum hoof. All of these athletes require their feet much like a formula 1 race car needs good working wheels and tires.

Podiatrists are very capable of dealing with these sports related injuries. Common sports injuries treatable by Podiatrists are Turf-toe, Lisfranc dislocations, Plantar Fasciitis, ankle sprains and fractures, Achilles tendon tears and more.

Preventative measures are also very helpful. Podiatrists can offer pain relieving and structure correcting shoe gear modifications, orthotic devices, specific strapping techniques, physical therapy and more.

So unless you are Lance Armstrong, and if you are an athlete, you could benefit from seeing a Podiatric Physician. As always, never self diagnose and always consult with your physician before starting any treatment. For more information please contact Dr. Jeffrey N. Bowman of Houston Foot Specialists at 713-467-8886 or online appointments are available on our website www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

Diagnostic ultrasound in the foot is a very common practice in podiatry-not to determine the gender of an unborn child, but to diagnose a myriad of Podiatric disorders. These disorders include but are not limited to plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, bursitis, Neuromas, soft tissue masses, and foreign bodies.

Ultrasound of 1-5 Metatarsal bones

Ultrasound can see all of these pathologies by calculating the "bouncing" sound waves through the tissue. Different tissues reflect the sound waves differently. X-rays have a traditional use in offices to visualize bones and some types of foreign bodies like nails, needles or I have even seen the spine of a fish in someone's foot on an X-ray. X-rays do not visualize soft tissue problems like those mentioned above. The main option to visualize tendons, ligaments or other soft tissues is an MRI. The problem being the cost to get an MRI is significantly higher than an ultrasound. An MRI is much more specific than an ultrasound, so in many cases it is still the standard of care.

Ultrasound can also be used when giving injections. This helps the doctor see the needle while injecting, in order to inject medicine into a very specific location.

Ultrasounds are quick, painless and do not emit radiation like X-rays.

Dr. Bowman uses ultrasound extensively in his office to diagnose many problems; this eliminates being sent elsewhere for the exam.  Contact Dr. Bowman for any foot or ankle pain by calling 713-467-8886 or online at www.houstonfootspecialists.com and don't ask your podiatrist if you’re having twins!

Simply put, a bunion is an enlargement on the side of the foot near the base of the big toe (hallux)—the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. A bunion forms when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place. The toe is forced to bend toward the others, causing a painful lump of bone on the foot. We at Houston Foot Specialists urge you to see your local podiatric surgeon for this painful deformity.

What causes bunions? Bunions form from disruption of the normal balance of forces that is exerted on the joints and tendons of the foot. This disruption can lead to instability in the joint. Bunions are caused by years of abnormal motion and pressure over the MTP joint. You can often compare this to the foundation of your house. If the structure is not correct or an imbalance occurs, the doors start to stick, walls crack and the windows may stick. The foot is the foundation of our body so if something is off, the foot will develop problems.

Wearing improperly fitted shoes is partly to blame for your bunions, but your shoes are not the underlying cause. Heredity definitely plays a role as well. You do not inherit the bunion, but you inherit the foot type that may lead to bunions. Other possible causes of bunions include foot injuries, neuromuscular disorders (cerebral palsy and rheumatoid arthritis), or congenital deformities. People who suffer from flat feet or low arches are likely to develop bunions. People in occupations such as teaching, nursing, and dancing or those standing on their feet most of the day are susceptible to bunions.  

Some of the signs and symptoms associated with bunions include:

• Pain on the inside of your foot at the big toe

• Shifting of the big toe toward the second toe with overlapping or underlapping

• Swelling

• Redness on the inside of your foot at the big toe joint

• Numbness or burning in the big toe

Diagnosis of a bunion is usually obvious, but sometimes there is more going on than just a bunion. Your podiatric physician will ask you questions about the symptoms you are having and will examine your foot. You may be asked to stand and walk barefoot to further assess your foot function. Your podiatrist may also take an X-ray. Bunions generally don’t require surgery unless there is an underlying deformity that can’t otherwise be corrected or the pain becomes too great despite non-surgical, conservative treatment.

Conservative treatments for bunions include the following:

• Wearing the Right Kind of Shoe - shoes should have a wide, flexible sole to support the foot and provide enough room in the toe box to accommodate the bunion.

• Medications - anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections can be prescribed by your podiatric physician to ease acute pain and inflammation.

• Orthotic Devices - in many cases, custom orthotic devices may be provided by your podiatric physician and may be enough to bring comfort.

• Surgical Options - if conservative measures fail and you still have pain that interferes with daily activities, you may need surgery to relieve pressure and return the toe joint to its normal position.  

The most common types of bunion surgery include bunionectomy with an osteotomy. Bunionectomy involves shaving off the enlarged portion of the bone and realigning the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Osteotomy is the preferred choice for severe bunions and involves making a cut in the bone, rotating the bone into its correct anatomical position, and fixing it in place with pins or screws. This helps to prevent re-occurrence. There are many procedures to correct bunions and Dr. Bowman will discuss what is best suited for you and take into effect your activity level.

If surgery is required, Dr. Jeffrey Bowman of Houston Foot Specialists will discuss your surgical options as well as steps to take for a successful recuperation. Feel free to contact Dr. Bowman at 713-467-8886 or learn about bunions online at www.houstonfootspecialists.com at take a look at our information online and videos.