Don't stress about common foot problems

By Dr. Richard M. Cowin,

Laser Foot Surgery Specialist

As the saying goes, I have good news and I have bad news.

The bad news is that because the human foot is widely regarded as the most abused part of the human body, most people will suffer from foot pain at some time in their lives (if not every day). In fact, foot pain is so common, most people believe it’s completely normal for their feet to hurt.

The good news is many painful foot problems not only can be treated, but also, they can be cured. Some examples of this include bunions, hammer toes, heel spurs, ingrown toenails and Morton’s neuroma (a pinched nerve in the forefoot). Further, some painful foot problems that can’t be cured can be treated well enough that the pain is controlled. Examples of this include peripheral neuropathy and arthritis.

The late famous psychologist, author and motivational speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer said there’s no reason to worry about anything because you can place any situation in the world into one of two categories: 1) things you have control over, and 2) things you don’t have control over. He goes on to say that if you have control over something, there’s no reason to worry about it because you have control over it. And if you don’t have control over something, there’s no reason to worry about it because you don’t have control over it. So, there’s no reason to worry.

If you’re still worried (OK, I tried), here are some additional reasons why managing foot pain doesn’t have to cause anxiety or stress. For those of you who are afraid of hospitals, at Laser Foot Surgery Specialist, I perform procedures to correct most foot problems right in my office. For those who are afraid of being put to sleep under general anesthesia, I perform foot surgery procedures under local anesthesia by numbing the areas I’m working on with lidocaine and with or without an oral sedative medication. 

Still have anxiety and stress about treating your foot problems? Here’s more good news. Many foot problems, such as bunions and hammer toes, can be treated utilizing minimally invasive (one-stitch) procedures that usually don’t require any pins, wires, screws or implants and allow you to walk right out of the office wearing a special surgical shoe. Other common foot problems, such as ingrown toenails, fungal toenails, warts and neuromas, can be treated with laser technology.

So don’t be anxious or stress about your painful feet. A trip to the podiatrist could be the first step to the relief for which you have been searching.

Dr. Richard M. Cowin is a diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. His practice, Laser Foot Surgery Specialist, is located at 7932 W. Sand Lake Road, Suite 106, Orlando.