What is podiatry?
Podiatry is a branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the foot and ankle.
What conditions can podiatrists treat?
Podiatrists can treat any condition of the foot and ankle, including but not limited to: bunions, hammertoes, neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, diabetic foot care, heel pain, flatfoot, arthritic conditions, fungal infections of nails and skin, and ball of foot pain.
Can podiatrists perform surgeries?
Yes! Our podiatrists are board certified foot and ankle surgeons. They perform both elective and non-elective surgeries.
Does my insurance cover foot and ankle surgery?
Most surgeries are covered services under insurance benefits. We always verify patient benefits before any procedure to ensure patients are accurately informed and guided.
What insurances do you accept?
We accept all major insurances, including all medicare and TennCare!
How do I make an appointment?
Appointments can be scheduled by calling our office (615-814-0085) or requesting an appointment through our website, www.AFCtennessee.com. We also accept referrals from your physician, however it’s not always necessary.
How long is the wait for a new patient appointment?
We have new patient appointments available each day, and we are often able to get patients in as soon as the same or next day!
What is a bunion and when should it be treated?
A bunion is a bony deformity that forms at the great toe joint due to a misalignment causing the great toe to become angulated towards the second toe. This misalignment causes the characteristic bump that can become painful, red, and swollen which may be worse with ill-fitting shoes. Over time, bunion deformities can worsen, causing chronic pain that interferes with activities of daily living. If a bunion becomes painful or interferes with a patient’s daily life, we recommend starting treatment which can include conservative care or surgical correction.
What is a hammer toe and how is it treated?
Hammer toe deformity is an abnormal bend to the middle joint of the toe, most commonly of the 2nd and 3rd toes. This deformity can cause pain to the affected toe as well as the ball of foot. Treatment generally starts with splinting the affected digits with appropriate shoe gear and orthotics. If this does not provide adequate relief, there are various types of operative options available.
What causes heel pain?
The most common causes of heel pain include plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonitis. In order to determine the cause of your heel pain, our providers will conduct an in-depth examination, review x-rays, and discuss the history of the pain during your visit.
What are the treatment options for nail fungus?
There are several treatment options available for nail fungus including topical Tolcylen therapy, Remy laser therapy, and oral antifungal therapy. Tolyclen is a topical antifungal and nail renewal product that is very effective at treating fungal nails and encouraging growth of new, healthy nail. Laser therapy can be helpful in more stubborn cases to help treat the fungus and encourage new nail growth in four quick and effective treatments. Oral antifungal therapy can be used depending on existing health concerns and other medication interactions. Schedule an appointment with one of our offices today to further discuss options and determine which is best for you!
Why is physical therapy important?
Physical therapy is an important aspect of recovery for many foot and ankle conditions as it can improve function, restore strength, reduce pain, and prevent recurrence of injury. Physical therapy can help with both acute and chronic conditions including tendinopathies and chronic instability of the foot and ankle. Use of physical therapy after surgery can also improve recovery times and restore patients to usual activity level sooner after their surgical procedures.
What are custom orthotics and how are they helpful?
Custom orthotics are inserts or insoles that can be used in most shoes that are customized to fit the patient’s arch and support their needs. Custom orthotics are an easy, noninvasive way to support joints and tendons in the foot and ankle to reduce pain, prevent further injury, and reduce frequency of falls. In our office, we can scan your feet in neutral position and utilize the scan to create a custom insole for your shoes.
What is a plantar wart and how is it treated?
Plantar warts are skin lesions that occur to the bottom of the foot. These lesions are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) strains 1, 2, 4, 27, and 57. The treatment of plantar warts involves gentle scraping of the area then application of a painless acid treatment in office which eradicates the virus and infected skin. Sometimes, multiple treatments are required to completely resolve this condition.
What are ingrown nails and how are they treated?
Ingrown toenails are caused by incurvation of the affected toenail border causing a foreign body reaction to be initiated by the immune system. In order to effectively treat ingrown toenails, the affected nail border needs to be removed in office. There are multiple effective procedures that can be discussed with your provider depending on the patient’s health and severity of the ingrown toenail. To treat an ingrown nail, we do not have to remove the entire nail, it is a same-day, painless procedure, and patients can resume their daily activity immediately.
What are the best shoes for foot pain?
We have several recommendations for appropriate shoe wear to reduce pain and increase comfort with daily activity. In general, we look for shoes with good shock absorption (thick base of shoe) and good support (stiff soles). These characteristics are common in shoes such as: Hoka Bondi 8, Brooks Ghost 14, New Balance 600+ series, Asics Gel Venture, and Vionics.
Why is diabetic foot care important?
Patients with diabetes mellitus are at high risk of serious conditions such as neuropathy, diabetic foot ulcers, peripheral vascular disease, and fungal nail and skin infections. Due to the high risk of complications from some of these conditions, it is recommended that diabetic patients have yearly foot evaluations in order to check for potential infections, hot spots leading to ulcer formations, or signs of neuropathy or vascular disease development. In patients with a history of diabetic foot ulcers, neuropathy, or vascular disease, it may be recommended to be evaluated more frequently than once a year to prevent escalation of these conditions.
How can I prevent foot problems?
Prevention is an important factor for all medicine, podiatry included. Recommended preventative treatment for the foot and ankle includes wearing appropriate shoes for every setting, avoiding ill-fitting shoes, avoiding extended wear of heels, use of supportive orthotics, use of compression socks to improve blood flow, daily foot checks, washing feet daily, and trimming nails straight across.
Does podiatrist treat pediatric patients?
Yes. We welcome patients of all ages.