Foot Specialists Of The Conejo Valley Offer Bunion Treatments

    NORTHRIDGE, CA, July 19, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Bunions are common, yet painful, occurrences that affect a person's ability to walk and even put on shoes without pain. Northridge patients who experience bunions now have a place where they can seek treatment at Foot Specialists of the Conejo Valley.

A bunion occurs when the big or great toe frequently pushes against the smaller second toe. Over time, a bony mass starts to develop at the base of the big toe, known as a bunion. Not only does a bunion change the way the feet appear physically, it also causes pain, redness and warmth and affects a person's ability to move the big toe.

At Foot Specialists of the Conejo Valley, podiatrists Dr. Stefan Feldman and Dr. Charles Kelman offer treatments for bunions that range from conservative to surgical interventions.

"The sooner a patient is able to seek bunion treatment, the better his or her results are likely to be," explains Dr. Kelman, a Northridge podiatrist. "Early intervention can keep the bunion from increasing in size and from dramatically changing the toe's appearance and positioning."

When a patient comes to the podiatrists' Northridge, CA office, the first step is typically to examine the foot and listen to the patient describe his or her symptoms. Women are significantly more likely to experience bunions due to years of wearing tight and/or pointed shoes. Additionally, Dr. Kelman or Dr. Feldman may take an X-ray image that allows the doctor to view the joint's positioning.

If the bunion is not yet in severe stages, the podiatrists may recommend conservative measures. These can be anything from wearing a better-fitting shoe to wearing a protective pad that reduces friction to the bunion, thus helping to prevent its further development. Special splints and shoe inserts can also treat the bunion and keep the toe joint as straight as possible.

Although it is a rare occurrence, surgery may sometimes be indicated for patients whose bunions do not respond to non-surgical treatments. Bunion surgeries can vary in terms of surgical approaches. For example, a bunion that leads to mild deformity may be treated with a bunionectomy, which involves removing the enlarged bone portion while re-aligning the joint. However, severe bunions can require pins and screws to hold the joint in place.

"Our entire staff works with a patient to identify his or her treatment goals," says Dr. Feldman, a podiatrist in Northridge, CA. "While the procedure does involve recovery time, surgery can ultimately reduce pain and allow the patient to comfortably wear shoes once again."

To learn more about custom orthotics at Foot Specialists of the Conejo Valley, please call (818) 706-6900. For more information on services provided and patient education materials, please visit their Northridge podiatry practice website at www.FeldmanandKelmanDPMS.com.

About The Foot Specialists: Dr. Stefan Feldman received his undergraduate education at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and went on to earn his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Degree from the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in 1978, graduating Cum Laude. After graduation, Dr. Feldman served as a Podiatric Surgical Resident at Kern Hospital for Special Surgery in Warren, Michigan until 1980. Dr. Charles Kelman attended the California College of Podiatric Medicine where he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine in 1978. He was also a Podiatric Surgical Resident at Kern Hospital until 1980.

Media Contact:
Dr. Stefan Feldman
[email protected]
9335 Reseda Blvd. Suite 500
Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 701-6900
http://www.feldmanandkelmandpms.com

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