Dr. Timko is a board certified podiatrist who can effectively apply this graft and treat all types of foot and ankle ulcers. Our offices are located in Downtown St. Louis, Eureka, and Union Missouri.
As a huge baseball fan and fantasy player, this topic excited me. Evan Longoria had a morton’s neuroma removed from his left foot back in November. This may be a big reason why he only batted under 250 last year and only stole 4 bases. He stole 10 the year before. I’m expecting a big comeback season this year in BA and will also hit a few more HRs with a healthly left foot. Although I would like to up date all of you about morton’s neuromas and why you still should be worried if you are a Evan Longoria owner in fantasy baseball.
What is a Morton’s Neuroma?
A neuroma is a painful condition, also referred to as a “swollen nerve” or a nerve tumor. It is a benign growth of nerve tissue frequently found between the third and fourth toes that brings on pain, a burning sensation, tingling, or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.
The principal symptom associated with a neuroma is pain between the toes while running, walking, or putting pressure on the ball of the foot. Those suffering from the condition often find relief by stopping their walk, taking off their shoe, and rubbing the affected area. At times, the patient will describe the pain as similar to having a stone in his or her shoe.
What baseball fantasy owners really want to know?
How’s Evan going to do after the surgery to remove the neuroma? Well that all depends on 2 factors (the 2nd factor we have no way of knowing due to HIPPA and confidentiallity, only the surgeon knows this answer):
- Did Evan take time off (about 2-4 weeks) after the surgery? It is very important to not walk or put pressure on the foot following the procedure. Compliant patients ALWAYS to better than noncompliant patients. The 1st 2-4 weeks following any procedure of the foot and ankle will always swell (thanks to gravity) and swelling will slow the recovery. With decrease activity on that foot after the procedure there will be less swelling and a faster recovery. From what I heard, from his radio interview on SirusXM Fantasy Sports Radio on 2-13-2012 he DID take 4 weeks off from all activities. That’s a great sign so far!
- How big was the nerve that was removed and did the surgeon tie the end of the nerve into the small muscle of the midfoot to decrease chance of a stup neuroma. A stump neuroma is a complication of the surgery. Bascially it is a reoccuring neuroma. They are usually worse then the original neuroma. There’s about a 7-24% chance of a complication occuring after neuroma surgery.
What to know going forward?
Evan will have to change his shoegear slightly and wear a widder shoe during the games. Hopefully he finds one that fits him well so that he won’t develope blisters during the games. Also, only time will tell if the surgery was successful and his foot pain is gone. Removing the nerve will leave the inside of his 2 toes partially numb, but at least the pain is gone. Small nerves take about 5-7 years to regenerate, so he may by ok until then, but hopefully never. A simple metatarsal pad in his shoe and injections of corticosteriod (up to 3 per year) will be needed if the pain returns. So this should not cause a loss in playing time in the worst case scenario.
As a board certified foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist), I have not performed many neuroma surgeries during my 9 year practice. That’s not because I’m not trained, but it’s because of the 7-24% complication rate. I usually try to steer my patients away from the procedure unless that nerve is way too big as seen by a MRI. My final thoughts, if Evan is available in the 2nd-3rd rounds of fantasy baseball drafts this year, pull the trigger!
If you have any foot problems in the St. Louis area, see our newest location, Downtown St. Louis! Servicing Eureka,MO Union, MO and Downtown St. Louis!
Feb
This was a very nice card that was sent to me today from St. Clare Medical Center in Fenton, Missouri, that made my day.
Feb
First lecture in a series of talks that I will be giving in St. Louis about fall prevention. As a
trained podiatrist, I can provide patients with proper evaluation and treatment of foot problems including diabetes and neuropathy. With neuropathy being a big risk factor of falls and balance problems, I can provide my patients with a balance tachnology to prevent falls. Falls have cause significant financial stress on the federal government and cost in 2000 have been $19 billion for non fatal falls and $175 million of fatal falls. Hopefully, we can start today to reduce that cost. If you have a history of falls or feel unstable and have Medicare for your health insurance, you may be eligible for this treatment at no cost to you. Find out more by contacting us at 1800-707-0215.
Dec
Congrats to all my patients today, because Arch City Foot and Ankle set a new record of 15 patients and not one missed appointment or no show!
Dec
Did you know that a Podiatrist can surgically repair an ankle fracture, depending on each individual states rules? http://www.feetdoc.com/about_us.htm
Nov
Patients I see should check there feet at least once per day. This will minimize future problems and potential infections. Always check your feet, bottom and the top and in between the toes. Diabetic foot problems can be prevented. Also monitor your blood sugars and maintain a proper diet.
Also, most importantly, If you are a diabetic, make an appointment to see a podiatrist at least 1 time per year. Studies have shown that seeing a podiatrist once per year can save your foot and save the insurance company $19,686 per year per patient. If you add all the numbers of all patients with diabetes and if each one of them sees a podiatrist once per year it will save 1.97 billion dollars for commercial insurance and 1.53 billion for Medicare. The study is called the Thomson Reuters study and should be sent to president Obama, to help save our economy too.
See Dr. Timko’s web site for more information on diabetic foot problems.