Welcome to the Website of

Dr. Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS

 Thank you for visiting my website. I have been placing information and articles on this site for many years and have received millions of  hits during that time (and not that many of them were mine). I have designed it for people who like to read about their foot and ankle problems. Since I started the web site, I have added two associates to my practice, Dr. Darren Payne and Dr. Stephen Benson.  Since my site is filled with just my thoughts and opinions they are not, necessarily, shared by my colleagues. To see our less controversial (and less windy) practice web site, I offer you: www.ConejoFeet.com, the practice site for The Agoura Los Robles Podiatry Centers (ALRPC). The ALRPC practice site has a lot of material about our office, many of our policies and the registration forms to be filled out before your visit. I suggest all prospective patients visit www.ConejoFeet.com.

 I made the web site to give my patients the extra depth information that I don’t always have time to cover in the office visit. Visitors who are not my patients are welcome to browse the information found here. My younger colleagues are both under 50 and they, like many their age, do not favor in depth reading. They prefer their information presented to them in a few short, crisp bullet points. I, being of the, ahem, older generation, like to read about my ailments in greater depth. Here, I present the greater depth. If you ask a question about heel pain or bunions that I have not answered in my two monographs, I will quickly add it so that it is as complete as I can make it. If you agree with this philosophy, welcome to my page. If you correspond with me please let me know if you like the in depth reporting.

 Remember, this site is in no way intended to tell you how your own ailment or problem should be treated, only the approach I use when confronted with certain situations. Your problem may well be different from what you think it is and should always be evaluated by the appropriate professional, whether podiatrist, orthopedist or other authority. Please understand that I, nor anyone else, can offer you a proper diagnosis or treatment plan without seeing and feeling the problem at hand (foot?).  Happy reading.

 Sincerely, Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, FACFAOM

 P.S. All the information in this web site is © by me and it is mine alone. No picture or any of the articles cannot be used by anyone without permission from me, personally.

01/08/2012

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Metatarsalgia – A New Approach to a Difficult Problem

By: Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS

I am back from my annual January trek to Honduras with a team that performs dramatic club foot surgery on the poor of that very poor country. We repaired the misshapen feet of 30 children. You can see some of these beautiful children on my web site. As you may remember this venture is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Westlake Village Sunrise (mine) and of Agoura Hills / Oak Park. We pay for this mission with a car raffle, this year our prize is a 3 year, 45,000 mile, maintenance included lease on a beautiful Mercedes E350. Again, my web site has information on how you can help. á Click here  á

During some of the down time in Honduras, I had a long discussion on a very common and very difficult problem of pain on the ball of the foot behind the second toe. Pain here is one of the most common reasons people come to my office. You can often see some swelling of the tissues on the ball of the foot and frequently there is a second toe hammertoe. This is a progressive disorder and can lead to a disfigured foot where the second toe crosses over the big toe, especially if there is a bunion. This is one case where early treatment is better than waiting for unfixable deformity. If you have a lump under and behind the second toe, get thee to a foot doctor and orthotics are probably in your future.

Here is a podiatric secret: we hate this deformity. When orthotics and softer shoes do not provide enough relief we are left with a choice of a cortisone injection or surgery. Injections can possibly make things worse in the long run so we shy away from them if we can. But if a patient has a wedding or vacation trip planned, we sometimes relent even though we know we shouldn’t.

Up to now, surgery has its own problems and at least half the time the foot after surgery is different but not really better. Up to now. Putting together ideas from my colleagues in Honduras, and another from San Diego I am, for the first time, truly happy to have a new approach to this vexing problem. It involves a transfer of a tendon in the toe to a new location and not the cutting of the metatarsal bone. So, if you don’t win the car, and are forced to walk, I can now make that a less painful experience. I look forward to explaining it in greater detail.

Dr. Michael Zapf is a podiatrist in private practice in our community for 20 years. He and his associate, Dr. Darren Payne, have offices in Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks. For more information call their office at (818) 707-3668 or see the web site www.conejofeet.com.

Send mail to (zfootdoc at doctor dot com) with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 Michael A. Zapf, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., F.A.C.F.AOA.M.
Last modified: January 08, 2012