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.

 


01/08/2012HomeNews+FAQShock Wave

 

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My responses are in italics ... Dr. Zapf

Hi!

 
Thanks for responding to my email.  In my last message I had a question about my Morton's Neuroma.  I have really appreciated the information on your website; it is very helpful.  I have struggled with what we assume is a M.N. for 2 1/2 years.  I was a runner, but now can hardly walk to my mailbox without a flare-up. I've tried all the basic treatments with no real success.  In March this year I had a cortisone shot and since then my symptoms have worsened (which I know isn't supposed to happen!)  Since then I have had numbness/tingling which moves up into my leg (at first occasionally) and now is consistently affecting me with activity (including driving, swimming, biking).  I have had an MRI (which just showed some inflammation) and an EMG which was normal.  Now I'm considering surgery...  My question/concern is that I have several atypical M.N. symptoms and I worry that surgery may make things worse, especially if I actually have a different diagnosis (Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, etc???)My basic method to diagnose this problem is to inject a small quantity (1 CC) of Marcaine into the area of the suspected neuroma. The Marcaine produces profound anesthesia for 6 to 12 hours. If the pain is entirely relieved for the length of time the anesthetic is working then I conclude that it is a neuroma, not some other causative factor.
 
Unusual symptoms:
-numbness ascending into the leg never
-no real numbness into my toes
-most forefoot pain is in the morning for the first 5 minutes of walking OK
-red/purple coloring lately in the MN area at times not typical
 
Have you seen some of these symptoms in other folks with M.N? No
 
Thank you so much for your help!  It's been hard to find anyone in my area who really seems extremely knowledgeable about this.  I live in Minnesota.  I am coming to CA on vacation in a few weeks and may try to make an appt with you if possible. Look forward to seeing you
 
 Also, I've been reading about the sclerosing injections - do you know of anyone in the Midwest who can do this??? No, you have to call a few local podiatrists and ask the office staff if the doctor does sclerosing injections for neuromas. If you do not find any, ask the most local doctor if he or she will let you be the first test case for sclerosing injections. Good Luck.
 
Sincerely,
Anna

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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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