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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This article was from the January issue of Canyon and Country Times.

Heel Pain Revisited                                                               

By:      Michael Zapf, D.P.M., M.P.H.

 I am happy to report that Marcie and her heel spur are doing fine. As many of my Country and Canyon Times readers know, February is my month for reporting on the saga of Marcie and her heel pain.

 Marcie first came to my office five years ago complaining of severe heel pain. It was the worst in the morning. She dreaded getting out of bed. As her left heel hit the floor the pain started. As she started to walk she felt as if a sharp spike was in her heel bone. After walking for awhile the pain became more tolerable but would return when she stood up after resting or sitting. Eventually the pain started to affect her performance as a nurse and she wanted me to help her.

 With the help of a few diagnostic tests and an X-ray I confirmed that she had a heel spur. Marcie also had an irritation of a ligament that runs the length of the bottom of the foot. This ligament goes by the name “plantar fascia” and the irritation is called “plantar fasciitis.” To explain what is occurring imagine the arch of the foot and the plantar fascia as a triangle. As the foot flattens it also elongates. Unfortunately the plantar fascia does not stretch much. A strong force trying to flatten the foot irritates the plantar fascia especially where it attaches to the heel bone. If this goes on for a long time the fascia becomes inflamed and a spur can develop.

 I did not treat Marcie for her painful heel spur. Instead I treated the abnormal flattening of her foot. I made for her a set of in-shoe orthotic to control her foot flattening. They worked like a charm and they continue to do so. As long as Marcie wears them in her shoes she does not have pain in her arches. At first she wore them all the time by moving them to her various shoes. Last week she reported that she can go for several days without the orthotics. When the pain starts to reassert itself she just starts wearing the orthotics again and it never gets as painful. She continues to be happy with this non-surgical approach to heel pain. She still doesn’t like to get up in the morning, but at least its not due to heel pain.

Dr. Zapf has a private practice in Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks and teaches part time at the L.A. County/ U.S.C. Medical Center. For more information please call his office at (818) 707—3668.

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