Welcome to the personal website of

Dr. Michael A. Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, FACFAOM

Thank you for visiting the web site of Dr. Michael Zapf. He is a member of the Agoura-Los Robles Podiatry Centers

The "real" practice web site, the one that contains registration forms, doctor information for all the office and directions to the office is located at:

www.conejofeet.com   ç Click here

I am Dr. Michael Zapf. I have been offering a full range of podiatric medical services, from ingrown nails to heel pain and foot surgery, to my friends and neighbors in the Las Virgenes, Conejo and Simi Valleys since 1985. This is my personal web site. It has been up since 1990 and has received more than 2 million visits. The entire site is my responsibility only and nearly everything on the site was written by me. You are welcome to peruse this site and learn what you can about me, your feet and the problems your feet can develop. Things happen fast in medicine so whatever you read could well be outdated, especially if it was written many years ago. On this site you will read historic articles that I wrote for a lay audience as long as 25 years ago, so please do not take anything on this site as definitive or as applying directly to your condition. You may wonder why I have my own site even though there is also an official practice site. Well, my partners are of a younger generation raised on tweets, e-mails and iPhones. They want a professional site that they believe better represents the professional nature of our practice. They also believe that people no longer take the time to read anything of length. I, on the other foot, think there is still a world out there full of people who still read lengthy descriptions of problems and solutions. if you are one of those old fashioned readers, then this site if for you. Let me know what you think. Let me know you are out there.

Please note that all information and photographs on this site are copyrighted by me, Michael Zapf, DPM, and cannot be used for any private or commercial purposes. I work with two other podiatrists in my practice who may or may not share any of my ideas and philosophy. Do not expect them to practice the way I do or even believe in any of the speculation I present here. If you appreciate what I have written and want me to be your treating doctor, you will have to ask for me specifically. Even if my office says at first, " He is booked until next month",  I still want to see you as long as you are a little flexible with your schedule. If your visit is an emergency, I know that  you will be happy with either of my associates, Dr. Darren Payne or Dr. Steve Benson. They are exceedingly well trained and capable in any foot emergency.

 

Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, FACFAOM     (If you want to know what all those initials mean, click here   è  

Our office phone number is (818) 707-3668 and my e-mail address is zfootdoc [at] doctor [dot] com

Agoura Hills Office: 28240 Agoura Road, Suite 101, Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Thousand Oaks Office: 555 Marin Street, Suite 290, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

For the address, hours and registration forms please see the practice web site: www.conejofeet.com


07/24/2010HomeNews+FAQShock Wave

 

To Order Foot Supplies è ç click

For Information about Laser Treatment for Fungal Nails Click hereè
 

For information about Shockwave Therapy for heel pain          click here è

Exciting news!!! New Thousand Oaks Location  è

 

 

And from Tracey:

I have a few questions regarding my painful neuroma.  I began treating with
my Podiatrist approx. 9 months ago.  He began with medications (Bextra)
then oral steroids along with shots.  Four months into treatments he advised that
having my bunion removed with help with placement of my foot which may alleviate
pain. 

I am going to start this answer by making a big assumption: that you do in fact have a neuroma. If you do, I personally do not use anti-inflammatory medications or oral steroids for a neuroma pain. When you squeeze the nerve in a neuroma the pain is very sharp - almost like getting stabbed with the tip of an ice pick. I do not think that any pain medicine can solve this type of pain. I will inject them with cortisone in an attempt to shrink the neuroma and provide what is all too often only temporary pain relief. I would never suggest that having a bunion repaired would help a neuroma unless it was a highly unusual one involving the first interspace (between the first and second toes). I have never heard anyone suggest that a bunionectomy will help a neuroma. Very curious.

 
It has been over two months since my bunionectomy (Left foot)  which went very
well.  I went back to work sooner than expected and and doing quite well with it.
The problem is that the pain to the other area Neuroma has not subsided.  In fact
now that I am back on my foot regularly because I am recovered from bunionectomy the neuroma pain is getting worse everyday.
 

That would have been my guess.

 

My Doctor keeps injecting it and switched me to Celebrex and yet another round
of Steroids.  He is convinced that most neuromas can be cured without surgery.
I am wondering if I should see a different doc.  My current doctor came highly recommended buy I am tired of the pain, along with the shots I have been continuing to get.  Alcohol along with others.  He's tried them all. 
 

Well, you cannot say you did not get conservative treatment. Personally I would have done the neuroma surgery at the same time as the bunion so there would only need to be one recovery. I am not sure why your doctor is shying away from the neuroma surgery. If cortisone injections (3), alcohol injections and oral anti-inflammatory medications have failed then you have little to risk.

 

How long should I continue with treatment options?  I prefer to have surgery and
get it over with so I can get on with my life.  I am also wondering since the ball of my foot is killing me and it clicks when I wiggle my toes with my hand, but the most nagging pain I am experiencing is under my SECOND toe not so much the
third and fourth.  Could it be possible one neuroma is causing all this pain, tingling or could I have more than one neuroma??
 
 Well, now you bring up the concept of metatarsalgia under the 2nd metatarsal head or at the 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint. This is the ever famous so-called predislocation syndrome that I talk about elsewhere on the web site. If you have this condition, and not a neuroma, then I understand your doctor's reluctance to do surgery. [See how difficult it is ot answer questions without seeing the foot.] Neuroma surgery is quick, easy and successful. Surgery for metatarsalgia is not highly successful and sometimes not all that easy. Ask your doctor which you have: metatarsalgia of the 2nd MPJ or a neuroma. Neuromas hurt with compression of the forefoot (such as with shoes) and not walking barefooted on a hard floor surface. Metatarsalgia is worst barefoot on a hard surface and less painful in a shoe, especially a padded shoe.

Good luck!

 
Tracey
Chesterfield, Michigan

   

 

 

 

 

 

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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: July 24, 2010