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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[revised 10-15-01]

By Michael Zapf, D.P.M.

ACORN Article FOOTNOTES

October 2001

Those of you who have pursued my web site or seen me in person know I am fond of TLAs – also known as three letter acronyms. So when Karen said that her sclerosing therapy gave her 15 straight PFDs. I was A&D, er, I mean amused and delighted. She explained that "PFD" meant a Perfect Foot Day or a day in which she had no pain from her neuroma whatsoever.

A neuroma is a trapped nerve in the foot usually found between the 3^rd and 4^th toes. When Karen walked, especially in shoes, the nerve would hurt when pressured by the neighboring metatarsal bones. Pain would follow the nerves and shoot up into the little toes. Karen’s pain was so bad that she refused to wear some shoes and gave up on some of her favorite exercises and activities. She could not wear the shoes she felt she should as a local school district employee. This weekend she is planning on going to a local amusement park and walk all day – an activity she would never contemplate when her neuroma was acting up.

Karen likes to calendarize her foot pain. Day after day she recorded Bad, Very Bad or Awful Foot Pain (AFP). When her first few visits did not provide any significant relief with conventional therapy, she agreed to try alcohol surgery. With this technique the neuroma is treated to a series of injections with an alcohol solution (not as bad as it sounds – I assure you). After the first two she was still skeptical. After two more her AFP days were replaced by GFDs. Two more and she was sailing day after day with PFDs.

I saw her yesterday for her the last of her injections. She is thrilled with her result and in great spirits. Without a traditional surgery her pain is gone, she is wearing all her shoes and can walk all day. She smiled when I asked in my best announcer voice, "Karen, now that you have had 21 PFDs in a row – what are you going to do next?" With a smile she gave the traditional response. I could tell this made her "VVH".

Dr. Michael Zapf practices podiatric medicine and surgery with offices in Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks. He can be reached at (818) 707-3668. More information on sclerosing for neuromas can be found on his web site: www.zfootdoc.com

To see Karen's own original words see -->

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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