Specialties

Heel spurs and plantar fascists are very common ailments which can be present in any age group.

Pain with initial weight bearing and persistent pain throughout the day located in the bottom of the heel and arch is usually present and very disabling

Standard methods of treatment include stretching, exercises, icing the painful area, custom made orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy. When conservative treatments fail, surgery would be the next option. Now, there is another treatment option on the list - Shock Wave Therapy.

Shock Wave Therapy sends pulses of rapid fire sound waves t the site of injury on the bottom of the heel. The tissue is broken up allowing it to heal by stimulating increased blood flow the area. This out-patient procedure takes about 30 minutes, and patients can usually return to work the next day. Dr. Dickey and Dr. Wisniewski can formulate a plan for the treatment of your condition.

A bunion is a bony enlargement of the big toe joint where the large toe begins drifting toward the little toe. With a bunion, the forefoot becomes wider, especially when compared to the heel, causing difficulty fitting shoes comfortably. Bunions left untreated usually cause secondary deformities such as hammer toes, callouses, and arthritis.

Self care may include wider or larger shoes which will not irritate the bunion. If the bunion is advanced, surgical correction may be necessary. Bunion surgery no longer means hospitalization with new developments our doctors can correct bunions on an out-patient basis. With the use of long lasting anesthetics and intra-operative pain suppressors, bunion surgery is no longer considered painful. If you have been suffering from bunions and would like to know what can be done to correct the problem, please call for further information.

Ingrown toenails can be painful and quite frankly a nuisance. They are usually hereditary in nature, but can be caused by injuries to the toes. Sometimes improper cutting of the toenail may lead to painful infected ingrown toenails. Normally, the nail plate is flat in appearance and should be cut straight across at the end. However, when the nail is not flat and curves down into the sides with the skin overlapping, proper trimming of the toenail is almost impossible and results in a nail spicule formation with resultant pain and infection.

The condition can be very successfully treated and permanently corrected in the office with minimal discomfort. The doctors at Northern Illinois Podiatry will be happy to advise you or your treatment options.

If your toenails are thick, painful, discolored and just plain ugly, Dr.'s Dickey and Wisniewski may be able to help. Thick toenails are usually caused by injuries to the toe or nail root. They can also be caused by infection or metabolic disorders. The most common cause for toenails to become thick is toenail fungus. "Digger the Dermatophyte" is the most likely cause with resultant loss of toenail and spread of disease to the other areas of the foot. Northern Illinois Podiatry, after evaluation of your toenail problem, may prescribe the new oral antifungal drug, Lamisil, for the treatment of your condition.

Callus and plantar warts look very similar with initial inspection and are usually painful when weight bearing. Plantar warts can occur any where on the foot, are composed of black dots centrally located, and are painful to side pressure. Warts are viral in nature.

Plantar calluses can be painful, may have a central blood supply, usually occur over bony prominences, and are not viral in nature. Other lesions may mimic the plantar callus and plantar wart and may be more serious in nature requiring a skin biopsy.

The doctors of Northern Illinois Podiatry are trained to make the proper diagnosis and treat appropriately.

Pinched nerves can occur any where on the foot. However, the most common location is near the base of the toes. Commonly called Morton's neuroma, this problem begins when the outer coating of the nerve in your foot thickens. This thickening is usually caused by irritation which results when two bones repeatedly rub together (often due to ill-fiiting shoes or abnormal bone movement). The area between the third and fourth toes is the most commonly affected. The area between the second and third toes is another common irritation point.

The pain from the neuromas may start gradually causing burning, tingling, cramping, or numbness. Symptoms often occur after you have been walking or standing for a period of time. It might feel like you are stepping on a lamp cord. You may have to take your shoe off and rub your toes. In some cases, the may radiate from the tip of the toe to the ankle.

The doctors at Northern Illinois Podiatry will diagnose and treat you condition with non-surgical methods to start such as proper shoe wear, custom made orthotics, and injection therapy. If response from conservative treatments is not adequate, surgery may by necessary.

Customer Made Orthotics in about an hour!

The foot is composed of twenty-six normal appearing bones and may have more or less depending n the uniqueness or hereditary tendencies of the individual. These bones are held together by  ligaments and joint capsule. On top of these, there are muscles that have their origins and insertions in the foot itself which are called intrinsic muscles. Some muscle have their origins outside of the foot and insert within the foot. These muscles are called the extrinsic musculature. The muscle, ligaments, and bony structures along with the neurovascular components must act in harmony in order to allow proper foot function to take place in a normal and energy efficient manner. IF THERE IS A SLIGHT ABNORMALITY in any of these composite structural components of the foot, leg or back, an imbalance will probably occur with resultant improper function, deformity, and pain.

Custom made orthotics along the multitude of structural components to function like a well oiled efficient running machine.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS PODIATRY has the capability for fabrication and dispensing your orthotics while you wait. Adjustment of the orthotics will be done as needed in order to ensure proper function and comfort.