Laser Treatment for Fungal Nails

Toenail fungus, medically known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium, is a very common infection of the nail. Nearly 3 million cases appear every year in the United States. Initially, toenail fungus may present itself as white spots on the nail or black spots underneath. Ridges will typically start to form and the nail will seem rougher to the touch. As the infection progresses, the nail may thicken, become brittle, discolored, or misshapen. The growing fungus separates the layers of keratin in the toenail, which leads to the characteristic distorted look. The white spots you notice on your nail are displaced keratin that has begun to build up.

Toenail fungus is notoriously difficult to cure with over-the-counter medicines. From foot soaks to ointments the efficacy of these is extremely varied, at best. However, in late 2010 the FDA approved the PinPointe FootLaser. This was the first of the “cold laser” treatments to gain federal approval. The laser kills the fungus in and under the nail, ridding it of the infection.

The treatment itself is non-invasive and very straightforward. The podiatrist will move the laser in a grid-like pattern over the infected toenail. This is a virtually pain-free procedure that generally takes less than 30 minutes, though it could take longer depending on how many nails are infected. After the procedure, the appearance of the nail will not have changed. While the fungus has been killed, the nail will have to grow out in order to see the effect of the treatment.

Laser toenail fungus treatments are now used all over the world and can be performed by a podiatrist in-office. The number of treatments it will take to cure the fungal infection varies by patient and type of laser. Speak with your podiatrist to learn more about getting rid of your toenail fungus.

Shockwave Therapy for Heel Pain

Shockwave therapy, or Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT), is an effective non-surgical treatment for managing pain caused by a variety of disorders. In podiatry, shockwave therapy can be used to manage painful conditions in the foot and ankle that negatively affect mobility and quality of life.

Shockwave therapy works by generating pulse waves to produce kinetic energy. The kinetic energy is then converted into sound energy before being transmitted into the affected tissue to treat the pain at its source.

Shockwave therapy delivers successful non-surgical treatment to patients seeking convenience, less downtime, and less risk. A session of treatment typically lasts less than 10 minutes and allows patients to quickly return to regular activities.

Benefits:

• Non-invasive
• No anesthesia required
• No risk of infection
• No scarring
• No downtime
• Faster, easier healing

If you are suffering from heel pain, ankle pain, or general foot pain, shockwave therapy may be the solution for you. Please contact our offices at Los Angeles (562) 651-1050 or Riverside (951) 653-0200 for more information.