Blog Archive

Any form of ankle arthritis can make it more difficult to walk or perform other activities that involve movement. Pain and stiffness are two of the most debilitating chronic arthritis symptoms. Arthritis symptoms can be unpleasant, but happily, podiatrists Ryan Golub, DPM, and Zachary Flynn, DPM, AACFAS, at Arizona Foot...

When your feet or ankles bother you, getting on your feet and completing even simple activities is harder. Custom orthotics are an easy and nonsurgical treatment for many foot or ankle issues. Podiatrists Ryan Golub, DPM, and Zachary Flynn, DPM, AACFAS, from Arizona Foot Health in Phoenix, Arizona, recommend custom...

A running routine keeps your heart healthy, your bones and muscles strong, and does wonders for your overall health. If you enjoy running to stay in shape, the last thing you want is an injury that keeps you on the sidelines for weeks or months. With the right healthy habits,...

If you have flat feet, which means your feet have no visible arch, you can sometimes develop complications from the condition. Flat feet don’t always cause problems, but issues can unexpectedly develop at any time. Ryan Golub, DPM, and Zachary Flynn, DPM, AACFAS, our podiatrists at Ryan Golub, DPM, and...

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most painful foot conditions. You could experience stabbing pain extending from the heel to the front of your toes, making walking difficult. The pain from plantar fasciitis can be debilitating, but the good news is there are treatment options available that offer pain relief....

When a bump starts growing on the outside of your big toe, there’s a strong likelihood you have bunions. Bunions can range from small to enormous and can cause no problems or be extremely painful. One common question about bunions is whether they require surgery to correct. The answer depends...

The inflammation, redness, and pain you get from an ingrown toenail is enough to make every step hurt and put a damper on your day. At Arizona Foot Health in Phoenix, Arizona, one common question our podiatrists get is whether ingrown toenails go away on their own. The bad news...

In the early stages, hammertoes don’t always appear serious. They can look odd and bend in strange ways, but they don’t always initially cause pain or mobility problems. Without treatment, though, you’re at risk for developing potentially severe hammertoe complications. With those risks, it’s natural to wonder if hammertoes are hereditary. Podiatrists Ryan...

When chronic foot pain doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, it can become a long-term problem that gets in the way of your everyday life. Thankfully, if you’re in this situation, a revolutionary treatment called pulse wave therapy is now available. This incredible FDA-cleared technology can resolve your foot condition in...

Plantar fasciitis is a painful foot condition that can make you feel like you’re in agony every time you take a step. Primarily impacting your heels, as well as the bottom of your foot from toe to heel, plantar fasciitis can cause stabbing pain when you walk and take months to...

Some people with flat feet, a condition where your feet don’t have a typical arch, are born with them. Others, though, are born with a healthy arch and develop flat feet and the associated health issues later in life. If you don’t currently have flat feet but are concerned about your...

When you have diabetes, many serious complications, including peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage, can develop in your feet. If those issues don’t heal properly, you’re at risk for developing an even more severe complication called Charcot foot. Charcot foot is a serious medical condition, but if you’re diagnosed with it, the...

It doesn’t matter if you’re an Olympic-level athlete or an occasional weekend player. No matter why, how often, or how seriously you play, a sudden sports injury can put you out of commission as fast as you can blink. Whether you’ve been recently injured or are looking to get back into your...

Bunions are uncomfortable, unsightly, and can become extremely painful. If you’ve noticed bumps starting to grow in the area just under your big toe, you’re probably developing this frustrating ailment. If you’ve started to get bunions, you might be considering possible treatment options or hoping the bunions will stop growing or...

Have you ever started to walk only to feel a searing, gripping pain on the bottom of your foot? If that pain is recurring, you might have a common condition called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis can be so painful that it limits your activities, so if you experience this problem,...

From a young age, walking from one place to another is one of the most essential and simple physical activities we do. Walking is so effortless and natural it may not even occur to you that how you do it matters. When your gait goes wrong, it can cause all...

When you experience foot and heel pain, sometimes, the reason for your pain means you have a serious injury or chronic condition. Other times, you’ll feel better simply by changing your shoes. Wearing shoes that fit your foot type, your activity, and accommodating any foot and ankle issues you have...

If you don’t have any pain in your feet, you might assume your shoes are fine. Sometimes this is the case, but other times, your lack of pain hides lower body issues that need to be corrected. Many of them can lead to pain down the line. Even when you...

Over the last year, I completed the care of a patient who came to me at the referral of a colleague for a 4th opinion. Three years prior she had sustained a fracture in her heel bone. She underwent surgery to fix the broken bone which ended up failing miserably....

I recently finished a 6 month limb salvage project on a 42yo diabetic male who was referred to me for reconstruction and salvage of his left foot. He initially injured his foot 2 years ago with a simple midfoot sprain. It was mismanaged and he sustained a Charcot event of...

Regularly running is a perfect way to maintain your physical and mental health. Nothing puts a damper on your healthy lifestyle more than a running injury that keeps you out of action for long periods. Experienced podiatrists Ryan Golub, DPM, and Zachary Flynn, DPM, AACFAS, of Arizona Foot Health in Phoenix, Arizona, can treat...

Have you been experiencing pain in your feet, been diagnosed with a foot or ankle condition, or find mobility difficult? If so, your body might be off balance from structural problems in your feet. If you’re off balance because of foot or ankle issues, Arizona Foot Health podiatrists Ryan Golub, DPM, and Zachary Flynn,...

Your feet work extremely hard to carry your body from place to place, and when that causes pain, it might be that a structural abnormality makes this task more difficult. If your feet, ankles, legs, hips, and lower back chronically hurt, it might be that you suffer from a condition...

When you had certain foot and ankle conditions, it used to be that your only treatment options were conservative treatments and invasive surgery. Now, thanks to incredible medical advancements, there’s an additional option called Pulse Wave Therapy. Effective, noninvasive, and easy to fit around your schedule, pulse wave therapy is a...

Ankle Sprains and the Road to Recovery   If you have sustained an ankle sprain, it should always be evaluated by a specialist. Roughly 85% of the ankle ligament reconstructions I perform are on patients who neglected their initial injury and thought it would get better on its own. The...

Bunions, the bony bump that sticks out from your big toe, are unsightly, uncomfortable, and can impede your active lifestyle. If you have close family members with bunions or have started to develop them yourself, you’re probably wondering how to prevent them from appearing or getting worse. According to podiatrists Ryan...

Given Arizona’s climate, patients are able to remain active year round. It’s why we all chose to live here. But it comes with a price, and oftentimes that price is Achilles Tendinitis. When I was completing my surgical training in the Northeast part of the country, Achilles Tendinitis was a...

 Being a foot and ankle surgeon I have been treating patients with arthritis since my career began. Early on you learn as a provider how debilitating arthritis can be. Often times, in the foot and ankle, end stage arthritis requires surgery. The approach to surgically treating the arthritic foot and...

Surgical Options for the Bunion ( Hallux Valgus)    One of the most common pathologies that any foot and ankle surgeon treats is the bunion. Daily we evaluate and educate patients on the treatment options for bunions. While conservative and surgical options are available, the focus of this article will...

Charcot Reconstruction Options   One of my passions as a foot and ankle surgeon is limb salvage. Charcot neuroarthropathy is the most challenging threat to limbs that I encounter on a routine basis. These patients are not only challenging from a reconstructive perspective, but also come with multiple medical challenges...

After getting your ingrown toenail treated, your hope is to avoid getting this painful condition again. Unfortunately, due to genetics or lifestyle factors, ingrown toenails can be a recurring phenomenon for some people. If you get ingrown toenails over and over again, the welcome news is that some simple lifestyle changes can...

Are you experiencing pain or a burning sensation in the front half of your foot but don’t have any visible bumps, cuts, or bruises? If so, it’s possible you have Morton’s neuroma, a painful foot condition that doesn’t come with any obvious visual markers. According to experienced Arizona Foot Health...

There’s nothing worse than having a foot or ankle condition that’s painful, not healing, and getting in the way of living your life. Effective pain management can be tricky, and undergoing surgery comes with risks and doesn’t guarantee you’ll end up pain free. Fantastically, if conservative management hasn’t helped your...

When your feet or lower body are bothering you, it not only can make it more difficult to go about daily life, it might also be a sign something more serious is wrong. Foot and heel pain, pressure, and discomfort can be a sign of foot or other lower body...

Spraining your ankle is a disruptive and painful experience that can keep you from activities like playing sports, going out for a run, or even going for a relaxing stroll. If you recently sprained your ankle, you’re probably wondering what you need to do to be sure it heals well,...

Think of how often you stand up, walk, and participate in other physical activities. Every time you stand up or bear weight, your feet are tasked with safely moving your entire body from place to place. When you’re carrying excess weight, it takes more work for your feet to take...

An ingrown toenail is extremely painful, and if you’re prone to getting recurring ones, it can be a nuisance. Podiatrists Ryan Golub, DPM, and Zachary Flynn, DPM, AACFAS, of Arizona Foot Health in Phoenix, Arizona, can always treat your ingrown toenail, but you’re probably hoping to avoid the trouble of...

Achilles tendinitis is a painful condition that can cause irritation in your ankle, foot, and back of your leg. If conservative treatments haven’t relieved your symptoms, you might find yourself in significant discomfort that limits your everyday activities. Thankfully, when other treatments haven’t worked for your achilles tendinitis, board-qualified podiatrist...

When you suffer from foot problems, orthotics are a convenient and non-surgical way to treat many painful conditions and foot abnormalities. You’re not alone if you’ve suffered from foot pain and headed to the store to buy a pair of over-the-counter orthotics. The bad news is, orthotics from the store...

When you wake up in the morning, one of the first things you do to start the day is get out of bed. When those first steps are greeted by terrible pain, it can make it hard to start your routine, literally and figuratively, on the right foot. Foot pain...

Participating in sports and other athletic activities is a fun way to stay fit, make friends, and keep your competitive juices flowing at any age. Whether you’re an elite athlete or participate in the occasional pick-up game, one of the best ways to prevent injury is to wear the right...

It doesn’t matter if you’re an Olympic athlete or lead a sedentary lifestyle, you might find yourself unexpectedly nursing a sprained ankle. Sprained ankles are very common injuries, and often all it takes to develop a sprain is one awkward step. If you have the symptoms of a sprained ankle...

If you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis in your ankle or foot, you’ve probably experienced the common symptoms of swelling, tenderness, and foot and ankle pain. What you might not know is that having arthritis can also lead to a higher incidence of fractures. If you have arthritis, it’s important to...

Your feet get you out of bed in the morning and take you where you need to go, making them one of the most important parts of your body. When you get pain in your feet, it can make it extremely difficult to get your to-do list done. Foot pain...

When you’re running to stay healthy and in shape, it can be a shock when the act of running itself causes injuries and physical problems. One of the most common injuries runners experience is painful, black, or blistering toenails. Although running toenail damage can be extremely painful, according to Ryan...

Plantar fasciitis is an excruciatingly painful foot condition. Uncontrolled plantar fasciitis can cause you to have heel pain severe enough that it makes it difficult to comfortably go about your daily routine. If your plantar fasciitis is severe enough to regularly cause you pain and diminish your quality of life,...

Ingrown toenails, which occur when your toenail grows into rather than over your skin, can be excruciatingly painful. An ingrown toenail is usually mild, but when not taken care of, it can make it difficult to walk, and cause infections. An ingrown toenail is an extremely common condition, and you...

If you notice a bony bump protruding out from the bottom of your big toes, you probably have bunions. Initially, bunions can be a mild or purely cosmetic issue, but your bunions can progress to becoming extremely painful and cause alignment problems with your big and second toe. Not all...

Running is a convenient, low-equipment way to stay healthy and fit, but the high impact nature of this exercise means your lower body can literally take a pounding. Knee, foot, and ankle pain can be all-too-common occurrences in runners that might indicate you have an injury. Board-qualified podiatrist Ryan Golub,...

If you live an active lifestyle, sprained ankles can feel like a part of life. This extremely common injury can happen anytime your ankle rolls outward, you land strangely, or you have ankle trauma. You might feel tempted to treat your sprained ankle through home care, especially if you’ve had...

Staying active is one of the best ways to stay physically healthy and mentally engaged. As you run, walk, or participate in the sport of your choice, it’s important to choose the right pair of shoes. Your feet carry your entire body weight while you’re active, so wearing the correct...

If you’ve ever gotten out of bed ready to face the day, only to be met by excruciatingly painful heel pain as you take those first morning steps, you’ve likely experienced plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a painful foot condition that causes the most discomfort when you take your initial...

If you have arthritis, inflammation, stiffness, and pain in your affected joints can feel like a constant companion. You might even wonder if you’ll need to undergo joint replacement surgery to relieve your symptoms. Luckily, an innovative and scientifically-backed treatment using a common spice in your cupboard, turmeric, just might...

Walking is an excellent way to get into shape and maintain your health. It’s low impact, requires no special equipment, and can be started safely by almost anyone. If you’re thinking about starting a walking routine or hoping to improve your overall fitness, you might be wondering how many steps...

When you suffer from pain every time you take a step, it can significantly diminish your quality of life. No matter what the cause of it is, heel pain is uncomfortable at best and at worst, it can keep you off your feet entirely. Heel pain is a symptom that...

Our ankles bear our full body weight when we move, so it’s no surprise they can be prone to injury. Sprained ankles can happen to anyone, and they’re especially common if you regularly play sports that involve jumping, foot rolling, or twisting your feet. Usually, you experience symptoms of your...

Did you know that your feet have 25% of all the bones in your body? That’s a whopping 52 bones. Each foot also has 19 muscles, 33 joints, and 107 ligaments. With so many working parts, it’s no wonder that nearly 75% of the men and women in the United...

Made up of 26 bones and more than 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons, your feet support the weight of your entire body, day in and day out. They take a beating when you literally pound the pavement walking down the street, on a tennis court, or on a dance floor....

Is your big toe gradually angling over toward your second toe? If so, you’re probably also noticing a bony bump at the base of your big toe. This is the classic progression of a burgeoning bunion. For many, it’s a cosmetic concern. But it’s also a problematic protrusion that makes...

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most frequently reported foot complaints. If you feel pain in your heel when you first stand up in the morning or after you’ve been sitting for some time, you may be experiencing plantar fasciitis.  What is plantar fasciitis?  There’s a thick band of tissue...

A sprained ankle is a very typical sports injury that can happen when you play basketball, football, soccer, or tennis. But it can also happen in the most mundane way. If you miss a step, roll your ankle, or just land on it awkwardly, it’s an easy joint to injure. ...

A burning sensation in your feet can be quite uncomfortable—even painful—and make it hard to get through your day. Some people pass this off as a minor issue or try to treat it at home. But the truth is, if you’re consistently experiencing a feeling of burning in your feet,...

If you travel a lot, and especially if you’re a frequent flyer, you’ve probably experienced the phenomenon that causes your feet and ankles to swell while traveling. This condition is relatively harmless for most individuals, but in some cases, it can be a problem, especially if you are prone to...

As the weather gets warmer, many people will find themselves in sandals, flip flops, and open-toed shoes. The last thing we want is yellow and ugly looking toenails. Nail fungus is not a pleasant thing to look at. While it’s not pretty, it’s a very common condition. It can start...

You have a bunion and it isn’t pretty, but if your bunion is small enough, or doesn’t hurt, you may be tempted to ignore it. Unfortunately, bunions are a progressive foot deformity that only worsens if not treated. At Arizona Foot Health, PC, we know that treating bunions sooner rather...

Ankles that feel wobbly and weak are vulnerable to injury. If you play sports, run, jump, or just walk often, you need strong ankles to support your entire kinetic chain. You may find weak ankles roll often or are subject to sprains. Even if your ankles feel pretty stable, it’s...

In most cases, you can nurse an ingrown toenail at home with over-the-counter pain medication, topical antibiotic creams, and soaking to help get your toenail back on course to grow above the skin. But if your ingrown toenail is causing a lot of pain and you’re tempted to perform “bathroom...

When moderate interventions, such as wearing wider shoes or using pads in your shoes, fail to ease your bunion pain and discomfort, Dr. Golub may recommend surgery to remove the bony bump. Surgery is usually a last resort, but it may be your best option when you have foot pain...

Would you ever imagine that custom foot orthotics could improve your quality of life? That’s what many people say after they experience relief from a variety of pain and other symptoms when they wear their orthotics. Dr. Ryan Golub, team podiatrist for the Phoenix Suns, provides individualized foot and ankle...