- Warts
- ArthritisArthritis causes inflammation, stiffness, and pain around the joints. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are common in the ankle and foot – especially at the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the big toe, where the toe bone connects to the rest of the foot.
- Plantar FasciitisPlantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. It can also cause pain in the arch of the foot. The pain is usually sharp and localized and more prevalent with the first steps in the morning, after awakening from sleep.
- Primary CareIf your insurance is an HMO/managed care plan and you are required to obtain a referral from your primary care physician, the referral must be obtained before you can be seen for an office visit. Please coordinate this with your primary care physician in advance. Appointments will be rescheduled if required referrals are not received in the office by the time of your visit.
- Emergency CareIn the event of a life-threatening medical emergency, call emergency medical services at 911 immediately. DO NOT WAIT! Inform the emergency room staff that you are a patient of The Podiatry Group of South Texas and they will contact us.
- Diabetic Foot CareBoard-Eligible Podiatric Surgeon Dr. Rolando Santellana received his bachelor of science in biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2007 and his doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, in 2014. Dr. Santellana completed his residency training at Kingwood Medical Center in Kingwood, Texas, in 2017. He served as chief resident of podiatry and received specialized training in foot and ankle trauma, reconstructive Charcot foot surgery, diabetic foot care, and limb salvage. Dr. Santellana is eligible for board certification in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Areas of Interest...
- Carpal Tunnel SyndromeMuch like the more well-known carpal tunnel syndrome, pain symptoms occur when the tibial nerve is compressed as it travels through the tarsal tunnel. It can become compressed due to a variety of issues, such as inflammation of a nearby tendon or blood vessel, arthritis or diabetes, abnormal growths such as a bone spur, or an arch that is too high or has fallen resulting in flatfoot.
- Mental HealthThis Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations (TPO) and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. "Protected health information" is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services.
- Diabetes Care
- UltrasoundThis noninvasive treatment involves gently moving a device outside the skin of the foot – similar to how an ultrasound is used – delivering sound waves that stimulate healing. The sound waves are higher-energy pulses than is used with lower-energy therapeutic ultrasound.
- X-Rays
- ArthroscopyArthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique that involves using a smaller incision and tiny instruments that allow your doctor to fix your foot or ankle problem with the least amount of trauma to surrounding healthy tissue. This usually means a faster recovery period, as well as less post-operative pain and scarring. Ask your podiatrist whether you are a candidate to have your foot or ankle surgery performed arthroscopically.
- Wound CareEven small open sores on the feet need to be properly cared for in diabetic patients. These areas will need to be cleaned and bandaged. Any dead or infected skin tissue is removed and, if an infection is involved, a culture can identify the type of infection and whether medication such as an antibiotics needed to properly treat it.
- Ankle SurgeryIn some cases, the entire foot may be affected. Whether or not you need foot or ankle surgery will depend on the type and extent of injury you sustained, how severe your symptoms are, and whether other treatment methods may work for you.
- Bunion SurgeryBunion surgery is not a quick fix. Although surgery can restore pain-free mobility, recovery may take as long as six months or more. While there are several surgical approaches for correcting or removing a bunion, surgery typically involves realigning the bones of the big toe joint and repairing soft tissue (tendons and ligaments) surrounding the big toe. In some cases, the surgeon may also remove the bony bump.Surgery to correct a bunion is a last resort. Sometimes called a bunionectomy, it is recommended only when your bunion causes significant pain and interferes with your daily activities, or when the deformity becomes so severe that the big toe crosses over the second toe. Your podiatrist will examine your foot and let you know if you are a candidate for surgery.
- Joint Replacement
- BunionsMany people, especially older adults, have bunions – the painful, bony bump that can develop along the inside of the foot at the base of the big toe. It results in a telltale inward bend of the big toe. The bunion itself may be red and tender to the touch.
- GangreneAmputation may be required to prevent the spread of gangrene, or tissue death due to a lack of blood flow to the area. A gangrenous infection is considered a medical emergency because it can spread throughout the body and can cause a fatal shock if not immediately treated. The good news is that most amputations are preventable with proper foot care and routine visits to a podiatrist.
- Arthroscopy
- Ingrown ToenailsProperly trim toenails. Regularly trimming your toenails can help prevent ingrown toenails. This involves cutting straight across the nail; the toenail should not curve.
- Reconstructive SurgeryReconstructive surgery may be required if the damage is severe. If not, immobilization (as with casts, boots, or braces) and custom orthotics may help weakened bones repair themselves. Keeping weight off the foot while it heals can have a significant impact on your recovery as well.
- CornsSmooth corns and calluses carefully. Corns and calluses on the feet can break down and become foot ulcers. Trimming corns and calluses can help prevent this; have it done by a professional, such as a podiatrist. Using a pumice stone on wet skin every day can keep calluses, especially, from getting out of control. Whatever you do, don’t use chemical or medicated products to remove corns and calluses on your feet because these may burn the skin without your realizing it.
- UlcerFoot ulcers are open sores on the skin of the foot. These tend to develop on the ball of the foot or at the bottom of the big toe – areas that absorb the most pressure when walking. Trauma and circulatory problems cause skin tissue to break down in a particular spot, creating the ulcer.
- CallusesHammertoe and Mallet Toe: These toe deformities cause one or more toes to bend downward due to a contraction in the middle joint of the toe (hammertoe) or the joint at the end of the toe (mallet toe). The conditions typically affect the second, third, or fourth toes and may be accompanied by pain and stiffness of the affected toe. Corns and calluses may develop.
- Sports MedicineCar accidents, falls, and sports injuries are the most common causes of foot trauma and fracture. In addition, certain medical conditions such as arthritis can weaken bones, making them more likely to sustain a fracture.
- Physical TherapyTreatment involves addressing the cause of the joint damage and treating symptoms. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, this may include medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
- Flatfoot Correction
- Heel Pain
- Ankle SprainIt is usually obvious when you’ve sprained an ankle. You may feel pain and the area can be tender to the touch. Swelling is common. In the majority of cases, it is the outside of the ankle that is affected in an ankle sprain.
- Orthotics and Prosthetic Therapy
- General PodiatryThe Podiatry Group of South Texas strives to ensure that its services are accessible to people with disabilities. The Podiatry Group of South Texas has invested a significant amount of resources to help ensure that its website is made easier to use and more accessible for people with disabilities, with the strong belief that every person has the right to live with dignity, equality, comfort and independence.
- Achilles TendonitisAchilles tendonitis may also occur in children as they go through growth spurts, during which the calf muscles and Achilles tendon may become tight, putting stress on the heel.
- Ankle InstabilityRepair damaged bones and soft tissue. This may include fixation or fusion for foot and ankle fractures, or joint replacement for arthritis. Ligament reconstruction can help patients with chronic ankle instability. More complex reconstructive surgery may be required to correct deformities such as Charcot foot, a serious complication of diabetes.
- Ankle SprainWhen children suffer from foot or ankle injuries or disorders, it takes a specialist who understands pediatric bone development to properly treat the problem.
- Bunions ProblemsA bunion is a misalignment of bones in the big toe joint that gets progressively worse over time. Bunions occur most often in females as a result of wearing tight, ill-fitting shoes – especially those with a narrow, pointed toe box that is common with high heels. This shoe design forces the toes into an unnatural position and shifts the bones that form the big toe joint out of place over time. The bone and tissue around the joint become enlarged due to friction and inflammation, resulting in a bunion.
- Calluses
- Diabetic Foot CareA comprehensive foot exam by a qualified, experienced podiatrist is a good place to start when it comes to diabetic foot care. The foot doctors at The Podiatry Group of South Texas know exactly what to look for when examining and caring for the feet of patients with diabetes, and they will let you know how often you should visit for routine, preventive care. An annual exam may be sufficient or you may need more frequent visits.
- Flat FeetPosterior tibial tendonitis – causes pain along the inside of the foot, where the posterior tibial tendon connects bones on the inside of the foot to calf muscles; it can lead to fallen arches (flatfoot)
- HammertoesHammertoe and mallet toe can occur due to genetics, injury, arthritis, imbalance in the toe muscles, and ill-fitting shoes. Wearing roomy shoes can help relieve pain. If you can still bend your toes, your podiatrist might recommend orthotics to reposition the toes and exercises to help stretch the toe muscles. Surgery may be required if the toes become stuck in the bent position.
- Heel SpursHeel spurs are calcium growths that develop on the underside of the heel bone. They often grow as a result of plantar fasciitis. Many people with heel spurs don’t experience any pain. When pain does occur, it is typically due to the soft tissue injury.
- Heel Pain
- Foot InfectionsHigh blood sugar levels also make it difficult to fight infections, meaning little problems can become big problems quickly for diabetics. For example, a blister can become a serious foot infection within days. Tissue death is one of the worst-case complications for people with diabetes because it may require drastic treatment – such as amputation – to avoid the life-threatening spread of gangrene.
- Ingrown ToenailsAn ingrown toenail is just what it sounds like: when the toenail grows into the skin surrounding the toe. Also called onychocryptosis, an ingrown toenail usually affects the big toe.
- Foot Injuries
- Foot NeuromaMorton’s neuroma causes burning pain and numbness between the third and fourth toe and ball of the foot that may radiate into the toes. You may feel as if you are walking on a marble. The condition occurs when tissue surrounding the nerve between the third and fourth toes thickens and compresses a nerve.
- Foot Orthotics
- Pediatric Foot Care
- Plantar FasciitisAnything that strains the fascia can cause plantar fasciitis, including long periods of standing on hard surfaces, inadequate arch support, an uneven gait, and obesity. Tight calf muscles are a common contributor to the problem because they make the ankle less flexible, which in turn tightens the plantar fascia when walking.
- Podiatric DeformitiesFlat feet or foot deformities. Proper arch support is critical for people with fallen arches or genetic flatfoot. Custom-made orthotic devices can help to properly realign the foot to accommodate, correct, or prevent a multitude of structural abnormalities.
- Podiatric SurgeryDr. Konkol received his board certification in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery from the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.