At Syracuse Podiatry, located in Fayetteville, New York, we want to make sure that you are receiving the appropriate treatment for all of your foot and ankle needs. Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico is trained to carry out several different therapeutic procedures to relieve your pain or discomfort. However, certain conditions respond best to specific therapies. Here are the key differences between some of the most common foot and ankle therapies:

1. Cryotherapy is the use of a substance, such as liquid nitrogen, to freeze and deaden the tissue of skin growths like warts. Some warts require several treatments of applying the substance directly onto the affected area, but often heal within a few weeks.

1. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is used to treat plantar fasciitis that does not respond to conventional treatment. The plantar fascia is the fibrous tissue that supports the arch of the foot and can become inflamed. This treatment uses shock waves to subject the tissue to a small amount of trauma and induce it to heal and repair correctly.

1. Iontophoresis can be used to treat excessively sweaty feet. This therapy can be completed in short sessions and involves passing a light electrical current through water and into the feet. The current then blocks the sweat before it reaches the skin’s surface.

1. Neurolysis is used to treat neuromas, which are benign nerve tumors that form as a result of irritation from the surrounding tissues. Injecting the affected nerve with a mixture of ethanol and an anesthetic will temporarily destroy its fibers and relieve pain.

1. Finally, physical therapy is used to heal and recover from a long-term foot or ankle injury or surgery. Physical therapy includes targeted exercises that will help the patient strengthen muscles, gain flexibility, and improve balance.

Dr. D’Amico is prepared to use some of these non-surgical therapies to accelerate your road to recovery. However, he also specializes in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, so people of all ages in Central New York should seek his assistance, no matter how serious the issue. Dr. D’Amico can also provide relief for ulcers, bunions, hammertoe, and much more. For questions or for appointments, you can contact us or call us at (315) 446-3668!