Nail Fungus
Many people don't realize they have a fungal nail problem. Moreover, many do don't seek treatment. Still, fungal toenail infections are a common foot health problem.

Fungal Nail Treatments
Left untreated, fungal nail infections can affect the entire nail and surrounding skin.

Conventional treatment of such infections may include the following:

Anti-fungal pills.
Anti-fungal creams, lotions, gels.
Surgical removal of the infected nail.
People with nail infections sometimes treat them using one of these methods or a combination of therapies.

NOW LASER TREATMENT

If you have a nail that is discolored or damaged but not painful, you may opt for simple over-the-counter treatments.
We have a higher strength fungal cream available in the office. It is wise to use a topical to keep the fungal spore (seeds) count down. Early treatment can stop the infection from causing serious and often permanent damage to the nail.

A small percentage of fungal nail infections affect the surface of the nail, are within the nail itself, or occur in the skin at the base of the nail.

In our experience, the pills and laser have been the only treatments that can help straighten though curling toe nail.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy involves freezing a wart using a very cold substance (usually liquid nitrogen or Nitrous Oxide). Cryotherapy is a standard treatment for warts and can be done in a doctor's office. It usually takes less than a minute.

During the procedure, the doctor applies 2mm (1/16th")focused spray of liquid Nitrous Oxide to the wart using a micro jet probe. A numbing drug (local anesthetic) is sometimes used.

Most cryotherapy treatment requires return visits to ensure that the wart is completely removed.

Studies show that cryotherapy is successful about two-thirds of the time, and when combined with salicylic acid treatment, up to 78% of the time.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave

Dr. Shoemaker does both high energy focused ECSW therapy and in office low energy radial shock wave therapy.

The high energy is usually one treatment requiring an anesthic while the low energy is usually done without anesthesia and requires around 3 visits.

We find it very helpful to use the low energy shock wave with a Laser to treatment many soft tissue problems like plantar fascitis, neuromas and joint problems, to decrease pain and improve range of motion.