Dr Lukasz Sempka

30/10/2025

Look, I have a degree and over 25 years of practice, but apparently, my 5-year-old patient is the true expert on how to debride a lesion. 🤷‍♀️ Getting a kid to accept podiatry advice is a two-step process:

Convince them you're a qualified professional.

Pray they don't injure themselves attempting to "do it better" themselves. It's an exhausting, hilarious, and necessary part of the job!

(But I Play One On TV)

21/09/2025

So this 40 something guy woke up in the middle of the night, and it felt like his big toe has decided to audition for a role as a throbbing, fiery demon.

Congrats, you might have gout! It's basically your body throwing a surprise party for itself—and the surprise is a bunch of painful, needle-like crystals made of uric acid. Fun, right?

So, what’s the plan to kick this unwanted guest out?

Medication: The Party Crashers

NSAIDs & Colchicine: Think of these as bouncers. They show up, calm the chaos, and tell the pain to take a hike.

Allopurinol & Febuxostat: These are the long-term security guards. They work behind the scenes to keep the uric acid levels low, so the party never even starts.

Lifestyle Changes: The Sobering Up Act

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: Drink water like it's your job. It helps flush those pesky crystals out before they can cause trouble.

Dietary Tweaks: Time to break up with your favorite purine-rich foods. This means saying "see ya" to red meat and "so long" to beer. Your taste buds might be sad, but your toe will thank you.

Move It: Light exercise can help keep your joints happy and your weight in check, which also helps prevent future flare-ups.

If your big toe is still giving you the silent treatment (or the loud, painful kind), it's time to call in the professionals. A doctor can help you get the right meds and a plan to ensure your toe doesn’t turn into a volcanic eruption again.

19/09/2025

Some use Shockwave and some use High Level Laser but very few use both at the same time for soft tissue injuries.

Yes I have delicate hands that hurt if I have to do deep tissue work all day so I haves these expensive toys...I mean tools

Shockwave or High Level Laser therapy - Why Choose Both? A Synergistic Approach 🤝

While both therapies are highly effective on their own, we often use them in combination for a synergistic effect. Shockwave therapy addresses the structural damage by breaking down scar tissue and stimulating new growth, while High-Level Laser Therapy tackles the cellular repair and inflammation from a different angle.

By combining the two, we can create a comprehensive treatment plan that targets your injury from multiple fronts, leading to a faster, more complete recovery.

If you're struggling with a soft tissue injury, don't wait. Contact Lane Cove Podiatry today to find out if Shockwave and High-Level Laser Therapy are the right choice for you!

What is Shockwave Therapy? 💥
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) uses acoustic waves (sound waves) to stimulate the body's natural healing processes. The device delivers these high-energy waves to the injured area, causing a controlled microtrauma. This microtrauma triggers the body to increase blood circulation and metabolic activity, which in turn promotes the release of growth factors and the formation of new blood vessels.

Advantages of Shockwave Therapy for Soft Tissue Injuries
Accelerated Healing: By stimulating cellular repair and new tissue growth, it helps speed up the healing process, getting you back on your feet faster.

Pain Reduction: The therapy can decrease nerve signals that transmit pain, providing immediate and long-lasting relief from chronic pain.

Breaks Down Scar Tissue: It's highly effective at breaking down calcifications and fibrotic (scar) tissue that can limit mobility and cause chronic pain.

Non-Invasive and Safe: Unlike surgery, it doesn't require incisions or anesthesia. It's a low-risk procedure with minimal side effects.

Effective for Chronic Conditions: It's particularly useful for conditions that have not responded to other treatments, such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and shin splints.

What is Shockwave Therapy? 💥
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) uses acoustic waves (sound waves) to stimulate the body's natural healing processes. The device delivers these high-energy waves to the injured area, causing a controlled microtrauma. This microtrauma triggers the body to increase blood circulation and metabolic activity, which in turn promotes the release of growth factors and the formation of new blood vessels.

Advantages of Shockwave Therapy for Soft Tissue Injuries
Accelerated Healing: By stimulating cellular repair and new tissue growth, it helps speed up the healing process, getting you back on your feet faster.

Pain Reduction: The therapy can decrease nerve signals that transmit pain, providing immediate and long-lasting relief from chronic pain.

Breaks Down Scar Tissue: It's highly effective at breaking down calcifications and fibrotic (scar) tissue that can limit mobility and cause chronic pain.

Non-Invasive and Safe: Unlike surgery, it doesn't require incisions or anesthesia. It's a low-risk procedure with minimal side effects.

Effective for Chronic Conditions: It's particularly useful for conditions that have not responded to other treatments, such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and shin splints.

What is High-Level Laser Therapy? ✨
High-Level Laser Therapy (HLLT), also known as Class IV Laser Therapy, uses a powerful beam of light to pe*****te deep into the tissues. This light energy is absorbed by the cells, stimulating them to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell. This increase in cellular energy enhances the cell's ability to repair itself.

Advantages of High-Level Laser Therapy for Soft Tissue Injuries
Reduces Inflammation and Swelling: The laser light has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, helping to reduce swelling and pain in the injured area.

Speeds Up Tissue Repair: By increasing ATP production, it gives cells the energy they need to regenerate and repair damaged tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Pain Management: The therapy can block pain signals and stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, providing immediate relief.

Improves Blood Flow: It promotes vasodilation, which increases blood flow to the injured area, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen for healing.

Versatile Treatment: It's an excellent option for a wide range of soft tissue injuries, including sprains, strains, bruising, and post-operative healing.

15/09/2025

It's been just over a year since we brought Street Side Medics to Victoria with the opening of our Bourke Street clinic, and what a year it’s been. 🎉

Huge thank you to everyone who has supported and volunteered with us over the last 12 months, your commitment has made a real difference, and we’re grateful to continue this work together in Victoria. 🤝❤️

11/09/2025

🧐 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CZwrEqErj/

These are scans of a 30 year old male who has lived with hip pain all his life thanks to Hip Dysplasia. Now he is starting to experience ankle and heel pain, all on the affected side.
Our scans and analysis helps paint a better picture and helps to answer the questions why exercises aren't helping with the pain.

04/09/2025

Working with interesting people allows me to learn about interesting places.

Did you know that The Dolomites are a stunning mountain range located in northeastern Italy. They are a part of the Southern Limestone Alps?

Specifically, they span across three Italian regions:
Veneto
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Friuli-Venezia Giulia

The range is known for its dramatic, jagged peaks, and it's easily accessible from major cities like Venice and Innsbruck (in Austria)

🌊: Millions of years ago, the Dolomites were actually a tropical sea filled with coral reefs! You can still find fossilized shells and marine life within the rocks, a testament to their ancient past.

02/09/2025

Its definitely a cross between engineering, carpentry, Ikea & lego assembly

26/07/2025

Finally the dad bod will become an investment for your future! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16zxWCqggR/

Polish scientists at Jagiellonian University have developed a revolutionary stem cell therapy that could heal joint damage, potentially restoring mobility for millions suffering from osteoarthritis.

Full story: https://tvpworld.com/88035698/

19/07/2025

Congratulations to Kelty for completing the Sutherland to Surf. I told you you could do it.

16/07/2025

The one this that they don’t teach you at Podiatry school is the art of persuasion. You can be the most brilliant diagnostician, finished your degree with honors & Masters & even completed your PhD but if your patient doesn’t trust you, you’re done.
Yes this is me negotiating & talking him through the procedure before he does it himself. Actually did a better job then some of the podiatrists that have practiced for years.
I’ve added the video in the comments…

14/07/2025

🚨 "ATTENTION ALL PRACTITIONERS: PODIATRISTS, PHYSIOS & MASSAGE THERAPISTS!" 🚨 This is a PSA that could save a life!

The photos accompanying this post show the foot of a 70-year-old woman. Like many of us, she didn't often check the soles of her feet. And honestly, who does?

What looks like innocent brown smears were sadly overlooked by her previous podiatrist. While I'm no expert, if something looks off, always, **ALWAYS** recommend a review by a qualified skin specialist – a dermatologist.

Turns out, these painless, "harmless" discolorations were **MELANOMA**. 😱

Why Are Regular Skin Checks Your Best Defense Against Melanoma?

Living in sunny Australia, we're blessed with our outdoor lifestyle. But with that sun comes a big responsibility: protecting our skin! Australia has some of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, making regular skin checks an absolute must.

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. Here’s why early detection is EVERYTHING:

1. Early Detection is Key to Survival: Seriously, this is the biggest reason. Catching melanoma early means simpler treatment and a much higher survival rate. Delays can allow it to spread, making treatment way more complex.
2. Melanoma Can Be Tricky: Not all melanomas are "ugly duckling" moles. They can appear in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes – some even lack pigment, making them super hard to spot with the naked eye. Professional checks use specialized tools (like dermatoscopes!) to see what we can't.
3. You Can't See Everything! It's practically impossible to thoroughly check every inch of your own skin. That's where trained eyes come in!

For Practitioners: Your role is vital! You often see parts of the body patients don't. If in doubt, refer it out!
For Everyone Else: Make skin checks a priority, especially for those hard-to-see spots!

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Stay safe, stay vigilant! Share this post to help spread awareness!

29/05/2025

We thank you all for your support, encouragement and confidence. Joanna Kowalska have been so happy to be welcomed to the tribe. We will keep you posted on the results.