Foot Pain Center of Kansas City

08/25/2025

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in joint tissues and joint fluid, which happens when the body is unable to keep uric acid levels in check. Although gout isn’t a foot condition per se, typically, one of the first places this buildup occurs is in the big toe joint. This is because, temperature-wise, the toes are the body’s coolest parts, and uric acid crystallizes with temperature changes.
You’ll probably know a gout attack when it happens: The joint where the big toe connects to the foot will get hot, red, and swollen and will be painful even to the slightest touch.
You can help reduce your risk of gout attacks by making changes to your diet to avoid foods known to cause a rise in uric acid, like red meat, seafood, and alcohol, particularly beer. Significant consumption of beer or liquor (more than one drink per day) has been linked to an increased risk of an attack of gout.
Maintaining a normal body weight also appears to have a significant effect on preventing gout attacks.
Once you are in the midst of a gout attack, drinking water to keep hydrated and staying in bed may help, but if you have frequent attacks, your doctor will likely refer you to a podiatrist to manage the condition.
Medications for gout are designed to reduce pain or control the body’s production of uric acid to limit the frequency of attacks.
If you are having a gout attack, make an appointment as soon as possible with Dr. Goldstein so you can start on medication to reduce your pain and swelling. 913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

08/08/2025

Children in-toeing and out-toeing

In-toeing and out-toeing refer to the direction your feet point when you walk. In-toeing, also known as pigeon-toed, means your feet point inward. Out-toeing, or duck-footed, means your feet point outward. Both are common in young children as their musculoskeletal system develops, and most cases resolve on their own.

In-toeing (Pigeon-toed):
Feet turn inward instead of straight ahead.
Often seen in young children and usually resolves with growth.
May be caused by the position in the uterus or run in the family.

Out-toeing (Duck-footed):
Feet point outward instead of straight ahead.
Also common in young children and often resolves on its own.
Can be linked to family history or be a variation of normal development.

When to be concerned:
If the condition persists and causes frequent tripping or pain.
If you notice significant differences in gait or posture.
If it doesn't improve with age.

Most cases of in-toeing and out-toeing in children resolve naturally. If you have concerns, consulting with Dr. Jacob Goldstein can help determine if any intervention is necessary. He is able to order gait plate inserts for your child's shoes to help correct their condition.

We have offices in Ottawa and Gardner, 785-893-0494 or 913-856-8150 to schedule an appointment.

07/01/2025

New York Mets starter Griffin Canning had to be helped off the field in the third inning of last Thursday’s win over the Braves. He injured his left leg in what initially seemed to be a small, harmless hop after a Nick Allen chopper to shortstop (video via Awful Announcing). Replay showed Canning’s foot appear to buckle as he hit the ground, immediately raising concern about a potential Achilles tear.

The team initially announced that Canning was being evaluated for a left ankle injury and was headed for an MRI. The club won’t provide a specific diagnosis until the imaging results come back, but manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed postgame that they believe it is an Achilles injury. While there’s no timeline yet, Canning’s season certainly seems to be in jeopardy.

If you have any injury to your Achilles tendon or are having any pain on the back of your ankle, give Dr. Goldstein's office a call today to schedule an appointment to have your pain evaluated. We have offices in Gardner and Ottawa. 913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

05/29/2025

If you're experiencing foot and/or ankle pain, stop by and see Dr. Jacob Goldstein; Gardner's and Ottawa's most trusted podiatrist. We're conveniently located on Main Street at both locations. Call us now for an appointment. 913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

05/12/2025

05/09/2025

What Is Sever's Disease?

Sever's disease is a swelling and irritation of the growth plate in the heel. The growth plate is a layer of cartilage near the end of a bone where most of the bone's growth happens. It is weaker and more at risk for injury than the rest of the bone.

With proper management, Sever's disease usually goes away within a few months and doesn't cause lasting problems.

Symptoms:
Sever's disease usually causes pain or tenderness in one or both heels.
It also can lead to:
swelling and redness in the heel
stiffness in the feet when first waking up
limping, or walking on tiptoes
pain when the heel is squeezed on both sides
Symptoms are usually worse during or after activity and get better with rest.

What Causes Sever's Disease:
Sever's disease happens during the growth spurt of puberty. During a growth spurt, the bones, muscles, and tendons grow at different rates. The muscles and tendons can become tight, pulling on the growth plate in the heel. Activities and sports pull on the tight muscles and tendons, injuring the growth plate. This injury leads to the pain of Sever's disease.

Less often, Sever's disease can happen from standing too long, which puts constant pressure on the heel.

Who Gets Sever's Disease?
Sever's disease usually happens in kids who are:
in their growth spurt (usually 9–14 years old)
active in sports or activities that involve a lot of running or jumping, especially on hard surfaces (such as basketball, gymnastics, and track).

Treatment:
Sever's disease treatment primarily focuses on reducing stress on the heel, managing pain and inflammation, and promoting healing. This typically involves resting from activities that cause pain, using heel cups, physical therapy for stretching and strengthening, and over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs. In severe cases, a short-leg cast or Immobilization boot may be recommended.

If you or your child are experiencing the above symptoms, make an appointment with Dr. Goldstein today. 913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

04/21/2025

Freiberg Disease

Freiberg Disease (Freiberg infraction) is another rare foot disease that flattens the joints in your toes and progresses to arthritis. Freiberg Disease most commonly affects teenage girls during a growth spurt, but can also present in people who have suffered from a variety of factors including trauma, diabetes, blood clots, or other vascular compromise.

Symptoms of Freiberg Disease include:

Localized pain and swelling (gradually occurs).
Feeling like you’re walking on a hard surface, such as stone.
Pain that is worse when walking or wearing heels.
Elevation in the affected toe.
Little to no range of motion in the afflicted toe.

Identifying Freiberg Disease early on can help reduce pain and other symptoms. In most cases, there are both surgical and non-surgical options to treat this disease.

If you are experiencing pain as described above, make an appointment with Dr. Goldstein to address it. We have offices in Gardner and Ottawa. 913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

04/07/2025

Ingrown toenail

An ingrown toenail often affects the big toe, either on one or both sides. The nail curls and pierces the skin which becomes red, swollen and tender.

Symptoms:
Pain if pressure is placed on the toe.
Inflammation of the skin at the end of the toe.
A build-up of fluid (oedema) in the area surrounding the toe.
An overgrowth of skin around the affected toe (hypertrophy)
bleeding.
White or yellow pus coming from the affected area.

Causes of an ingrown toenail:
A number of things can cause an ingrown toenail to develop, including:

Badly cut toenails – cutting your toenails too short, or cutting the edges, will encourage the skin to fold over your nail and the nail to grow into the skin.
Wearing tight-fitting shoes, socks or tights – this places pressure on the skin around your toenail and the skin may be pierced if it’s pressed on to your toenail.
Sweaty feet – if the skin around your toenails is soft, it’s easier for your nail to pierce it and embed itself within it.
Injury – for example, stubbing your toe can sometimes cause an ingrown toenail to develop.
Natural shape of the nail – the sides of curved or fan-shaped toenails are more likely to press into the skin surrounding the nail.

Ingrown toenail surgery
Surgery may be recommended if your toenail doesn’t improve. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, this may involve removing part or all of your toenail.

Partial nail avulsion
Partial nail avulsion removes part of your toenail and is the most common operation for treating ingrown toenails. It’s about 98% effective.
A local anaesthetic is used to numb your toe and the edges of your toenail are cut away. A chemical called phenol is applied to the affected area to prevent the nail growing back and becoming ingrown in the future.
A course of antibiotics may be prescribed if your nail is infected, and any pus will be drained away.

If you are experiencing an ingrown toenail, call Dr. Goldstein's office to set up an appointment. 913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

04/04/2025

Seed corns

Seed corns, also known as porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus, are small, painful, and often frustrating foot conditions. These minuscule, discreet calluses typically appear on the soles of the feet and can be mistaken for small plantar warts due to their size and appearance. Unlike warts, seed corns are usually found in clusters and are more likely to cause discomfort when walking or standing. The name seed corn is derived from their resemblance to tiny seeds, which can make them difficult to detect and remove effectively. While their exact cause is not entirely clear, factors consisting of friction, pressure, or certain types of shoes may contribute to their development. Fortunately, proper foot care, gentle exfoliation, and the use of moisturizing creams can help manage these bothersome seed corns, providing relief and comfort to those affected. If you have developed seed corns, see Dr. Jacob Goldstein for appropriate treatment and long-term prevention.
913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

03/27/2025

Here are the most common foot issues that people have. If you are suffering from any of these problems, make an appointment with Dr. Jacob Goldstein to address them. We have offices in Gardner and Ottawa. 913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

03/24/2025

Osteomyelitis

Toe amputation due to bone infection (osteomyelitis) is a serious, but sometimes necessary, procedure when infections become severe, unresponsive to treatment, and pose a risk to the patient's health.

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection that can spread from a wound or through the bloodstream.
It can lead to bone death (necrosis) if blood flow to the bone is blocked by the infection.

Reasons for amputation include severe infection, extensive damage, gangrene, and limb salvage.

Symptoms include pain, swelling, fever, redness, chills, and fatigue.

Treatments include surgical debridement of the wound, antibiotics, drainage, bone surgery, and long-term care.

If you have a wound on your toe that needs attention, make an appointment with Dr. Jacob Goldstein. We have two offices, Gardner and Ottawa. 913-856-8150 or 785-893-0494

03/20/2025