The Foot & Ankle Specialist Dr Bob Baravarian

📌Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: www.docsfootankle.comMost people with a bunion do one of two things: buy wider shoes and wait, or skip straight to surgery without understanding what else is available.After 25 years and over 20,000 bunion surgical cases, I know exactly which starting moves save people years of unnecessary treatment and which ones let the deformity keep progressing underneath. There is one piece of information almost nobody gets before they start treating a bunion. Without it, every treatment decision is a guess.In this episode, I'm going to walk you through exactly what I would do first if I had a bunion, in the order I would do it, and why each step sets up the next one.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 If I Had a Bunion, This Is Exactly What I'd Do First0:51 Why wider shoes reduce pain but do not slow the deformity 2:32 Why orthotics prescribed without imaging are expensive guesses 3:52 Four questions that tell you where your bunion sits on the severity spectrum 4:49 Why delaying the decision makes the surgery more complex 5:24 The one step I would not skip before any treatment 6:23 Why weight-bearing X-ray matters: the bone angle changes when you stand 7:25 What the imaging reveals and which path follows from each result 8:28 Modern bunion correction without metal hardware 8:45 Three things to do tonight to get started❓ QUESTIONS ANSWEREDIs a weight-bearing X-ray really necessary before treating a bunion? Yes. A bunion behaves differently when the foot is under load. The bone angle on a standing X-ray is not the same as what shows on a table, and that difference changes the treatment recommendation. Any provider making a plan without that image is treating a foot they have never actually seen.Can a bunion be treated without surgery? It depends on severity, which is exactly why imaging comes first. A mild bunion with a mobile joint has real conservative options including proper orthotics, targeted footwear changes, and regenerative injections to slow progression. A severe bunion with narrowing joint space is a surgical conversation, and the longer that decision is delayed, the more complex the procedure becomes.📱 RESOURCES Website: docsfootankle.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-baravarian-a49872354/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/lafootankle_surgeon/🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPM Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.#HeelPain #PlantarFasciitis #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

📌Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.comYou've rolled the same ankle more than once. You did the exercises, wore the brace, and waited. Then it happened again.That pattern is not bad luck and it is not a weakness problem. Every repeat sprain is adding damage to a ligament that no amount of strengthening was ever going to fix.In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the 5 warning signs that separate a normal sprain from structural ligament damage, why standard physical therapy keeps failing for this specific group of patients, and exactly what to ask for before your next appointment.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 5 Warning Signs Your Ankle Sprain Is Doing Permanent Damage0:47 Why the standard RICE protocol fails for repeat sprains 1:45 Why strengthening exercises cannot fix a torn ligament 2:51 The lateral ankle triad: what most practitioners miss entirely 3:40 How untreated ankle instability becomes surgery you could have avoided 4:54 Why the window to fix this cleanly is closing 5:38 The 5 warning signs of structural ligament damage 7:16 What to do if you recognized yourself in those signs 8:27 The imaging you need: stress X-rays and ligament MRI 10:22 How to protect your ankle right now while you get the right assessment❓ QUESTIONS ANSWEREDWhy does my ankle keep spraining in the same spot? Repeat sprains to the same ankle point to structural ligament damage, not weakness. A torn ligament does not rebuild the way muscle does, so strengthening exercises cannot stabilize a joint where the ligament is no longer structurally intact.What tests should I ask for after recurrent ankle sprains? Ask specifically for stress X-rays and an MRI of the ankle ligament. Stress X-rays show whether the joint is mechanically stable under load, and an MRI shows the actual condition of the ligament tissue. These two together give a clear picture of what is structurally happening.Should I keep doing physical therapy if my ankle keeps giving out? Not without first confirming the ligament is structurally intact. PT for a misdiagnosed ligament tear does not fix the underlying instability. If the ankle has failed to stabilize after a genuine trial of conservative treatment, get proper imaging before continuing the same protocol.📱 RESOURCES Website: docsfootankle.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-baravarian-a49872354/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/lafootankle_surgeon/🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPM Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.#HeelPain #PlantarFasciitis #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

📌Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.comMost patients are told bunion surgery means weeks on crutches, permanent metal in the foot, and possibly a second surgery later to remove it. That picture is based on how the procedure was done years ago. The hardware has been replaced, the recovery is fundamentally different, and most patients considering surgery never hear about any of this before they sign a consent form.In this episode, I'm going to walk you through why standard bunion surgery still uses hardware that should already be obsolete, what the recovery actually looks like with the newer approach, and the four specific questions to ask your surgeon before agreeing to any procedure.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Why the cure sounds almost as bad as the problem1:20 Why metal fixation was the gold standard and why that has changed3:00 What metal hardware does inside the body once the bone has healed3:26 How OssioFiber integrates completely into bone and then disappears4:11 Why metal hardware is a major reason bunion surgery recovery is so painful5:35 How bio-integrative fixation gets stronger over time instead of loosening6:57 How to tell in your consultation whether your surgeon is using current hardware9:10 The four questions to ask before signing anything11:24 What bunion surgery recovery actually looks like when it is done right❓ QUESTIONS ANSWEREDWhy do some bunion surgeries require a second procedure to remove the hardware?Metal has no function once the bone has healed, but it remains in the foot permanently as a foreign object. Over time it can cause inflammation, cold sensitivity, or loosen out of position, and that typically requires a second surgery to remove screws or plates that are now causing problems.What is bio-integrative fixation and how does it differ from metal screws?Bio-integrative fixation like OssioFiber holds the bone in place with strength that matches or exceeds metal, then integrates completely into the bone over approximately two years. There is nothing left to remove, nothing for the body to react to, and no hardware remaining in the foot.How do I know if my surgeon is offering the most current approach?Ask directly whether metal-free or bio-integrative fixation is available for your specific procedure and what happens to the hardware once the bone heals. If those questions are dismissed without a clear explanation, that is worth a second opinion before you consent to anything.📱 RESOURCESWebsite: docsfootankle.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-baravarian-a49872354/IG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPMDr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.#BunionSurgery #GhostBunionectomy #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

📌Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.comYour plantar fasciitis treatment is not working because you may not have plantar fasciitis. Every month spent treating the wrong structure is another month the nerve becomes more sensitized and harder to treat.In this episode, I'm going to walk you through why this misdiagnosis keeps happening, how to tell which structure is actually driving your heel pain using three diagnostic questions you can answer right now, and what needs to change if the nerve is involved.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 The heel pain misdiagnosis that keeps patients stuck for months1:12 Why plantar fasciitis and calcaneal nerve entrapment feel identical2:04 How stretching and cortisone make nerve entrapment progressively worse3:13 Why the plantar fasciitis label shuts down the diagnostic process4:27 What I keep finding when patients arrive after months of failed treatment5:23 Three questions that tell you which problem you actually have6:39 What two or more yes answers mean about your next step7:03 Why nerve pain becomes harder to treat the longer it goes unaddressed8:28 One position change tonight that reduces first-morning heel pain❓ QUESTIONS ANSWEREDCan nerve entrapment feel exactly like plantar fasciitis?Yes. The calcaneal nerve runs alongside the plantar fascia, and when compressed, it sends pain to the exact same location. The distinguishing signs are a burning or tingling quality and pain that extends toward the inner ankle rather than staying in one tight spot.What happens if calcaneal nerve entrapment goes untreated?The nerve becomes progressively more sensitized. Pain can spread, intensify, and become harder to treat over time. Patients who finally get the right diagnosis after a year of treating the wrong structure are significantly harder to treat than those who get there early.How do I know if my heel pain is the nerve or the fascia?Look for burning, tingling, or an electric quality to the pain, and check whether it extends toward the inner ankle. If consistent plantar fascia treatment has failed after three or more months of real compliance, nerve tension testing and ultrasound imaging are the right next steps before any more treatment.📱 RESOURCESWebsite: docsfootankle.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPMDr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.#HeelPain #PlantarFasciitis #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

📌 Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.comIf your doctor recommended a steroid shot for your heel pain, watch this before you say yes. After 25 years and more than 25,000 procedures, I started seeing a pattern I could not ignore. Repeated cortisone shots were leaving patients worse off than when they started.In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the three reasons steroid shots keep failing heel pain patients, what they are actually doing to your tissue over time, and what treatment looks like when the goal is real repair, not temporary relief.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Why a Foot Surgeon Stopped Recommending Cortisone Shots for Heel Pain1:07 Reason 1: Steroid Shots Mute the Pain Signal Without Healing the Tissue2:05 Why Repeated Injections Make Your Plantar Fascia Progressively Worse2:51 Reason 2: Cortisone Near the Achilles Is Directly Linked to Tendon Rupture4:21 The Patient Pattern That Made Me Stop Giving These Shots5:24 Reason 3: Three Types of Heel Pain and How to Tell Them Apart7:29 Why Ultrasound Imaging Must Come Before Any Injection8:16 The Fascia Load Protocol You Can Start Tonight10:15 Regenerative Alternatives That Actually Repair the Tissue❓ QUESTIONS ANSWEREDDo steroid injections fix plantar fasciitis?No. Steroid shots reduce inflammation temporarily but do nothing about the mechanical stress causing the problem. Repeated injections weaken the tissue itself, leaving patients in worse shape than when they started.Can a cortisone shot cause Achilles tendon rupture?Yes. Corticosteroids break down the collagen fibers in the tendon, making it structurally weaker even after the pain is gone. Patients who return to full activity after a shot are loading a tendon that has lost some of its structural integrity.How do I know if my heel pain is plantar fasciitis, a nerve problem, or an Achilles issue?Pain worst on first steps in the morning on the bottom of the heel points toward the plantar fascia. Burning, tingling, or numbness along the heel points toward nerve entrapment, which is frequently misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis.📱 RESOURCESWebsite: docsfootankle.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPMDr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.#HeelPain #PlantarFasciitis #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle