It's unfortunate when you have an ankle or foot injury. It holds you back and ties you down. You then realize how important your feet are.
I've had a periodic issue with my ankles as I injured them every so often when I used to hike religiously. It really didn't help when you're going down those steep stairs at Koko Head or those slippery exposed roots of Kuliouou Ridge. One mistake or mishap and ouch...
For several months I've been dealing with a persistent ankle injury and juggling 2 jobs where one of them has me on my feet sure didn't help. The next thing I know I woke up to a sharp pain on a Friday morning where I had a hard time standing up. In the past, I'd rest my leg by RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), wear a brace and take OTC pain medicine, but after skipping work to implement RICE and medicine for a couple of days, the pain and swelling didn't go away.
It was now time to see a doctor but it was the weekend. I reached out to my sister who is an RN and she re-iterated my options of urgent care or ER, where it wasn't a life or death situation so I waited until Monday morning to call. When I asked my sister who she'd recommend, she advised me to see Dr. Ricky Sukita at Island Foot and Ankle Specialists.
When I called first thing Monday morning to make an appointment with Dr. Sukita, I was advised he was booked solid and his next opening wasn't until later in the week. The thought about waiting several more days with the pain wasn't appealing but fortunately the receptionist gave me the option to see Dr. Kari Tanimoto DPM as she had an opening that morning. I accepted the offer and came here.
Located on the 10th floor of Kuakini Physicians Tower, which is just next to Kuakini Medical Center, Dr. Tanimoto shares the same office as Dr. Sukita. As I arrived shortly before my appointment time, I used the waiting time filling out their forms about my past medical history. I also submitted my ID and health insurance card as requested.
Shortly after completing the form, one of the staff called my name and took my temperature before seeing Dr. Tanimoto. I was escorted to a room, where she came in shortly after being settled in.
I appreciated Dr. Tanimoto asking me multiple questions about my ankle issue and assessed the area that was clearly swollen. She took consideration of the discomfort to diagnose my injury. In the past when I saw a podiatrist, I took an x-ray to see if anything was broken or fractured. My ankle was so uncomfortable with not much improvement that I asked Dr. Tanimoto if she'd recommend me taking an x-ray. For a piece of mind, she agrred and arranged for an x-ray at Kuakini Medical Center.
In order to better secure my ankle, Dr. Tanimoto suggested I wear a walking boot. At first I thought about the attention I'd get from its bulkiness and the inconvenience of this heavy duty boot but then realized how sturdy this is. The boot will allow my ankle to heal faster as well as allow me to transport from point A to point B. My insurance would cover the cost, which was a bonus for me. I also requested if she could write me a prescription as the OTC pain medicine wasn't strong enough.
At first, it was difficult adjusting to the walking boot as my body had to compensate for the extra weight, uneven height and bulkiness where I almost tripped. Both legs became sore as I had to adjust wearing the boot but after time, I realized my ankle couldn't bend or twist so it started to heal.
I'll be frank with my initial impression of Dr. Tanimoto. Because she is young I was somewhat reserved as I questioned her expertise. At times she didn't speak with authority nor confidence so I was a little skeptical but how wrong I was. She clearly is knowledgeable and knows best for the patient.
I just came back from my follow-up appointment where Dr. Tanimoto assessed my ankle and clearly the swelling went down. She did some movement and pressure tests where I didn't experience any pain nor discomfort. She also advised me to make that transition where I'd wear regular shoes for about an hour and then put the boot back on. Dr. Tanimoto brought to my attention that jumping back to normal too soon can backfire so she highly recommended to transition back in multiple stages.
Overall, I was very pleased to have Dr. Tanimoto of Island Foot and Ankle Specialists attend to my ankle and highly recommend others to see her if you have ankle or foot issues. They do accept multiple insurance carriers so call ahead to confirm coverage. Parking is connected to Kuakini Physicians Tower and her office validates your parking ($3).
NOTE: The office sends you a text message the day before as an appointment reminder and provides you a link if you need to change or cancel your appointment. read more