Dr. Kirell took care of a hammer toe that had become painful, as well as a bunion and toes that were beginning to get entwined under local anesthesia while we chatted. Actually, I was doing most of the talking. While you have to have several tiny pricks to numb the foot, once that is complete the surgery is totally painless--and for me so was my foot when the numbness wore off. The procedure is unlike traditional toe surgery which requires being put under, much more cutting, and thus a much longer recovery time. I walked out of his office; there was the slightest pain when the anesthesia wore off and I took OTC (naproxen aka Aleve) twice. But I also could have taken nothing, the twinges were so mild. I walked immediately on the foot. Swelling for me was pretty much limited to the hammer toe itself and not great. His surgery is unlike what nearly all the other podiatrists and surgeons are doing who advertise "minimal surgery." Using a fine drill, he pulverizes a bit of the misshapen bone, and the toe straightens out. I've had other foot surgery that was much more invasive, painful and had a longer recovery time. He explains what he is doing in detail. This type of foot surgery in common in Europe, and it's taking the American profession longer to adopt it, which is a shame. I cannot applaud Dr. Kirell's new method enough. It is a shame that the profession is lagging in adopting his methods. read more
