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Dr. Lee A Wittenberg, DPM

Podiatrist (Foot and Ankle Specialist)

Dr. Lee Wittenberg is a 3 year surgically trained Podiatrist. Dr. Wittenberg is trained in all elements of foot and ankle surgery, wound care and limb salvage, and general Podiatric medicine. Dr. Lee Wittenberg is Board Certified by the American Board of Lower Extremity Surgery, as well as the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgeons. Whether you need clinical treatment with orthotics, Diabetic shoes and insoles, or bracing of the foot and ankle for pathologies such as Drop Foot, Flat Foot reconstructions, care of an injury or fracture, or an ankle sprain, you can find the care you need at Apache Foot & Ankle Specialists. Dr. Wittenberg is also a wound care and limb salvage expert. If you have a long-standing or non-healing wound, Diabetes, or other Dermatologic issues, Apache Foot & Ankle Specialists can help you in those areas. Dr. Wittenberg is kind, compassionate, and ethical, and will always be looking out for the patients' best interests.
Learn More About Me
21 years Experience
Dr. Lee A. Wittenberg, DPM
Specializes in:
  • Foot Injuries and Disorders
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Ohio College of Podiatric Medcine
  • Accepting new patients

Is it normal for my feet to be this cold?

Cold toes and feet occur due to circulatory problems-usually arterial in nature. This can be from a congenital problem with circulation, or it can be from atherosclerosis of the READ MORE
Cold toes and feet occur due to circulatory problems-usually arterial in nature. This can be from a congenital problem with circulation, or it can be from atherosclerosis of the arteries of the leg, foot and ankle (even the arteries in the groin). There are also conditions that are related to Vasospasm, such as Raynaud's disease/phenomenon. The best way to find out what is causing the circulatory issue would be to see a cardiologist who specializes in peripheral circulation, or to visit your local Podiatrist for evaluation

Should I see an orthopedist or podiatrist for ankle pain?

You should see a Podiatrist who is board certified in both Foot surgery and Rearfoot/Ankle surgery and who has done a 3 year surgical residency training for ankle pain. A well-trained READ MORE
You should see a Podiatrist who is board certified in both Foot surgery and Rearfoot/Ankle surgery and who has done a 3 year surgical residency training for ankle pain. A well-trained Podiatrist is much better at evaluating and treating foot and ankle pathologies than any other type of physician

What happens if a heel spur goes untreated?

A 'heel spur' is actually a problem with a ligament. The real name of the problem is 'Plantar Fasciitis.' If this ligament strain goes untreated, it can result in chronic, intermittent READ MORE
A 'heel spur' is actually a problem with a ligament. The real name of the problem is 'Plantar Fasciitis.' If this ligament strain goes untreated, it can result in chronic, intermittent pain and cause difficulty with activity and walking. If the 'spur' is noted on the x-ray, it is a result of inflammation in the area from the ligament strain. If you are not having heel pain, but have been told there is a 'spur,' you do not need any treatment, at all, as the spur is not the actual cause of the pain-it is a result of inflammation around the bone, and causes no harm or pain to the patient.

Knots on the bottom of my feet?

It is very difficult to discern the bumps you're talking about, other than the normal anatomy which is your metatarsal heads (the ball of your foot). As we get older (and your READ MORE
It is very difficult to discern the bumps you're talking about, other than the normal anatomy which is your metatarsal heads (the ball of your foot). As we get older (and your not very old-we are the same age), the fat pad on the ball of the foot wears, or it can get pulled into the sulcus of the toes, which makes the metatarsal heads more prominent, and they may feel 'harder' or like pebbles. Alternatively, you may have a pinched nerve at the ball of your foot, which sometimes is described in the same manner as you are describing your problem. This is called a neuroma. And finally, you may have small, punctate lesions which may be hyperkeratotic (callused) tissue, which are called porokeratosis, and they may feel like pebbles. I would suggest actually visiting a Podiatrist in person to have the problem evaluated. It is too difficult to see what is going on in your picture.

Can you walk after toenail removal?

Yes, you can. And you can wear any shoes afterwards that you are comfortable in

What is ankle/foot orthosis used for?

An AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) is used for several different pathologies of the foot and ankle, and there are different styles/types of AFOs. They are used for Drop Foot, Tendinitis READ MORE
An AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) is used for several different pathologies of the foot and ankle, and there are different styles/types of AFOs. They are used for Drop Foot, Tendinitis of the foot and ankle, malalignment of the joints of the foot and ankle, degeneration of the overall structure of the foot and ankle, and other deformities and pathologies of the foot and ankle.

One toe is freezing and throbbing pain?

Well, temperature changes are usually related to nerve issues and nerve pain. If you had surgery within the past month, as you have stated, you need to see your surgeon, as it READ MORE
Well, temperature changes are usually related to nerve issues and nerve pain. If you had surgery within the past month, as you have stated, you need to see your surgeon, as it could be related to the surgery. Throbbing could be for any number of reasons. I see you're on Oxycontin, which would mean you are taking medication for chronic pain. Chronic pain issues are also often related to the nervous system-but oxycontin is a particularly strong and addictive drug. So whomever prescribed that is another person you should consider seeing. I would have these issues evaluated by your most recent doctors considering your recent surgery and strong prescription opiods

How do you treat chronic foot pain?

Your question is too broad to give a correct answer. The foot and ankle are very complicated structures, with 28 bones, 33 joints, multiple tendons and ligaments, as well as nerves READ MORE
Your question is too broad to give a correct answer. The foot and ankle are very complicated structures, with 28 bones, 33 joints, multiple tendons and ligaments, as well as nerves and blood vessels. It is impossible to know how to treat your pain without knowing the general location and without a good examination. That being said, orthotics may alleviate a lot of issues not only with foot pain, but with ankle, knee, hip and low back pain

How long do you have to wear a walking boot after ankle surgery?

That depends on what type of ankle surgery you are going to have. Bone repair/fracture repair may take 6-12 weeks to recover from, Ligament repair may take anywhere from 4-12 READ MORE
That depends on what type of ankle surgery you are going to have. Bone repair/fracture repair may take 6-12 weeks to recover from, Ligament repair may take anywhere from 4-12 weeks to recover from, and tendon repairs may take 2-6 months to recover from. The recovery is very dependent on what type of surgery you are to have

What is the fastest way to recover from bunion surgery?

It depends on what type of bunion surgery you have. If you have the most simple bunionectomy where the bump is shaved off, 2-3 weeks will be your recovery prior to resuming normal READ MORE
It depends on what type of bunion surgery you have. If you have the most simple bunionectomy where the bump is shaved off, 2-3 weeks will be your recovery prior to resuming normal shoe gear. If you have the most common type of bunionectomy, an Austin bunionectomy, the recovery is roughly 6 weeks. A Lapidus bunionectomy (fusion of the 1st metatarso-cuneiform joint) is a longer course of healing and may take up to 3 months to heal. All of that being said, it takes an entire year for scar tissue to remodel, and you may have swelling and some residual post-operative management for 6 months to a year after surgery

Foot issues?

Growth and callus formation on the plantar (bottom) of the foot has nothing to do with neuromas or neuroma pain. They are usually mechanical in nature, and in order to get rid READ MORE
Growth and callus formation on the plantar (bottom) of the foot has nothing to do with neuromas or neuroma pain. They are usually mechanical in nature, and in order to get rid of some of these lesions, sometimes metatarsals need to be surgically moved to alleviate stress from one part of the foot. Also, there may be a hammer toe creating retrograde pressure dorsally over the metatarsal head, and this may create such a lesion. The itching can be from a nerve disorder/neuropathy, or may come from some dermal conditions or infections. It is impossible to know what exactly is happening with your feet without an examination. You should see a well-trained, 3-year surgically trained in residency, Podiatrist who is Board Certified in surgery.

How do you relieve pain after ankle surgery?

Pain after ankle surgery is relieved as all surgery pain is alleviated-using Non-sterioidal anti-inflammatory medications, as well as using narcotic pain relievers. But it is READ MORE
Pain after ankle surgery is relieved as all surgery pain is alleviated-using Non-sterioidal anti-inflammatory medications, as well as using narcotic pain relievers. But it is very dependent on what type of surgery and what pathology you have, what procedures are performed by the surgeon. There are many types of ankle surgery.

How long does it take for a ruptured Achilles tendon to heal without surgery?

I would say 3-4 months, depending on your compliance with non-weight bearing and rest during the recovery period. You should be casted and completely non-weight bearing for at READ MORE
I would say 3-4 months, depending on your compliance with non-weight bearing and rest during the recovery period. You should be casted and completely non-weight bearing for at least 6-8 weeks, then you should have partial weight bearing and rehab/phys med for at least 1-2 months after that.

How long does it take to recover from toenail removal?

It depends on what type of nail removal you have-temporary (where the nail is allowed to regrow), or permanent. It takes 2-3 weeks for a permanent nail removal to heal. It takes READ MORE
It depends on what type of nail removal you have-temporary (where the nail is allowed to regrow), or permanent. It takes 2-3 weeks for a permanent nail removal to heal. It takes 9 months for a new nail to regrow after a temporary nail removal, but the actual wound from surgery is healed within 2 weeks, or so

How long does it take to recover from an Achilles rupture?

It is much easier to give a timeline of recovery for such a pathology if the Achilles rupture is surgically fixed than if you are simply immobilized. But I would say 3-4 months, READ MORE
It is much easier to give a timeline of recovery for such a pathology if the Achilles rupture is surgically fixed than if you are simply immobilized. But I would say 3-4 months, depending on the treatment and depending on your behavior (your compliance with non-weight bearing and rest). They may heal a little bit sooner if you have the tendon surgically repaired.

Can a podiatrist treat foot fungus?

Yes, Podiatrists treat all sorts of dermatologic conditions, including nail fungus and foot fungus, as well as many others

How long does it take for a sprained foot and ankle to heal?

Sprains/ligament injuries and other soft tissue injuries may take a long time to heal-often longer than it takes for a broken bone to heal. Sometimes I have patients 9 months READ MORE
Sprains/ligament injuries and other soft tissue injuries may take a long time to heal-often longer than it takes for a broken bone to heal. Sometimes I have patients 9 months to 1.5 years after an ankle sprain come to see me because they are still in pain, and did not seek treatment by a medical professional. Things heal much better if they are treated, as you will know what to and not to do, and you will be evaluated properly for the pathology and given imaging studies and assistive devices, like an ankle brace or a walking boot to assist with healing

Will an x-ray show a torn ligament in an ankle?

No. X-rays only show bone pathology. You can only see a ligament tear or sprain on an MRI

Should I see a podiatrist or chiropractor?

A Podiatrist, by definition, specializes in pathology of the foot and ankle. So, you should probably see a Podiatrist. Why would you be wanting to see a Chiropractor for a foot READ MORE
A Podiatrist, by definition, specializes in pathology of the foot and ankle. So, you should probably see a Podiatrist. Why would you be wanting to see a Chiropractor for a foot problem? I'm not really sure how a Chiropractor would help with such a problem.

How do you treat an ankle injury sustained while underwater?

It doesn't matter if the injury was in the water or out of the water. For any acute injury, you will need to ice, elevate, and use a compression wrap. That being said, about READ MORE
It doesn't matter if the injury was in the water or out of the water. For any acute injury, you will need to ice, elevate, and use a compression wrap. That being said, about 15-20% of ankle sprains result in a fracture of the ankle. So if it is difficult to bear weight and ambulate, you should seek medical attention