EDITOR'S CHOICE: BEST FOOT DOCTORS EVER

Best Podiatrist

Friendly Foot Care, 50 West 94th Place, Crown Point, Ind., 46307 219.663.2273, friendlyfootcare.com

Since 1992, Michael Nirenberg, DPM and Michael Lacey, DPM, the podiatrists at Friendly Foot Care, have been dedicated to alleviating foot pain. Dr. Nirenberg says that many times people feel that they have to live with foot pain, when really they don't. "Although we are a small practice we have many people come here who have tried everything and been to many doctors but they are still limping," he says. "At Friendly Foot Care we are dedicated to solving problems and getting rid of pain."

The doctors have many approaches from conservative to surgical. For instance the use of orthotics, custom-made arch supports, is an easy way to gain relief. "Drug store arch supports are made for the perfect foot, and if you have an imperfect foot your foot will have to adapt to that arch support, which won't work," says Dr. Nirenberg. "We make our orthotics with the new 3DO digital computer system and they will allow you to walk in your foot's most normal and correct position."

Dr. Lacey has been a diabetic since childhood, and so the practice has a strong interest in helping people with the same disease who are suffering with numbness, tingling and burning in the feet. The doctors use medication and procedures to help free up the nerves to take away pain and improve sensation.

Friendly Foot Care also works with overweight patients. "People often end up overweight because their feet hurt," Dr. Nirenberg says. "And sadly they get into a vicious cycle. If we can alleviate pain in the foot the patient can exercise and increase their activity again and lose weight. If you have someone able to walk because their pain is gone, everything is going to get better for them."

Both Dr. Nirenberg and Dr. Lacey enjoy making a difference in someone's life. "If we can find an obscure problem and solve that for them in two or three visits without surgery and get them walking again, we make a difference in their lives. And that is personally rewarding for us."