Tag Archives: Raleigh

I Need Bunion Surgery – Or Do I?

Do I need bunion surgery?

Bunions are bony bumps at the big toe and little joint areas of the foot. Usually, they are an inherited condition that worsens with age. They can be big bunions that do not hurt much, or they can be small bunions that hurt like crazy!

The key to “bunion happiness” is pain control. A goal should not be glamorous beauty, but comfortable walking. Our feet should feel good!

Podiatrists have many treatments to help bunions of all sizes. Of course, low-risk, high-reward treatments are the best starting point: proper footwear, toe splints, custom orthotics, oral and injectable medications, and physical therapy techniques.

Surgical treatment is sometimes necessary for bunions. Surgery is usually performed in a hospital or surgery center by a board-certified podiatrist, under sedation monitored by an anesthesiologist. Patients usually go home the same day, resting and taking pain medication as needed. Time off work and time off your feet will vary for different patients, but most patients can expect to return to normal activities in a few weeks.

Bunions aren’t fun to deal with, and bunion treatment never fits into our busy lives, but getting a plan from your podiatrist is a good starting point. Visit your podiatrist, and you might be pleasantly surprised about what you learn.

To schedule your appointment today, call our office at (919) 850-9111 or visit our website to request an appointment.

Shoe Drive for the Holidays

Soles4Souls InternationalSoles4Souls Domestic

The Holiday Season is upon us, and with it comes a time of giving and caring. This holiday season, Raleigh Foot & Ankle Center is partnering with Soles4Souls to collect shoes for children and adults in need all around the world.

We all have a pair of shoes or two sitting in the back of our closet, unworn in the past year. This year, instead of throwing them out or letting them sit unused, donate them and give the gift of shoes to a child or adult in need.

Throughout the month of November, bring your gently used shoes of any style or size to Raleigh Foot & Ankle Center and drop them in the bin located in our waiting room.

Your old shoes provide new opportunities in your hometown and give new hope in 127 countries around the world.

Soles4Souls is a Non-Profit Organization based out of Tennessee. They work to distribute shoes to people in need both domestically across the United States and internationally in countries all around the world. To learn more about what they do, visit their website.

For more information about the shoe drive, call our office at (919) 850-9111.

Heel! (Specifically, Heel Pain – Ouch!)

Dr. Woelffer's dog

Pain in the heel is one of the most common symptoms seen by foot & ankle specialists—and it is not fun! People with heel pain suffer. Whether it is a fresh injury keeping you from walking across the bedroom floor, or a chronic injury not allowing you to exercise regularly, frustration can really reach a boiling point.

Now, some good news. You don’t have to live with heel pain!! Many treatments exist and most lead to a complete recovery. What is the key to success? A plan. A focused strategy to do all the things that are good for healing while eliminating the things that are bad. Usually, it can be a pretty simple plan; home exercises, shoe wear changes, custom shoe inserts (orthotics). All are examples of simple treatments. Of course, there are many more treatments for heel pain. Surely, there is a plan for you, right?

Having heel pain is a drag. It’s time for a plan.

For more information about how your can help get rid of your heel pain, download our informational brochures from our website. Raleigh Foot & Ankle Center is a team of skilled podiatrists located in Raleigh, NC who are dedicated to advanced foot and ankle care.

Welcome to Raleigh Foot & Ankle Center

Hello, Everyone!

Welcome to the world of Raleigh Foot and Ankle Center. We are Doctors Robert Hatcher, Kirk Woelffer, Alan Boehm, and Jordan Meyers. Together, we make up a group of podiatrists located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We aim to provide quality foot and ankle care, both surgical and nonsurgical, in a comfortable, friendly setting. Online, our goal is to provide a little bit of education, a little bit of fun, and a little bit of inspiration. The kicker: it’s all foot-related!

So, before we get started, you probably want to meet the doctors.

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Dr. Hatcher is from Wilmington, NC and graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Zoology. He obtained a graduate degree in physiology from the University of Georgia before heading to medical school at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He then went on to receive his surgical training from Northlake Hospital in Chicago. He is board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery in Foot and Ankle Surgery and is a Fellow in the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Hobbies: Fly-fishing, gardening, and photography

Favorite Shoes in My Closet: Keen’s from REI for gardening (great support and waterproof)

Dr. Woelffer hails from Mound, Minnesota. He graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota before heading off to medical school at Des Moines University in Iowa. Once he completed his surgical training at Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, he had the opportunity to work in Germany and Austria as a European Fellow for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He later moved to North Carolina to join Raleigh Foot and Ankle Center, and once here met and married his wife Christina. They have 3 adorable kids.

Hobbies: Sports, music, classic cars, and watching Minnesota Vikings football

Favorite Shoes in My Closet: All-black Nike high-top basketball shoes

BOEHM_GRAY0265 Dr. Jordan Meyers - Copy

Dr. Boehm is originally from Sandpoint, Idaho, but being a part of a military family gave him the opportunity to spend time all over the country, as well as four years in Japan during his childhood years. He spent his high school and college years in Georgia, before moving up to Philadelphia to obtain a degree in Podiatric Medicine from Temple University. He then completed his surgical foot and ankle residency at Temple University Hospital as a part of an intensive four-year program. Dr. Boehm is one of the only four-year-trained podiatric surgeons in the Triangle.

Hobbies: Marathons, triathlons, golf, cycling, and music

Favorite Shoes in My Closet: Brooks Glycerin running shoes

Dr. Meyers was born in Tucson, Arizona but moved to North Carolina early on, where he spent most of his life. He went to East Carolina University, where he obtained degrees in Athletic Training and Chemistry, before going to Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. He then moved on to Louisville, Kentucky, where he completed his surgical training in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at the University of Louisville Hospital and KentuckyOne Health. Dr. Meyers, the newest addition to our group, is excited to be back “home” in the Triangle area.

Hobbies: His family, ice hockey, snowboarding, and golf

Favorite Pair of Shoes in My Closet: Hockey skates

Now that you’ve met us, let us know what you think! Drop us a line in the comments section, find us on social media, or check out the contact page on our website!