Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we'd be happy to fill out FMLA paperwork for you. We charge a $50 fee for this service.

The main goal of physical therapy is to help you regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion after an injury so that you can return to daily activities—as well as vigorous athletic activity and exercise—faster and more successfully, as well as minimize the risk of a re-injury.

The first several weeks after an injury, the focus is on healing. At this time, strenuous physical therapy is usually inappropriate—your body needs time to repair itself first. However, once approved by your doctor, a more robust physical therapy program will help you reduce the amount of time it takes for you to fully regain and recover the same level of function you had before the injury.

Don’t blow off physical therapy after an injury! A great podiatrist like Dr. Keith McSpadden can help guide you through the steps you’ll need to get back on your feet, without pain, as quickly and successfully as possible. To schedule an appointment at North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute, call 512-593-2949 today or request an appointment online.

Gout flare-ups happen due to a spike in uric acid in the bloodstream. Elevated uric acid levels can cause crystals to form, and those crystals deposit themselves on joint surfaces. The result is pain, often intense, and often localized at the big toe.

What causes uric acid levels to spike? It could be many things, but one of the most common is diet. Foods that are high in purines, such as most meats (especially game and organ meats), most alcohol (especially beer), high-fat dairy, overly processed grains, and many types of seafood, produce plentiful quantities of uric acid when digested.

Other risk factors that often lead to higher-than-normal levels of uric acid in the bloodstream include high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, family history, and certain medications.

Although there’s no “cure” for gout, the condition is very treatable and very manageable—you just may need to make a few diet or lifestyle adjustments and have the discipline to stick with them. For help treating an ongoing case, or learning how to prevent future attacks, contact Dr. Keith McSpadden at North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute today. You can reach our office online, or by calling 512-593-2949.