We often take our feet for granted, but when something goes wrong, our
feet and legs need immediate attention.
If you’re experiencing foot pain, it’s important to stay on
your toes. Having podiatric issues treated sooner rather than later can
change the course of your life.
Brent Parker, 32, developed a staph infection in his foot in 2015 that
could have resulted in amputation had he not received expert care.
While in Hawaii for his wedding in 2015, Brent likely cut his foot on some coral.
“At first there was a bump on my foot. About two weeks later, it
blew up,” Brent says.
Knowing he was more susceptible to developing staph infections as a
Type 1 diabetes patient, Brent met with
podiatric surgeon Gennady Kolodenker, DPM, who recently expanded his practice to
Hoag Health Center Irvine this spring, and immediately felt at ease.
“I knew I was in the right place,” Brent says.
From diabetic sores and sports injuries, to bunions and fractures, specialists
like Dr. Kolodenker help patients understand their foot issues and can
recommend innovative treatment regimens for even the most complicated cases.
“If it’s below the knee, we treat it,” says Dr. Kolodenker,
who is on staff at Hoag,
Hoag Orthopedic Institute and CHOC Children’s Hospital.
Brent underwent four surgeries at Hoag Orthopedic Institute to remove the
staph infection, receive a skin graft and have multiple plates and screws
inserted in his left foot and ankle. He also underwent a full fusion of
the right foot and ankle. All together, he spent two months in and out
of the hospital.
“I received great care,” he says. “Having diabetes, I
have been through hospital systems everywhere. I felt I was receiving
the attention I needed, and I appreciated the humor that the nurses brought
to my situation. They really helped ease the tension.”
Some of that tension centered on the fact that as a Type 1 diabetes patient,
Brent was highly susceptible to developing another staph infection. Brent
credits a wound care specialist at Hoag Orthopedic Institute with keeping
a laser-focus on his care throughout his stay.
Dr. Kolodenker says the entire Hoag community embodies that patient-centered
dedication. It’s a feeling patients get as soon as they walk through the door.
“I really like the community feel here,” he says. “I
appreciate the fact that my patients are able to have imaging done onsite,
and that I can refer them to other specialists right here in the building.”
A year after his surgery, Brent’s left leg was fine, but his body
rejected the metal put into his right leg. Brent’s ankle is now
in a brace. While surgery might be an option in the future, he says he
is simply thankful to stand and walk on his own feet.
“There are certain sports I will never play again. But if I had not
gone to the right doctor at the right time, it could have been way worse,”
Brent says. “They took the time to figure out my story and take
in the full picture.”
“I have never had the kind of personal experience with health care
providers that I have had with the people at Hoag,” he says. “Being
diabetic, providers tend to put you into a box, and make you feel like
because you have diabetes, you’re a certain kind of patient and
nothing can be done for you. I feel that at Hoag, all the doctors take
a different approach. They explore the situation to see what else can
be done.”
“I had to have all the metal in my right leg removed. Dr. Kolodenker
eased me into the procedures that I would have to undergo and prepared
me for what to expect,” Brent says.
Brent adds another warning: Get your treatment from the right place.
“I feel like my situation tested the skills and knowledge of everyone
to the full extent,” Brent says. “And in every instance Hoag
exceeded my expectations.”