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Solutions for Foot or Ankle Pain

By Deborah Schapiro, photo by Dan Epstein

Dr. Matthew Wachtler knows all about “de agony of de feet.” He is an experienced podiatrist and Board-certified foot surgeon specializing in both arthroscopic and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, sports medicine, wound care and diabetic foot care. In addition to seeing patients in his Cedar Grove office, he is also on staff at both St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and Overlook Medical Center in Summit.

Dr. Wachtler is up to date on all the latest techniques and procedures used to treat foot pathologies. For example, laser surgery has been used on toenail fungus for over 10 years, but it has only recently been used to treat tendinitis, sprains and other soft-tissue injuries. He says, “The lasers themselves have changed over the past 20 years. They were originally used only to burn tissue; now they can be used along with physical therapy as treatment for soft tissue injuries.”

He adds, “I really enjoy what I do; what my staff and I most enjoy is the connection we make with our patients.”