The Foot & Ankle Specialist Dr Bob Baravarian Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:05:16 -0400 en-us © 2026 The Foot & Ankle Specialist Dr Bob Baravarian yes 8423a5f3-2d7c-5aa4-9edb-3b749ffcf179 Bob Baravarian episodic false Welcome to the official Podcast of Dr. Bob Baravarian, a nationally recognized foot and ankle surgeon known for his advanced, patient-focused care. 

This podcast is dedicated to helping you better understand foot and ankle conditions — from heel pain and bunions to tendon injuries and arthritis. 

Dr. Baravarian explains symptoms, treatment options, and cutting-edge surgical techniques in easy-to-listen episodes. 


Whether you're an athlete, a patient exploring options, or just looking to stay informed, you're in the right place. 

Subscribe for trusted expert insight.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) bunion surgery, plantar fasciitis treatment, heel pain, foot pain relief, ankle pain, Achilles tendon pain, foot surgeon Los Angeles, bunion removal, plantar fasciitis exercises, ankle sprain recovery Bob Baravarian https://storage.buzzsprout.com/o8qgxsdrc9y7srlxr8pyzx4b1msn?.jpg The Foot & Ankle Specialist Dr Bob Baravarian Everything You've Been Told About Bunion Surgery Is Wrong Everything You've Been Told About Bunion Surgery Is Wrong 📌Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.com

Most patients are told bunion surgery means weeks on crutches, permanent metal in the foot, and possibly a second surgery later to remove it. That picture is based on how the procedure was done years ago. 

The hardware has been replaced, the recovery is fundamentally different, and most patients considering surgery never hear about any of this before they sign a consent form.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through why standard bunion surgery still uses hardware that should already be obsolete, what the recovery actually looks like with the newer approach, and the four specific questions to ask your surgeon before agreeing to any procedure.


⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why the cure sounds almost as bad as the problem
1:20 Why metal fixation was the gold standard and why that has changed
3:00 What metal hardware does inside the body once the bone has healed
3:26 How OssioFiber integrates completely into bone and then disappears
4:11 Why metal hardware is a major reason bunion surgery recovery is so painful
5:35 How bio-integrative fixation gets stronger over time instead of loosening
6:57 How to tell in your consultation whether your surgeon is using current hardware
9:10 The four questions to ask before signing anything
11:24 What bunion surgery recovery actually looks like when it is done right


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do some bunion surgeries require a second procedure to remove the hardware?

Metal has no function once the bone has healed, but it remains in the foot permanently as a foreign object. Over time it can cause inflammation, cold sensitivity, or loosen out of position, and that typically requires a second surgery to remove screws or plates that are now causing problems.

What is bio-integrative fixation and how does it differ from metal screws?

Bio-integrative fixation like OssioFiber holds the bone in place with strength that matches or exceeds metal, then integrates completely into the bone over approximately two years. There is nothing left to remove, nothing for the body to react to, and no hardware remaining in the foot.

How do I know if my surgeon is offering the most current approach?

Ask directly whether metal-free or bio-integrative fixation is available for your specific procedure and what happens to the hardware once the bone heals. If those questions are dismissed without a clear explanation, that is worth a second opinion before you consent to anything.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: docsfootankle.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-baravarian-a49872354/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/


🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.


ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPM

Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 

Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.


#BunionSurgery #GhostBunionectomy #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

]]> 📌Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.com

Most patients are told bunion surgery means weeks on crutches, permanent metal in the foot, and possibly a second surgery later to remove it. That picture is based on how the procedure was done years ago. 

The hardware has been replaced, the recovery is fundamentally different, and most patients considering surgery never hear about any of this before they sign a consent form.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through why standard bunion surgery still uses hardware that should already be obsolete, what the recovery actually looks like with the newer approach, and the four specific questions to ask your surgeon before agreeing to any procedure.


⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why the cure sounds almost as bad as the problem
1:20 Why metal fixation was the gold standard and why that has changed
3:00 What metal hardware does inside the body once the bone has healed
3:26 How OssioFiber integrates completely into bone and then disappears
4:11 Why metal hardware is a major reason bunion surgery recovery is so painful
5:35 How bio-integrative fixation gets stronger over time instead of loosening
6:57 How to tell in your consultation whether your surgeon is using current hardware
9:10 The four questions to ask before signing anything
11:24 What bunion surgery recovery actually looks like when it is done right


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do some bunion surgeries require a second procedure to remove the hardware?

Metal has no function once the bone has healed, but it remains in the foot permanently as a foreign object. Over time it can cause inflammation, cold sensitivity, or loosen out of position, and that typically requires a second surgery to remove screws or plates that are now causing problems.

What is bio-integrative fixation and how does it differ from metal screws?

Bio-integrative fixation like OssioFiber holds the bone in place with strength that matches or exceeds metal, then integrates completely into the bone over approximately two years. There is nothing left to remove, nothing for the body to react to, and no hardware remaining in the foot.

How do I know if my surgeon is offering the most current approach?

Ask directly whether metal-free or bio-integrative fixation is available for your specific procedure and what happens to the hardware once the bone heals. If those questions are dismissed without a clear explanation, that is worth a second opinion before you consent to anything.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: docsfootankle.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-baravarian-a49872354/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/


🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.


ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPM

Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 

Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.


#BunionSurgery #GhostBunionectomy #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

]]> Bob Baravarian Buzzsprout-19218701 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 789 bunion surgery without metal, ghost bunionectomy, OssioFiber bunion fixation, metal-free bunion surgery, bio-integrative bunion surgery, bunion surgery hardware removal, bunion surgery recovery, bunion surgery complications, minimally invasive bunion surg full false Most People Treating Plantar Fasciitis Don’t Actually Have Plantar Fasciitis Most People Treating Plantar Fasciitis Don’t Actually Have Plantar Fasciitis 📌Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.com

Your plantar fasciitis treatment is not working because you may not have plantar fasciitis. Every month spent treating the wrong structure is another month the nerve becomes more sensitized and harder to treat.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through why this misdiagnosis keeps happening, how to tell which structure is actually driving your heel pain using three diagnostic questions you can answer right now, and what needs to change if the nerve is involved.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 The heel pain misdiagnosis that keeps patients stuck for months
1:12 Why plantar fasciitis and calcaneal nerve entrapment feel identical
2:04 How stretching and cortisone make nerve entrapment progressively worse
3:13 Why the plantar fasciitis label shuts down the diagnostic process
4:27 What I keep finding when patients arrive after months of failed treatment
5:23 Three questions that tell you which problem you actually have
6:39 What two or more yes answers mean about your next step
7:03 Why nerve pain becomes harder to treat the longer it goes unaddressed
8:28 One position change tonight that reduces first-morning heel pain


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Can nerve entrapment feel exactly like plantar fasciitis?

Yes. The calcaneal nerve runs alongside the plantar fascia, and when compressed, it sends pain to the exact same location. The distinguishing signs are a burning or tingling quality and pain that extends toward the inner ankle rather than staying in one tight spot.

What happens if calcaneal nerve entrapment goes untreated?

The nerve becomes progressively more sensitized. Pain can spread, intensify, and become harder to treat over time. Patients who finally get the right diagnosis after a year of treating the wrong structure are significantly harder to treat than those who get there early.

How do I know if my heel pain is the nerve or the fascia?

Look for burning, tingling, or an electric quality to the pain, and check whether it extends toward the inner ankle. If consistent plantar fascia treatment has failed after three or more months of real compliance, nerve tension testing and ultrasound imaging are the right next steps before any more treatment.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: docsfootankle.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/


🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.


ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPM

Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 

Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.


#HeelPain #PlantarFasciitis #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

]]> 📌Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.com

Your plantar fasciitis treatment is not working because you may not have plantar fasciitis. Every month spent treating the wrong structure is another month the nerve becomes more sensitized and harder to treat.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through why this misdiagnosis keeps happening, how to tell which structure is actually driving your heel pain using three diagnostic questions you can answer right now, and what needs to change if the nerve is involved.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 The heel pain misdiagnosis that keeps patients stuck for months
1:12 Why plantar fasciitis and calcaneal nerve entrapment feel identical
2:04 How stretching and cortisone make nerve entrapment progressively worse
3:13 Why the plantar fasciitis label shuts down the diagnostic process
4:27 What I keep finding when patients arrive after months of failed treatment
5:23 Three questions that tell you which problem you actually have
6:39 What two or more yes answers mean about your next step
7:03 Why nerve pain becomes harder to treat the longer it goes unaddressed
8:28 One position change tonight that reduces first-morning heel pain


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Can nerve entrapment feel exactly like plantar fasciitis?

Yes. The calcaneal nerve runs alongside the plantar fascia, and when compressed, it sends pain to the exact same location. The distinguishing signs are a burning or tingling quality and pain that extends toward the inner ankle rather than staying in one tight spot.

What happens if calcaneal nerve entrapment goes untreated?

The nerve becomes progressively more sensitized. Pain can spread, intensify, and become harder to treat over time. Patients who finally get the right diagnosis after a year of treating the wrong structure are significantly harder to treat than those who get there early.

How do I know if my heel pain is the nerve or the fascia?

Look for burning, tingling, or an electric quality to the pain, and check whether it extends toward the inner ankle. If consistent plantar fascia treatment has failed after three or more months of real compliance, nerve tension testing and ultrasound imaging are the right next steps before any more treatment.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: docsfootankle.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/


🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.


ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPM

Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 

Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.


#HeelPain #PlantarFasciitis #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

]]> Bob Baravarian Buzzsprout-19218117 Thu, 28 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 689 plantar fasciitis misdiagnosis, calcaneal nerve entrapment, nerve entrapment heel pain, heel pain nerve vs fascia, why plantar fasciitis treatment isn't working, Baxter's nerve entrapment, nerve entrapment foot symptoms, plantar fasciitis or nerve problem full false I Was Wrong About Steroid Shots for Heel Pain. Here's What 25 Years Taught Me. I Was Wrong About Steroid Shots for Heel Pain. Here's What 25 Years Taught Me. 📌 Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.com

If your doctor recommended a steroid shot for your heel pain, watch this before you say yes. After 25 years and more than 25,000 procedures, I started seeing a pattern I could not ignore. Repeated cortisone shots were leaving patients worse off than when they started.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the three reasons steroid shots keep failing heel pain patients, what they are actually doing to your tissue over time, and what treatment looks like when the goal is real repair, not temporary relief.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why a Foot Surgeon Stopped Recommending Cortisone Shots for Heel Pain
1:07 Reason 1: Steroid Shots Mute the Pain Signal Without Healing the Tissue
2:05 Why Repeated Injections Make Your Plantar Fascia Progressively Worse
2:51 Reason 2: Cortisone Near the Achilles Is Directly Linked to Tendon Rupture
4:21 The Patient Pattern That Made Me Stop Giving These Shots
5:24 Reason 3: Three Types of Heel Pain and How to Tell Them Apart
7:29 Why Ultrasound Imaging Must Come Before Any Injection
8:16 The Fascia Load Protocol You Can Start Tonight
10:15 Regenerative Alternatives That Actually Repair the Tissue


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Do steroid injections fix plantar fasciitis?

No. Steroid shots reduce inflammation temporarily but do nothing about the mechanical stress causing the problem. Repeated injections weaken the tissue itself, leaving patients in worse shape than when they started.

Can a cortisone shot cause Achilles tendon rupture?

Yes. Corticosteroids break down the collagen fibers in the tendon, making it structurally weaker even after the pain is gone. Patients who return to full activity after a shot are loading a tendon that has lost some of its structural integrity.

How do I know if my heel pain is plantar fasciitis, a nerve problem, or an Achilles issue?

Pain worst on first steps in the morning on the bottom of the heel points toward the plantar fascia. Burning, tingling, or numbness along the heel points toward nerve entrapment, which is frequently misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis.


📱 RESOURCES
Website: docsfootankle.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/


🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.


ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPM

Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 

Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.


#HeelPain #PlantarFasciitis #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

]]> 📌 Learn more about Bob Baravarian or request an appointment: docsfootankle.com

If your doctor recommended a steroid shot for your heel pain, watch this before you say yes. After 25 years and more than 25,000 procedures, I started seeing a pattern I could not ignore. Repeated cortisone shots were leaving patients worse off than when they started.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the three reasons steroid shots keep failing heel pain patients, what they are actually doing to your tissue over time, and what treatment looks like when the goal is real repair, not temporary relief.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why a Foot Surgeon Stopped Recommending Cortisone Shots for Heel Pain
1:07 Reason 1: Steroid Shots Mute the Pain Signal Without Healing the Tissue
2:05 Why Repeated Injections Make Your Plantar Fascia Progressively Worse
2:51 Reason 2: Cortisone Near the Achilles Is Directly Linked to Tendon Rupture
4:21 The Patient Pattern That Made Me Stop Giving These Shots
5:24 Reason 3: Three Types of Heel Pain and How to Tell Them Apart
7:29 Why Ultrasound Imaging Must Come Before Any Injection
8:16 The Fascia Load Protocol You Can Start Tonight
10:15 Regenerative Alternatives That Actually Repair the Tissue


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Do steroid injections fix plantar fasciitis?

No. Steroid shots reduce inflammation temporarily but do nothing about the mechanical stress causing the problem. Repeated injections weaken the tissue itself, leaving patients in worse shape than when they started.

Can a cortisone shot cause Achilles tendon rupture?

Yes. Corticosteroids break down the collagen fibers in the tendon, making it structurally weaker even after the pain is gone. Patients who return to full activity after a shot are loading a tendon that has lost some of its structural integrity.

How do I know if my heel pain is plantar fasciitis, a nerve problem, or an Achilles issue?

Pain worst on first steps in the morning on the bottom of the heel points toward the plantar fascia. Burning, tingling, or numbness along the heel points toward nerve entrapment, which is frequently misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis.


📱 RESOURCES
Website: docsfootankle.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/la_foot_ankle_surgeon/


🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on foot and ankle health from a board-certified surgeon with 25 years of experience and over 25,000 procedures. Learn what actually heals, and what is just masking the problem.


ABOUT DR. BOB BARAVARIAN, DPM

Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience and more than 25,000 procedures performed, he is one of the few surgeons to hold both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 

Dr. Baravarian serves as Chief of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery at Providence Saint John's Medical Center and has spent a decade co-developing the metal-free bio-integrative fixation technology behind the Ghost Bunionectomy. He advocates for the least invasive solution that actually resolves the problem, not the one that is easiest to administer.


#HeelPain #PlantarFasciitis #FootSurgeon #AnkleSurgeon #FootAndAnkle

]]> Bob Baravarian Buzzsprout-19218107 Thu, 28 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 649 cortisone shot heel pain, steroid injection plantar fasciitis, why cortisone fails heel pain, plantar fasciitis treatment, heel pain treatment options, Achilles tendon cortisone risk, three types of heel pain, PRP vs cortisone heel pain, regenerative medi full false