Dr. Lee Wittenberg, DPM

Podiatrist (Foot and Ankle Specialist) | Foot & Ankle Surgery

8530 West Sunset Road Ste 345 Las Vegas NV, 89113 Show map

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About

Dr. Lee Wittenberg is a board certified podiatrist practicing in Las Vegas, NV. Dr. Wittenberg was recently given the honor of becoming the Executive Director of the American Board of Lower Extremity Surgery. Dr. Wittenberg is the ONLY Foot & Ankle surgeon in Las Vegas board certified by 2 different surgical boards in foot surgery and in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, being certified by the American Board of Lower Extremity Surgery and the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Dr. Wittenberg is a medical doctor specializing in the treatment of the foot, ankle, and related parts of the leg. As a podiatrist, Dr. Wittenberg diagnoses and treats conditions of the feet. The feet are key body parts that give a person stability, absorb shock, allow for walking and standing and are necessary for overall well-being. So, the feet need expert care. Specialize in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery requires a great deal of understanding of the body's biomechanics. Dr. Wittenberg also is a specialist in wound care and limb salvage, sports medicine, diabetic care and pediatrics.

Education and Training

Ohio College of Podiatric Medcine DPM 2000

Board Certification

American Board of Lower Extremity Surgery

Foot Surgery (Podiatric Surgery)

Reconstructive Rearfoot / Ankle Surgery (Podiatric Surgery)

Provider Details

Male English, Spanish

Dr. Lee Wittenberg, DPM

Dr. Lee Wittenberg, DPM's Expert Contributions

My Latest Posts
My Answers

Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects many of your body systems. It can lead to blindness, kidney disease, disease of the nerves (neuropathy), blockage of the arteries (which may lead to a stroke or a heart attack), a weakening of the immune system, possible amputation, and a decreased overall life...
Venous Insufficiency/Ankle Swelling
Venous Insufficiency: Why are my ankles and feet swollen?People often ask me as a Podiatrist, ‘why are my ankles, legs and feet swollen?’ The most common reason for ankle and foot swelling is venous insufficiency. What is venous insufficiency? It is a problem of pooling of fluid or retention of...
Plantar Fasciitis - Heel Pain
The most common cause of heel pain that I see in my practice is caused by a pathology called ‘Plantar Fasciitis.’ People usually come in complaining of pain on the inside of their heel or along the bottom of the arch that came on suddenly. Symptoms usually consist of pain that starts with the...
Hallux Rigidus/Hallux Limitus
There are 2 types of hallux limitus: 1) Structural and 2) Functional. A structural hallux limitus is due to the development of arthritis (a decrease in the cartilage between 2 bones in a joint), which includes spurring or bone growth around the joint, most obvious at the top of the 1st...
Metatarsalgia: Pain At the Ball of the Foot
It is very common for us to see patients complaining of pain in the balls of the feet and toes. There are many contributing factors and several pathologies which commonly cause this type of pain. Problems that we see include Neuromas (Nerve impingements at the ball of the foot), Capsulitis/joint...
Plantar Fasciitis
The most common cause of heel pain that I see in my practice is caused by a pathology called ‘Plantar Fasciitis.’ People usually come in complaining of pain at the inside of their heel or along the bottom of the arch that came on suddenly. Symptoms usually consist of pain that starts with...

Will walking on a broken toe make it worse?
Any fracture can be worsened in pain and swelling by walking a lot if the fracture is not healed. Also, a fracture can displace if you walk too much on a fractured bone (this means the fracture fragments can move). If you displace the fragments to a point where there is too much gap between fragments, or if the become severely maligned, you may require surgery to get the bones back into place and to allow for proper healing READ MORE
Can you walk after foot surgery?
It is completely dependent on what type of surgery you are having. There are surgeries that I perform where a patient may walk for short distances (bedroom to living room, to bathroom) in a protective shoe or boot, there are other surgeries I perform where the patient may not bear weight for 6-12 weeks after surgery, and the patient may be in a cast or splint. READ MORE
Can too much walking cause swollen ankles?
The most common cause of swollen ankles is fluid retention and venous insufficiency. Many women develop venous insufficiency after pregnancies. But it is a problem that develops over time in many people. Walking too much is not a cause of swelling. There is another reason your ankles are swollen. READ MORE
What is the most effective treatment for toenail fungus?
The most effective treatment for toenail fungus is an oral medication called Lamisil (Terbinafine). The pill must be taken every day for 3 months, but you won't see full results for 9 months after starting the medication. The pill is safe, but is processed by your liver, so you may not take the medication unless a liver function panel is performed to evaluate your liver functions, and you may not take the medication if you are on certain other medications, or if you have any kind of liver issues. There are also topical treatments. Many of the topical treatments are expensive, and may not be covered by insurance companies. Furthermore, a topical treatment must be used for 9 months to 4 years, often without curing the issue. READ MORE
Can a dislocated ankle fix itself?
I don't think you understand what it means to dislocate a joint. If the joint came out of the socket (dislocation), it is possible that the joint could relocate, but not likely. READ MORE
Should I go to the doctor for a dislocated ankle?
If your ankle was truly dislocated, you would not be able to ambulate. So most certainly, you should. READ MORE
Thick toenails that grow out extremely slowly?
There is likely fungus in your toenail. (The medical term for this is Tinea Unguam, or Onychomycosis). It is a difficult problem to treat, and usually is simply a cosmetic issue. You can go to your local Podiatrist to have a nail biopsy performed and a fungal culture of the nail may be performed, as well. These cultures do not always show a positive result, as fungus is also difficult to grow and to identify, but if you get a positive culture, there will be a specific strain of fungus identified-this aids in decisions for treatment. But the most successful and common treatment is 3 months of oral medication called "Lamisil." This medication is processed by the liver, so a liver function panel (a blood test) must be performed prior to taking the medication, and you can not be on certain medications and take this particular medication. It takes an entire 9 months to grow a new nail, even with the use of Lamisil, so the medication DOES NOT give immediate results. Other alternatives are topical medications, but they often don't work, and they must be used a minimum of 9 months and up to 2-3 years. READ MORE
What causes a toenail to separate from the nail bed?
Usually a trauma of some sort causes bleeding beneath the nail plate (a subungual Hematoma), and the blood separates the nail from the nail bed. This may sometimes be a permanent problem. Sometimes, also, nail fungus may get introduced under the nail plate, and this may also make the nail 'lyse' from the nail bed. READ MORE
When can I put weight on my foot after bunion surgery?
Your surgeon should be answering that question, as we all have different protocols for surgery, and there are also different types of bunion surgery, all with different healing times and restrictions with weight bearing (WB). But physiologically speaking, a traditional bunionectomy (An "Austin" or head procedure) takes 6 weeks to fully heal. A more simple bunionectomy (a "Silver" bunionectomy, where they just remove the 'bump') will be healed when the skin healed (2.5-3 wks). Finally, a more complex bunion that requires the fusion of bones (A Lapidus Bunionectomy) will take around 12 weeks to heal. Each of these has different time constraints for bearing weight, and this will largely be determined by the surgeon who performs your surgery. READ MORE
Does tendonitis ever fully heal?
It depends on how damaged the tendon is. Was an MRI performed? Where there any tears or irregularities in the substance of the tendon? Have you, as a patient, been asked to be in a boot or cast? Have you been asked to rest? Have you been given anti-inflammatory medications? Were you compliant with the treatment plan?? Many patients take pills or are told to be minimally active and use assistive devices, such as walking boots, crutches, casts, and other items, to alleviate stress off the tendon and allow for healing to occur. Many patients are non-compliant with such things, and without alleviated stress off the tendon, the problem does not improve, or worsens. This being said, tendons are very dysvascular structures (they do not have a good blood supply), and healing is never 'quick' with such problems, even if surgery is performed. READ MORE
Can you have surgery for nerve pain?
It really depends on why you have nerve pain. 'Neuropathy,' which is a condition in which the nerves start to send abnormal signals to the brain, and other nerve-related pain such as CRPS/RSD (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) are very complicated to treat, and in the case of CRPS/RSD, NO SURGERY SHOULD EVER BE PERFORMED, or the problem may become worse. For nerve pain related to radiculopathy (impingement of nerves for various reasons at the spinal cord and spinal column), there may be nerve ablation surgery or even spinal cord stimulators which may decrease pain surgically. However, nerve pain is very tricky, and you must insure you are having procedures performed by competent, board certified physicians. In the foot and ankle, there are surgical nerve releases throughout the leg that may be performed for Neuropathic pain, but often they are unsuccessful. And finally, there are nerve releases and repairs that may be done for carpal tunnel, tarsal tunnel, and pathologies such as Neuromas. READ MORE
How can you tell the difference between a fracture and a dislocation?
A fracture is a break in a bone. A dislocation is when bones separate at a joint level. READ MORE
What is the fastest way to heal an ankle dislocation?
A true ankle dislocation is associated with tendon and ligament issues/tears/ruptures, and often has bone issues (fractures or osteochondral defects) associated with the pathology. Initial treatment may be immobilization in a boot or a cast. But an MRI MUST be performed to asses the true damage to the ligaments, tendons, and bones associated with the dislocation. And most ankle dislocations are also associated with fractures of the ankle, and many of these require surgical intervention. READ MORE
How do you manage bone spurs?
'Bone Spurs' is a waste basket term-a term misused and too commonly used by patients and other physicians. What you probably mean is 'heel spurs,' but you have not specified. An actual bone spur is often caused by a periosteal reaction of the bone, which stimulates new bone growth, often around a joint or a ligament or tendon attachment. Some of these spurs need to be surgically removed. Sometimes they are largely cosmetic and do not cause the patient pain. Sometimes you are referring to plantar fasciitis, which actually has nothing to do with the bone spur associated with that pathology. READ MORE
What causes bone pain in the foot?
There are many things that cause bone pain in your foot. If you have had a trauma, a fracture or contusion may cause bone pain. Arthritis may cause pain in the bones and joints of the feet. A bone tumor or cyst could cause pain in the bones of the feet. There are also many muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the foot, along with nerves and blood vessels. The foot and ankle are exceptionally complicated structures. It is impossible to answer such a generalized question, but you should see a specialist for further evaluation. READ MORE
How do I help my son who's ankle surgery is delayed?
Most people do not require surgery to repair a sprained ankle. Especially in a 10 year old boy. Most ankle sprains are handled conservatively with a cast, a walking boot, and/or an ankle brace for several weeks to several months, if necessary. The only indication for surgery would be if the ankle was actually fractured and displaced, or if it was a fracture at a certain level on the fibula. If it was a simple sprain, the first course of action is to immobilize the patient in a walking boot or a cast, and then move to physical therapy modalities. If the patient does not improve after a couple months, an MRI must be performed in order to determine if a ligament is actually ruptured and needs to be repaired. Otherwise, surgery is NOT indicated. Rest, Ice, Elevation, Immobilization. That's it. READ MORE
How can my daughter manage a broken toe without surgery?
Most digital fractures and many other fractures do not require surgery to heal. Immobilization in a walking boot or cast (not for a digital fracture) is often all that is necessary, with rest and time away from athletics or heavy activity. There are several determining factors in deciding whether a fracture requires surgery, including the amount of gap between fracture fragments (should not exceed more than 2mm), rotation/angulation/or displacement of the fracture, which may cause the bone to heal in an abnormal position, or fractures in areas of low blood flow, or the healing potential may be lower than normal for other reasons. But digital fractures are usually just splinted to the toe(s) that they are next to, limit activity/rest, ice it when it is painful, take anti-inflammatories for pain, and it should heal fine if it is not displaced much. READ MORE
How do you know a child's foot is broken?
You can not tell if a person has a fracture without x-rays. Signs that it may be broken are the inability to bear weight, but sometimes patients can still bear weight and walk with a fracture. You should take him in for evaluation by a specialist READ MORE
Can nerve damage be repaired in the foot?
Nerve damage and nerve pain are difficult things to evaluate, to treat, and it really depends what the cause of your never 'damage' is. If a nerve is lacerated, it can not be repaired unless it is done very quickly after an injury. But there are many other kinds of 'damage' and nerve injuries. Your question is not specific enough to give a clear answer READ MORE
How do you test for ankle instability?
Ankle instability is tested clinically by putting the ankle through 2 different tests: 1) Anterior Drawer test 2) Talar Tilt test. These can also be done under fluoroscopy or under plain film radiology. Further testing is done by performing an MRI to see if ligaments are sprained (stretched out) or ruptured (torn completely or partially). It is also decided based on frequency of patient ankle sprains and a 'feeling' by the patient of instability and that they are frequently feeling as if they are going to sprain the ankle, or they are afraid to do things because they frequently sprain their ankles READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Reconstructive Foot & Ankle surgeryWound care and limb salvageDiabetic Foot Care, Diabetic shoesOrthotics and biomechanics of the foot and anklePlantar fasciitisNerve pain and NeuropathyNueromasTendonitisArthritis of the foot and ankleFlat Foot and Flat Foot ReconstructionToenail FungusIngrowing ToenailsFoot and leg woundsInfections of the foot and ankleAthlete's Foot and fungal infectionsRashes, DermatitisFoot Pain, Ankle pain