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...

Throbbing pain on the sides of my feet?
The first thing I would try is getting some good orthotics. (DO NOT GO TO THE GOOD FEET STORE! THEY CHARGE VERY HIGH PRICES FOR VERY CHEAP DEVICES! YOU CAN GO TO A PODIATRIST AND GET ACTUAL CUSTOM DEVICES FOR WHAT THEY CHARGE FOR WEAK AND CHEAP ALTERNATIVES!). Orthotics help to position your tendons and joints in better anatomic alignment for more proper and better function, and often alleviate the types of pain you are mentioning. The vein issue is probably completely separate from your pain, or the veins may appear more prominent secondary to swelling from whatever irritation is going on in your feet. You can take oral anti-inflammatory medications at an anti-inflammatory dosage (you must take certain amounts of certain medications to eliminate inflammation, which is the cause of pain). You can also ice after exercise. If those things don't help, seek professional evaluation from a local Podiatrist READ MORE
What helps chronic ankle pain?
It depends on what is causing your ankle pain. You may be experiencing actual joint pain, or there may be an issue with a tendon(s) or ligaments around the ankle, or you may even be experiencing pain that is actually not in your ankle, but with surrounding structures. You should be evaluated by a physician to determine the cause of the pain so that you can properly treat the issue. READ MORE
Treating bow legs?
The type of surgery to correct an abnormal bone angle in a long bone, such as your tibia, is arduous and extensive, and may include breaking the bone for repositioning, or even an Ilizarov External fixation device for slow manipulation of the angle of the bone. You need to find out what level of pathology is causing your 'bow legs.' (Is it coming from a scliosis of your spine, a problem in the thigh or Femur, is it stemming from the knee or the Tibia? Is it from your ankle?). But in all truth, I do not believe this problem is worth the ordeal of the type of surgery that is required, or the long recovery process. But if you are in a severe malalignment and are having severe pain, you should see a foot and ankle surgeon for evaluation and potential treatment. READ MORE
Can you walk after ankle replacement?
You need to heal from surgery prior to walking, and activity level will be determined by your surgeon post-operatively, but the goal is to have you walking after the surgery-so the answer is yes. READ MORE
Is it normal for my feet to be this cold?
Cold toes and feet occur due to circulatory problems-usually arterial in nature. This can be from a congenital problem with circulation, or it can be from atherosclerosis of the arteries of the leg, foot and ankle (even the arteries in the groin). There are also conditions that are related to Vasospasm, such as Raynaud's disease/phenomenon. The best way to find out what is causing the circulatory issue would be to see a cardiologist who specializes in peripheral circulation, or to visit your local Podiatrist for evaluation READ MORE
Should I see an orthopedist or podiatrist for ankle pain?
You should see a Podiatrist who is board certified in both Foot surgery and Rearfoot/Ankle surgery and who has done a 3 year surgical residency training for ankle pain. A well-trained Podiatrist is much better at evaluating and treating foot and ankle pathologies than any other type of physician READ MORE
What happens if a heel spur goes untreated?
A 'heel spur' is actually a problem with a ligament. The real name of the problem is 'Plantar Fasciitis.' If this ligament strain goes untreated, it can result in chronic, intermittent pain and cause difficulty with activity and walking. If the 'spur' is noted on the x-ray, it is a result of inflammation in the area from the ligament strain. If you are not having heel pain, but have been told there is a 'spur,' you do not need any treatment, at all, as the spur is not the actual cause of the pain-it is a result of inflammation around the bone, and causes no harm or pain to the patient. READ MORE
Knots on the bottom of my feet?
It is very difficult to discern the bumps you're talking about, other than the normal anatomy which is your metatarsal heads (the ball of your foot). As we get older (and your not very old-we are the same age), the fat pad on the ball of the foot wears, or it can get pulled into the sulcus of the toes, which makes the metatarsal heads more prominent, and they may feel 'harder' or like pebbles. Alternatively, you may have a pinched nerve at the ball of your foot, which sometimes is described in the same manner as you are describing your problem. This is called a neuroma. And finally, you may have small, punctate lesions which may be hyperkeratotic (callused) tissue, which are called porokeratosis, and they may feel like pebbles. I would suggest actually visiting a Podiatrist in person to have the problem evaluated. It is too difficult to see what is going on in your picture. READ MORE
Can you walk after toenail removal?
Yes, you can. And you can wear any shoes afterwards that you are comfortable in READ MORE
What is ankle/foot orthosis used for?
An AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) is used for several different pathologies of the foot and ankle, and there are different styles/types of AFOs. They are used for Drop Foot, Tendinitis of the foot and ankle, malalignment of the joints of the foot and ankle, degeneration of the overall structure of the foot and ankle, and other deformities and pathologies of the foot and ankle. READ MORE
One toe is freezing and throbbing pain?
Well, temperature changes are usually related to nerve issues and nerve pain. If you had surgery within the past month, as you have stated, you need to see your surgeon, as it could be related to the surgery. Throbbing could be for any number of reasons. I see you're on Oxycontin, which would mean you are taking medication for chronic pain. Chronic pain issues are also often related to the nervous system-but oxycontin is a particularly strong and addictive drug. So whomever prescribed that is another person you should consider seeing. I would have these issues evaluated by your most recent doctors considering your recent surgery and strong prescription opiods READ MORE
How do you treat chronic foot pain?
Your question is too broad to give a correct answer. The foot and ankle are very complicated structures, with 28 bones, 33 joints, multiple tendons and ligaments, as well as nerves and blood vessels. It is impossible to know how to treat your pain without knowing the general location and without a good examination. That being said, orthotics may alleviate a lot of issues not only with foot pain, but with ankle, knee, hip and low back pain READ MORE
How long do you have to wear a walking boot after ankle surgery?
That depends on what type of ankle surgery you are going to have. Bone repair/fracture repair may take 6-12 weeks to recover from, Ligament repair may take anywhere from 4-12 weeks to recover from, and tendon repairs may take 2-6 months to recover from. The recovery is very dependent on what type of surgery you are to have READ MORE
What is the fastest way to recover from bunion surgery?
It depends on what type of bunion surgery you have. If you have the most simple bunionectomy where the bump is shaved off, 2-3 weeks will be your recovery prior to resuming normal shoe gear. If you have the most common type of bunionectomy, an Austin bunionectomy, the recovery is roughly 6 weeks. A Lapidus bunionectomy (fusion of the 1st metatarso-cuneiform joint) is a longer course of healing and may take up to 3 months to heal. All of that being said, it takes an entire year for scar tissue to remodel, and you may have swelling and some residual post-operative management for 6 months to a year after surgery READ MORE
Foot issues?
Growth and callus formation on the plantar (bottom) of the foot has nothing to do with neuromas or neuroma pain. They are usually mechanical in nature, and in order to get rid of some of these lesions, sometimes metatarsals need to be surgically moved to alleviate stress from one part of the foot. Also, there may be a hammer toe creating retrograde pressure dorsally over the metatarsal head, and this may create such a lesion. The itching can be from a nerve disorder/neuropathy, or may come from some dermal conditions or infections. It is impossible to know what exactly is happening with your feet without an examination. You should see a well-trained, 3-year surgically trained in residency, Podiatrist who is Board Certified in surgery. READ MORE
How do you relieve pain after ankle surgery?
Pain after ankle surgery is relieved as all surgery pain is alleviated-using Non-sterioidal anti-inflammatory medications, as well as using narcotic pain relievers. But it is very dependent on what type of surgery and what pathology you have, what procedures are performed by the surgeon. There are many types of ankle surgery. READ MORE
How long does it take for a ruptured Achilles tendon to heal without surgery?
I would say 3-4 months, depending on your compliance with non-weight bearing and rest during the recovery period. You should be casted and completely non-weight bearing for at least 6-8 weeks, then you should have partial weight bearing and rehab/phys med for at least 1-2 months after that. READ MORE
How long does it take to recover from toenail removal?
It depends on what type of nail removal you have-temporary (where the nail is allowed to regrow), or permanent. It takes 2-3 weeks for a permanent nail removal to heal. It takes 9 months for a new nail to regrow after a temporary nail removal, but the actual wound from surgery is healed within 2 weeks, or so READ MORE
How long does it take to recover from an Achilles rupture?
It is much easier to give a timeline of recovery for such a pathology if the Achilles rupture is surgically fixed than if you are simply immobilized. But I would say 3-4 months, depending on the treatment and depending on your behavior (your compliance with non-weight bearing and rest). They may heal a little bit sooner if you have the tendon surgically repaired. READ MORE
Can a podiatrist treat foot fungus?
Yes, Podiatrists treat all sorts of dermatologic conditions, including nail fungus and foot fungus, as well as many others 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