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...

How are corns under a toenail removed?
Toenails are made of thick Keratin. Corns are dermal conditions. So, the best thing to do in this case would be to have a podiatrist evaluate the condition to see what the problem really is, as I don't believe you can have a corn beneath a toenail. READ MORE
I have pain in my ankle and it may need surgery. Will my diabetes make it difficult to heal my ankle?
Diabetes alone is not a reason to avoid surgery. HOWEVER, there are more potential complications healing in a patient that is diabetic. The biggest concerns about healing in a diabetic are 1) Circulation must be adequate for good healing (this can be tested) 2) A diabetic automatically has a decreased immune response and is more susceptible to infection (your physician must be one familiar with treating and doing surgery on diabetic patients, and must do diligent work up prior to, and good follow up after surgery). Your blood glucose must be under very good control (Hemoglobin A1c <7.0). READ MORE
What is the best way to clean your feet when you have diabetes?
You should use gentle soap and water to clean your feet daily. You should NOT soak your feet for long periods of time in Epsom salts, as this actually dries out your skin. You should check between your toes daily to insure that there is not maceration or athletes foot/wounds between your toes. You should use a hydrating lotion on your feet daily before bed and/or after you shower. Keeping the skin healthy is very important for preventing ulcers and infections, which, in turn, will help to prevent amputations. READ MORE
What is the cause of my foot pain?
If you have had pain for one year or more, and the pain is in multiple places, you will need to be assessed by a physician. Burning pain is often neurologic in nature, but it is unclear what is wrong with you from your description, and the problem may be more complex than your realize. READ MORE
What can I do for my dry and cracked heels?
The reason for this is usually a condition called Hyperhidrosis, which is excessive sweating of the palms, plantar foot, or other parts of the body. This problem actually wicks moisture out of your tissues and dries them out. There is often a component of callus formation where the fissures and cracks form-most commonly around the heels and forefoot in the weight bearing areas. There are some good prescription and non-prescription creams that have enzymes which help to break down the callused tissue and help to soften the skin and get rid of the calluses and fissures. Over the counter, the best is called Amlactin. You can have similar cream or lotion prescribed by your Podiatrist called Lac Hydrin. These creams contain Lactic Acid, which is safe for your skin and effective against the fissures and calluses. Another type of prescription cream is a Urea cream. They work similarly. When the fissures are very bad, I have my patients apply the cream at night and wrap their feet in Saran Wrap to hold the medication close to the skin and so it does not soak into the sheets during the night. Then, in the morning, just gently go over the affected areas with a Pumice stone or a Callus File. Once the skin is normal again, you no longer have to use the Saran Wrap and can just apply the lotion nightly to the feet. READ MORE
I have an ingrown toenail. How would it be removed?
There are 2 types of removals: A nail Avulsion, where the nail is removed from the tip of the toe back to the 'root.' This is done under local anesthesia. The second type is called a Matricectomy, and the same procedure as above is performed, but then a chemical is applied to the most proximal part of the nail fold where the nail grows from to burn the growth cells of the offending border, and the goal of this procedure is to be a 'permanent' removal. So the edge bothering you should not grow back. You can look up these procedures on line, or even watch a video on YouTube of the procedures. READ MORE
Should I stay away from pedicures?
It is true. Pedicure and manicure places tend to be dirty. I see many patients every year that get ingrowing toenails, fungal infections, bacterial infections and other issues from going to a Pedicure facility. The instruments, themselves, are never truly sterile (like doctor's instruments are), as bead and chemical sterilizers only clear about 80-85% of fungus and bacteria. To truly sterilize instruments, they must be put in a medical grade autoclave, as doctors and hospitals use. The tubs, too, that you soak in tend to be full of bacteria. A study was done where the examiners swabbed the instruments and the basins that people soak in, and they went to 10 different facilities and grew all sorts of microbes. If you must go, bring your own instruments and do not soak in the basins. But, you may medically qualify for regular toenail and callus trimming by a Podiatrist. You will have to see one in your town to find out if you meet the medical criteria for such treatment READ MORE
How are ingrown toe nails removed?
There is a permanent procedure called a Matricectomy to permanently remove the offending ingrown toenails that bother you. You can google the procedure on line and actually watch one on video/YouTube. READ MORE
Should I see a podiatrist for my feet If I have diabetes?
The absolute answer is "YES! WITHOUT QUESTION!" Diabetics are at a much higher risk for amputation, particularly if you have impairment of your circulation or your nerves (Neuropathy). Uncomplicated Diabetics are seen once a year. Patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) or Neuropathy are at more risk, and qualify to be seen every 8-10 weeks for nail care and callus care, and are usually allowed 1 pair of Diabetic shoes with custom insoles every year. Read about Diabetics and lower extremity amputations. READ MORE
How are bunions removed?
A bunion is a structural problem. It is a movement of the 1st metatarsal away from the 2nd metatarsal, which increases the angle between the metatarsal, changes the weight bearing surface of your foot, changing the mechanics and function of your foot. This is more complicated than it may seem, but the only way to remove a bunion is through surgery, and, if done properly, will take about 6 weeks for your to recover to the point of getting into shoes again, but you will have swelling for several months after surgery (but it gets less and less swollen the further away from the surgery date you get). This swelling is normal, but concerns and bothers patients, at times. Look up Hallux Abducto Valgus and its treatments on line. READ MORE
What should I do to prevent my feet from hurting in the snow?
Well, the main reason that your feet might hurt in the snow is from pre-frostbite/decreased circulation to the toes and extremities. Your body goes into a self-preservation mode as it gets cold, and saves blood and oxygen for the internal organs, and decreases the circulation to the extremities, hands and feet. If you must do this, you should wear 2 layers of heavy socks, and you should switch out your socks at least twice a day to remove the moisture that may make your feet even more cold when the socks become saturated with sweat. But if the problem is severe, you should visit a cardiologist/vascular surgeon to have your circulation examined. READ MORE
I have a small growth around my ankle. Could it be serious?
It is impossible to diagnose something like this without seeing it. You should get it checked out by a Podiatrist ASAP. It is very uncommon to have a malignancy in the foot or ankle, but it can happen. Better to be safe than sorry READ MORE
Can bunions indicate an underlying foot problem?
The cause of bunions is a combination of genetics, shoe gear, and biomechanics. There is usually, in my experience, a mechanical issue with the function of a patient's foot that causes bunions. Just because your shoes are 'comfortable,' does not mean they are good for your feet or giving your feet the mechanical and structural support they need. READ MORE
Why do I find it hard to flex my toes?
A number of things could cause this type of problem; anything from excessive swelling in the foot, leg and ankle, to neurologic issues to tendonitis. You need to have this examined more thoroughly to find out what is wrong READ MORE
Can heel pain be treated surgically?
In my practice, it is rare to perform surgery for the most common type of heel pain, Plantar Fasciitis. 99% of the time I am able to resolve the problem conservatively if this is the diagnosis. However, there are other diagnoses that could cause heel pain. Your Diabetes may or may not come into play. But being Diabetic, you should never hesitate to see your Podiatrist about the pain, as there could be something more serious happening. The worst thing would be for you to end up having an amputation because you ignored the problem. Make an appointment with your Podiatrist immediately READ MORE
Why does my ankle sprain easily?
Frequent ankle sprains may be a result of stretching or even rupture of the lateral ankle ligaments. This can be diagnosed through MRI imaging and through a clinical exam by your Podiatrist. The more often you sprain the ankle, the less likely the ligaments are to return to their natural state of tension and support, and the more likely that they will eventually rupture. There are very good surgical procedures to help correct this problem, and the recovery is not too long. My patients who get lateral ankle stabilization procedures are usually very happy with the results and return to full activity without having more sprains and with a feeling of increased security and stability with activity. READ MORE
My foot looks like it has a wart on the bottom of it. How can I get rid of it?
Most over the counter treatments are not effective in treating warts, and I have seen several patients get infections from using the over the counter treatments inappropriately or too frequently. I recommend going to see your local Podiatrist. There are several ways to treat the wart, such as freezing, acids, other topical treatments, Bleomycin injections, surgical treatment with excision and/or lasers or cautery. However, there are other foot pathologies that look like warts, and may not be. Warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus, and there are other skin lesions that can be acquired that are not from an infectious process. It's best to see a professional for treatment. READ MORE
How can I prevent foot issues?
This is a very vague question. It really depends on what your risks are, what your comorbidities are, and what your foot dysfunction might be. Often times, you can help your foot function with proper, custom made orthotics (the majority of over the counter orthotics are not adequate to help with your foot function/dysfunction) READ MORE
I frequently get blisters on my feet when I wear shoes. Why does this keep happening?
Blisters can happen for a number of reasons. If you find that it happens with certain shoes, the shoes are not fitting you properly-they are probably sliding on your feet causing friction that is creating the blisters. Your foot function should be examined by a professional-it is possible that orthotics will rectify the abnormal function that might be causing the blistering. Simply changing shoes may rectify the problem. READ MORE
What is the treatment for hammer toe?
Pain in the ball of the feet may or may not be from hammer toes. There is no way to straighten a hammer toe without surgical intervention. But there are several causes of pain at the ball of the feet and many can be treated either with injections or with arch supports, or both. It would be best fro your mother so that she can be more thoroughly evaluated by a specialist, and treatment will be given, if necessary. 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