Collin County Living Well Magazine Summer 2014 | Page 10

“The simplest solution is usually the most missed. Always wear proper safety equipment and ensure that it’s
in good condition and fits as intended.”
Dr. Alexander’s colleague – foot and ankle specialist
Dr. Nere Onosode – agrees, emphasizing the need for “the
right fit,” particularly with regard to shoes. He explains:
“If you experience pain in the ball of your foot while riding your bike, this may be a bone issue from metatarsal
crowding or an entrapment of nerves, but more often than
not, it’s because your shoes aren’t the right size or shape
for your feet. If that’s the case, then full length arch supports with good padding should alleviate the pain.”
To find the right size and shape, Dr. Onosode recommends people have their feet measured by a foot and
ankle specialist. He suggests getting them measured at
least once a year or more often if shoes get tight.
“People’s feet can change due to weight gain or loss,
aging or a wide variety of other factors, so it’s important
to have your feet measured regularly. Also, our feet tend
to swell during the day and most people have one foot
that’s larger than the other, so we recommend having
both feet measured at the end of the day when they’re
both at their largest.”
Dr. Onosode adds that it’s important to try on shoes and
walk around a bit to ensure the right fit. “Don’t rely on
size alone. Make sure they feel right too. They shouldn’t
feel overly tight or loose, and the ball of your foot should
fit comfortably in the widest part of the shoe.”
An avid cyclist and a former track athlete, Dr. Onosode
is a founding member of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. He specializes in minimally invasive reconstruction techniques, and he completed his podiatric
medicine and surgery residency with a rear-foot and
ankle-surgery certification at The University of Louisville/
Jewish Hospital. He also holds a medical degree from the
New York College of Podiatric Medicine and a bachelor’s
degree from The University of Louisville.
Dr. Alexander and Dr. Onosode assist patients with a
wide variety of orthopedic needs, encompassing the feet,
knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, fingers and more. They
offer a comprehensive and patient-centered approach,
focusing on non-surgical solutions first, and when surgery
is necessary, providing the most minimally invasive options possible. They work closely with Dr. Douglas Won,
founder and director of SpineCARE, an affiliate of OrthoCARE. The two practices are divisions of Lumin Health
in Irving, Texas, and they have matching ideologies of
patient care.
“Our philosophy has always been to explore all nonsurgical solutions first and consider minimally invasive
surgery as a last resort. Our approach is patient-centric
and approximately 95% of our patients are treated nonsurgically,” notes Dr. Won.
An expert in minimally invasive spine procedures, Dr.

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Collin County Living Well Magazine • Summer 2014

Won helped develop endoscopic laser spine surgery and
was the first surgeon in Texas to perform it with a 3mm
incision, the size of a small grain of rice. Such a small
incision, performed with the right tools, generally results
in less damage to the skin and muscles, less blood loss,
less pain and a faster recovery time.
“When surgery is necessary, we use the most non-invasive methods possible – not only by making small incisions, but also by using tools and equipment that go between the muscles instead of tearing them. Some doctors
say they’re minimally invasive because they make small
incisions, but they use expandable retractors and other
tools that can do as much damage as open-back surgery,”
explains Dr. Won.
Dr. Won is one of the most highly trained spine specialists world-wide, having completed fellowship training in
spine surgery at William Beaumont Hospital’s Spine
Center, as well as fellowship training in cervical spine
surgery, microscopic spine surgery and spinal deformity
surgery at Washington University School of Medicine.
He completed his internship and residency through Washington University SOM/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, received
his Doctor of Medicine from The University of Texas
Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, and holds undergraduate degrees from Northwestern University and
Harvard University. He also is a clinical assistant professor at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
School.
“Exercise is so important for your spine and your general health. If you aren’t already doing so, try a team sport
or working out with a friend. Exercising as a group or
pair can be more fun and help keep you motivated,” says
Dr. Won. “Establish a regular