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Dr. Darrell Latva

Podiatry
Chicago, IL
44 years experience male

Locations

Office

Chicago, IL

Address

Chicago, IL
Directions

About

Bio

I have 34 years of private practice experience and 24 years teaching in an academic setting; I currently hold the rank of associate professor. I created both a residency program and a podiatry service at a Level I trauma center, and was chief, the head if you will, of that podiatry service. I am board certified by both the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. But, enough about credentials. What can I offer you, my patient? My greatest strength is listening, thinking, and arriving at a diagnosis. When you present your problem, it's my job to ask the most appropriate questions to get me to my diagnosis; since we only have fifteen minutes, we both must work quickly. That's where my experience counts. I am currently seeing patients Thursday from 8-10 CST, on the HealthTap website.

Specialties
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.

Podiatry

Licenses

United States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan

Doctor Q&A

521 Answers
200 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
High arches: High arched feet are poor shock absorbers. Orthoses may help with that, making you feel better.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 53-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
DIAGNOSIS: Are you saying this just happened out of the blue, or do you have a medical diagnosis from a doctor? Any injury? That information would be helpful in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
YES.: You're young. How long with diabetes? What's your A1C-should be below 7. Cold feet, dry skin could be what's called autonomic neuropathy, associated w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
DJD: I agree it could be gout if a sudden onset. If it's chronic and long standing, maybe just wear-and-tear arthritis. An x-ray would be helpful.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
SURGERY: If you want to "get rid of it", surgery is the only option If you see a podiatrist, go to abfas.org to find a board-certified doctor in your area. Goo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
MEDICAL ISSUE: If it's both hands and feet, my first impression is an underlying medical condition. See your PCP.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
DON'T DO THAT: Don't do that. As the old saying goes; "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." What if you have surgery for this very elective problem, and things don't g... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
YES: You frequently hear of professional athletes having a stress fracture that does not heal, and they have the best treatment possible! I would order an ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
IT DEPENDS: It depends what your foot problem is. NSAID's, cortisone shots, orthotic devices, bracing, a cast, protective padding, change in shoegear are all used... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 61-year-old male asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
STD OF CARE: A literature review, admittedly 15 years old, felt there was not enough evidence to use prophylaxis. But, what's the "standard of care" in your commun... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 52-year-old male asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
FASCIITIS: Yes, heel pain can cause leg pain. The most common diagnosis, among many, is inflammation to a structure attached to the heel; the plantar fascia. Inf... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
BRACING: You've been given advice about diet, but is there anything that can be done to help w/ the ankle itself? I would need much more information re: the su... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
ANKLE SURGERY: Sometimes, after ankle surgery, people just stay swollen forever. Or, it could be the hardware, Get a new x-ray.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
SEE A DR.: After a doctor examines you, he/she will make that determination.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
QUESTIONS: My questions are: how long? Gradual/sudden onset? Worse/better? Where exactly-side, top, bottom, "deep" inside the joint? What makes it better/worse? ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
FUGLY FOREVER: I think the nail growing area-the nail matrix-has been permanently damaged from trauma, giving you that appearance.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
BIOPSY: Dermatology problems are visual problems. Without seeing it, you have to look at the border; is it irregular or notched? Any color changes? Size large... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
YES: CRPS is a dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system, and as such can be involved with multiple organs. One example is the kidney, which does play ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
THREE: 1. Get weight off the foot. 2. See a podiatrist for the reason. 3. STOP SMOKING, if you do so.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
STRESS FX: This results from repetitive, excessive load on a bone, resulting in micro fractures, a stress reaction to the bone, and finally, a stress fx.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
PILLS VS. TOPICALS: The pill terbinafine is taken daily for 3 months; I quote a 70% success rate, and maybe up to a year to look "normal." Anti-fungal solutions are appli... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
COMPLICATIONS: No surgery, or surgeon, has a 100% success rate. Unfortunately, complications happen even with compliant patients. Return to your surgeon and trust hi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
NO: A lot? Like 8/10, 9/10, 10/10. That's not normal; go back to your surgeon. But also for consideration; did you follow your surgeon's post-op orders. M... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
NO: Gout crosses the entire spectrum of body weights.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
SUBTALAR JOINT: With unresolving ankle sprains, frequently the subtalar joint (the joint below the ankle joint) is overlooked, and could be the culprit. If the ankle ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
PROS AND CONS: Pros: Reserved for the person with LOTS of pain affecting Activities of Daily Living and not controlled with shoe modifications or orthoses. Cons: FF ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
YES: When people treat themselves, the pain can linger for a long time; sometimes the pain never goes away. People don't take sprains seriously. So, the fi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
TOPICAL: I don't find topicals to work.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
ABFAS: See a podiatrist board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS). Their website can help you. Sincerely, Dr. Latva
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
H+P: The BEST way to diagnose a foot neuroma is through a good H+P by a podiatrist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
TESTS FOR LISFRANC: After a complete history and physical, x-rays, including x-ray stress testing, are utilized. I ALWAYS order a CT scan. Good luck. Dr. Latva
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
Toe jam defined: According to Urban Dictionary: "That grey-brown stuff that accumulates between your toes primarily composed of dead skin cells, sock fluff, and sweat.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
RISK FACTORS: Sun exposure, especially first 20 years of age. Blistering sunburns. Blonde or red hair. Green or blue eyes. Positive family history. One melanoma, gr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
Stress test/mri: Hopefully you followed your doctor's advice. You may need x-ray stress tests or an MRI.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
PODIATRIST: First, make sure a podiatrist is checking your feet. It depends upon your circulation and degree of neuropathy. Your A1C. History of foot ulcers. An... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
NO: There are many ways to treat a neuroma of the foot. However, only surgery will remove it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 53-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
THREE THOUGHTS: Sudden onset of increased pain from a spur? One-did the spur fracture off the heel?-need a new x-ray. Two-rupture of the plantar fascia. Three-gout.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
NOT GOUT: You mention "feet." Gout is usually one specific spot, not all over. There is another reason for your pain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
MORE INFO: I would need much more information-nature of pain, duration, location, onset, getting better/worse, what aggravates it, what makes it better. Regards,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
10-12 WEEKS: If I perform surgery on the Lisfranc, I avoid WB for 10-12 weeks. Dr. Latva
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A male asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
????: I've never heard of a 'calcaneal grade 4+ stress fx.' Maybe it's a grading system common in Australia. But yes, it can heal faster than six weeks, esp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
TPTD?: You write as if it's only one foot. The most common cause of unilateral (one side) flatfoot in an adult is called Tibialis Posterior Tendon Dysfunctio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
HOW TREATED: Did you originally see a doctor, or just treat it yourself? If the latter, it's probably been undertreated, and now the problems you describe could la... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
IT'S OK BUT: It's not bad; it should be between 6 and 7 for diabetics. The lower the better! As you may know, this test measures your average sugar over 2-3 months... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
TEAM APPROACH: Taking an opioid makes me think the PAD is severe and the cause of the pain. You need a team approach with your PCP, podiatrist well versed in wound c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
NO: It's not an emergency. Make an appt. w/ a podiatrist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
RABIES: The only way to determine quickly if the cat has rabies is to obtain samples of brain tissue, which requires killing the cat. Results in 24-72 hours. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
TWO REASONS: Diabetic and alcoholic are the two most common reasons for neuropathy. There are several others.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
IT DEPENDS: Most commonly, the outside ligaments are sprained. There are three. Sometimes one, or two, more rarely all three are, affected. Depending upon the sev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Darrell Latva
Podiatry 44 years experience
NOT RECOMMENDED: Muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the ankle are designed to be tight for stability. I don't think you want to do that. Sincerely, Dr. Latva
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

1
Recommendations
113
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Nov 27, 2015
This Thanksgiving, I wanted to share my appreciation for all that you do! Thank you, doctor! :)
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I appreciate your advice. The CRPS diagnosis scares me and I have been referred to a Pain Management Specialist. The CRPS will be my priority and hopefully I can deal wi...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you for your answer- I will be seeking some further advice from my specialist. I am currently seeing a PM specialist for my CRPS which affects the foot with the no...Read More
HealthTap member
My problem is not my heel or plantar fasciitis - I already checked the symptoms and they are not the same - luckily it's better this morning

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE
Graduated 1979MD

Residency

WESTVIEW HOSPITAL

Awards

"Golden Apple Award" for excellence in teaching of podiatry residents
Most Influential, Second Place, the Chicago Region - Spring
2017
Top Doctor, Third Place, the Chicago Region - Spring
2017

Affiliations

APMA, ABFAS, ABPM
FACFAS, FACFAOM
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