Alleviating Foot & Ankle Pain for Over 20 Years in Parma, Rocky River, and Throughout Greater Cleveland

When you are experiencing pain in your feet, it affects your overall wellbeing. This can make it difficult to manage all aspects of your life in a healthy and productive way.

From our conveniently located clinics in Parma and Rocky River, Ohio, Dr. Ripepi, a highly experienced podiatric doctor, provides expert care, diagnosis, and treatment of ankle and foot conditions for children, adults, and seniors.

Specializing in all areas of foot and ankle health care—surgery, women’s foot health, diabetic care, and sports injuries—the team offers advanced technology and treatments for foot pain, sprained ankles, ingrown toenails, bunions, arthritis, flat feet, Achilles tendonitis, and more. Our foot and ankle treatment selections range from noninvasive techniques, physical and laser therapy, to surgical foot and ankle care and are focused on both the bio-mechanical aspects of “how to eliminate pain” and the aesthetics of how your feet look.  

At Ripepi Foot and Ankle Clinics, we encourage our patients to ask questions and be meaningfully involved in managing their foot conditions. Our number one goal is to help you build a strong and healthy foundation by addressing any foot and ankle issues that may be keeping you from your best self—and we do everything possible to get you back to the active lifestyle you enjoyed previously.

Relieve your foot, ankle, and heel pain. Come in for your consultation, and begin to feel and look better today! 

thumbnail image of Dr. Joseph Ripepi

Dr. Joseph Ripepi

Podiatrist

Dr. Ripepi enjoys treating patients of all ages, including children, active adults and the elderly. The feet are important for maintaining our active lifestyles. His goal is to treat people gently and quickly so that they can get back to the activities that they enjoy as soon as possible. Dr. Ripepi’s philosophy is that people want to be on their feet, not off their feet, and this is how he approaches the treatment of their problem....

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Why Choose Us

Our mission is to SERVE our patients:

  • Stress-free environment for our patients. A place where people can come in and feel comfortable with the doctors and staff, knowing that we have their best interest at heart. Also, a stress-free workplace for the staff, knowing they will be appreciated and respected.
  • Excellence in foot and ankle care. Our doctors are experienced and trained to handle all conditions of the foot and ankle. We can provide a wide range of treatments for numerous ailments according to what best suits your needs. Our staff at Ripepi & Associates Foot and Ankle Clinics, Inc. excel in their work and can handle any of your other needs, from financial to physical.
  • Restoration of foot and ankle function as quickly as possible. We understand the world is moving at a rapid pace. It’s our job to get you back on your feet quickly. We know your need to maintain total health, and keep up with the speed of life.
  • Vision: At Ripepi & Associates Foot and Ankle Clinic, Inc., we strive to keep up-to-date on the latest techniques and equipment. Our vision is to grow with the needs of our patients and be the best of the best.
  • Educated doctors, staff, and patients. Our doctors and staff are continually educated through seminars and workshops. We also actively educate the public and our patients on proper foot and ankle care and the abilities of a podiatric physician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does My Child Need To See A Podiatrist?

This will depend on an array of factors. A good starting point, however, is by determining if your child’s foot or ankle is hurting. If so, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with our office.

Your pediatrician is needed to monitor your child’s overall health, but when child foot problems arise, you should bring your child to see a specialist who has focused on feet throughout his or her medical training, residency, and years in practice.

Specific conditions and injuries that are more common include ingrown toenails, sports injuries, Sever’s disease, plantar warts, and pediatric flatfoot.

Untreated foot problems in childhood can lead to chronic problems later in life. Arthritis can set in where a bone was fractured. A bad sprain could lead to weak ankles and recurrent injuries. Flat feet can become rigid and painful and keep your child from enjoying performing daily activities, much less running or sports. Even an ingrown nail can become infected and need to be removed if left untreated.

Given the fact conditions are often most effectively treated in early stages, it is better to err on the side of caution and have your son or daughter see Dr. Ripepi.

Why Does My Heel Hurt?

Heel pain is a common ailment for patients of all ages. In part, this can be attributed to the fact there are many potential causes of heel pain. To determine why your heel hurts, a good starting point is to identify where the pain is coming from relative to the heel and when it is strongest.

  • If the pain is prominent on the bottom of the heel and tends to be more severe in the morning (especially with the first steps of the day), the likely cause is plantar fasciitis.
  • If the pain is prominent in the back of the heel and tends to worsen during and following physical activity, the likely cause is Achilles tendinitis.
  • If the pain is prominent in the back of the heel and happening to an adolescent child or teen, the likely cause is Sever’s disease.

There are other causes of heel pain, but these ones are generally the most common – plantar fasciitis is the leading source of heel pain for adults and Sever’s is the leading source for adolescents.

Whereas heel pain is common, it isn’t “normal.” Pain is your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong and needs to be addressed. If you are suffering from heel pain, contact our office and let Dr. Ripepi treat it for you.

Why Does My Foot Hurt?

Your feet and ankles are complicated structures, with each one being comprised of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. These lower appendages face tremendous forces—even during a typical, non-workout day—that can total several hundred tons. As such, there are numerous reasons as to why your foot might hurt.

When we diagnose the source of your foot pain, we will consider an area of different factors to establish a root cause and how to resolve the problem for you. The area of the foot, nature of the pain (i.e., dull vs. sharp), and origin of the pain are all clues to indicate what is wrong.

Your best course of action for a hurting foot or ankle is to simply come see us for a professional evaluation. We will take the time to listen to you—to fully understand the nature of the problem and how it may have developed—and then provide our recommendation for the best path forward. (The good news is that “the best path” usually isn’t surgery!)

What Do I Look For In A Daily Foot Inspection?

When you are diabetic, there are many threats to the health and wellbeing of your feet. Since neuropathy (nerve damage) often accompanies diabetes, you may not be able to feel issues that have developed and now threaten your health. This means you need to use a daily foot inspection to identify problems at the earliest opportunity so you can stay safe.

When performing a daily foot inspection, you basically need to look for anything out of the ordinary. As a general rule, any discoloration, growth, or wound needs to be reported.

Specific items you need to check for every day include:

  • Scratches, cuts, and abrasions
  • Dry, cracked skin
  • Blisters
  • Calluses and corns
  • Plantar warts
  • Ingrown and discolored toenails

If you find any of these conditions, schedule the earliest possible appointment with our office. In the event you discover any sign of infection (pain, swelling, warmth, or redness) seek emergency medical services.

Why Are My Toenails Turning Yellow?

There are various reasons toenails become yellow, but the most likely explanation is a case of nail fungus (onychomycosis). Fungal infections in the toenails are, unfortunately, fairly common. The responsible fungi are microscopic—so you cannot see them and know to avoid the tiny spores—and typically reside in warm, damp areas, including places where people normally walk barefoot (such as indoor pool decks, gym locker room floors, and communal showering areas).

Toenail fungus is a stubborn infection, one that usually requires professional treatment. For optimal results, it is best to come in and see us at the earliest opportunity (when the infection is most easily treated). Left unaddressed, this problem will only continue to worsen.

Beyond a fungal infection, other potential causes of yellow toenails include diabetes, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, jaundice, psoriasis, and thyroid problems. In some cases, toenails become yellowed simply due to natural aging processes. There is also an extremely rare genetic disorder known as “yellow nail syndrome,” which can present in conjunction with lymphedema.

Recognized

Logo Recognizing Ripepi Foot & Ankle Clinics, Inc.'s affiliation with AAPSM
Logo Recognizing Ripepi Foot & Ankle Clinics, Inc.'s affiliation with ABFAS
Logo Recognizing Ripepi Foot & Ankle Clinics, Inc.'s affiliation with ACFAS
Logo Recognizing Ripepi Foot & Ankle Clinics, Inc.'s affiliation with ADA
Parma Office
  • 5500 Ridge Road, Ste#140
    Parma, OH 44129
  • Phone: (440) 843-3692
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Rocky River Office