Nichols Donald DPM

In 2011 – 2012, I had the same experience as did Tiffany P. who posted her 2013 comments. He injected cortisone between the 3^rd & 4^th toe area without discussing the potential side effects after I told him I’ve already been ruled out for Neuroma by several doctors including a Neurologist. Before I could answer, he injected! Due to severe fat pad atrophy (metatarsalgia) no one with this condition should be given cortisone as it has «potential» to destroy the miniscule fat pad that was left. I learned this after the fact. Ultrasound confirmed by musculoskeletal specialists measured fat pad before visiting him. After showing him my collection of failed custom orthotics he ordered a hard, carbon, sulcus length one, an intern on rotation delivered it and demonstrated the application (no brainer). Upon returning in even more excruciating pain, he told me that’s NOT HOW I TOLD YOU TO WEAR IT… I reminded him that another Pod delivered the orthotics to me and he said he’d talk to her… the whole time not looking at me in the face, scribbling notes in his file. It’s difficult for lay people to find a good Podiatrist. I wonder if Podiatrists take a Hippocratic Oath like MD’s. Asking for Podiatrist’s «notes» is also an exercise in futility. Posting late only because I just read Tiffany’s review of him in hopes others may live and learn, too, from bad experiences.

Yes you saw the correct Dr Nichols, he moved his office from Wheaton to Oakbrook. I have been a long time patient of his and followed him to his new office. I have always appreciated the time and care he has provided me and will continue to see him whenever I have a foot issue.

I had nothing but positive experiences with Dr. Nichols. I have had chronic pain in my ankle since I was young (dislocated ankle in high school). After the pain started to kick into full gear, and a bunion to go with it, I finally went to see Dr. Nichols. He was actually extremely thorough in explaining my options and without any drastic measures, was able to diminish my pain dramatically. Highly recommend.

I am a runner and I went to Dr. Nichols as a refferal from my family doctor. My experience has been terrible.
The first visit I went, Dr. Nichols said I had a neuroma. He injected my foot with cortisone, without asking my if I wanted the injection or discussing what the injection was even for. It was very painful! He used a 2″ long needle that went between my toes and through my foot. The worst part is, my foot now had ANOTHER pain for a week and a half from the shot. It did not help at all but made my pain worse! The bill for the shot that I didn’t even ask for was $ 140!!! And he acted like it would cost nothing and forced me to get it when we were one-​on-​one in the patient room.
I went back to Dr. Nichols a month later complaining of the same foot pain. He still thought it was a neuroma, and said to look and see if my insurance would pay for custom orthotics (otherwise $ 800). He had no real answer or diagnosis for me, even after taking X-​Rays.
Two weeks later, I went to a Sports Medicine doctor in the Cadance physician group. He said that I most definitely did not have a neuroma as Dr. Nichols said, but that my issue was metartarsalglia. He told me where to get a ball of the foot pad that would support my big toe up while I was running extra long distances. It has worked! And now I’m able to run 10 + miles without pain!
My experience with Dr. Nichols definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. Seeing a specialist isn’t cheep! And then they stabbed me with another $ 140 bill! Awful.