Conditions & Procedures

Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is vulnerable to damage and discomfort as a result of the high demands placed on it by physical activity and specific characteristics that make it less able to heal after injury. Physical therapy and orthotics can usually manage Achilles pain, but if the tendon tears, ruptures, or has grown a lot of scar tissue, Achilles Tendon Surgery may be an option to explore with your doctor.

Types of Achilles tendon injury

Insertional Achilles Tendinitis – found at the insertion of the Achilles tendon at the back of your heel. Can present with bone growth on your heel bone. Frequently has pain and degeneration at the insertion.

Non-Insertional Achilles Tendinitis – occurs along the length of the Achilles tendon, just above the heel. This is the most prevalent type, and active adults and athletes are most likely to have it. Your doctor can examine, identify, and treat the underlying causes of this pain. Your podiatric doctor will frequently notice swelling and irritation when this type of tendinitis is first developing. Your podiatric specialist will put considerable effort into developing a personalized Achilles tendonitis treatment plan for you. Achilles heel surgery may be necessary in rare circumstances.

Causes of Achilles Tendon Tear

Excessive force or strain on the tendon can lead to tear on the Achilles tendon. Some of the causes including falling/tripping, increase in activity or exercise too rapidly, high impact sports.

Ankle Pain

Most Americans will experience ankle issues at some point in their lives. Given that walking is the majority of how people get about, ankles issues are expected. The human ankle is an intricate network of bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. To sustain your body while under the load needed for walking, running, jumping, rotating, and adjusting to uneven terrain; the ankle joint complex must be robust and stable.

There are numerous structures inside and around the ankle that might cause pain. Consequently, a professional review is essential. Whether it is caused by a ligament, tendon, cartilage, or bone, ankle discomfort is relatively manageable. Issues one will see include ankle sprains, bursitis, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, Achilles tendonitis or rupture, ankle fractures, gout, arthritis, osteochondritis dissecans, and more. It is always recommended to consult your podiatrist right away as that catching some of these ailments early leads to faster and easier recovery!

Arthritis

Arthritis is a joint’s swelling and inflammation coupled with boney changes. Walking and exercise become exceedingly painful due to the arthritis-related foot swelling and pain. Treatment includes a variety of therapies, such as orthotics, oral medications, joint injections, and occasionally surgery. Your feet may be impacted by several different types of arthritis, including: Osteoarthritis, gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Metabolic or Infectious Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis are the three most prevalent kinds of arthritis. For a precise diagnosis and treatment plan, stop into your podiatrist’s office where they will run several tests combined with a clinical evaluation.

Athlete’s foot

Millions of new cases of athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, are diagnosed yearly! It is a contagious skin infection that is extremely prevalent in the United States. Its moniker, “athlete’s foot,” refers to the ease with which it spreads in wet environments like locker rooms. Wet skin between the toes and round white scales on the bottom of the foot are the classic symptoms of athlete’s foot. The same fungus that causes jock itch and ringworm also causes athlete’s foot. It is brought on by a fungus that thrives in warm, wet environments like those found in gyms, swimming pools, and locker rooms. It only takes a small piece of contaminated skin to fall off someone else’s foot for it to reach you. Treatment can be as simple as a cream!

Bunions

Bunions, or Hallux valgus, can often cause only slight foot pain. However, it can also result in a foot deformity and excruciating pain, which makes walking extremely challenging. Surgery may be the only option if bunions are painful and all other conservative measures have failed.

The most effective treatment for a bunion is bunion surgery, sometimes referred to as a bunionectomy. The main objective of the procedure is to lessen discomfort and relieve pain.

With bunions, your big toe will turn towards your second toe and the bump will get larger. You may have an extremely difficult time finding shoes that fit you comfortably as a result. Your doctor for bunions can describe the underlying cause of your condition and suggest the best course of therapy.

Our podiatrists carefully evaluate a number of criteria, including how much the position of the bones in the foot has altered, before deciding on the best form of surgery.

Osteotomy: To realign your big toe joint to the right position, the surgeon makes a few little cuts in the bone and moves it back in to place. This will straighten the bone and enhance the balance between all of the joints involved. To better maintain the big toe alignment, soft tissue procedures are added.

Exostectomy: Without performing an adjustment, the doctor simply eliminates the bunion bulge from your toe joint. Though this is a component of the other procedures, it can be done on its own.

Arthrodesis: Often reserved for those with significant arthritis in their big toe join, an arthrodesis involves eliminating all the cartilage of a joint and fusing two bones together. It is a powerful procedure and when used with the right patient, relieves a lot of pain.

Cheilectomy

A cheilectomy is a surgical treatment used to remove uncomfortable bone spurs. Bone spurs can be caused by the jamming of two bones together or from the pull of tendons. Less frequently, the bone may heal in a displaced position following a fracture, leading to a bone spur.

Around the big toe joint, bone spurs are a frequent occurrence that start to restrict motion and produce pain. In order to walk normally, this joint must have a good range of motion. Your podiatrist can remove the bone spurs surrounding the big toe to relieve pain and restore the joint’s normal range of motion. In order to avoid future shoe irritation at the spot, the bone is made smooth. If the cartilage is of poor quality, a few tiny holes in the joint so that new cartilage can grow there.

Corns

Corns are enlarged patches of the skin’s surface that can itch and hurt. Corns are often formed like a cone or a circle and are frequently found on the feet. They appear where there is pressure or friction, such as on the ball of your foot or the little toe when it grinds against shoes.

Although calluses and corns are sometimes confused, they are not the same thing. Raised bumps known as corns are made up of tough, thicker skin that may be dry or waxy. They are often much smaller than calluses and frequently encircled by irritated skin.

Depending on the individual, a podiatrist is the best expert to identify the best course of therapy for a corn. A more serious course of treatment may be indicated in addition to a few topical over-the-counter medications. If a corn has appeared, diabetics should see a podiatrist right away because minor injuries like corns have the potential to become more significant problems.

Corns may be treated with orthotic inserts, which a podiatrist will fit for you. With inserts, one may easily correct the way they walk by adjusting how their feet fit into their shoes. Orthotics that fit properly can assist decrease friction, which in turn can help decrease corn aggravation and corn development.

Surgery is an uncommon but occasionally utilized procedure to treat corns. The underlying problem that leads to corn development is addressed during corn surgery. Surgery reduces the amount of friction that occurs when walking by shaving the bone and correcting any irregularities.

Reduced friction is the first step in preventing corns. Always wear comfortable shoes that don’t irritate your feet. Friction can also be decreased by using cushioned insoles with your shoes. Although there are several strategies to prevent corns, it is recommended to speak with a podiatrist if you have any concerns.

Hammertoes

A foot deformity known as a “hammer toe” occurs when the toe bends at the joint. It frequently hurts and is linked to the development of corns on the toe. Hammer toes are not only uncomfortable, but they also make many individuals feel self-conscious. Orthotics, cushioning, and toe strapping are examples of conservative therapy that may reduce pain. Surgically straightening the toes may be an excellent alternative for you if you have tried these conservative treatments and the symptoms have not improved

Flat Foot Surgery

Flat feet should be treated at a young age since they can lead to discomfort, arthritis, and tendon degeneration with use as we age. Our foot’s arch is crucial because it enables us to adapt to various terrains and cushion the impact of our body weight striking the ground. Your arch is compressed if you have a flat foot. Your joints are therefore put under extra stress because the shock absorber is missing. Additionally, flat feet put stress on the tendons and ligaments in the foot, which can lead to rips and inflammation.

Your Podiatrist might advise flat foot surgery if your daily flat foot pain is harming your quality of life. The purpose of flat foot surgery is to give your foot an arch and realign your center of gravity to a place where it will operate best.

Because the recovery from this kind of operation is so lengthy, conservative care should always be tried first. Reconstructive surgery is often performed to treat flat feet, and the specifics of each foot’s treatment depend on the patient’s bone structure and tendon condition.

As such, Flat Foot surgery involves several procedures with a combination of boney and tendon work to create a better arch in the foot.

Foot Care

All procedures used to prevent and treat problems with a person’s feet and ankles are referred to as foot care. A podiatrist is knowledgeable about all facets of the care, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses, injuries, and ailments that can affect people’s feet. Foot care entails thoroughly inspecting, washing, and moisturizing the feet to keep them clean, healthy, and free of scrapes, bruises, and open sores that could potentially become infected. Our ability to move freely and easily throughout the day is made possible by the important role our feet play in our daily lives. It is crucial that they receive the correct treatment, especially if you have diabetes or have poor blood flow, both of which can have substantial negative effects on the health of your feet.

Foot Fractures

If you sustain some sort of foot trauma, it is advised to go to the emergency room or get in contact with your podiatrist immediately. Treatment is imperative: offloading, closed reduction of bones, and pain reduction. With 26 bones and even more joints, fractures can be complex.

An appropriate treatment strategy is put in place once the fracture is judged to be stable in order to start you on the road to recovery. Surgery may be necessary and it is important to begin the process to avoid bones healing in a misaligned orientation.

Ganglion Cysts

An ankle or foot may have a sac-like fluid growth called a ganglion cyst. A fluid sac forms under the skin as a result of ligaments and joints secreting fluid from the interstitial space and leaking into it, which is the primary cause of ganglion cysts.

Another way for this to develop is by repetitive trauma or injury to the foot or ankle, which results in bodily fluid ruptures that seep into the skin and progressively worsen over time.

As well as repeated stress, which can involve things like spending a lot of time on your feet for extended periods of time wearing heavy footwear, walking long distances, and more. A ganglion foot cyst is more likely to develop if a surrounding ligament, joint, or tendon is irritated in any way.

Treatment often involves draining the cyst, injecting steroids, or in the case of recurrence surgical removal.

Ingrown Nails

Both pediatric and adult patients commonly experience ingrown toenails. A corner of a nail that grows into the skin, causing pain, redness, and frequently even infection in the skin around it. To prevent further issues, ingrown toenails should be treated in the office by your foot doctor. Your foot specialist offers a variety of treatment options to stop your ingrown nail from returning permanently if it is a persistent, recurring problem.

Neuroma Surgery

Signs of a Morton’s neuroma or another type of neuroma include burning pain or numbness in the ball of your foot. A neuroma is a disorder when the nerves in your forefoot bundle into a ball of painful nerve tissue. When a neuroma is severe, surgery to remove the damaged nerve and the surrounding scar tissue may be advised.

When you have a neuroma, the bottom of your foot and occasionally your toes will be painful or numb. The most frequent location for this pathology to manifest itself is between your third and fourth metatarsals, called a Morton’s Neuroma. Common complaints include sensations like stepping on a stone or gravel or that your socks are folded up beneath your toes. When you walk barefoot or in tight or thin shoes, you could also feel excruciating agony.

Orthotics

If you have flawless feet from birth or ones with various deformities, over time, one may develop significant issues that could lead to biomechanical issue. You may start to notice flaws and pain in your foot as a result of playing sports that are good for your health, specific shoe types you wear, diseases like diabetes, and even certain medical disorders.

Custom orthotics can help you resume pain-free movement. Custom orthotics are mostly used to support certain areas of your foot; they can also lift an arch, ease heel pain, and assist make up for a toe that may be deformed.

Custom orthotics provide numerous health advantages, and these custom fittings can benefit you in numerous ways. Custom orthotics can relieve pressure and improve the health of the back, knees, and ankles. They can also enhance athletic performance and general wellness.

Plantar Fascciits or heel spurs

The heel absorbs the shock of the body weight above and the ground forces below each time you walk, run, or jump. The fact that so many people experience persistent heel discomfort is therefore not surprising. Plantar fasciitis, with or without a heel spur, is the most typical cause of heel discomfort. Pulling on the thick band of tissue that links your heel to your forefoot results in plantar fasciitis. This band of tissue stretches as you absorb shocks because your foot arch tends to flatten with each stride.

The plantar fascia, a band of tissue, pulls on the calcaneus, the heel bone, as it is stretched, leading to the development of a heel spur. Most patients benefit from conservative treatment in symptom relief, while some require surgery. Plantar fasciitis surgery produces excellent results, and in the majority of instances, complete pain relief is experienced quickly after surgery.

A great tool in treating Plantar fasciitis is endoscopic surgery. It allows for better visualization of the surgical procedure and also allows for a minimally invasive approach leading to less scar formation.

Toe Nail Fungus

Many people view nail fungus, also known as tinea unguium or onychomycosis, as a cosmetic problem, but occasionally a thicker nail can cause pressure, leading to toe pain and blisters. Thickened fungal nails can also dig into the skin around them, resulting in an ingrown nail. If the condition of having toenail fungus becomes bothersome either physically or aesthetically, there are numerous treatments that can be given by your foot specialist, including both topical and oral medication.

Keep in mind that foot fungus has a much fast treatment time than nail fungus, it often requires a more drawn-out process.

Warts

Caused by a virus, warts can sometimes be difficult to treat. Human papillomavirus, or HPV as it is more generally known, is the pathogen that causes warts. This virus actually has a wide variety of strains, and they can all have an impact on different parts of your body. Plantar warts are easily spread by touch and from surfaces in public showers or at swimming pools. Warts on the sole of the foot are called plantar warts. Given the thicker skin in this area, these warts can be unpleasant when taking steps or going about your day on your feet. Plantar warts can be treated in a variety of ways, from applying different topical drugs to the skin sores to removing them surgically.

Wound Care

The majority of us are used to treating minor wounds and scrapes at home with disinfectant and a bandage. But more severe wounds might require a trip to the doctor. Technically, a wound is any injury that causes the skin to open. It exposes the everything under, leaving it accessible to dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants. You should get medical attention from a doctor or expert if a wound is extremely large, dirty, or deep.

The doctor will evaluate your danger of infection as his or her initial step. If you walked on a rusty nail, had a very filthy wound, or are in a vulnerable place, you could need a tetanus vaccine.

The simplest wounds to treat are clean ones. There is little chance of infection in these wounds since they are free of microorganisms. A surgical wound might serve as an illustration because procedures are typically carried out in sterile settings. More problems arise from dirty wounds. An abscess, a gunshot wound, or a wound that brings in a foreign substance or item increases the likelihood of infection. To promote healing, these wounds may need ongoing care and specialist treatment.