What Conditions Can Foot and Ankle Surgery Alleviate?

What Conditions Can Foot and Ankle Surgery Alleviate?

Find out when surgery is the best choice for improving your foot and ankle health.

When someone is dealing with a foot or ankle issue, in most cases the problem can be handled with a combination of at-home care and foot and ankle surgerythe in-office treatments our Carmel, Greenwood and Indianapolis, IN podiatrist, Dr. Jeffrey Agricola has to offer; however, there are some conditions and issues that don’t respond well to anything other than surgery. While surgery is usually the last resort, there are times when it truly is the best way to get you feeling your best.

Our feet and ankles are particularly prone to injury and once you think about how often we use our feet you’ll quickly realize why foot and ankle injuries are so common. Everything from an awkward step off the curb to certain athletic endeavors can increase your chances for foot and ankle problems. If you are dealing with pain, swelling, stiffness, tenderness, bruising or limited mobility it’s important that you have a foot doctor in Carmel and Indianapolis who can provide a proper diagnosis and customized treatment plan.

One telltale sign that foot and/or ankle surgery might be the best treatment option is if you are dealing with chronic pain that doesn’t respond to at-home care, lifestyle modifications and the treatments we’ve offered. While most pain can be managed without turning to surgery, there are certain situations in which the pain is constant and affects a person’s quality of life. This is when surgery is the best solution.

Other conditions that might benefit from surgery include:

Arthritis: Arthritis can affect joints anywhere in the body and if it targets your ankles you’ll find that moving around isn’t nearly as easy as it used to be. Arthritis of the ankle can lead to pain, inflammation, stiffness, limited mobility and the inability to bear weight on the ankle without pain. Ankle arthroscopy can be performed to remove damaged tissue and improve movement. Other times, ankle replacement surgery is required if the arthritis is more aggressive.

Bursitis: There are fluid-filled sacs within the feet that are known as bursae. When the bursas become inflamed this causes bursitis. Even though surgery for bursitis is rare, if the problem leads to severe or chronic heel pain, then surgery may be the best option for removing the inflamed bursae.

Bunions and Hammertoe: These foot deformities may require surgery to correct the structure and remove the imbalance if the deformity is large enough or if it affects your ability to walk.

Chronic/severe plantar fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis refers to inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the soles of the feet (known as the plantar fascia). While inflammation can be treated through at-home care, if pain is chronic or affects your quality of life surgery may be the best option for eliminating pain.

Are you dealing with any of the issues above? Do you want to discuss whether surgery is the best treatment option for you? If so, then call the trusted footcare experts at Prestige Podiatry in Carmel and Indianapolis, IN, today.