When more conservative treatment methods aren't helpful, surgery may be the answer to your foot or ankle pain! Surgery from our Wesley Chapel podiatrists, Drs. George and Kathy Tjamaloukas, may be recommended for a variety of conditions, ranging from ingrown toenails to bunions to arthritis.

Is foot and ankle surgery a good option for me?

Your Wesley Chapel foot doctors will consider several factors before suggesting surgery, including:

• Pain: Surgery may be recommended if you have severe or chronic pain. Your podiatrist will ask you questions about the severity of your pain, its duration, and how often it occurs. We will also want to hear about the effect of the pain on the quality of your life. For instance, have you stopped doing the things you enjoy because of your hammertoe? Does plantar fasciitis or bunions keep you from exercising?
• Your Gait: Walking normally can be difficult if you have a foot or ankle condition, injury, or abnormality. Unfortunately, changes to your gait don't just affect your feet and ankles—they may also have a larger impact on your entire body. Altering the way you walk can lead to hip, knee, or back pain. Luckily, surgery can improve your foot and ankle condition and restore your normal gait.
• Infection: Surgery may be needed to remove all or part of an infected ingrown toenail, for clearing out infected or dead skin tissue can help facilitate healing if you have a diabetic ulcer or other infected sore/wound. Signs and symptoms of an infection can include inflamed tissue, pus, warmth, pain, foul odor, and fever. Call your foot doctor immediately if you notice any of these signs and symptoms.
• Walking and Standing: Walking, running, or even standing can be painful or difficult if you have bunions, hammertoes, a torn Achilles tendon, an ankle instability, arthritis in your feet/ankles, or a fracture. During surgery, your podiatrist can fix all of these issues!

Could foot and ankle surgery help you? Call your podiatrists in Wesley Chapel, FL, today at (813) 909-0865 to schedule an appointment and find out!