Talk with your podiatrist to find out if surgery is the best way to treat your foot or ankle problem.

From athletes to seniors, our Wesley Chapel, FL, podiatrists, Drs. George and Kathy Tjamaloukas, work with patients of all different ages, lifestyles, and backgrounds to ensure that they are able to move comfortably and easily through life without pain. Unfortunately, there are injuries and diseases that can affect the long-term health of your feet and ankles.

While most of the patients who walk through our doors complaining of foot and ankle pain will not need surgery in order to treat the underlying problem, our podiatrists will still want to perform an evaluation in their Wesley Chapel, FL, office to determine the cause of your pain. Once we have made a diagnosis, then we know how to properly proceed.

What conditions may benefit from foot and ankle surgery?

Unfortunately, feet and ankles are unfortunately vulnerable to injury. Add all the jumping, running and moving we do all day, and we are putting a lot of added stress on these parts of our body. One misstep, and suddenly you’re dealing with a sprained ankle or broken foot. While some injuries will heal with ample rest and proper nonsurgical treatments, you may require surgery if you are dealing with:

• Osteoarthritis: Common in older individuals, this type of arthritis causes the cartilage of the joints to wear down, leading to pain, stiffness, and bone spurs.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: This autoimmune disorder attacks the joints, causing significant joint pain and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to severe joint deformities and significantly impact a person’s ability to move.
• Posttraumatic Arthritis: This form of arthritis develops after a serious foot or ankle injury such as a fracture or dislocation.
• Bunions: A condition that pushes the joint at the base of the big toe out of alignment
• Severe Ankle Fracture: A broken bone in the ankle
• Hammertoe: Another deformity that affects the middle joint of the smaller toes, causing them to curl. Most hammertoes are flexible, but if a hammertoe becomes rigid, the toe will become immovable.

Again, many of these progressive conditions and deformities can be managed with simple home care; however, you may benefit from foot and ankle surgery if you are dealing with:

• Severe and chronic foot pain
• Pain that doesn’t respond to nonsurgical treatment
• Pain that flares up with movement or exercise
• An extremely large and painful bunion
• A rigid hammertoe
• Joint swelling and significant joint damage
• Severe joint tenderness
• Difficulty walking due to any of the issues above

Concerned? Give us a call

If you have been dealing with persistent and long-term foot and ankle pain, then it’s high time that you got some answers. The team at Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center in Wesley Chapel, FL, is dedicated to helping you lead a pain-free life. Call us today at (813) 909-0865 to schedule an evaluation.