The importance of our feet cannot be overstated. These parts of our body, quite literally, take us everywhere we need to go, and when something is wrong with your feet, it doesn't take long for you to be aware. Unfortunately, foot pain can be debilitating and cause problems with daily activities, and injuries can leave you unable to function for days or weeks. In some cases, foot problems can even become so severe that your only option for treatment is surgery. Our orthopedic surgeon in Orange City offers the following foot conditions that can lead to surgical intervention.
Ankles and feet are over-stressed easily, leading to various breaks and sprains. While a sprain will usually heal on its own and breaks can be set without having surgery sometimes, extreme cases of either may require surgical intervention to ensure that all involved bones and tissues are appropriately set and able to heal.
This condition is commonly caused by inflammation involving your tendons connecting to tissues near your instep arch. This condition can be excruciating and typically leads to the need for surgery that will cause you to be in a cast for as long as 12 weeks.
Plantar fasciitis is another foot problem that often leads to surgery. Inflammation of your plantar fascia causes this painful condition. In addition, the tissue that spans the bottom of your feet and connects your toes to your heel bone can be inflamed or damaged by wearing the wrong shoes and excessive wear and tear from improper exercise. People who like jogging or running are at an increased risk for this condition because of the chronic stress placed on their feet. In addition, people who fail to wear the right shoes, stretch properly, or run properly often have a higher risk. This condition can sometimes be treated without surgery, but surgery is usually recommended to fix the damage and alleviate inflammation.
Most people have never heard of this term before, but they are likely familiar with the problems it can cause. Hallux valgus is a deformity of your foot at the base of your big toe that causes a bony bump. This bump causes your toes to bend in unusual and painful ways. When your large toe is bent out of place, this is called a bunion.
When hallux valgus causes your other toes to bend unusually, it is often referred to as 'clawed toe' or 'hammer toe' depending on which toes are involved.
In every case, hallux valgus is often preventable and caused by poor shoe choices. It can sometimes be alleviated by wearing proper shoes but usually requires surgery for correction. It is essential to have the most knowledgeable and experienced professional working with your case with all of these conditions.
If you require a foot injury consultation, be sure to get in touch with an orthopedic surgeon in Orange City immediately. Contact us today for further information.