We see it all the time at KC Foot Specialists. Patients come in after years of suffering from painful bunions, hammertoes, or neuromas and finally have the simple surgery to fix it. Dr. David B. Laha says, “If something’s not improving in a week or two, see someone! I see patients who tell me they’ve been living with pain for four or five months. Don’t wait that long. Most foot and ankle problems are easier to fix when they are caught early.”
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, 8 out of 10 Americans have experienced anywhere from minor to chronic foot pain. That’s a lot of foot pain! The sad part is that it’s almost all fixable. If you suffer from foot pain, see a podiatrist. Don’t let fear of surgery keep you in misery. Here are three of our most common surgeries:
Bunions Be Gone
A bunion is a bony prominence that forms at the base of your big toe. Bunions are quite common and can cause a lot of pain with certain types of shoes and increased activity. While bunions can be somewhat mitigated with padding or shoe inserts, surgery is always an option for those who wish to live a pain-free life.
In a bunionectomy, the doctor removes your bunion while you are under IV sedation. Depending on the severity of the bunion, the surgeon can simply remove the offending bony bump (if caught early enough) or, he/she may have to realign the big toe. This is just another reason to see a podiatrist early before the problem and the pain get worse.
Surgery Can Eliminate Hammertoes
A hammertoe is a bend in the proximal or distal joint of a toe (sometimes both joints) caused by a deformity or imbalance in the muscles and tendons that hold the toe straight. Bent toes can cause rubbing in shoes and calluses can form. The joints can also become stiff and painful. Hammertoes can cause a significant amount of pain that may even affect your ability to walk. Conservative care consists of wide toe box shoes, various types of padding and periodic trimming of calluses.
Hammertoe surgery involves removing a small piece of bone at the site of toe contracture and then a pin or implant is placed in the toe to keep it straight. This surgery is typically also done under IV sedation
Neuroma Surgery Can Relieve Pain in the Ball of the Foot
Do you have burning pain in the ball of your foot? You may have a neuroma. A neuroma is a fancy name for an inflamed nerve located between the bones in the ball of the foot. While icing can reduce swelling, surgery is necessary to completely eliminate that pinched nerve.
A cut is made to the top of the foot and the affected nerve is removed. The recovery for this surgery is shorter than hammertoe or bunion surgery, as no bone work is performed. Patients that undergo a neurectomy typically walk in a post-surgery shoe for 3-4 weeks after.
The bottom line is you don’t have to live with foot pain. Eliminate your pain for good by contacting KC Foot Specialists for a consultation.
