Foot surgeons are doctors that deal with any injuries, disorders, or diseases of the foot. These doctors also treat bone and joint problems that affect the ankle, foot, or toes. They can help if you have trouble walking or experience pain within the foot. Most injuries and issues with the feet start to appear due to having flat arches, overpronation (the rolling inwards of the foot), or high arches.
A board certified foot surgeon in New York, NY, diagnoses any issues involving the foot. Like skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. They may also provide care for conditions that affect the tissues in both feet. An aching foot could result from a wreck or an injury that a doctor needs to cure. They can also help with issues relating to arthritis, gout, and bunions within the foot. It would help if you did not attempt to handle any problems involving the feet on your own. Foot surgery is very delicate and requires professional care.
What Conditions Does a Foot Surgeon Treat?
- Bunions
Bunions can develop due to a fall or heavy impact and should never be ignored. It is an issue with the big toe and causes it to become misaligned under the second toe.
This can cause pain as well as difficulty when wearing shoes.
Bunions are one of those conditions that usually appear as a result of having flat feet. This particular issue is treated using pads to help push the toe back into place. You can also wear special shoes to treat bunions. The doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or painkillers if needed.
- Warts
Although topical treatments for warts do not require surgery, a foot surgeon will typically remove warts through surgery. Removing a wart by foot surgery will prevent the wart from returning.
- Hammertoes
Hammertoe is an issue that occurs when one of your toes starts to bend at the joint, which can cause pain and pressure on the toe. This condition can be hereditary.
An injury will normally result in this condition because it causes the muscles, tendons, or ligaments to lose strength or elasticity.
Most hammertoes are treated with the use of padding for shoes or small splints. The patient can also attempt to straighten their toes on their own. A foot surgeon can conduct surgery to remove the contracted tissue in the toe, but many patients refuse surgery because it can take up to six months for recovery.
- Osteoarthritis
This condition results from the cartilage in the joints breaking down over time, which will cause stiffness and pain within the foot. This condition typically appears as you age.
Osteoarthritis is treated with medications prescribed by a doctor or physical therapy to help with flexibility or mobility of the foot. A doctor may also recommend injections to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Fractures
Fracture results from an impact on the bone, which usually causes it to break or crack. It would help if you had a doctor for any fracture involving the foot. If you have fractures affecting the ankle, foot, or toes, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
In summary, a foot surgeon treats different conditions involving bones and joints that affect the ankle, foot, or toes. Some of these conditions include bunions, fractures, osteoarthritis, warts, and hammertoes.
