Foot and Ankle

The largest and strongest tendon in the body, the Achilles tendon connects the two main calf muscles to the heel bone. Common injuries include tendonitis (inflammation), tendinosis (degeneration) and rupture. Tendonitis and rupture can occur from overuse of the tendon during work or athletic activities or an injury to the lower leg or ankle. Tendinosis is chronic and degenerative; continuous stress creates micro-tears and a breakdown of collagen tissue within the tendon.

Symptoms: A burning pain and tenderness during or after activity.

Treatment Options: Rest, ice, over-the-counter pain relievers, and physical therapy. Heel lifts are often very helpful. Occasionally a walking boot or cast is recommended to immobilize the tendon. Heel lifts are often very helpful. With a rupture, surgery, or a cast may be needed.

Arthritis can affect any of the 27 joints of the foot and ankle.

Symptoms: Pain and inflammation, dull ache over time. Vigorous activity may cause a flare-up.

Treatment Options: There are many options to alleviate arthritis pain ranging from orthotics, medications, to injections and surgery.

Sprains are considered chronic when either the injury is still painful after six weeks, or the ankle has sustained repetitive trauma. More than 40% of people who sprain their ankle will experience some chronic discomfort after treatment. Bruised or torn ligaments, weakened muscles and injured nerve fibers contribute to chronic ankle sprains. Walking in improper shoes or on uneven surfaces like dirt trails and the beach, as well as participating in sports that require twisting of the foot, such as tennis and soccer, will often cause serious chronic sprains.

Symptoms: Swelling, bruising, tenderness, instability

Treatment Options: Depending on the severity, treatment ranges from rest, ice, and elevation, anti-inflammatory medications, crutches, immobilization, to surgical treatment and physical therapy to strengthen surrounding muscles. Minimally invasive arthroscopic ligament repairs are now performed to get you back in action quicker and with significantly less scarring

Left untreated, diabetes-related foot conditions—like neuroarthropy, non-healing wounds and gangrene (dead tissue)—can ultimately require amputation. Patient education combined with timely, state-of-the-art medical interventions and minimally invasive surgical techniques can prevent unnecessary amputation and save limbs.

Symptoms: Swelling, redness, deformity

Treatment Options: Treatment options: Wound debridement, which surgically removes dead and infected tissue from a wound, and nerve compression to reduce symptoms of nerve damage.

Bunion and hammertoe deformities are very common forefoot deformities causing significant pain and limitation of function. Bunions are swollen bumps at the base of the big toe. With hammertoe, a progressive condition, one or all of the joints bend abnormally, eventually becoming and difficult to flex.

Symptoms: Pain and discomfort, difficulty walking.

Treatment Options: Treatment options: Surgical correction vastly improves form and restores function.

Inflammation of a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. It originates from tightening of the Plantar Fascia, which will tear instead of flexing as the foot moves and can cause significant foot heel pain. Complications with the knees, hip, or back are common because inflammation changes your walking motion, stressing other joints.

Symptoms: Pain is common after exercise when getting out of bed, or after rising from periods of inactivity.

Treatment Options: Depending on severity, treatment ranges from rest, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy to cortisone injections, night splints, supportive orthotics or possibly surgery

Flatfoot deformities are often painful and disfiguring and cause long-term pain and complications.

Symptoms: Pain, difficulty with shoe wear, weakness, poor balance, and instability

Treatment Options: There is a broad spectrum of treatment options including shoe wear modification, bracing, orthotics and surgical reconstruction.