Our feet are arguably the most important parts of our bodies because they are responsible for getting us from place to place.  However, we often don’t think about our feet until they begin to hurt. If you have pain in your feet, you need to first determine where on the foot you are experiencing it to get to the root of the problem. The most common areas to feel pain on the foot are the heel and the ankle.

Heel pain is most commonly attributed to a condition called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, which is the band of tough tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes becomes inflamed. Plantar fasciitis pain is usually worse in the morning, and it tends to go away throughout the day. If you have plantar fasciitis, you should rest your foot and do heel and foot muscles stretches. Wearing shoes with proper arch support and a cushioned sole has also been proven to be beneficial.

Some common symptoms of foot pain are redness, swelling, and stiffness. Foot pain can be dull or sharp depending on its underlying cause. Toe pain can also occur, and it is usually caused by gout, bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, sprains, fractures, and corns.

If you have severe pain in your feet, you should immediately seek assistance from your podiatrist for treatment. Depending on the cause of your pain, your podiatrist may give you a variety of treatment options.

Bunion surgery has been around for almost 200 years.  There have been many types of bunion surgeries performed during this time.  The vast majority involved cutting the bone and realigning the joint.  The recent years have allowed for advancement in correction techniques and better long-term outcomes.  Presently most surgeons either utilize a head technique, cutting the bone and realigning, or a base technique, which usually involves fusion or a Lapidus type procedure.

Lapiplasty has improved outcomes by creating a system that is reproducible and easier for surgeons to execute.  It involves a system of tools that the surgeon gets the proper correction for all patients.   The Lapiplasty is a new way of doing a bunion surgery that has been around for over 100 years.    The Lapidus bunionectomy is one of the most tried and true bunion correction surgeries and has great outcomes.  It is the primary work horse of bunion surgery and is probably the most common procedure I utilize.  If you have a painful bunion and would like to have it evaluated, make an appointment today and I will help you come up with a long term plan. Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Brandon Nelson

Bunion surgery is probably the most common procedure I execute.  Most bunions can be fixed in about 2 hours and provide great long-term results.  The most important factor is to have a thorough workup and x-rays to evaluate the foot.  Once the foot and x-rays have been done then a plan for surgical or conservative care can be formulated. 

If surgical intervention is called for, our office has an onsite surgery center which can save the average patient thousands of dollars as compared to free standing ASC’s or the Hospital.  Our certified surgery center provides the best possible patient experience and has been functioning for over 15 years.  If you have a bunion and have been contemplating what to do, I can help.  I really enjoy helping people with bunions.  Please make an appointment and we can discuss your options. Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Brandon Nelson