When You Need Foot Surgery

Foot surgery, one of the services your Atlanta and Decatur, GA, podiatrist, Dr. Jimmy Gregory offers, could be a good idea if other treatments aren't successful. Surgery may be an option if you have severe pain, can't put any weight on your foot, have difficulty walking, or your condition or disease disrupts your life.

6 conditions that can be improved with surgery 

During your visit to the Atlanta or Decatur, GA, podiatry office, your podiatrist may recommend foot surgery if you have any of these conditions:

• Ingrown Toenail: Although an ingrown toenail may sound like a minor problem, it certainly doesn't feel like one. When the sharp edge of a nail grows into your skin, you may experience pain that makes walking uncomfortable. In some cases, ingrown nails can become infected. Fortunately, a simple, in-office surgical procedure will free your trapped nail. If you have an infection, you'll also need to take antibiotics.
• Bunions: A bunion is a bony bump at the base of your big toe. The bump forms when the joint becomes misaligned and can be very painful. Orthotics and night splints can slow the progression of the bunion, but surgery is the only way to get rid of the bump. During surgery, your foot doctor removes the bump and inflamed tissues, then realigns your toe.
• Arthritis: Arthritis affects the joints in your foot, causing pain, stiffness, and joint deformity in some cases. If pain-killing medication, orthotics, orthopedic shoes, braces, or corticosteroid injections aren't helpful, your podiatrist may recommend surgery. The surgery may involve removing inflamed tissue or bone spurs or fusing two bones together.
• Hammertoe: Does your toe bend at a right angle? You may have a hammertoe. Although you may be able to push your toe into its usual position at first, it may eventually become rigid. At this point, you'll need surgery to realign the bones and release the tendon that's keeping the toe rigid.
• Fractures: Surgery may be needed if the bones of your foot move out of place when they broke. Pins or screws may be used to hold the broken bones together while they heal.
• Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis causes heel pain due to an inflammation of the fascia that connects your heel bone to your toes. Although most cases of plantar fasciitis improve without surgery, a procedure to release the fascia may be needed if you continue to have pain for six months or longer.

Could foot surgery relieve your painful symptoms? Make an appointment with your podiatrist in Atlanta and Decatur, GA, Dr. Jimmy Gregory by calling (404) 755-2291 for the Atlanta office or (404) 284-7744 for the Decatur office.