Foot and Ankle Surgeons in Surprise, AZ - Fixing Feet Institute

Arizona Foot and Ankle Podiatric Surgeon

While we always hope that pain in feet and ankles can be resolved through conservative care, there may be times when surgery is unavoidable. Perhaps other conservative remedies haven’t gotten you the results you need, and a more aggressive approach to eliminating foot and heel pain is your best remaining option to regain a healthy, active, pain-free lifestyle.

Common Types of Foot Surgery 

Although this is far from an exhaustive list, some common surgical procedures we regularly perform at our office include: 

• Reconstructive surgery. Years of wear and tear can lead to structural deformities in feet and toes, such as bunions, hammertoes, and flat feet. Reconstructive foot surgery is selected to realign bones, ligaments, tendons, and joints as necessary to reduce pain and restore healthy function to the feet. There are many different reconstructive surgery techniques, including osteotomy, fusion, grafting, joint implants, and more. Surgeries can range from relatively straightforward to highly complex. 
• Nerve surgery. Dr. Peyman Elison is a fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons and has extensive experience performing surgeries to release nerves that have become pinched or compressed.  This can reduce or eliminate nerve pain in feet.
• Tendon surgery. Often, tendons need to be repaired surgically in the case of a rupture, since this often leads to a better outcome compared to simple immobilization. In other cases, tendons may need to be lengthened, shortened, or transferred to improve function and alleviate symptoms. 
• Toenail surgery. Small surgical procedures are often recommended to fix an ingrown toenail. Toenails may be partially or fully removed in other situations as well, such as a severe fungal infection, bruising, or laceration. 
• Trauma Care. If you suffer an acute injury as the result of an athletic accident, car crash, crush injury, or other traumatic event, we can provide emergency surgery to repair the damage. 
• Ankle Surgery. If you are looking for ankle pain treatment, surgery may be neccessary if you break your ankle, are dealing with chronic ankle pain, experience lots of trauma, have ankle nerve pain or deal with a lot of ankle problems. 

A Common Source of Foot Pain—Misaligned Feet

Every day in our office, we hear stories from people who are dealing with some kind of  foot and heel pain—heel pain, bunions, tendonitis, etc. Most people aren’t aware, though, that these are typically secondary issues—symptoms rather than causes.

The real problem, and source of those issues, is often feet that are misaligned or flat and unable to distribute physical forces in a normal manner. Treating the secondary problem alone can be a bit like re-inflating a tire without fixing the leak – you might be able to drive a couple of miles, but you’re just going to end up with a flat tire again.

What do we mean by “misaligned” in the context of your feet? In many cases, this means the ankle joint has slipped out of place, even slightly, relative to the heel bone. It really doesn’t take too much of a slip before you may start developing major problems, and a misaligned foot can throw your entire body out of balance. This results not only in foot pain, but also issues that can extend into your upper body, running up from your knees to your hips and back. Heel pain treatment starts with conservative care such as as RICE, physical therapy, and custom orthotics. If those treatments don't provide relief, surgery may be neccessary. 

The HyProCure Procedure

The HyProCure procedure is one way to fix your talotarsal dislocation. It’s a quick 20-minute procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis. You will be put under “twilight sleep,” or a local anesthetic will be used. HyProCure is placed in the sinus tarsi—a space found in your ankle joint—which instantly causes realignment and stabilization.

It’s not implanted into your bones, and it still allows full joint mobility. It may take a few weeks to get completely back to normal, but once you are healed you should be back to your typical range of motion. The rest of your body will need some time to get used to the new alignment, so physical therapy may be recommended.

Post-Operative Care 

Once the surgery is over, the work is really only half complete. Each procedure is collaboration between surgeon and patient, and the better you are able to follow your doctor’s post-operative instructions, the more likely your recovery and rehabilitation will be successful and relatively quick. 

The specific rules you’ll have to follow will, of course, vary depending on the type and location of your surgery, as well as your general health status and other factors. Generally, there will be a period of limited or no weight bearing immediately following your surgery. During this time you’ll be provided with crutches, a knee scooter, or any other tool you might need. 

As your foot heals, you will gradually be able to return to weight-bearing activities, driving, wearing normal shoes, etc. We’ll provide a detailed timetable and check in with you on your follow-up appointments, as well as give you rehabilitation exercises to perform. It’s important to always follow your doctor’s timetables to the letter, even if you feel like you can do more—this can cause a reoccurrence of the injury or delay the healing process. 

In most cases, some residual swelling and pain is normal for several months after you’ve been cleared for full activity. If you do find that pain is still a serious issue, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately. 

Quality Care Is Our Priority 

We understand foot surgery is a major decision that may be frightening or scary. Fortunately, at Fixing Feet Institute, you can rest easy knowing that you’re good hands. Our licensed surgeons have spent their entire careers focused on the health of your feet and ankles, with years of experience performing many types of surgery. We’ll walk you through your foot pain treatment options and make sure you get the care you need and deserve, every time. 

If you are suffering from a foot or ankle injury, deformity, or other painful condition, contact the Fixing Feet Institute in Surprise, AZ, today. We can help you determine if there are any conservative alternatives to surgery that may be appropriate for your situation, as well as provide whatever care you need—surgical or otherwise. Fill out our online contact form, or call us at (623) 584-5556.