Many babies are born with flat feet. There are patients who have no symptoms of flat feet as daily activities are easily accomplished. If the condition is severe, surgery may be a necessary remedy for permanent relief. Some of the symptoms that can be associated with this condition often include pain and discomfort in the heel and arch area and the foot may appear to be swollen. There is a procedure known as arthrodesis that involves fusing the bones in the foot together. This can be helpful in reducing severe pain and discomfort. Another form of surgery is performed by placing a wedge on the center of the foot. If you are afflicted with flat feet and have any pain associated, please consult with a podiatrist to learn the various treatment options that may be right for you.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists of New England Foot and Ankle. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Chelmsford and Newburyport, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Ankle replacement surgery has become an increasingly common operation in the United States. Much like hips and knees, ankle joints can be affected by arthritis, injuries, and wear and tear over time that can cause severe pain in the ankle and limit mobility. In severe cases, the joint may become damaged enough to necessitate joint replacement surgery. People who undergo this operation are usually between the ages of 40 and 60. During the operation, the damaged bone and cartilage in the ankle joint are removed and replaced with an implant to form a new ankle joint. After fully recovering from the surgery, patients report improved ankle function and range of motion. To learn more about ankle joint replacement surgery and to find out if this is the right treatment for you, please consult with a podiatrist.

In certain cases, in which the patient suffers from extreme pain or damage in a joint, joint replacement surgery may be deemed useful. If you have constant pain in a foot joint, consult with one of our podiatrists from New England Foot and Ankle. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Joint Replacement Surgery?

Over time, joints wear down; this can be exacerbated by diseases and conditions. Joint replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is when a damaged joint is surgically removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Prostheses, which can be made of ceramic, plastic, or metal, act as joints in lieu of an actual joint. One of the most prevalent causes for joint replacement is arthritis.

Arthritis in the Foot

Arthritis can occur in any joint in the body, including in the feet. Common types of arthritis in the foot are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. The big toe is usually where arthritis occurs in the foot; this is known as hallux rigidus.

Joint Replacement Surgery in the Foot

The most common form of joint replacement in the foot is a first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint placement. MTP joint replacement surgery is designed to treat hallux rigidus. Surgery is not intensive, and recovery occurs within one to two months after the procedure has been done. Overall, joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective way to treat pain in the joint of the foot.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Chelmsford and Newburyport, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes that causes nerve damage in the hands and feet. Neuropathy tends to develop slowly, sometimes over several decades, so people with diabetes are urged to closely monitor their foot health. The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include a “pins and needles” sensation in the feet, sensitivity to touch or a loss of touch, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, difficulties with coordination while walking, and muscle weakness. Diabetic neuropathy can be dangerous and lead to serious complications, as the loss of sensation that it causes in the feet can make foot wounds more likely to form. These wounds tend to heal poorly and may become infected. If you have diabetes, a podiatrist can help you maintain the health of your feet.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy can be a potentially serious condition, especially if it is left undiagnosed. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing nerve loss in your feet, consult with one of our podiatrists from New England Foot and Ankle. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment for neuropathy.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that leads to damage to the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy that affects your peripheral nervous system, usually occurs in the feet. Neuropathy can be triggered by a number of different causes. Such causes include diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and toxic substances.

Symptoms of Neuropathy Include:

• Numbness
• Sensation loss
• Prickling and tingling sensations
• Throbbing, freezing, burning pains
• Muscle weakness

Those with diabetes are at serious risk due to being unable to feel an ulcer on their feet. Diabetics usually also suffer from poor blood circulation. This can lead to the wound not healing, infections occurring, and the limb may have to be amputated.

Treatment

To treat neuropathy in the foot, podiatrists will first diagnose the cause of the neuropathy. Figuring out the underlying cause of the neuropathy will allow the podiatrist to prescribe the best treatment, whether it be caused by diabetes, toxic substance exposure, infection, etc. If the nerve has not died, then it’s possible that sensation may be able to return to the foot.

Pain medication may be issued for pain. Electrical nerve stimulation can be used to stimulate nerves. If the neuropathy is caused from pressure on the nerves, then surgery may be necessary.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Chelmsford and Newburyport, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Ingrown toenails (when the nail grows into the surrounding skin) are a very common malady that podiatrists treat, as oftentimes the toenail becomes very painful, inflamed, or even infected. You can help prevent ingrown toenails from developing by avoiding shoes that are too tight and trimming your nails straight across—and not too short. There are a couple of home remedies you can try to get relief from an ingrown toenail, such as soaking the toe in warm water mixed with either Epsom salts, apple cider vinegar, or a mild soap. Also, try applying an antibiotic cream to the nail several times a day and keeping it wrapped in a bandage to help reduce the chances of an infection developing. Wear comfortable, non-restrictive shoes that give the toes plenty of room. You can even try using an over-the-counter toe protector, which is a padded ring that cushions the toe and prevents it from rubbing against other toes or footwear. If your ingrown toenail becomes a chronic issue, the pain worsens, or you see signs of an infection, contact a podiatrist for more advanced treatment options.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact one of our podiatrists of New England Foot and Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Chelmsford and Newburyport, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.