Do You Need Foot Surgery?

Foot surgery isn’t something that should ever be considered lightly. Don’t get us wrong—surgery is often the right choice for treatment, and our team of surgeons offers years of experience, advanced training and tools, and board certifications. If we recommend surgery, you can feel comfortable and confident that it’s the right choice and that the job will be performed to the highest standards.

But that doesn’t mean it’s the first response to every tricky problem that lasts more than few days. Our preference is to treat your condition without surgery if possible, and only consider it if we truly feel it’s the best choice for your condition and lifestyle.

How do we know when that will be? For some conditions, it will be obvious—for example, a complex ankle fracture with many displaced bone fragments will almost certainly require immediate emergency surgery. For conditions with elective surgeries, like bunions or arthritis, however, the choice is less clear.

It varies from person to person, but there are a couple of solid indicators that surgery is at least on the radar:

• Non-surgical options aren’t working. You’d be surprised at how many painful foot and ankle conditions can be resolved through good old-fashioned rest and physical therapy. But if you’ve pursued conservative options rigorously and are still struggling, surgery might be the next step.
• Pain is impairing your daily life. The main goal of any treatment for feet or ankles is to help you live the life you want to live. If your condition is painful enough that it keeps you from what you love, fixing the issue surgically may be the best choice for reclaiming your quality of life.

At Southern California Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists take their commitment to your health and happiness seriously. Our only mission is to do what’s best for you. We’ll make sure you understand your condition fully, lay out your options, and help you make a wise choice about your treatment. To schedule your appointment with us in Ladera Ranch, please give us a call at (949) 364-9255.