It probably goes without saying that most people would like to avoid surgery. But there are cases when problems in your feet or ankles may best be resolved with help from a highly qualified and skilled surgeon. If your feet or ankles are hurting, the smart move is to see a doctor right away to determine what the best course of treatment might be. After all, your feet are the foundation of your body—and pain in your feet or ankles affects almost everything you do.

When Should You See a Doctor?

The podiatry team at North Florida Foot & Ankle Center is committed to pursuing the most conservative but still effective option for treating issues you may be facing. Often, that option will not involve surgery at all. 

That’s good news if you have been putting off getting medical attention because you have concerns about undergoing surgery. Dr. Amanda and Dr. Drew will always be honest with you—and will only recommend surgery when it is truly the best available option. Whenever possible, they will always try the less invasive options first.

With that in mind, here are some conditions that you should have checked out:

  • Abnormal growths or other changes in the appearance of your foot or ankle
  • Swelling of the foot and/or ankle, morning heel pain, discomfort after standing, or any other pain related to your lower leg, ankle, or foot
  • Difficulty participating in certain activities due to foot or ankle problems
  • A diagnosis of a medical condition—like poor circulation or diabetes—that may have an impact on the health of your feet
  • Any injury including sprains, broken bones, and more

When Surgery Is Necessary, We Have the Expertise You Need

If surgery is required to address an issue in your feet or ankles, our podiatrists are fully trained to perform a range of procedures. Dr. Amanda Bartell, for example, is board certified in both ankle and foot reconstructive surgery as well as forefront surgery. She is a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. 

Here is a partial list of surgeries the podiatrists of North Florida Foot & Ankle Center are able to perform:

  • Ankle ligament repair. If your ankle ligaments have been stretched or torn as a result of a sprain or other injury, surgery may be required to tighten the outside or lateral ligaments.
  • Achilles tendon repair. An Achilles tendon rupture upends your ability to enjoy many aspects of an active lifestyle and needs to be surgically repaired.
  • Foot and ankle fracture repair. If a fracture in the tibia, the fibula, or one of the bones in the foot is unstable, surgery is frequently the best option to ensure that the bone in question heals properly.
  • Flat feet surgical correction. Fallen arches—which occur when the large tendon on the inside of the ankle fails to support the arch or the foot—can cause the entire bottom of the foot (or feet) to press into the ground when you are bearing any weight, which can lead to ongoing issues if it is not repaired.
  • Ingrown toenail removal. Fortunately, most ingrown toenails do not require surgery, but in serious cases, it may be the best solution for lasting relief.
  • Hammertoe correction. If you wear ill-fitting shoes for an extended period, it is possible that one or more of your toes may bend at the middle joint. This condition, in which the toe does, in fact, look like a hammer, can be repaired via surgery.
  • Bunion surgery. A misalignment of the first metatarsal leads to the development of a bump in the foot caused by the metatarsal itself. Surgery can fix the alignment issue.
  • Plantar fascia surgery. Heel pain most commonly occurs when the ligament connecting the heel bone to the toes becomes inflamed. Plantar fasciitis can be surgically repaired.

Again, this is only a partial list of conditions our podiatrists can address via surgery. You can be confident that our doctors bring experience and expertise to each and every procedure.

We understand that surgery is probably not something you are looking forward to—and in many cases, it is not necessary. But if it is, we will provide exceptional care. If you need to have your situation evaluated, simply fill out our contact form or call us at (904) 236-5023 to set up an appointment in our Nocatee or Jacksonville offices.