Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Specialists
Don’t underestimate the importance of healthy feet. They are your body’s foundation, so healthy feet are important to your overall health. Yet years of wear and tear can be hard on your feet and ankles. Overuse, shoes that don’t fit properly, and even genetics can lead to injuries and disorders of the foot or ankle and greatly impact your mobility.
Cary Orthopaedics’ foot and ankle specialists focus not only on treating the symptoms of foot and ankle injuries but on understanding the underlying cause of the pain. We diagnose and treat a wide array of conditions, and we strive to educate our patients on the benefits of strengthening and stretching the feet and making proper shoe and insole selections.
Non-invasive foot and ankle treatments
Foot and ankle surgery is not always required to treat these conditions. Usually, the initial treatment protocol for foot or ankle pain consists of modifying activity and constantly wearing appropriate shoes with heel cups or arch supports. It is possible that your orthopaedic foot and ankle doctor will recommend short-term rest and non-weight-bearing status for the initial healing response.
Pain can also be reduced with a boot walker to allow a more normal gait. Once healing takes place it will be important to identify the mechanical causes and ensure that changes to these stressful factors be addressed.
Our other non-invasive foot and ankle treatments include:
- Custom orthotics
- Steroid injections
- Splints, bracing or casting
- Taping or padding
- Physical therapy
Foot and ankle surgery
In the event of an acute severe injury or pain that continues over time, foot and ankle surgery may be necessary to prevent or stabilize chronic conditions. Our foot and ankle surgeons have extensive experience and perform many different types of surgical treatments for these conditions.
Ankle replacement surgery, also known as ankle arthroplasty, is a type of joint replacement surgery where the ankle joint is replaced with an artificial implant. Your ankle specialist will remove the damaged parts of your ankle and replace them with artificial components that work together and move like your natural joint.
Interested in ankle replacement surgery?
Many people feel the pain of wear and tear on their joints as they get older. Sometimes, however, “normal” wear and tear can become painful and start to impact your everyday life. One of the most debilitating areas this can happen is your ankle. Here, Cary Orthopaedics foot and ankle specialist Dr. Eric Lukosius answers your questions about ankle replacement surgery.
