Foot & Ankle

Foot and ankle pain make everyday activities seem impossible. When you are experiencing limitations, our specialists in orthopedics and podiatry can get you back on your feet.

Foot and ankle injuries and conditions

You’ll find high-quality care for a wide range of foot and ankle problems, including:

Achilles tendonitis

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body, stretching from the bones of your heel to your calf muscles. Achilles tendinitis is a common sports injury that is related to running, but it can happen to anyone who puts a lot of stress on their feet – common to dancers and high heel wearers. Without treatment, it will become difficult to walk.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults. It may cause the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the ankles.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the synovial lining of the joint, causing extra synovial fluid which leads to severe pain and stiffness.

Complications from diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to be challenged by problems with their feet, but there are two in particular that cause extreme damage. With proper foot care, these outcomes can be prevented.

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage in your legs and feet caused by uncontrolled diabetes resulting in an inability to feel heat, cold or pain. This can cause injuries to go untreated and become an infection.
Peripheral vascular disease is the reduction in the flow of blood to the arms and legs, which makes it challenging for infections to heal. This can result in gangrene, which is the death of tissue due to a lack of blood. To keep gangrene from spreading, the doctor may have to amputate a toe, foot, or part of a leg.

Fractures, sprains, and strains

Depending on the injury, it can be very difficult to know the extent of the damage when you hurt your ankle and feet. Sometimes a strain can feel like a fracture or you think it’s just a sprain when it’s actually a break. While you can’t go wrong with rest and elevation, it’s always a good idea to diagnose the problem with a professional rather than making an injury worse by continuing to put weight and pressure on it.

Heel, arch and toe pain, including plantar fasciitis

The foot and ankle contains more than one hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments, so foot pain can be caused by a variety of things. Self-diagnosis can lead to more problems as your condition gets worse without treatment.
If your pain is in your heel, you may have plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes.

Bunions

Bunions are caused by a misalignment of the joint in the big toe, causing instability. Once a bunion is formed, the only way to remove it is with surgery.

Morton’s Neuroma

A neuroma is a painful condition, also referred to as a pinched nerve or a benign nerve tumor. The most common neuroma in the foot is a Morton’s neuroma, which occurs between the third and fourth toes. It brings on pain, a burning sensation, tingling, or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.

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Achilles tear repair

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body, stretching from the bones of your heel to your calf muscles. When that tendon is stretched beyond its capacity, it can tear. Omaha Orthopedic Clinic has both surgical and nonsurgical approaches when treating an Achilles tendon rupture depending on the severity of the rupture and patient’s age/activity level/medical history.

What are nonsurgical options to repair a torn Achilles?

For minor ruptures or for less active patients, the Achilles can heal without surgery. Treatment usually involves a cast or walking boot to restrict motion and allow the torn tendon to heal. Although many people successfully recover this way, there is a 30% chance of re-rupture.

Should I have surgery to repair my torn Achilles?

A specialist at Omaha Orthopedic Clinic can help you decide if surgery is the right option for your Achilles injury. Many athletes choose surgical options because recovery time is shorter, strength is better after surgery, and the chance of the injury happening again after recovery is low.

Let’s meet to discuss the best treatment for you. Contact us to make an appointment.