Expectations for Advanced Corrective Foot and Ankle Surgery

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There’s a reason why your primary doctor will recommend a podiatrist when you are experiencing pain in your lower extremities. Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in the examination and treatment of the feet and ankles. When conservative healing methods no longer work for one’s injury or condition, podiatric surgery is required. There are several expectations that come with advanced corrective foot and ankle surgery. The Foot & Ankle Center, in particular, offers:

Podiatrists with Years of Experience

A reasonable expectation from patients is that they want their surgeon to have performed their particular procedure numerous times beforehand. We’re proud to provide certified doctors who have 30+ years of experience in operating through corrective surgery. Visit our Meet Our Doctors page to learn more about each of our knowledgeable podiatrists.

Local Procedures

In order to make your comfort and convenience our priority, The Foot & Ankle Center has several locations including St. Louis, St, Charles, Creve Coeur, Shrewsbury, Granite City, and Fairview Heights. Anticipate an in-office procedure to take place, but know that our surgical center is also offered on an outpatient basis. Having performed over 50,000 surgeries, we are confident that you will be able to schedule what works best for you.

Multiple Corrective Surgeries

Here you will find several types of surgery including Achilles tendon, ankle, arthritis, arthroscopy, bunion, hammertoe, heel, metatarsal, nerve (neuroma), and toe surgery. Also, cyst removal and flat foot correction is available.

Effective Recovery Steps

Following your procedure, you can look forward to a comprehensive recovery plan to get you back on your feet in no time. Part of that includes lying down or reclining with your surgically-repaired appendage kept in an elevated position. Ice will help to avoid swelling, while casts and bandages may be required depending on the type of procedure. It may take various amounts of time for each injury or condition to fully heal, but be ready to take it especially easy during the first two weeks after surgery.

Additional Therapy and Treatments

No matter what you need moving forward, we’re here for you. Whether it’s recommending physical therapy or custom orthotics, we want you to recover without any setbacks.

Still unsure if The Foot & Ankle Center is right for you? Request an appointment to see a podiatrist in person today by visiting our website or calling (314) 487-9300.

6 Winter Tips for Foot and Ankle Support

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Welcome to winter! Over the next couple of months, even Bigfoot’s cousin the Abominable Snowman will wish it had a cozy pair of socks to wear. Speaking of feet, did you know that they actually lose heat faster than the rest of the body? Feet interact with frigid surfaces more often than any other extremity thanks to walking. It’s a good thing there are a few different ways to keep your feet warm and ankles protected. Check out the Foot & Ankle Center’s 6 winter tips:

Bundle Up Tight

Layers are crucial when the weather is below freezing. Putting on hats, scarves, coats, and gloves is common knowledge, so bundling up your toes should be, too. One way to avoid cold feet is to double up on socks. Boots or shoes that you can fit in comfortably will also come in handy. Choose ones made from waterproof materials that include a bulky sole to help keep in as much heat as possible.

Dry Your Feet

Waterproof boots keep water out, but they also keep sweat in. A warm body produces sweat to cool itself down. That’s why it’s important to keep your feet dry at all times. A damp foot may even lead to athlete’s foot as wet socks and shoes are perfect environments for fungus to grow. Take the time to use a towel and change your socks daily.

Change Shoes Onsite

When it’s a high heel or dress shoe kind of day, pack them in a bag and wear the proper footwear outside first. You can always change when you arrive at your destination. Navigating the icy sidewalks is already difficult enough with supportive shoes. Don’t risk twisting an ankle just to look fashionable.

Inspect Sports Equipment

In order to avoid a winter sports injury, make sure to wear the proper equipment at all times. This would include ice skates for skating or hockey, and boots for skiing or snowboarding. Skating in particular leads to a few common foot injuries. Improper use of any gear, like having loose shoelaces, can result in serious fractures or sprains.

Take Advantage of Foot Warmers

Foot warmers are portable packets that reach scorching temperatures after being exposed to oxygen. Perfect for storing inside your shoe, they are an effective alternative to wearing multiple pairs of socks. However, direct contact with the skin may result in a burn injury. Take extra caution when placing and removing them.

See a Podiatrist

It’s always best to seek medical attention sooner rather than later when it comes to pain. Did you know that a podiatrist specializes in treating feet and ankles? Save yourself a trip to the doctor by calling the Foot & Ankle Center at 314-487-9300 or requesting an appointment online. Our medical staff will work to diagnose your discomfort and offer treatment as soon as possible.

10 Fun Foot-Filled Holiday Traditions You Might Not Know About

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Families across the globe have all sorts of traditions that they uphold and cherish every time the holiday season approaches. Some put up an evergreen tree in their living room and adorn it with sentimental ornaments. Others bake Yule logs with Bing Crosby serenading in the background. We at The Foot & Ankle Center enjoy both the holidays and all things podiatry, so when the two combine, it’s even better. See how people throughout the world celebrate the holidays with their stockings, shoes, and feet!

Ecuador

You’ve probably made a list for Santa prior to Christmas, right? Well, if you were in Ecuador, you would write a list and place it safely into your shoes. After you leave your shoes out and head to bed, Papa Noel takes your list and replaces it with new shoes and presents. Not a bad deal at all, we say!

France

Children in France eagerly await Père Noël by neatly placing their shoes in front of the fireplace the night before Christmas. As they dream of sugar plums dancing in their heads, the man himself is said to fill their shoes with candy and toys!

Hungary

The footwear of choice that eager children leave out for treats is boots, which they rest on the window waiting for Mekulash, the Hungarian Santa. Good, well-behaved children are rewarded with boots filled with chocolate, nuts, and fruit. On the other hand, sticks or switches are placed in the boots of misbehaving children. It isn’t unheard of for children in Hungary to receive both sweets and a switch, oddly enough!

Iceland

Much like the Hungarian children, boys and girls in Iceland will leave their shoes on the windowsill during the Christmas season. The difference is that Jolasveinar, a troop of 13 elves, comes to visit one at a time over the course of 13 days. These elves leave all sorts of goodies for good children. Meanwhile, bad children will find their shoes filled with potatoes.

Italy

In Italy, Santa rides a broom. Also, Santa is actually a witchy old woman named La Befana. Children throughout Italy set out their shoes and go to bed filled with anticipation for La Befana’s arrival. It is said that she brings toys, fruit, and candy to well-behaved children. For those who like to be disobedient, La Befana fills their shoes with coal!

Netherlands

Children in the Netherlands excitedly prepare for the arrival of St. Nicholas by filling their wooden shoes with hay and carrots for his horse. The next morning, they can expect their shoes to be filled with toys and candy for their kind offerings.

Spain

Like children throughout the world, Spanish kids will leave their shoes out hoping to receive gifts and treats. However, they set them out beside the door, fireplace, or balcony on January 6, which is the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. These shoes are filled with hay for the Wise Men’s camels; in return for the kind gesture, those shoes are filled with candy and toys!

Venezuela

Going to church to celebrate the holiday? Be sure to blend in with everyone else and don your roller skates! Skating to church is a holiday tradition in Venezuela, so much so that the streets are closed off, making skating to church easy and extra enjoyable.

United Kingdom

Much like how we do in the United States, families in the UK hang up stockings on their mantles (or from their beds!) for Old Saint Nick. Why? Because they want to try catching the coins that Father Christmas drops through the chimney. Often, residents will wake up the next day to stockings filled with oranges or tangerines, which symbolize coins or bags of gold.

United States

We in the U.S. have a few foot-related holiday traditions as well. Of course, families everywhere hang stockings and set out an offering of milk and cookies so Santa can leave good children plenty of presents. But did you know that many others also celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6? Like many other countries, children leave out their shoes by the fireplace or window so good ol’ Saint Nick may leave a few goodies for the shoes’ owners.

How will you celebrate the holiday season? Tell us in the comments below!

7 Reasons to be Thankful for Your Feet

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It may seem biased, but we truly can think of no other body part that is as overworked and underappreciated as the feet. As amazing works of architectural art, our feet deserve so much love and respect for all that they do for us. Here are 7 good reasons why you should be thankful for your feet:

They House 25% of Our Bones

We all know that the human body contains 206 bones. Our feet are collectively comprised of 52 bones, 66 joints, and more than 240 muscles, ligaments, and nerves. These are all essential in helping us get from point A to point B each day!

They Endure Quite a Bit of Pressure

With each step, your feet endure hundreds of tons of force. This is equivalent to a fully-loaded cement truck (or more than 50 cars). That’s only walking – when you run, your feet endure between 5 and 7 times your weight!

They’re Super Ticklish for a Good Reason

Ever wonder why your feet can be so darn touchy? Here’s why – approximately 8,000 nerves can be found in your feet with several nerve endings existing near the skin. Actually, being ticklish is a good thing. Reduced sensitivity can often indicate neuropathy, a medical condition typically connected to diabetes.

They Can Tell You a Lot About Your Health

The eyes may be the window to the soul, but your feet are the mirror of your body. Podiatric issues are usually your first indicator that you’re suffering from a serious medical problem. Many health conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, nerve disorders, and circulatory disorders can often develop in the feet, so it’s wise to pay good attention to any foot ailments that appear.

Movement is a Very Involved Process We often walk without really thinking about what’s happening in our bodies. With each measured step, skip, pivot, or pirouette, our feet are working magic (well, scientifically speaking). Communicating with the brain and more than 100 other muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones, our feet get us to where we need to be, all while keeping us upright and stable.

Overcoming Heel Pain During Pregnancy

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There’s certainly a lot of planning that goes into a couple’s decision of having a baby, but how often do some of us get lost in the negatives? By this, of course, we mean the pains that come along with pregnancy. Luckily for the mothers-to-be, we no longer live in an age where discomfort has to be endured – especially with heel pain. Interested to learn more? Read more from The Foot & Ankle Center on how to overcome pain in the feet and ankles during pregnancy.

Causes

While necessary, an increase in body weight will be one of the primary causes for heel pain in pregnant women. As with any weight gain, the feet and ankles are forced to adjust to additional pressure, causing pain. A progressive change in one’s daily routines and activities is another culprit. Sitting more often than not can lead to inflammation over time.  

Treatments

The act of stretching and flexing the feet, ankles, and toes is a simple way to instantly fight inflammation. Try these nine exercises before or after you experience any signs of pain. Swelling in the feet and ankles is typical for a woman during her pregnancy as well, but this can be treated with digital orthotics. Finding shoes with properly supported footwear is tough, so we offer orthotics tailored specifically for you.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Heel pain can also originate from several common conditions including plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, or tendinitis. If you have been experiencing swelling or stiffness before, during, or after pregnancy, schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable podiatrists as soon as possible to relieve any aching.

Preventative Measures

As professionals in podiatry, we constantly work with people who wait for their heel pain to go away on its own. But while you may be able to grin and bear it, an injury to the feet or ankles can lead to other issues. This can include soreness in the back, hips, joints, knees, or even shins. Treating heel pain sooner rather than later is a preventative measure in itself for the rest of the body.

Who to Call

If the pain just won’t go away, then it’s time to call for help. The Foot & Ankle Center is prepared to answer any and all questions you may having regarding heel pain! Call us today at 314-487-9300 for more information or to schedule an appointment.