Arthritis is an ailment that affects joints and results in pain, swelling, and stiffness. It can occur throughout different parts of your body as well as in your toes. Arthritis in the toes can make walking and balancing hard. The toe can hurt when it is lifted or when walking, but also sometimes when it is at rest. With big toe arthritis, there can be an inability to bend the toe upwards. In fact, it might bend down and be unable to lay flat. Not only is there often swelling and inflammation of the big toe joint, but sometimes a bump might form from the joints rubbing together. There are various forms of arthritis that can affect the toes. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage between joints to break down and rub against each other. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis and can affect several small joints in the foot at the same time, including the toes. Gout, psoriatic arthritis, and infectious arthritis that can impact the toes as well. Doing regular exercises, wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes, and maintaining a proper body weight can help to prevent toe arthritis. Rigid orthotics, steroid injections, and anti-inflammatory medications might help with pain, but sometimes surgery is necessary for relief. If you have arthritis that is affecting your toes, and less invasive options are not providing relief, see a podiatrist who can talk to you about surgical options that may help.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact Dawn Miles, DPM of Florida. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Palatka and Saint Augustine, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.