DAVE WATTS, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Foot and Ankle
Musculoskeletal injuries or disorders affecting the feet and ankles can have a marked impact on mobility and function. Whether you’re dealing with a foot fracture or osteoarthritis, pain in this crucial area can keep you from the activities you love. Stiffness, numbness, tingling, and pain can reduce your ability to bear weight and walk.
When you experience these symptoms, you need a qualified foot specialist to provide diagnosis and treatment that will get you back on your feet. You need an experienced foot and ankle orthopedic doctor from Sioux Falls Orthopedics. With physical examination, medical history, and non-invasive imaging technology, we can pinpoint the cause of pain and create a customized plan for care, whether you need foot and ankle surgery or rehabilitation services.
What are some of the most common foot and ankle problems we encounter at Sioux Falls Orthopedics?
Achilles Tendon Rupture
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone, and when it is overstretched, it can rupture, either partially or completely. This could result in sharp pain and an inability to walk or put weight on the foot and ankle.
Bunions
A bunion is a bump that forms on the bone at the base of your big toe, causing the bone to push outward and forcing the big toe to point inward. This can cause pain and irritation to the joint and result in swelling, redness, and pain of the skin covering the joint.
Diabetes-Related Issues
Diabetes can harm your body in a variety of ways, and symptoms may include diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the arteries). Both of these may affect your extremities, including the feet, resulting in numbness, pain, poor circulation, and other symptoms that are detrimental to your mobility.
Fractures and Sprains
Work conditions, athletic pursuits, and even daily activities like walking down stairs could result in common injuries like fractures and sprains of the feet and ankles.
Hammer Toe
We rely on muscles and connective tissues to keep our toes straight, and when there is an imbalance due to trauma, improper footwear, or the structure of the foot, it can result in abnormal bends in the middle of the toe joint, causing pain and pressure.
Plantar Fasciitis
This common cause of heel pain results from inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue connecting your toes and your heel bone.
If you’re experiencing these or other issues, you may need the help of a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon Sioux Falls that can provide surgical intervention and/or rehabilitative care. Contact Sioux Falls Orthopedics today at 605-336-2638 to schedule a consultation with a qualified specialist.