Your feet and ankles are the foundation for your entire body. When healthy, these complex biomechanical structures allow you to stand, walk, run, and participate in all of your favorite activities. Sadly, when a foot, ankle, or toenail problem arises, it can make every step uncomfortable, or even painful—and when conservative treatments fail, it's time to consider the benefits that surgery can offer.

Have a foot or ankle condition that persists—or is worsening—despite treatment? Surgical options can provide long-lasting pain relief. Here's what you should know.

Comprehensive Long Beach Podiatric Care

A Step Above Foot Care is a full-service podiatry practice with on-site imaging services (x-rays, ultrasound and MRI), a welcoming office and staff, and an expert podiatrist and board-certified podiatric surgeon, Dr. Marjorie Miller-Khawam.  When you visit our office, we take the time to listen to your concerns, perform a thorough evaluation, provide an accurate diagnosis, and present all of your options for both conservative care and surgical treatments.  We are very conservative, and only resort to surgery if all attempts at conservative care have failed.

We're committed to ensuring you're actively involved in your care. To that end, we make sure you understand your condition and your options, so you have the tools necessary to determine the best course of treatment based on your own needs and lifestyle.

Common Conditions That May Benefit From Surgical Treatments

There are a number of different foot and ankle conditions that may benefit from a surgical approach, compared to conservative treatment, including:

Any of the above podiatric issues may benefit from surgery, depending on your symptoms and the severity of the condition.

Podiatry Surgery Benefits

Long-lasting relief from pain is one of the biggest benefits of opting for surgery for a podiatric problem. Surgery can repair broken bones, correct deformities, allow for better function and mobility, and, in many cases, prevent the issue from returning.

Preparing Patients for Surgery

Before we schedule your surgery, we'll sit down with you for a comprehensive consultation regarding your overall health. This will include discussing any possible changes in medication, answering your questions, and addressing any concerns you may have. We'll also let you know what you need to do before surgery, such as refraining from eating or drinking for a certain number of hours. That way, you can go into your surgical treatment with confidence and a clear head.

Expectations for Recovery

We want to help you get back on your feet as soon as possible, which means following post-surgical instructions to the letter. Your recovery will depend on your condition and the type of surgery performed. However, in most cases, we'll recommend that you get plenty of rest, ice the affected area, compress the wound to aid in further strain, and keep the area elevated to reduce any possible swelling. In some cases, we may encourage you to use bandages, splints, surgical shoes, casts, knee scooters, orthotics, or a cane, depending on how much weight your foot and ankle can bear.

Lapiplasty for Bunion Correction

Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction is one of the most advanced surgical procedures we perform. The process corrects the bunion deformity completely and prevents it from returning. Talk to us to learn more about this advanced procedure and the other surgical options available at A Step Above Foot Care.

Schedule an Appointment for a Thorough Evaluation of Your Feet and Ankles

Don't let a foot or ankle problem limit what you can do. Take charge of your podiatric health and call our Long Beach podiatry practice at (562) 429-5300 to schedule an appointment with our specialist. In most cases, we offer same-day or next-day consultations, and our entire staff is dedicated to ensuring that every aspect of your experience is as pleasant as possible. We look forward to providing the care and treatment you need to get back to doing the things you love.