1 Foot 2 Foot

Do Your Feet Hurt?

If your feet hurt because of a foot problem you're not walking alone. Four out of five adults eventually suffer some sort of foot problem that requires foot surgery by a podiatrist.

Foot surgery is often elective and you and your foot doctor (DPM) can decide whether and when to perform the operation.

Why Have Surgery?

• To Relieve Pain: Painful aching feet is not uncommon and may signal an underlying pathology that needs correcting. Foot pain can make you feel tired and irritable and cause you to become less active. Fortunately, foot surgery can often correct underlying problems and relieve foot pain.
• To Restore Functionality: It's tough (or impossible) to do your job when your feet don't show up ready for work. When ordinary walking becomes an issue your lifestyle is negatively impacted. You don't have to live with foot pain. The good news is foot surgery can be performed at almost any age. In most cases surgery can restore the use of your feet.
• To Improve Appearance: Unusually shaped feet can be an embarrassment if they belong to you. Buying new shoes, going to the beach or going barefoot in public can become a dreaded experience. While foot surgery is usually not performed for cosmetic reasons alone, it can, in many cases greatly improve the appearance of your feet. After surgery you may also have a wider selection of shoes to choose from.

Determining if Surgery is Right for You:

Before performing surgery we will perform a medical evaluation to determine if surgery is right for you. An accurate diagnosis is the first step in treating your foot problem. Since each person's foot is unique, the podiatrist needs to evaluate the problem carefully.

Evaluating Your Feet Problem

• Health History: Your podiatrist will take your medical history along with a thorough history of the present problem. Where does it hurt? When does it hurt? Has there been prior treatment for the problem? What kind of shoes do you wear? You will be asked about any health problems you may have such as diabetes, allergies, or heart disease. We will need to have a complete list of all medications you are taking including over-the-counter medications.
• Examination: Your podiatrist will perform a foot examination, also checking your ankles, knees and hips. The affected area will be tested for tenderness and pain. Your shoes may be examined to determine wear patterns.
• X-Rays and Lab Tests: X-rays can show how severe your foot problem is and help to diagnose bone or joint abnormalities. Lab tests, such as bacterial and fungal cultures and blood and urine tests, may also be called for in some cases.

If surgery is recommended your podiatrist will explain how surgery can help correct your foot problem. They will explain the procedure and any possible risks and complications. You will also be instructed how to prepare for surgery as well as the facility where the operation will be done.

All Doctors at 1Foot 2Foot are Board Certified Foot Surgeons and are equipped to handle all your podiatric needs.

Is Your Doctor Board Certified?

After completing undergraduate education and four years of doctorate training at a podiatric medical school, a podiatric physician enters residency training to obtain clinical experience. A resident must perform a wide variety of surgical and clinical procedures to successfully complete the residency program. Following several years of clinical experience and practice, a podiatric physician may apply for board certification by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

• Written Examination: Podiatric residents in their last year of training will initiate the certification process by applying to take the ABPS Board Qualified Examination. A candidate passing this test becomes “Board Qualified.”
• Case Review: A physician must demonstrate diversity of podiatric surgical practice by submitting a list of cases to ABPS. A variety of cases are selected from the list for professional peer review by the ABPS Credentials Committee.
• Oral Examination: After the physician has successfully completed the written examination and case review, the final step toward certification is the oral examination. This two-day examination requires the candidate to discuss the diagnosis and treatment plan of several case scenarios before professional peer evaluators.

Candidates that successfully complete the ABPS certification process are referred to as "Diplomates" and become voting members of the American Board of Pediatric Surgery.