If you are struggling with any type of problem in your foot or ankle, you will appreciate just how limiting it can be.
Many normal movements and activities, like walking up and down stairs, driving a car or simply standing in the kitchen while making a hot drink, can all become much more challenging. Your feet and ankles are incredibly complex, both structurally and functionally.
A foot and ankle together contain 28 bones as well as an intricate arrangement of ligaments, tendons, nerves, muscles and joints. Anything that interrupts the smooth working of one or more of these parts – whether injury, disease of the result of ageing – can have a significant effect on your ability to move freely and easily.
If you live in or around Basingstoke, Hampshire and are struggling with an ankle or foot problem, expert help is available, fast.
At The Hampshire Clinic, highly experienced foot and ankle surgeons provide assessment and treatment for a wide variety of foot and ankle conditions.
They would be delighted to help you too.
There are a number of problems that can affect the toes, forefoot, midfoot, hindfoot or ankle. Some of the reasons people book a private appointment are:
Toe & forefoot problems:
- In-growing toenails
- Toe deformities
- Big toe pain
- Forefoot pain
- Bunions
- Bursitis
- Morton’s Neuroma – can feel like you have a pebble in your shoe when you’re walking
Midfoot & hindfoot problems:
- Midfoot pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles' tendonitis – pain along the back of the heel
- Flat feet (“fallen arches”)
- High arch foot pain
- Foot drop
- Tendon disorders
Ankle problems:
- Ankle sprains
- Ankle pain
- Ankle stiffness
- Ankle instability
In addition to the symptoms and conditions listed above, osteoarthritis can affect a foot or ankle, causing pain and stiffness in the joints. Most commonly this will develop in the big toe or ankle, but it can develop in any joint.
People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing a foot problem known as peripheral neuropathy. This occurs when your diabetes reduces the blood supply to your feet, leading to a loss of feeling in the foot.
If any type of problem in your foot or ankle is causing you concern or affecting daily life, it is sensible to see an expert for help. At The Hampshire Clinic, it is easy to arrange a private appointment with an experienced foot and ankle surgeon for expert assessment and advice.
A number of foot and ankle treatments are available at the hospital, both non-surgical (conservative) and surgical. Conservative treatments include:
- Guidance on foot care
- Using aids such as boots and crutches
- Bracing or splinting
- Pain relief medication
- Physiotherapy
- Orthotics (insoles)
- Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)
Where these are not able to provide suitable symptom relief, surgery may be required. There are a multitude of operations available, and these would be tailored to your specific requirements. Foot and ankle surgery available at The Hampshire Clinic includes:
- Ankle arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) – can be used to assess and treat a number of ankle conditions, such as cartilage damage and bone spurs. Using only very small incisions (cuts), pain is reduced, scarring is less visible, and recovery may be faster than with traditional open surgery.
- Ankle fusion
- Ankle replacement
- Bunion surgery
- Ingrown toenail surgery
- Fusion of big toe
When you first meet your consultant, they will take your medical history and ask you about your symptoms.
They will carry out a physical examination of your whole leg, from toes all the way up to your hip. Even though your symptoms may only be in your foot or ankle, problems in the knee or hip can sometimes be the cause so need to be ruled out.
This may be all that is needed to make a diagnosis and plan treatment. In other cases, you may be referred for further investigations, such as X-ray, CT, MRI or ultrasound. These are all on-site at The Hampshire Clinic and easily arranged when required.
Once the results of any investigations are back and a diagnosis has been made, your consultant will meet with you again to discuss treatment options with you. If you have any questions or concerns, they will be very happy to talk through them with you.
People living in and around Basingstoke choose to visit us for help with their foot and ankle problem. Close proximity to the M3 and M25 motorways means we also see people from further afield, including Portsmouth, Southampton and Reading.
Many people are referred to us by their GP, physiotherapist or private medical insurance provider. Others are recommended to us by a friend or family member. We treat people with private medical insurance and self-pay patients.
While a medical referral can be helpful, you can self-refer to avoid delay.
When you choose to visit The Hampshire Clinic for help, you will benefit from:
- Fast access to an expert – When a foot or ankle problem is causing you pain or stiffness, or is affecting your mobility, the last thing you will want is to have to wait weeks (or even months!) to see somebody for help. We can quickly and easily arrange an appointment for you with an experienced foot and ankle surgeon so that you can access the support you need sooner.
- Patient Satisfaction – In an independent survey, 98% of people we treated said they were likely or extremely likely to recommend The Hampshire Clinic to their friends and family.
- Tailored treatment – Treatment will always be consultant-led and consultant-directed. Your consultant will oversee every aspect of your care, from first appointment through to post-treatment review.
- Remote appointments – Foot and ankle appointments are usually carried out in person at the hospital. However, we can offer remote consultations by telephone or online video call if required.
- Teamwork - Your consultant is aided in their work by a number of other healthcare professionals including physiotherapists, nurses, occupational therapists and radiologists. This joined-up approach to treatment and recovery ensures you will always see the most appropriate specialist at every stage. If your case is particularly complex, it will be discussed with other specialists in order to tailor the very best treatment plan for you.
- Location - Located in a picturesque village on the outskirts of Basingstoke, the hospital is close to both the M3 and M4 motorway and very easy to travel to.
If you are concerned about any type of problem with a foot or ankle, why not book your private appointment today?
Whether you have a painful bunion, an ingrowing toenail or a badly damaged arthritic ankle, we are here to help.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to The Hampshire Clinic and helping to restore and improve strength, movement and function in your foot or ankle again as soon as possible.
