Foot & ankle surgery in Bedford

Expert care for foot and ankle conditions

Twenty five percent of the total number of bones in your body are found in your feet. Any problem with a foot or ankle has the potential to significantly limit your activity and to negatively impact your quality of life.

Together, your feet and ankles help you as you balance, stand and move throughout the day. Damage to them from injury or disease can affect many different aspects of life. Everyday activities like walking up and down stairs or around your house can be more challenging. You may have to stop taking part in your favourite sport. Perhaps you’re finding it hard to find a comfortable position to sleep at night.

Whatever your specific complaint, at The Manor Hospital you’ll be provided with fast access to an experienced Foot and Ankle Consultant for assessment. With their expert guidance and treatment, you’ll soon be back to enjoying the activities you most enjoy.

Some of the problems commonly seen by our Consultants include:

Toe & forefoot:

Toe deformities,
Big toe pain,
Forefoot pain,
Bunions – a bony lump on the side of the feet.
Bursitis – inflammation of a bursa (a fluid-filled sac that provides cushioning in a joint),
Morton’s Neuroma – results from irritation or damage to a nerve in the foot.

Midfoot & hindfoot:

Midfoot pain,
Plantar fasciitis – characterized by pain in the heel or bottom of your foot.
Heel pain,
Achilles tendonitis – overuse of the Achilles tendon causing pain along the back of the heel,
Flat feet (also known as “fallen arches”).

Ankle:

Ankle pain,
Ankle sprain – often when playing a sport involving quick, sharp turns such as football or squash,
Ankle stiffness – may follow an injury or gradually get worse over a longer period of time.

Both the foot and ankle are prone to developing osteoarthritis, which causes the smooth joint surfaces to wear down more quickly than normal. As these damaged surfaces rub against one another they generate friction, leading to stiffness and pain in the joint. As the osteoarthritis advances, these symptoms tend to get progressively worse, causing significant problems with both mobility and function.

Arthritis in the big toe (known as Hallux Rigidus) is a common problem.

Whether you’ve recently sprained your ankle or have been struggling with foot pain for many months, it can be sensible to get medical advice to ensure you heal properly. At The Manor Hospital, our Foot and Ankle Consultants provide treatment for all foot and ankle conditions and will be able to help you too.

When you first meet with your Consultant, they’ll take your medical history and discuss your symptoms with you. They’ll ask you a number of questions such as:

When did your symptoms begin?
Was there an obvious trigger (for example, was your foot trodden on during a game of football?)
Do you have pain in your foot or ankle?
If you do have pain, is it sharp? Constant?
What treatment (if any) have you already tried?
Are there any activities or movements that aggravate your symptoms?

Your Consultant will carry out a physical examination of your foot and ankle to help determine the movement, stability and flexibility you currently have.

Further tests may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis or to clarify the extent of an injury or disease. Our on-site imaging facilities include X-ray, CT and ultrasound, so we can easily arrange these for you if required. Should an MRI scan be needed, this will be arranged for you off-site.

Once a diagnosis has been made, your Consultant will discuss recommended treatment options with you.

A number of foot and ankle conditions can be treated effectively without the need for an operation. Other conditions may require surgery to relieve symptoms and to restore proper function in the foot or ankle.

Some of the more common non-surgical treatments are:

resting the foot and ankle, not weight-bearing as much (crutches may help with this)
cold compress applied regularly throughout the day,
pain relief medication (analgesia),
physiotherapy,
splinting/bracing of the foot or ankle in order to prevent certain movements.

Some foot and ankle surgery be carried out using a type of minimally invasive keyhole surgery known as arthroscopy. Other conditions may require more traditional “open” surgery to successfully repair.

The treatment you receive will be the optimal one for your specific needs so that you obtain the best possible result. Whether you require surgical or non-surgical treatment, your Consultant will explain the treatment to you and talk with you about any questions or concerns you may have. They will discuss the benefits you should expect to see as a result of treatment, your expected recovery time and any potential risks or complications you need to be aware of.

When you choose to visit us for any type of foot and ankle treatment, you will benefit from:

Fast Assessment: With rapid access to an experienced Consultant Foot and Ankle Surgeon, you’ll be able to start any treatment without delay. We can help get you out of pain and back to better mobility sooner.
Peace of mind: In an independent survey, 98.7% of the people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend us to their friends and family. We continually look to improve the quality of care we provide.
Idyllic surroundings: The Manor Hospital is a Grade II listed Manor House situated in the peaceful village of Biddenham, around a 6-minute drive from Bedford Picture-perfect from the outside, it is a far cry from the busy, industrial appearance of many hospitals.
Flexible appointments: We know that scheduling a hospital appointment can often be challenging as you juggle the many competing demands of life. Rest assured, we will help you to schedule your appointment for a time that is most convenient for you.
Multidisciplinary team: Our Foot and Ankle Consultants are supported by a number of other healthcare professionals including nurses, physiotherapists and radiologists. Whatever your particular needs, they will help to ensure you always receive the very highest level of care.
On-site parking: Our private car park has 47 spaces, so you won’t need to worry about where to park when you visit with us.

A foot or ankle problem can have a surprisingly big impact on your life. Fortunately, there are a number of good, effective treatments available and we can help you receive any required treatment sooner.

Your Consultant will thoroughly investigate the cause(s), diagnose the problem and talk with you about suitable treatment. Any treatment required can be easily and quickly arranged for you.

Whether you live in or around Bedford or will be travelling from further afield, please contact us today to schedule your visit. We are here to help you.