Foot & ankle surgery in Dorchester

Our feet and ankles are used thousands of times each day. Whether sitting down to relax in a chair, walking to the shops or driving our car, our feet and ankles are involved in making each of these things possible.

Each foot and ankle contain 28 bones. The ligaments, tendons and joints contained within them provide us with incredible function and mobility. Any injury or damage to them can cause a significant loss in this function and mobility.

Trauma, wear and tear and disease can all cause damage in a foot or ankle. If you're looking for private foot or ankle surgery in West Dorset, North Dorset and Weymouth and Portland,  The Winterbourne Hospital is the place to visit. Our dedicated foot and ankle surgeons treat a range of foot and ankle conditions, from toe deformities and bunions to ankle arthritis and sports injuries. They would be delighted to help you too.

Problems can occur in the toe, forefoot, midfoot, hindfoot or ankle. Common reasons people visit The Winterbourne for help include:

Toe & forefoot problems:

• In-growing toenails
• Toe deformities
• Pain/stiffness in the big toe
• Forefoot pain
• Bunions
• Bursitis (inflamed bursa)
• Morton’s Neuroma

Midfoot & hindfoot problems

• Midfoot pain
• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Flat feet (“fallen arches”)
• High arch foot pain

Ankle problems:

• Ankle sprains
• Ankle pain and/or stiffness
• Ankle arthritis
• Instability in the ankle

Arthritis can develop in a foot or ankle. As it progresses, the friction-free cartilage breaks down causing pain and stiffness. Eventually, the ankle can become too stiff to move and ankle replacement or fusion surgery can be needed.

People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing a foot problem. The diabetes can cause a reduction in the blood and nerve supply to the feet, causing a loss of feeling in it. This is known as peripheral neuropathy.

Whether you’ve injured an ankle while playing football and are now struggling to weight-bear or you’ve noticed a deformity in a toe, a Consultant Foot and Ankle Surgeon can help make sure you get the best treatment for your particular condition. They are experienced in managing and treating all foot and ankle disorders and would be delighted to help get you out of pain and back to better mobility.

When you first visit with us, your Consultant will take your medical history and ask you about your symptoms. They will want to know:

• What symptoms you have and how long you’ve had them for
• Whether there was an obvious cause (for example, twisting your ankle while out jogging or a hard tackle to your foot during a game of football) Whether you have any pain, stiffness or swelling.
• Whether you’ve had any treatment already, such as pain relief medication or physiotherapy.

They will examine both feet and ankles to assess flexibility, strength and function. They may ask you to stand on one leg at a time to help determine strength and stability in the ankles.

Depending on your medical history and physical examination, additional investigations may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis or to accurately determine the extent of any damage or disease. A weight-bearing X-ray of the feet and/or ankles can be helpful in showing the architecture of the feet. An MRI scan shows incredible detail of the soft tissues in the foot and ankle. Our on-site imaging facilities include X-ray and a state-of-the-art MRI scanner, so these are easily arranged for you if required.

Once the results of any investigations are back and a diagnosis has been made, your Consultant will explain suitable treatment options with you.

It’s important to know that many foot and ankle conditions can be successfully treated without surgery. Other conditions will need some type of private foot and ankle surgery to successfully relieve your symptoms and restore function.

Non-surgical treatments include:

• Advice about the best shoes to wear
• Resting the affected foot/ankle, weight bearing with support and using aids such as boots and crutches
• Pain relief medication
• Physiotherapy – we have a great Physiotherapy team on-site at The Winterbourne who are very experienced at helping with foot and ankle problems
• Bracing or splinting of the foot or ankle
• Orthotics or inserts for your shoes

If you’re struggling with a foot or ankle problem, it’s good to know that help is available. There are a number of good, effective treatment options available for foot and ankle injuries and conditions.

Your Consultant will thoroughly investigate the cause(s) of your symptoms, diagnose the problem and explore treatment options with you.

Whether treatment will involve surgery or pain medication, physiotherapy or bracing, this will be arranged for you at the earliest opportunity.

Whether you live close by in Dorchester or will be travelling from further afield, book your appointment online today.

If you’re struggling with a foot or ankle problem, it’s good to know that help is available. There are a number of good, effective treatment options available for foot and ankle injuries and conditions.

Your Consultant will thoroughly investigate the cause(s) of your symptoms, diagnose the problem and explore treatment options with you.

Whether treatment will involve surgery or pain medication, physiotherapy or bracing, this will be arranged for you at the earliest opportunity.

Whether you live close by in Dorchester or will be travelling from further afield, book your appointment online today.