Foot & Ankle

Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Michael L. Blackwell, MD

ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE LOCATED IN TOMBALL, KINGWOOD, & THE WOODLANDS, TX

Foot and ankle injuries and degenerative problems can make life very difficult, especially if you lead an active life. If you’ve got problems with your feet or ankles, Michael Blackwell, MD, at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Tomball and The Woodlands, Texas, can help. Dr. Blackwell is an accomplished orthopaedic and sports medicine specialist who has considerable expertise in treating a wide range of foot and ankle conditions. Call the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today to find out more or request an appointment online.

Foot & Ankle Q & A

What conditions cause foot problems?

Problems with the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves in your feet are common - after all, your feet do spend a lot of time supporting your weight. Many people don’t take the best care of their feet either, wearing unsupportive shoes or high heels, or squashing their feet into shoes that don’t fit very well.

Some of the more common foot problems you might experience include:

  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Heel spurs
  • Stone bruises
  • Heel fractures
  • Metatarsalgia
  • Morton’s neuroma
  • Sesamoiditis
  • Gout
  • Bunions
  • Hammertoe

Feet play such an essential role in daily life that it’s vital to find out what’s causing your foot problems before they get any worse.

What conditions cause ankle problems?

Sprains and strains are a common cause of ankle problems. Most people twist their ankle at some stage in their life or bend it over too far, and it can be an excruciating experience.

The tendons and ligaments in your ankle can stretch or even tear completely. You can also fracture bones in your ankle at the same time.

Ankles can also suffer from degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis.

How are foot and ankle problems treated?

Before treating your foot or ankle problem, Dr. Blackwell at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine needs to diagnose the cause. Your description of the symptoms and a physical exam could tell him what the problem is, but he might need to see diagnostic imaging tests like an X-ray or CT scan to confirm a diagnosis.

Treatment for your foot or ankle condition is going to vary depending on what’s causing the problem. Potential treatments include:

  • Splinting the ankle
  • Immobilization in a cast
  • Physical therapies
  • Orthotic shoe inserts
  • Medication
  • Cortisone injections
  • Viscosupplementation injections

It’s also vital, of course, to wear well-fitting, supportive shoes.

These types of treatments are often successful in resolving foot and ankle problems. However, sometimes the more conservative treatments aren’t appropriate or don’t help. In this case, you might need to undergo surgery.

Dr. Blackwell has considerable experience in performing a range of foot and ankle surgeries, for example, ankle fusion surgery, removal of the plantar fascia, straightening and fusing hammertoes, and correction of toes affected by bunions.

You might need to undergo ankle replacement surgery in some instances if the ankle joint is too severely damaged for Dr. Blackwell to repair.

If you have foot or ankle problems, get the right diagnosis and the best treatments by calling the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today, or requesting an appointment online.