Meet Our Doctors Who Treat the Foot & Ankle
Foot & Ankle Treatments
Treatments:
The Best Options for Foot and Ankle Surgeons Near Arlington, VA
Suffering an injury to your foot and ankle or to one or the other is never easy. You will lose a lot of your mobility, might have to stay home from work or school, and will struggle to complete common daily activities. For these reasons alone, you should speak with a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon at our ankle center in Northern Virginia. Surgery might be the last thing you are considering at this time, but it should always be in the back of your mind after suffering an injury.
Common Foot and Ankle Injuries
The most common foot and ankle injuries our patients visit us for include the following:
- Ankle sprains
- Achilles tears
- Achilles tendonitis
- Foot stress fractures
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Ankle fractures
- Dislocation
- Puncture wounds
- Contusions
- Crushing injuries
- Ruptured tendons
- Ligament tears
- Bursitis
- Stress fracture
Injuries to the ankles and feet often occur when playing sports. Many people do suffer these injuries when working, which can put patients out of work for a prolonged period until the injury can properly heal. A visit to our orthopedics office can help you begin the healing process. A doctor from our medical team will ensure that every patient is cared for properly at all times.
Common Causes of Feet and Ankle Injuries
A doctor on our medical staff often sees the following causes of feet and ankle injuries:
- Landing in an awkward position after a jump
- Rolling the ankle (sports injury)
- A sudden impact, like a car crash
- Falling or tripping while walking or running
- Rotating or twisting your ankle
- Running or walking on surfaces that are uneven
Our team will review the reason why you scheduled a visit before making any recommendations about the treatment method you should undergo, which could include medicinal, surgical, orthopedics devices, and many other options including combinations of the treatment methods.
Symptoms of Foot/Ankle Injuries
If you experience any of the following symptoms after suffering a foot or ankle injury, it’s best that you seek medical treatment from a physician as soon as possible at our clinic:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Severe and sudden pain
- Inability to put weight on the impacted foot
- Inability to walk on the impacted foot
Treatment Options for Foot and Ankle Conditions
When you seek care at our Arlington treatment center, you will first meet with a physician to discuss your situation. You have various treatment options for pain, including surgery, physical therapy, medicine, and many others.
Always Use the RICE Method First
The very first thing you should do following an injury to your foot or ankle, before exploring surgery, is to use the RICE method. This involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Do not use the impacted foot. Apply ice to the area, wear a compression sock or brace, and elevate the foot above the heart to prevent swelling.
Immobilization for Broken Bones
If you have suffered a broken bone in your foot or ankle, or none of the bones have been dislocated, patients will be immobilized by our team. This is often done by applying a brace or a cast to the impacted ankle or foot, preventing it from moving when you walk, sleep, or perform any other activity. Bones typically take six weeks to heal, which means you will have to keep weight off the foot in order for it to heal properly.
Surgery for Broken Bones
If you have suffered multiple broken bones in your foot or they became dislocated, surgery could be required at our center for proper care. Surgery is often required for patients who have an injury so severe that the ankle is no longer stable. The ankle is made stable by using a plate and screws. You will use a splint immediately after the surgery to protect the ankle and then the splint will be replaced by a cast.
Treating Sprains
A sprain is classified as mild, moderate, or severe. A mild sprain can heal in a couple of days using the RICE method. Moderate sprains take longer to heal and will be done so using the RICE method as well as a brace or walking boot. A severe sprain occurs when a ligament tears or ruptures. This type of sprain takes a long time to heal. It involves extended physical therapy in order to regain motion, mobility, and strength in the ankle.
Speaking with a member of our practice will make it easier to understand how our clinic treats different foot and ankle injuries based on the individual patient. Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment for care.
Can I Prevent an Ankle Injury?
This is a question we are asked often at our center for care. Every patient is different, but there are things you can do to help prevent suffering an ankle or foot injury, including the following:
- Avoid falling at all costs
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Only run on a flat surface
- Do not exercise or play any sports when you are tired
- Do not exercise when you are in pain
- Wear shoes that fit you properly
- Maintain the correct conditioning level for the sport you play
- Always perform a warm-up and stretch routine prior to running or playing a sport
- Wear the correct protective equipment for the sport you play
If you have suffered an injury to your foot or ankle, call our ankle center to schedule an appointment.
Schedule a Consultation in Arlington, Virginia Today
Don’t waste any more time suffering through pain caused by foot and ankle conditions suffered in a car accident, sports accident, or work accident. The experienced and trusted physicians at OrthoBethesda are here to help you heal. Getting back range of motion, mobility, and strength in your foot and ankle makes it easier to live your life as normal as possible.
If you are in the Arlington area, call our Arlington, Virginia office today at (301) 530-1010 to schedule an appointment with a specialist physician regarding your conditions. We will review the incident that caused your injury, examine your foot and ankle closely, conduct a litany of tests, review your pain symptoms, and build a treatment plan best suited for your individual situation. When you call our office for an appointment, we will ensure that you are treated like family every step of the way.