Foot & ankle surgery

When your feet hurt, you hurt – but we can help. Whether you’re experiencing pain from arthritis, an injury or a mysterious cause, we’ll help you find the source so you can get moving again.

Surgical & nonsurgical care for foot & ankle pain

At Aurora Health Care, our orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine doctors and physical therapists are specially trained in caring for foot and ankle pain. We treat all conditions related to the foot and ankle, from plantar fasciitis and stress fractures to arthritis and complications of diabetes.

The foot and ankle are complex. The feet each contain 26 bones (one quarter of all bones in the body) and 33 joints. The feet and ankles help you walk, run, bend, jump and do everything else that carries you through your day.

This heavy workload makes foot and ankle pain a common health problem. About one in six people in the United States experience foot and ankle issues. The good news is that we offer effective treatments for foot and ankle pain – from bracing and injections to total ankle replacement.

Getting back on your feet after foot pain or ankle pain

Foot and ankle pain is common, but finding its true source can be a challenge. Aurora’s team is dedicated to discovering the real cause of foot and ankle pain so you can focus on your life instead of foot pain.

Whether the cause of foot and ankle pain is a fracture, inflammation or other injury or health condition, you can benefit from our:

• Fellowship-trained doctors: Our orthopedic surgeons have specialized training beyond medical school in fields like sports medicine, trauma and joint reconstruction, and foot and ankle surgery.
• Sports medicine specialists: We have sports medicine doctors and therapists in locations across eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Sports medicine specialists have advanced training to help you get back in motion. Learn more about sports health services and treatments.
• Guided injections: Using injections, we can insert medication directly into the joint to reduce inflammation and pain. Ultrasound imaging (using sound waves) or fluoroscopy (injecting a dye agent to more clearly see the joint) can help ensure that the injection reaches exactly the right spot.
• Specialized imaging: Our hospitals and clinics have advanced imaging tools that let us clearly visualize the tiny bones and joints of the foot and ankle. We can improve our diagnosis with X-rays, 3-D CT (computed tomography) scans and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans.

A full range of expert foot pain & ankle pain treatment

Whether pain is ongoing (chronic) or comes on suddenly (acute), we can help you find a solution.

Foot & ankle pain: our solutions

Our specialists can treat many foot and ankle orthopedic issues with nonsurgical options like physical therapy or orthotics. When more conservative treatments aren’t effective, we offer surgery from our team of experienced foot and ankle surgeons.

Our foot and ankle treatments include:

• Bracing and orthotics: Sometimes, a foot or ankle needs some support to heal properly. Splints and braces can help you strengthen your muscles and let joints recover. We can provide customized orthotics to support your feet and ease comfort during recovery. Learn more about custom foot orthotics.
• Injections: Injections can improve joint function and ease joint pain. Steroids can reduce swelling and relieve pain for weeks or months. Joint lubricants smooth joint movement, which can also help with pain and prevent future injuries. Learn more about injections for joint pain.
• Symptom management: Our advanced therapy program can make it more comfortable to complete physical therapy and exercise programs. We can help you stay active or recover from surgery with integrative treatments like chiropractic care and acupuncture.
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy can relieve foot and ankle pain, either with or without surgery. Our specialized therapists are available to help improve the way you move. Find orthopedic physical therapy.
• Total ankle replacement: This surgery offers complete reconstruction of the foot and ankle and is also known as total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). Read more about total ankle replacement.

Treating conditions that cause foot & ankle pain

Some painful foot and ankle conditions are related to other health problems. We work across departments, collaborating with your primary care physician to find the cause of your foot pain and the right treatment option for your condition.

Our foot and ankle specialists are knowledgeable in treating:

• Complications of diabetes: We take a holistic, team approach to diabetic foot treatment to help you maintain mobility and health with diabetes. We can identify warning signs of diabetic foot problems, find the best shoes for your feet, manage infections and treat diabetic foot wounds and ulcers. Get more information about diabetes and endocrinology.
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): Sometimes, activity doesn’t cause foot pain – instead, a vascular problem might be the cause. Our orthopedists and cardiovascular doctors team up to help manage PAD. Learn more about peripheral artery disease (PAD) treatments.
• Plantar fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis is heel pain caused by injury to the muscles on the bottom of the foot. We can analyze the cause of the injury and provide treatment options to ease pain – from injections and physical therapy to the latest in heel spur surgery. Learn more about plantar fasciitis.
• Achilles tendon injuries: Although it's the strongest tendon in the body, the Achilles tendon is vulnerable to injuries that are usually related to overuse. Learn more about Achilles tendonitis and Achilles tendon rupture.
• Sever’s disease: Some physically active children develop inflammation at the back of the heel, where the Achilles tendon attaches. Rest, supportive shoes or inserts and stretches usually relieve the pain.
• Sprains and fractures: With specialized training in foot and ankle care – including trauma and sports medicine – our doctors can correctly diagnose your sprain or fracture and put you on the road to recovery. Read more about orthopedic medicine and orthopedic surgery.

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We get to the source of the pain and offer personalized care recommendations.

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