Worry about pain is one of the most common reasons people put off foot and ankle surgery. Pain relief has changed a great deal, and for most operations a nerve block keeps the foot numb for around 24 to 36 hours — covering the period when pain would normally be at its worst. This guide...
Author: mattwelckadmin (Matthew Welck)
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What Is the Right Age to Have an Ankle Replacement?
If you’ve been offered an ankle replacement — or been told you’re too young for one — it’s worth knowing what the evidence actually shows. No UK or international guideline sets a minimum age; the “over 50” rule many patients hear is a habit rather than a rule, based on results from implants no longer...
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Injections for Ankle Arthritis: A Guide for Patients
If you’ve been offered an injection for ankle arthritis — or seen one advertised — it’s worth knowing what the evidence actually shows. In careful trials, people often improve by about the same amount whether they receive the real treatment or a dummy salt-water injection, which makes it hard to know which treatments genuinely help....
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Hammer Toes and Claw Toes: Why They Happen and What Can Be Done
A bent toe is rarely the whole problem — it's often a sign of a bunion, a torn ligament under the joint, or a tight calf pulling more weight onto the front of the foot. This article explains the difference between hammer, claw and crossover toes, when non-surgical treatment is enough, and what the evidence actually says about wires versus the newer internal implants.
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The Midfoot Injury That Gets Missed: Lisfranc Explained
A twisted foot that gets diagnosed as a simple sprain does not always improve the way a sprain should. When the injury involves the ligaments and joints in the middle of the foot — the Lisfranc joint — a standard X-ray can look entirely normal, and the diagnosis is often missed until the joint has...
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Burning Pain in the Ball of Your Foot: Is It Morton’s Neuroma?
A burning or electric pain between the third and fourth toes, often described as walking on a pebble, is usually put down to a Morton’s neuroma. The evidence tells a more complicated story: nerve thickening shows up on scans in a large proportion of people with no pain at all, so a scan finding on...
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Flat Feet: When Do They Actually Need Treating?
Most flat feet need no treatment at all — a low arch you’ve always had is simply a foot shape, not a disease. But when an arch that used to be there starts to flatten, usually on one side and usually in midlife, that’s a different, progressive condition, and one that responds far better to...
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My Ankle Sprain Still Hurts Months Later: What’s Going On?
Still having symptoms months after an ankle sprain is common, and recovery carries on improving for a full year. This guide covers the normal recovery timeline, when it is worth asking for a proper assessment, and the injuries a “simple sprain” can sometimes hide, from chronic ankle instability to a missed high ankle sprain.