Foot and ankle problems aren’t fun and can leave you sitting on the sidelines. Einstein Center for Orthopaedic Sciences can
help. Our foot and ankle doctors know exactly what it will take to get you on your feet again. They talk with you and work
closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that will relieve your pain and get you moving again. Click a link
below to learn more about treatment options for foot and ankle injuries at Einstein.
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Surgical Treatments
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Non-surgical Treatments
Surgical Treatments
If your foot or ankle problem can’t be solved by non-surgical treatment, our foot and ankle surgeons can put you right. With
years of training and vast expertise in the latest and most complex surgical techniques, our foot and ankle surgeons can ease
pain, restore function and get you back to your life. Surgical options include:
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive operation. Using pencil-sized instruments inserted through small incisions, your surgeon can see
inside your joint to diagnose and fix problems. Arthroscopy can help doctors diagnose and treat many problems including torn
cartilage, torn ligaments and joint instability. It can also help doctors decide if joint replacement is a good option for
you.
Reconstructive surgery can help repair bones, ligaments and muscles damaged by traumatic injury, illness or deformity. Such surgeries may involve
realigning bones, tightening or releasing ligaments, reconstructing soft tissue, or inserting screws and rods to hold bones
together. Reconstructive surgery may be used to repair traumatic injuries, diabetic foot problems, congenital foot disorders
such as clubfoot, vascular damage, or neuro-orthopaedic problems resulting from post-polio syndrome, stroke, cerebral palsy,
spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.
Nonsurgical Treatments
Einstein’s foot and ankle team takes a conservative approach to treatment, recommending surgery only when other methods are
no longer helpful. Your personal treatment plan may combine several non-surgical approaches. Click a link below to learn more
about non-surgical treatment options offered at Einstein.
Exercise helps strengthen muscles and improves blood flow, which can speed healing.
Injections of medication onto or near nerves or around tendons and muscles can relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Medication can range from over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or Tylenol to prescription muscle relaxers and non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs. Medication’s role is to relieve pain and to reduce inflammation that can cause pain.
Orthotics are foot and arch supports that you wear inside your shoes. They may be custom-fit to your feet. Orthotics are designed to
relieve pain and fatigue and help realign your foot.
Physical therapy may include strength and flexibility training to help you regain movement or range of motion, pain relief and the development
of a home exercise program, under the guidance of a medical professional trained in physical medicine. Such a program may
include stretching, toning and strengthening components. Einstein’s partnership with
MossRehab gives our patients access to some of the world’s best diagnostic and rehabilitation resources.
R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. This is the best, immediate treatment for almost all sudden athletic injuries.
Resting helps reduce swelling and bleeding. Ice helps reduce pain and inflammation by causing blood vessels to contract. Compression
(wrapping an injury with a bandage) and elevation (keeping an injured limb above heart level) both help reduce swelling.
Splinting means immobilizing a joint or injured part of the body. Splints are used to support a joint or fractured bone, relieve pain
and prevent muscles from contracting too much. Some splints help stretch muscles while patients rest. These devices are used
to treat broken bones, dislocations, arthritis, tendon and ligament problems and other disorders.
Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Gad G. Guttmann, MD and Joseph N. Daniel, DO.
