Foot and Toe Deformities

Are your feet a little bent out of shape?

It’s true that no two pairs of feet are exactly alike. But if you have a significant foot or toe deformity such as flat arches, misaligned toes, or joints that curl, it’s time to take the next step and call an expert like Dr. Victoria Melhuish.

Even if your foot deformity currently isn’t causing you pain or limiting your activities, these conditions tend to only get worse with time. Eventually, you may discover that your shoes no longer fit, daily activities become more uncomfortable, and painful arthritis, blisters, and even sores being to develop.

At Sierra Foot & Ankle, we provide comprehensive conservative and surgical treatments for all kinds of foot and toe deformities, and will work with you to develop a treatment plan that allows you to live your best, most pain-free life using the most effective means possible.

Woman massaging bunion on foot
Flat foot

Bunions & Bunionettes

Bunions are a common deformity that affects the inside of the foot and the largest toe. Due to instability in joints at the base of the big toe and the midfoot, your big toe may shift out of place. A large bump forms along the inside of the foot at the base of the toe, while the toe itself starts moving toward its neighbors.

Bunionettes (also called tailor’s bunions) are essentially the same, only they affect the pinky toe instead of the great toe.

Mild or moderate bunions can often be managed with conservative treatments, but if you have a lot of pain, arthritis, or difficulty wearing shoes, surgery may be your best course of action. Dr. Melhuish specializes in Lapiplasty, an innovative surgical procedure that enables a much faster return to weight-bearing and the most reliable long-term results when compared with conventional bunion surgery procedures.

Hammertoe

Hammertoes

Hammertoes develop when one or more of the four smaller toes on a foot becomes “stuck” in a bent position at the middle knuckle. Because the toe won’t lie flat on its own, the tip of the toe and the raised knuckle may develop painful sores or corns from friction and pressure against the inside of your shoe.

Early stage hammertoes tend to still be flexible and can be “pushed” back into position with your fingers. But as the condition worsens, the joint becomes much stiffer and more arthritic, and painful symptoms will likely increase. Rigid hammertoes typically require surgical correction.

Flat Feet

Flat arches are an extremely common foot deformity. You may develop them as you age due to wear and tear on the ligaments that support the arch, or you may simply have never developed normal arches in childhood.

Flat feet are not always symptomatic, but they frequently can (and do) lead to frustrating problems such as arch and heel pain, and can increase your risk for developing other foot deformities, as well as sports injuries. If you think you have flat feet, we strongly encourage you to make an appointment with us—especially if you are also experiencing any painful symptoms in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, or lower back. There is often a connection, and we can usually address the underlying source of the problem with conservative treatments like custom orthotics.

Close view of woman legs on an exercise mat. Female preparing practicing yoga at home. National yoga day. Healthy living.

Other Foot Deformities

If anything looks or feels “out of place” with your feet, please don’t hesitate to call us right away—even if you aren’t sure exactly what your condition is. We provide comprehensive care for all common foot and toe deformities, including:

  • Hallux varus (big toe shifted outward)
  • Hallux rigidus (degenerative arthritis in the big toe joint)
  • Mallet and claw toes
  • Charcot foot (diabetic foot collapse)
  • Haglund’s deformity (hard bump at the back of the heel)
  • Many others

Dr. Victoria Melhuish is an accomplished podiatric physician who specializes in lower extremity biomechanics and has extensive experience in treating foot and toe deformities.

Our practice is committed to offering the highest quality treatment options to our patients, including advanced 3D printed orthotics and cutting-edge surgical procedures, such as Lapiplasty.

Foot and toe deformities almost never get better on their own. Without proper treatment, they will usually progress to the point where surgery is the only effective remaining option. Seeking our help early gives you the most treatment options for a successful outcome, minimizes any disruptions to your lifestyle, and helps you get back to doing the things you love!

To request an appointment, give us a call at (775) 783-8037 or use the contact form below.

Get In Touch

Address

2350 South Carson St
Suite 3
Carson City, NV 89701

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