It is often hard for people to know when to become concerned about a physical malady and when to simply suffer through it. People don’t want to call their doctors for every sniffle or sneeze. The same goes for our musculoskeletal system. What things can we just chalk up to aging or simple stiffness and tightness or random pains, and what things should make us concerned enough to call our orthopedist and schedule an appointment?
We spoke with Dr. Gregg Schellack DO. Dr. Schellack is an experienced orthopedic surgeon who is in practice in Northern California in Crescent City. Dr. Schellack practices at Sutter Hospital. Besides orthopedic surgery, he is skilled in out-patient adult and pediatric orthopedics. Gregg Schellack Orthopedist attended medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, took his residency at Loma Linda Hospital, and performed an internship at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California.
According to Dr. Schellack, people tend to be afraid to consult an orthopedist for foot and ankle issues. They are afraid that the issue may be too small, such as a bunion or hammertoe. They also tend to be afraid because they have heard that there is not a lot of success when people have foot or ankle surgery. Unfortunately, this leads to people walking around in pain needlessly, and it leads to small problems not healing or getting worse. Dr. Gregg Schellack DO has been trained at two of the top-ranked schools of orthopedics in the world and is highly experienced. He is not going to perform a procedure that is going to make the functioning of your feet and/or ankles worse.
What Foot and Ankle Issues Should Drive You to Make an Appointment –
Muir Orthopaedic Specialists explain that patients need to seek help from orthopedists when any of the following problems with their feet and ankles are occurring:
- Of course, you need to come in for broken or fractured bones, dislocations, or torn musculature
- When an injury or other issue that has limited your joint or muscle movement
- For arthritis in the ankle or foot
- For sports injuries
- When you need a brace or orthotic
- For heel pain
- When you injure your achilles tendon
- For any deformity, like hammertoe, bunions, flat feet or clubfoot
- For problems with your feet caused by diabetes
- For nerve issues
- For pediatric ankle and foot problems
Not attending to these issues occurring with a part of the body that gets so much use and carries the weight of the entire body is asking for trouble. At best, the problem will not heal. At worst, more damage could occur.
Non-Surgical Foot and Ankle Treatments –
Also, according to Honor Health, not all of these problems requires surgery. Your orthopedist is going to try other options first, if they make sense, such as:
- Using a brace, splint or a cast for the foot or ankle
- Supplying you with crutches to take the weight off of the injured body part
- Providing you medication, such as anti-inflammatories or steroids
- Providing information and guidance on how to modify your activities
- Referring you to physical therapy
Dangerous Symptoms –
According to Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, there are also some larger danger signs that some patients may neglect to notice. See your orthopedist for any of the following signs as soon as possible:
- Pain in your feet or ankles that lasts over 72 hours
- Swelling that lasts over 24 hours
- Pain when your legs are at rest or are elevated
- The quick onset of foot deformity
- Any infection in your feet or ankles
- When your arches flatten
- Ulceration or blistering of your feet that you either did not feel progress or that will not heal
- No sensation in your feet or ankles
Gregg Schellack Orthopedist reminds us that our feet and ankles carry the weight of our entire bodies. Leaving disconcerting or painful symptoms untreated will often delay their healing or cause more damage. Call your orthopedist and allow them to help you return to full health in your feet and ankles when you experience any of the above issues.
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