A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. It occurs when some of the bones in the front part of your foot move out of place. This causes the tip of your big toe to get pulled toward the smaller toes and forces the joint at the base of your big toe to stick out. The skin over the bunion might be red and sore. Wearing tight, narrow shoes might cause bunions or make them worse. Bunions can also develop as a result of the shape of your foot, a foot deformity or a medical condition, such as arthritis. Smaller bunions can develop on the joint of your little toe. Although bunions often require no medical treatment, see Dr. Moore who specializes in treating foot disorders if you have: ongoing big toe or foot pain, a visible bump on your big toe joint, decreased movement of your big toe or foot or difficulty finding shoes that fit properly. Possible complications of bunions include: Bursitis, Hammertoe and Metatarsalgia. 

Bursitis is an inflammation of a small fluid-filled sac, called a bursa, located near a joint, bone or tendon. The bursa, which protects the area from friction, can become inflamed from repetitive motion or irritation from shoes.  In the foot, the heel and the toes are most often affected. Symptoms of bursitis include localized redness, swelling and pain. Treatment may include resting the affected area, local ice therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, padding or corticosteroid injections to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. If these nonsurgical treatments fail to provide adequate pain relief, surgery may be needed.

Charcot foot is a condition causing weakening of the bones in the foot that can occur in people who have significant nerve damage (neuropathy). The bones are weakened enough to fracture, and with continued walking, the foot eventually changes shape. As the disorder progresses, the joints collapse, and the foot takes on an abnormal shape. Charcot foot is a serious condition that can lead to severe deformity, disability and even amputation. Because of its seriousness, it is important that patients living with diabetes take preventive measures and seek immediate care if signs or symptoms appear.

Early diagnosis of Charcot foot is extremely important for successful treatment. To arrive at a diagnosis, Dr. Moore will examine the foot and ankle and ask about events that may have occurred prior to the symptoms. X-rays and other imaging studies and tests may be ordered. Once treatment begins, X-rays are taken periodically to aid in evaluating the status of the condition.

Nonsurgical treatment for Charcot foot consists of immobilization, protecting the weakened bones so they can repair themselves. Complete non-weightbearing is necessary to keep the foot from further collapsing. The patient will not be able to walk on the affected foot until the surgeon determines it is safe to do so. During this period, the patient may be fitted with a cast, removable boot or brace and may be required to use crutches or a wheelchair. It may take the bones several months to heal, although it can take considerably longer in some patients. Other options include custom shoes and bracing and activity modification. 

In some cases, the Charcot deformity may become severe enough that surgery is necessary. Dr. Moore will determine the proper timing as well as the appropriate procedure for the individual case.

People have flatfeet when the arches on the inside of their feet are flattened, allowing the entire soles of feet to touch the floor when standing up. A common and usually painless condition, flatfeet can occur when the arches don't develop during childhood. In other cases, flatfeet develop after an injury or from the simple wear-and-tear stresses of age. Flatfeet can sometimes contribute to problems in the ankles and knees because the condition can alter the alignment of legs. If you aren't having pain, no treatment is usually necessary for flatfeet.

Bone fractures in the foot and ankle can happen to anyone, at any time. Seeking treatment for fractures is very important in order to ensure healing takes place as quickly as possible. Although minor fractures can heal on their own, more serious fractures will require surgery. If you’ve experienced a fracture in your foot and/or ankle, you’ll need to be treated by a specialist like Dr. Moore who has knowledge of the intricate workings of the bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles of the foot and ankle. Dr. Moore is highly skilled in the latest surgical techniques for even the most difficult-to-treat fractures, including complex non-union fractures. He creates a personalized treatment plan that encompass every stage of your care including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare. Your treatment will depend on the severity of the fracture and where the injury has occurred.

Bone fractures in the foot and ankle can happen to anyone, at any time. Seeking treatment for fractures is very important in order to ensure healing takes place as quickly as possible. Although minor fractures can heal on their own, more serious fractures will require surgery. If you’ve experienced a fracture in your foot and/or ankle, you’ll need to be treated by a specialist like Dr. Moore who has knowledge of the intricate workings of the bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles of the foot and ankle. Dr. Moore is highly skilled in the latest surgical techniques for even the most difficult-to-treat fractures, including complex non-union fractures. He creates a personalized treatment plan that encompass every stage of your care including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare. Your treatment will depend on the severity of the fracture and where the injury has occurred.

Most cases of foot or ankle pain are short term and are caused by soft tissue injuries, such as sprains or strains. These should gradually heal with the help of simple self-care measures. However, some pain can have no obvious cause or may not improve significantly with self-care. Pain that seems to be getting worse, does not improve, or lasts longer than a few months could be due to structural changes in the foot or ankle, or an underlying condition. There can be several explanations for long-term pain in and around the feet or ankles, such as: badly fitting footwear, osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis or connective tissue diseases. Some foot pain can become more than a short-term problem. If you cannot treat the pain yourself or you have a condition that could affect the joints or soft tissue, it may need further investigation. Speak to a Dr. Moore if pain does not improve in the first few days, pain is getting worse, it is still causing problems after two weeks of self-care, you have sores that are not healing, your skin has changed color–especially if it’s turned dark blue or black, your foot has changed shape or is really swollen, you have a high temperature or feel hot and shivery, it is red, warm, or swollen as you may have an infection, the problem keeps coming back or lasts longer than three months, you have an inflammatory condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma, you have diabetes or you are taking steroids, biologics or other drugs that affect your immune system.

Hammertoe is a contracture (bending) deformity of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop. Hammertoes usually start out as mild deformities and get progressively worse over time. In the earlier stages, hammertoes are flexible, and the symptoms can often be managed with noninvasive measures. But if left untreated, hammertoes can become more rigid and will not respond to nonsurgical treatment. Because of the progressive nature of hammertoes, they should receive early attention. Hammertoes never get better without intervention. Relieving the pain and pressure of hammertoe and mallet toe may involve changing your footwear and wearing shoe inserts. If you have a more severe case of hammertoe or mallet toe, you might need surgery to get relief.

Heel pain can have many causes. If your heel hurts, see Dr. Moore right away to determine why and get treatment. Tell him exactly where you have pain and how long you've had it. Dr. Moore will examine your heel, looking and feeling for signs of tenderness and swelling. You may be asked to walk, stand on one foot or do other physical tests that help your doctor pinpoint the cause of your sore heel. If it hurts under your heel, you may have one or more conditions that inflame the tissues on the bottom of your foot: Stone bruise, Plantar fasciitis or Heel spur. If you have pain behind your heel, you may have inflamed the area where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone. Treatment includes resting from the activities that caused the problem, doing certain stretching exercises, using pain medication and wearing open back shoes.

An ingrown nail occurs when the skin on one or both sides of a nail grows over the edges of the nail, or when the nail itself grows into the skin. Redness, pain and swelling at the corner of the nail may result and infection may soon follow. Sometimes a small amount of pus can be seen draining from the area. Ingrown toenails should be treated as soon as they are recognized. Home care may prevent the need for further treatment. If excessive inflammation, swelling, pain and discharge are present, the toenail is probably infected and should be treated by Dr. Moore. You may need to take oral antibiotics and the nail may need to be partially or completely removed. Surgery is effective in eliminating the nail edge from growing inward and cutting into the fleshy folds as the toenail grows forward. The best way to prevent ingrown toenails is to protect the feet from trauma and to wear shoes and socks with adequate room for the toes and keep feet clean and dry at all times. Nails should be cut straight across with a clean, sharp nail trimmer without tapering or rounding the corners.

Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon—the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint. While tendinitis can occur in any tendons, it's most common around shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees and heels. Some common names for various tendinitis problems are tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, pitcher's shoulder, swimmer's shoulder and jumper's knee. Most cases of tendinitis can be successfully treated with rest, physical therapy and medications to reduce pain. If tendinitis is severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon, surgery may be necessary.