Podiatry and podiatric surgery in Birmingham

Feet are subject to a great deal of stress. They have to cope with the immense force of your body in motion every day, so it’s no wonder they’re so prone to injury.  Pain, stiffness or inflammation is often one of the first signs that there’s a problem – a problem that could go on to affect your stability making it impossible to work, or even walk to the shops.

Whether you have a bunion or a sports injury if a foot problem is preventing you from enjoying life to the full it’s time to seek specialist advice. The problem is there’s often a lengthy wait for specialist foot care. 

Book a consultation with a consultant podiatrist at The Priory Hospital today. Get your life back on track. 

At The Priory Hospital we offer fast access to an expert consultant podiatrist – and rapid relief from your foot pain.

Our consultants are here to literally help get you back on your feet. We offer a range of treatment options and, while our consultant podiatrists will always aim to avoid surgery wherever possible, if this is required to progress your care, a surgical procedure will be recommended. 

The foot is a highly complex part of the body made up of joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons - and all of these moving parts need to work together. This is why injuries are so common.

From bunions and hammertoes to forefoot and heel pain (plantar fasciitis), in growing toenails and arthritis – these are some of the wide range of conditions at The Priory Hospital. Here’s a more detailed look at some more common foot problems.

Bunions are bony lumps on the side of the foot, at the base of the big toe. They can become very painful and make wearing certain types of shoes difficult. Different procedures can be used to help improve the condition including surgery.

Arthritic damage to the joints in the arch of the foot often happens slowly over time until it becomes quite advanced. Symptoms include joints that ache after activity or swelling around the joints. Lumps may also form at the edge of joints causing pressure on the surrounding tissues. When intervention becomes necessary this generally involves removing the lumps or surgically fusing the damaged joints.

Hammertoe is a deformity in toes caused by tendon or joint imbalance, and it can be not only a painful condition but unsightly. A podiatric surgeon can correct this condition as a day case procedure.

Plantar fasciitis (heel pain) is often due to stress injury or overstretching of the nerve endings. It can be caused by poorly fitting shoes, diabetes, running or jogging or standing for too long. Flat feet or high arches can also contribute, while ageing is another factor. Simple supports can often provide effective treatment and reduce pain. In more severe instances injections can be administered under local anaesthetic – or as a last resort keyhole surgery may be required.

Ingrown toenails can arise due to mechanical damage, wearing the wrong shoes, medication, infection, poor hygiene or injury. Simple trimming or filing may help – otherwise the ingrown side can be removed, and the side of the root destroyed under local anaesthetic. Incisional nail surgery can remove the root tissues completely.

Ganglions, bone spurs, heel bumps and neuromas are other conditions we see at The Priory Hospital – all of which can be assessed for appropriate treatments. 

In first meeting your specialist consultant will aim to find out as much about you as possible –especially as regards your lifestyle and how your problem is affecting you. In some cases our consultants will carry out biomechanics and a full gait analysis, to gain an in-depth analysis in how you’re running and walking.

These types of diagnostic tests can help your podiatrist to determine if orthotics could be an option. Foot pressure analysis can also be carried out at this stage if required. It may also be necessary to undertake some diagnostic tests e.g. an X ray which will be carried out at The Priory Hospital.

At your second appointment you will decide, together with your consultant, on the right treatment. This could be in the form of an orthotic e.g.  an insole to help you walk differently, steroid injection therapy or, as a last resort, surgery. You will receive full information about all the possible treatment routes so you can make an informed decision.

Your consultant will always aim towards non-invasive more conservative care. They will use their experience to assess whether you would be a suitable candidate for surgery should this become an option. Your suitability for surgery will be assessed not just on the medical aspects of your condition but on social aspects. If, for example you have just started a young family you might prefer to leave surgery to a later date.  

In the case of structural deformities e.g. bunions your consultant will weigh up the future outcomes, and whether lack of surgery will lead to further deformity of the foot. Or whether you can live more or less comfortably with a condition for the time being, with a further review in due course.

Most surgery is a walk in and walk out procedure, with the help of crutches. Post operatively you can generally expect to be wearing normal shoes in just weeks. 

At The Priory Hospital our foot consultants treat a large number of people presenting with sports injuries, musculoskeletal problems, overuse injuries and structural problems every week. If you’re suffering from debilitating foot pain or are waiting months for treatment The Priory Hospital offers you a fast route to the alleviation of your problem. By booking an appointment with one of our specialist podiatrists you can access:

• Consultant-led care at one of the most established and highly regarded hospitals in the region.
• Fast access to treatment. You’ll typically be seen within a week – with a treatment plan in place either at the first appointment or shortly after this.
• The option of an initial video consultation. Some people find this a very convenient option, and lots of tests can be ordered electronically.
• A multi-disciplinary approach with support from a team of expert physiotherapists, radiographers and nurses. The radiography team are involved in certain procedures e.g. image guided diagnostics. They are also invaluable as a rigorous source of analysis of a condition in providing a second opinion of a consultant’s own examination of the imaging.
• When surgery is the recommended option this takes place in The Priory Hospital’s state of the art surgical theatres, under the supervision of a team of highly experienced nurses and theatre staff.
• At The Priory Hospital we can offer access to cutting-edge, non-invasive procedures that are not widely available. For example our consultants are experienced in performing the latest hammer toe surgeries and big toe replacement – replacement of the big toe joint is an option for the certain patients, as an alternative to having the toe stiffened.
• Flexible payment options – there’s no requirement to have private medical insurance.
• Convenient and accessible location.