SPARTANBURG • DUNCAN • GREENVILLE, SC

Foot and Ankle Pain Specialist

Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Treatment in South Carolina

Expert Foot & Ankle Care

OVERVIEW

Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Specialist in Spartanburg, SC, Duncan, SC, and Greenville, SC

Carolina Orthopaedic & Neurosurgical Associates boasts a legacy of over 35 years in effectively treating pediatric and adult disorders of the lower extremities. Our distinguished Foot & Ankle Center stands as a beacon of advanced treatments and surgical techniques, dedicated to alleviating, and often eradicating, the spectrum of foot and ankle pain and lower extremity issues.

Within our expansive expertise, we also address various spinal conditions and disorders. Our responsive office is ready to field your inquiries if you are still looking for a specific condition listed.

Foot & Ankle Surgery, an option explored only after exhausting alternative avenues, is guided by the unwavering commitment of our Foot & Ankle Center Experts to administer the most efficacious treatments available.

FOOT & ANKLE INJURY PREVENTION

How Do I Prevent Foot and Ankle Injury?

The prevalence of foot and ankle injuries, especially in sports like soccer and activities involving rapid direction changes, necessitates proactive injury prevention measures. Regarding foot and ankle injuries, your best measure is prevention. Mitigate the risk of such injuries with the following precautions:

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Warm Up

Initiate with a three-minute slow jog to stimulate blood flow, complemented by light stretching.

Muscle Conditioning

Gradually increase the duration of sports or activity participation over weeks, fostering muscle strength and mobility.

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Footwear Selection

Opt for shoes tailored to your foot type. For instance, individuals with low arches should choose shoes offering adequate arch support.

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Avoid Uneven Surfaces

Exercise caution when running on uneven terrain to minimize risks associated with irregularities like holes, tree stumps, and roots.

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Prevent Recurrence

Individuals with a history of ankle injuries should utilize braces or taping as a preventive measure.

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Listen to Your Body

Prioritize bodily signals. If pain emerges during any activity, consider limiting, ceasing, or modifying the activity until the pain subsides.

How are Foot and Ankle Injuries Treated?

A plethora of treatment options is available for foot and ankle injuries. While minor injuries may self-heal with RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), more severe cases may require comprehensive treatment approaches. This intervention may allow the issue to resolve on its own, but it’s important to talk to your doctor if your foot or ankle symptoms aren’t relieved by conservative methods.

Our Carolina Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Associates team is ready to guide patients through the most appropriate and effective courses of action, ensuring comprehensive healing and recovery. We serve patients from Spartanburg, SC, Duncan, SC, and Greenville, SC.

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FOOT & ANKLE TREATMENTS

What are Common Foot and Ankle Treatments?

The complexity of the feet and ankles and their vulnerability to frequent injuries often misdiagnosed underscores the importance of proper care, treatment, and rehabilitation. Our range of treatments includes:

Achilles Tendon Repair

An Achilles tendon repair treats a partially or completely torn Achilles tendon.

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Fracture Reduction

A foot or ankle fracture is a serious injury that requires medical attention.

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Bunionectomy

A bunion is a painful lump on the side of the big toe.

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Ankle Arthroscopy

Ankle arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that treats a variety of ankle injuries and conditions.

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CONDITIONS

Common Foot & Ankle Conditions

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be a difficult problem to deal with. Because there are many foot bones, tendons, ligaments, and nerves, there are many different foot injuries and conditions. An appointment with a Board-certified and Fellowship-Trained Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) is the best way to find the cause of foot pain and properly treat it.

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Heel Pain

Heel pain is mild to severe pain on the bottom of the foot. Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialists prescribe customized treatment plans to dramatically reduce pain and treat the injury or condition causing it. An appointment should be made as soon as pain presents.

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Ankle Fractures

Ankle fractures are a common type of fracture where one or more of the ankle bones break. Ankles fractures do not heal on their own and their symptoms become worse if they are not treated. An appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist should be made as soon as possible after an ankle injury.

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Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains occur when one or more of the strong ligaments that connect the ankle bones are partially torn. It is always best to make an appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedics and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist after an ankle sprain. A customized treatment plan reduces symptoms and treats the sprain as quickly as possible.

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Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that primarily causes heel pain. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel bone to your toes. This tissue can become inflamed due to excessive stress or strain, leading to plantar fasciitis.

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Bunions

Bone spurs are osteoarthritis caused bone growths. Bone spurs that protrude into the ankle joint cause pain and make it hard to move the joint. Early bone spur treatment is always best—an appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist should be made as soon as symptoms present.

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Foot & Ankle Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of joint bone and cartilage. Foot and ankle arthritis causes symptoms that can make it difficult to walk or even stand. Patients are encouraged to make an appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist as soon as symptoms present.

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Hammer Toe

Hammer toe occurs when a toe curls down instead of pointing straight. Hammer toe symptoms make walking difficult and make it impossible to wear certain shoe types. An appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist should be made as soon as symptoms present.
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Flat Foot

Flatfeet, also called flatfoot, is a common condition in which the arches on the inside of the feet flatten out when they are put under pressure. When people with flatfeet stand up, their feet point outward and their whole soles touch the floor.

Flatfeet can happen if the arches don’t form when a child is young. It can also happen later in life because of an accident or just normal wear and tear.

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Bone Spurs

Bone spurs are osteoarthritis caused bone growths. Bone spurs that protrude into the ankle joint cause pain and make it hard to move the joint. Early bone spur treatment is always best—an appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist should be made as soon as symptoms present.

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Muscle & Tendon Strains

Muscle and tendon strains occur when muscles and tendons are partially torn. Strains make it hard to bear weight and move the foot and ankle. Early treatment relieves stain symptoms and treats the injury before it gets worse. An appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist should be made as soon as symptoms present.

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Toe Fractures

A toe fracture is a broken toe bone. Toe fracture pain is often severe and gets worse if the fracture is not treated properly. An appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist should be made as soon as possible.
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Peroneal Tendinopathy

The peroneal tendons help stabilize and move the ankle and foot. Peroneal tendinopathy is peroneal tendon inflammation. Symptoms can be uncomfortable and make it hard to perform many foot and ankle movements. A Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist should diagnose and treat the condition as soon as possible.

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Achilles Tendon Rupture (Tear)

A ruptured Achilles tendon is an injury that happens in the back of your lower leg. It usually happens to people who play sports, but anyone can suffer from this injury.

The Achilles tendon is a strong, fibrous cord that connects the muscles in the back of your leg to the heel bone. If you overstretch your Achilles tendon, it can tear (rupture) all the way or partially.

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OUR SPECIALISTS

Meet the Team That Gets You Moving Again

Our foot and ankle specialists diagnose and treat injuries, pain, and conditions to restore comfort, stability, and mobility.

FOOT & ANKLE ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON

Michael Le, MD

Fellowship-Trained Lower Extremity Specialist

Foot & Ankle Injuries

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Total Ankle Replacement

Spartanburg Duncan Greenville

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FOOT & ANKLE ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON

Anthony Barcel, MD

Fellowship-Trained Foot & Ankle Specialist

Foot & Ankle Conditions

Arthritis Management

Sports Injuries

Spartanburg Greenville

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SYMPTOM CHECK

What are the Symptoms of Foot and Ankle Injury?

The vast array of foot and ankle injuries spans all age groups, demanding specialized care from qualified orthopedic specialists. Symptoms may include:

Pain

Stiffness

Swelling

Deformities

A popping noise or sensation in the joint

Clicking or grinding in the joint

Heel pain

Unable to bear weight

Bruising

Limited range of motion

Weakness in the ankle joint

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Foot & Ankle FAQs

What foot and ankle conditions does CONA treat?

CONA’s Foot & Ankle Center — with over 35 years of experience — treats ankle fractures, ankle sprains, Achilles tendon tears, plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammer toes, flat feet, bone spurs, foot and ankle arthritis, peroneal tendinopathy, toe fractures, and muscle and tendon strains, among other conditions. Our team treats both pediatric and adult patients.

How do I know if my ankle is sprained or fractured?

Both sprains and fractures cause pain, swelling, and bruising, so imaging is often needed to tell them apart. As a general rule, if you cannot bear any weight on the ankle, or if there is significant tenderness over the bony areas of the ankle, an X-ray is warranted. A sprain involves ligament damage, while a fracture means bone is broken. Both benefit from early evaluation — an ankle fracture will not heal properly without medical treatment.

What is plantar fasciitis, and how is it treated?

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia — the thick band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. It causes stabbing heel pain that is typically worst in the morning or after long periods of standing. Most cases resolve with stretching, supportive footwear, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. Persistent cases may benefit from corticosteroid injections or, rarely, surgical release.

Is an Achilles tendon rupture always treated with surgery?

Not necessarily. Management of an Achilles tendon rupture depends on factors like the patient’s age, activity level, and the extent of the tear. Surgical repair is often recommended for active individuals and athletes because it may result in a stronger repair and lower re-rupture rates. Nonsurgical treatment with casting and physical therapy is an option for less active patients or those with medical conditions that increase surgical risk. Your CONA specialist will help you weigh the options.

What can I do to prevent foot and ankle injuries?

CONA recommends warming up before exercise with a slow jog and light stretching, gradually increasing activity intensity over time to condition your muscles, choosing footwear appropriate for your foot type and activity, avoiding running on uneven terrain when possible, and using braces or taping if you have a history of ankle sprains. Listening to your body and reducing activity if pain develops can also prevent minor issues from becoming more serious.

Neurovascular Disorders including Aneurysms

Neurovascular disorders are diseases in which brain bleeding occurs or brain blood flow is restricted. Board-Certified and Fellowship-Trained Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) neurovascular specialists treat all neurovascular disorders, including aneurysms.
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When should I see a foot and ankle specialist instead of just resting it?

You should schedule an appointment at CONA if your pain doesn’t improve after a few days of rest, ice, and compression; if you cannot bear weight on the foot or ankle; if there is significant swelling, bruising, or deformity; or if the injury occurred from significant trauma like a fall or collision. Conditions like fractures, tendon tears, and nerve injuries require professional evaluation and should not be managed with rest alone.