Need Foot Surgery Advice
July 30, 2011 8:57 AM   Subscribe

Needing re-constructive foot surgery, what type of doctor is best for this type of surgery, a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon?

I was biten by a snake when I was a toddler, caused major problems with the growth of my foot. I had surgery to straighten my big toe when I was eleven. The foot is about a size and a half shorter than the other foot. The size isn't the problem, the main issues are, I have a bunion on the outer side of my foot, near small toe, the middle toe is hammered and is now pinching a nerve and causing me to have tingling in my foot. Also, my big toe is somewhat turned in again, probably due to growing again after the surgery. I need to have these things corrected because it's causing problems with fitting into shoes and its becoming more and more painful. I want the best doctor, most knowledgeable... my foot may not look pretty, but I can walk on it and that's a plus, you know what I mean?!
posted by johnd101 to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)
 
When I shattered my ring finger, plastic surgeons handled it because of all the tendons and fine muscles involved. I also had physio to make a splint and bind the fingers properly to make sure it healed as straight as possible. Maybe your toes will be the same.
posted by ergo at 9:01 AM on July 30, 2011


Seconding plastic surgeon. Well, a reconstructive surgeon. There are so many tiny little important parts in hands and feet, you really want to leave it to the pros.

Podiatrists are what happens when you don't get into "real" med school. I wouldn't go to a podiatrist for anything more serious than an ingrown toenail. (Apologies for sounding like a snob, but there you go.)
posted by phunniemee at 9:16 AM on July 30, 2011


it sounds like you would be best served going to a major teaching hospital with notable orthopedics and reconstructive surgery expertise. You'll get specialists of all sorts working together to come up with the best solution. If you are in the northeast of the US, a place like Hospital for Special Surgery would be my first choice, although there are others around the US as good or better.
posted by JPD at 9:23 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]


You might try contacting The foot and ankle society and asking for a recommend in your area. I know they have hand surgeons in Boise that are fantastic--would imagine there are doctors specializing in the foot, also.
posted by BlueHorse at 10:20 AM on July 30, 2011


Response by poster: Thank you all for your comments, they helped give me some direction, I appreciate it!
posted by johnd101 at 4:08 PM on July 30, 2011


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