The vast majority of orthopedic specialists are going to first attempt to help patients overcome their foot or ankle issue with conservative means. Surgery may be an incredibly effective option for the issue the patient is dealing with, but it’s unlikely to be the first line of defense. It’s more commonly viewed as a last resort, but you also shouldn’t view a procedure as a proverbial “Get Out of Jail Free” card that can be played anytime you wish. Below, we take a closer look at what it does and what it doesn’t mean to pursue surgery as a last resort for your foot or ankle injury.
Foot Surgery – What It Is
Let’s begin by taking a look at what it means to pursue foot surgery as a last resort. In this context, it can seem like the pursuit of surgery is like a Hail Mary throw at the end of a football game; an attempt to secure success in the face of probable failure. However, that’s not what foot surgery as a last resort really is.
Surgery as a last resort simply refers to the logical care steps that precede it. Doctors want to address your foot or ankle injury as simply and safely as possible, and although surgery has become much safer in recent decades, the risk of complications during an operation will always outweigh the comparative risks associated with non-surgical techniques like physical therapy, weight loss or stretching. Surgery brings other risks into the equation, and doctors want to avoid these potential complications if at all possible, so they opt for less riskier options out of the gates.
Pushing off surgery until other treatment options have been exhausted is also wise for other reasons, including:
- Many non-operative treatments are just as if not more effective than surgery.
- Keeps costs down for the patient.
- Many elective procedures are not overly time sensitive.
- Surgery may not make sense given your age, health or activity goals.
Surgery can be an incredibly effective option for patients dealing with all sorts of foot and ankle issues, but it adds additional risks and costs to the equation and must be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Foot Surgery – What It Isn’t
On the other side of the coin, it’s important to understand that foot surgery isn’t something you can always fall back on. Although we mentioned above that many types of elective foot surgery are not overly time sensitive, putting off foot surgery for too long can have some unintended consequences. If your foot issue continues to get worse because you put off care or didn’t follow through with surgery, it’s going to be more difficult to restore function in the area compared to a patient with less damage. You can’t finally go through with surgery and expect it to produce the same results as if you had undergone the procedure years ago. Surgery should not be viewed as a magic elixir that will always produce the same results no matter when you pursue it.
Also, surgery isn’t going to be the driving force behind your functional recovery. Surgery will be a strong foundation to build on, but you’re going to need to put in work on your end in order to make the strongest recovery. You can’t just expect to lay in bed and be perfectly healthy a few weeks later. You’re going to need to restore strength, mobility and function with physical therapy, stretching exercises and other rehab techniques, so remember that the operation is not going to get you back to a pre-injury level of fitness on its own.
Surgery is a wonderful option for the right patient, but it’s not something that should be pursued without a careful evaluation of all the relevant factors. If you’re wondering if surgery or a different treatment path is right for your foot or ankle issue, connect with Dr. Silverman and the team at OrthoArizona today. Give his office a call today at (602) 648-5444 or click here to schedule an appointment.