If you have suffered an ankle injury, you already know how it can affect your mobility and quality of life. You may be wondering if you need ankle surgery. Your foot and ankle specialist has the answers you need. Dr. Larry Goldstein at Warner Robins Foot and Ankle in Warner Robins, GA, offers comprehensive foot and ankle services, including ankle surgery.

What You Need To Know About Ankle Surgery

Your ankles serve several important functions, including:

• Supporting your weight
• Helping you stand
• Helping you walk and run

When you have an ankle injury, the ankle injury can affect you in several ways. You may experience:

• Acute or chronic pain
• Swelling in your ankle joint
• Difficulty moving your foot
• An inability to stay mobile

Your foot and ankle specialist can help you decide when ankle surgery is right for you. These are just a few reasons to consider ankle surgery:

• To relieve pain associated with ankle injury
• If other, more conservative methods haven’t provided relief
• If your ankle injury is preventing you from staying mobile
• If your ankle injury is affecting your quality of life

To assess whether surgery is needed, your foot and ankle specialist will begin with a thorough examination of your ankle, including assessing your range of motion. The examination will likely include imaging, such as X-rays and MRI, to determine the extent of the injury and the structures involved. Less invasive methods may be tried first, including:

• Icing the injury several times each day to reduce swelling
• Taking anti-inflammatory medication to decrease inflammation
• Physical therapy to maintain flexibility
• Assistive devices to take weight off your ankle

The type of ankle surgery will be determined, depending on the type of injury. You may need ankle surgery to:

• Repair fractured or broken bones
• Realign dislocated joints
• Fuse joints to provide stability
• Replace the ankle joint to eliminate damage

Want To Know More About Ankle Surgery?

Talk with an expert to learn more about when surgery may be needed for an ankle injury. Call Dr. Goldstein at Warner Robins Foot and Ankle in Warner Robins, GA. You can reach him in the office by calling (478) 328-2008, so call today.