Foot and Ankle Treatment Options

Mount Sinai orthopedic specialists and podiatrists approach each foot and ankle condition by developing a personalized treatment plan. Our goal is to relieve your pain and return you to full function with the least invasive surgical procedure or nonsurgical therapy, or a combination of techniques. 

Nonsurgical Treatments

Once we diagnose your foot and ankle condition, we will prescribe the most appropriate treatment to heal or improve your condition. We typically recommend one or more of these approaches:

• Ice packing and rest help the healing of some simple ankle sprains and strains, stress fractures in the toes, and other injuries.
• Medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cortisone injections, can help reduce pain and inflammation due to arthritis or bunions.
• Foot taping or padding can protect the affected area, such as bunions and heel pain.
• Physical therapy (PT) focuses on reducing pain by strengthening feet and ankles through exercise. PT also helps with arthritis and ankle instability, especially following an orthopedic surgical procedure.
• Splinting, bracing, or casting provide support for sprains, strains, fractures of the ankle or foot, and other injuries.

Surgical Treatments

Your orthopedic surgeon may determine that your condition will respond most effectively to a surgical procedure. Whenever possible, your orthopedist will use minimally invasive arthroscopy either to examine your condition with a tiny camera, or to repair the damaged tissue. When surgery is your best option, our surgeons perform the most advanced surgical procedures, including:

• Arthroscopic surgery
• Fracture management to relieve pain, prevent further injury, and remove any tissue that is injured and causing pain
• Nerve release/reconstruction to relieve pressure on the nerve
• Tendon release/reconstruction to decrease tension on the tendon and allow the muscle to move freely
• Total ankle replacement

Integrated Care

Achieving the best outcome for you not only requires orthopedic expertise, but also well-orchestrated collaboration among medical specialists. Mount Sinai foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons are committed to providing the best possible outcomes, and work closely with anesthesiologists, specialty nurses, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, and pain management physicians to restore function and maintain your overall health and well-being. Our doctors also consult with the following specialists as needed:

• Cardiology
• Geriatrics
• Hematology
• Nephrology
• Pulmonology
• Rheumatology