Times change, trends come and go. For some—especially in fashion—we wave goodbye with a shudder, but other changes benefit daily life. Scientific and technological advancements mean many things are better, faster, cheaper…and that’s definitely win/win.
This even applies to health care. Outpatient surgery centers like Longview’s Pacific Surgical Center are minimally invasive and require significantly less recovery downtime. This means you’re on your feet and back to normal activities again quickly. But if your feet are what’s causing you pain, let PSC surgeons help. They offer an array of foot and ankle procedures to address bunions, hammertoe, and other problematic issues.
Bunions are defined as “A painful enlargement of the joint situated at the base of the big toe. A bunion actually refers to the bony prominence…on the side of the big toe. A large sac of fluid, known as a bursa, can form over the enlarged joint which can then become inflamed and painful.”
The London-based College of Podiatry explains that with bunions “the big toe starts to crowd the smaller toes. It makes the foot wider which causes footwear fitting difficulties and also can give rise to pain within the big toe joint and the development of painful calluses. Because the big toes joint does not bear weight normally it can also cause pain under the second knuckle joint which will feel like walking on a marble. Although this foot problem can be made worse by certain shoe types it is an inherited condition.”
One procedure to correct bunions involves surgically realigning the toe bones and then placing a small plate, pin, or screw to hold it in place. In severe cases, a sesamoidectomy removes the small, pea-shaped bones which are located in the ball of the foot below the big toe joint. Sesamoids are “a bone embedded in a tendon…[which] help the big toe move normally and provide leverage when the big toe pushes off during walking and running.”
Another common foot issue is the aptly-named hammertoe. Patients who suffer from this find their toes arch downward making movement awkward. College of Podiatry doctors explain that during surgery “A small piece of bone is removed from the small joint in the middle of your toe. If necessary, the joint at the base of the toe may be released and the tendon lengthened.” When successfully operated on and recovery is complete, patients regain some mobility in their toe and reduce pain and overall deformity.
PSC can also work with your primary care doctor on other foot and leg issues from bone fusion to tendon release in the calf. As part of your ongoing care team, they’ll help every step of the way from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up. They offer on-site imaging services and their minimally invasive nature reduces the number of unnecessary—and often expensive—return visits.
If your feet are giving you trouble, don’t suffer in silence. Kick pain to the curb by sitting down with one of PSC’s skilled, experienced surgeons to discuss a treatment plan. There’s no need for high-cost hospitals or preauthorization woes, often PSC’s cash pricing is far lower than would be paid out of pocket after billing traditional insurance or Medicare. But however you’re covered, financial counselors will walk you through the process from start to finish.
Industry reviewers show that “As the government and payers scrutinize costs and push the shift to value-based care, outpatient surgery is expected to see an overall 11 percent increase from 2017 to 2022.” Others note that in 2005 approximately 60% of outpatient surgeries were performed in a hospital setting but by 2020 that number is expected to drop to only 40%. This is because clinics like PSC offer high-quality care for a reasonable cost with reduced red tape, fewer extraneous visits, and dedication to transparency pricing. At PSC, surgery costs are clearly posted so there’s no sticker shock down the road.
Oprah Winfrey laughingly said that despite her success “I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.” And so will you after outpatient foot surgery at Pacific Surgical Center. Though try to avoid too much time in high heels, ladies, since “It’s not unusual for people who spend lots of time in high heels to have low back, neck and shoulder pain because the shoes disrupt the natural form of the body” say, osteopathic doctors.
When you’re ready to take that first step, contact PSC online or by calling 360-442-7900. Your healthy, happy feet will thank you.
