3 Holiday Foot Pain Signals That May Require Surgery

The holiday season is no time to kick your feet up and relax. Between long hours of shopping, marathon cooking sessions, and squeezing into dress shoes for holiday parties, your feet are put to the ultimate stress test. And if the joy of the season is constantly overshadowed by a throbbing ache that just won’t quit, your chronic pain might be sending you a serious message that Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, would be happy to answer. But first, let’s go over what types of foot pain could signal surgery.

Signal #1: The Foot Deformity That Rubs

If you find that your pain is focused on a bony bump that rubs against every pair of holiday shoes, especially if you’re battling bunions or rigidly bent hammertoes, you might be ready for surgery.

While custom orthotics can help manage these issues initially, when the bony misalignment becomes severe, it’s impossible to cushion. The sharp, constant pain means the bone is physically interfering with your shoes and gait.

A bunionectomy or toe fusion is the only way to physically realign the joint and eliminate the pressure point forever.

Signal #2: Foot Pain That Doesn’t Fade with Rest

Chronic, debilitating pain from plantar fasciitis or tendonitis that flares up immediately after a couple of months of holiday standing is a major red flag.

If you’ve been diligent with conservative care, meaning you’ve stretched, iced, and worn your custom orthotics faithfully for over a year, and the pain instantly returns with the holiday stress, it likely means the scar tissue or ligament tension is too severe to heal on its own.

At this point, a surgical procedure like a plantar fasciotomy is often necessary to release the chronic tension and allow the tissue to finally enter a true healing phase.

Signal #3: Chronic Instability and Joint Damage

Did you suffer an ankle sprain years ago, and now the ankle aches constantly after a long day of holiday shopping?

That persistent ache and feeling of instability could be the early signs of post-traumatic arthritis. The chronic wobbly motion from the initial injury causes the joint cartilage to wear down. When this damage becomes advanced, an ankle fusion or a ligament reconstruction may be needed.

The operation eliminates the painful bone-on-bone friction and restores crucial stability, which is the only way to get a durable, pain-free foundation back.

Ultimately, your holiday pain check serves as a final litmus test. If your foot pain is so severe that it limits your quality of life despite maximal non-surgical effort, consult a trusted podiatrist.

 For any questions about foot health and wellness, reach out to the tenured staff at My Chicago Foot Expert by calling (773) 561-8100 or by clicking here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.