Other foot and ankle problems I treat

Wear and tear in the big toe joint can make it stiff and painful, especially when walking uphill, squatting or pushing off. You might notice a bony lump on top of the joint that rubs on shoes.

Stiffer-soled shoes, insoles and sometimes an injection can ease things. If the pain keeps coming back, surgery depends on how worn the joint is: in earlier stages, removing the bone spurs (cheilectomy) can free up movement; when the joint is badly worn, fusing it gives a strong, pain-free toe that most people walk on very normally.

A bony bump on the outside of the foot at the base of the little toe. It tends to rub on the side of shoes and can form a painful corn or bursa over the bump.

Wider shoes and padding help, but they don’t change the shape of the foot. Like a big toe bunion, a tailor’s bunion can often be corrected through small incisions as a day case, and it’s sometimes done at the same time as bunion surgery.

Many flat feet never cause trouble. When they do lead to pain or tiredness in the feet and legs, insoles and exercises come first, and surgery is an option for some people when those don’t help.

An arch that has dropped in adult life, often on one side and with pain on the inside of the ankle, is different from a flat foot you’ve always had. It can be a sign that the main tendon supporting the arch is struggling, and it’s worth getting it checked early, while simpler treatments are more likely to work.

This includes Achilles tendon problems and ruptures, ankles that keep giving way after old sprains, and ankle joint problems that may be helped by keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery. I also have a special interest in sports injuries and have looked after professional sportsmen and women.

Achilles pain often builds up slowly, especially in runners and people who’ve recently upped their activity. Most settle with the right exercises, footwear and time. A sudden snap or a feeling of being kicked in the back of the heel can mean the tendon has torn, and that needs to be seen quickly. Read more about ankle injuries and sprains.