Demystifying Foot & Ankle Pain: Q&A with Dr. Paul Butler

At DMOS Orthopaedic Centers, we understand that foot and ankle pain can be debilitating and prevent you from doing the things you love. Determining how to seek treatment for your issues can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. We sat down with Dr. Paul Butler, one of DMOS' board-certified orthopedic surgeons, to talk about some of the common conditions and treatments for foot and ankle injuries.

Q: What do you believe is a common issue patients face when it comes to foot and ankle injuries or pain?
Dr. Butler: The biggest difference between injuries and pain in the foot and ankle compared to other parts of the body is that they're nearly impossible to compensate for. You can use the other arm if you hurt your shoulder or walk slightly differently to protect a knee, but simply put, you can either walk on your foot or you can’t. The ability to stand and walk affects every facet of your life and can be difficult to work through both physically and emotionally. Improving that pain is where we come in as foot and ankle specialists at DMOS Orthopaedic Centers.

Q: What are some common conditions of the foot and ankle that you see in your practice?
Dr. Butler: One of the reasons I was drawn to this specialty was the wide variety of patients and conditions that we treat. In one day, I can see athletes with plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains/strains or achilles tendinitis, people with complex flatfoot deformities, traumatic injuries and more common things like bunions, hammertoes, bunionettes and general arthritis. If it's a problem below the knee, it is probably something I treat.

Q: What is your approach to foot and ankle orthopedic care?
Dr. Butler: My approach comes down to two basic principles. First, my main goal is improvement in both pain and function. The balance of these two factors makes up the bulk of what goes into my discussions with patients—what do you want to be doing that you cannot and how much is your pain hindering your lifestyle. Second, we put together a treatment plan that considers an “easy things first, hard things last” mentality, meaning that when possible, I prefer to utilize physical therapy, injections, braces, etc. prior to moving toward a surgical intervention.

Q: As a DMOS surgeon, what does your daily routine look like?
Dr. Butler: My schedule varies widely. A couple of days a week, I have scheduled operating room time. The majority of that time is spent at an outpatient surgery center, where patients come in and go home on the same day. A large portion of elective or traumatic foot and ankle reconstruction is performed as an outpatient procedure. Outside of my dedicated surgery days, I am in a clinic at either our Ankeny or West Des Moines locations seeing patients. While I am personally in different locations for surgery or office visits, we always have a support team available to assist patients and answer questions. This is most commonly done by phone or through the DMOS patient portal.

Q: What are some things that you offer as a foot and ankle specialist that patients might not know about?
Dr. Butler: While more commonly thought of for the hip and knee, there have been huge advancements in ankle replacement and ankle arthroscopy. While it still remains less common in this joint, it can give the right patient a great result with improved quality of life and function.

Q: What advice would you have for someone that is on the fence about seeking treatment at DMOS for their foot or ankle issue?
Dr. Butler: Living with pain is no way to live. If someone has foot and ankle discomfort that is affecting their quality of life, it is important to be evaluated as soon as possible. An office visit or consultation to discuss a diagnosis and treatment options does not obligate anyone to further care or surgery. My primary goal is to help the patient understand both why they are having pain and their options for treatment. I believe this helps patients more easily troubleshoot solutions and ultimately make a decision that is best for them.

Suffering From Foot & Ankle Pain? Trust The Specialists At DMOS Orthopaedic Centers

The DMOS team of foot and ankle specialists are committed to not only alleviating your pain, but also enhancing your overall quality of life through personalized and comprehensive treatment plans. With years of specialized training and experience, our orthopedic foot and ankle specialists employ the latest diagnostic tools and advanced treatment techniques to address both common and complex conditions.

Patients who are looking for podiatry care can be seen at all four of our clinic locations in Ankeny, Des Moines, Urbandale and West Des Moines. If you are ready to move past the pain from orthopedic foot and ankle injuries, book an appointment online or call us at 515-224-1414.

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