Expert Foot Surgeon
Dedicated to Your Foot Health.
Expert Foot Surgeon Dedicated to Your Foot Health.
We welcome all patients, with or without a referral, to receive specialist diagnosis and treatment of the foot at one of our consultation locations.
Our
Services
Relieve Health Group offer world-class specialist care using advanced techniques and technologies to enable lifelong movement. Our expert care includes both conservative and surgical treatment options for all foot and ankle conditions.
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Bunion
Treatments
By increasing the efficiency of the feet, ankles and legs we can decrease how fast your bunion progresses in severity. This is typically undertaken through customised foot orthoses which increase muscle efficiency and spread your body weight throughout your whole foot. These are purchased on assessment and recommendation by your local podiatrist and are customised individually for each one of your feet.
Exercises can help to strengthen the small muscles within your foot to decrease how fast your bunion grows. We recommend undertaking short footing, doming, toe curls and calf stretches. You can undertake these by downloading ‘Relieve Health Group Intrinsic Foot Strengthening Exercises’ to help reduce bunion pain. Get your free download of Relieve Health Group Intrinsic Foot Strengthening Exercises.
By changing your footwear to a wide and deep toe box and a soft and flexible upper material you will find that your bunion pain may be decreased. We recommend joggers or walking shoes when you’re undertaking activity to decrease the pressure on your bunion. We realise these may not be as fashionable or stylish for when you are out and about so in these instances, try to stick to as comfortable a shoe as possible and steer away from high heels or unsupportive footwear.
Changing your shoe lacing will help decrease the pressure on your bunion and increase the efficiency of your lower leg muscles. We recommend to everyone to have loop lock lacing to increase the efficiency of your muscles, spreading the forces more evenly to the bottom of your feet and preventing your bunion from moving in your shoe. Another great lacing technique is the ‘bunion step over’. This takes the pressure of the laces off of your bunion, decreasing the pain. You can undertake these by downloading our ‘Relieve Health Group Lacing Techniques’ to help reduce bunion pain. Get your free download of Relieve Health Group Lacing Techniques.
Low level laser therapy uses red and near-infrared light to increase how quickly our body heals naturally. This is used in all muscle, tendon, nerve, skin and bone injury to increase how fast we heal. The evidence indicates that we can heal up to 70% faster when using low level laser therapies to increase our healing rate. There is also growing evidence that laser therapies can heal nerves and decrease how much pain we feel. At Relieve Health Group we know our patients benefit from low level laser therapy. Due to this, we provide a low level laser therapy device for all major surgery patients so that they recover quicker with less pain. For patients who require the use of the low level laser therapy, we undertake treatment with a very powerful laser therapy unit in our rooms. You can purchase low level laser therapy pads directly from us. Find out more about low level laser therapy.
Most times mild bunions and bunionettes can be treated effectively with the above conservative management. When conservative options fail bunion surgery can be undertaken. Particularly for younger and athletic patients, or anyone who is in pain, undertaking bunion surgery whilst it is smaller will mean a quicker, more successful recovery.
Typically, bunions at this stage can be fixed by reducing the bump and moving your big toe closer to your second toe. You may also require a bone cut to your big toe to place it in a more normal position. Bunionettes are undertaken similarly but the fifth toe is moved in relation to the fourth toe. For both of these procedures, a screw is typically used to hold it in place.
This type of bunion surgery can be done open or by minimal incision or keyhole bunion surgery. Keyhole bunion surgery is an effective way to fix your bunion and reduce your recovery time. Most patients will recover from minimal incision or keyhole bunion surgery quickly.
Typical recovery is as follows:
Day 1 to week 1 – Dressings in place with a rigid soled post-operative sandal. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 90% of the time. Mild pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 1 to week 2 – Dressings changed and reduced. A bit more activity up to 20minutes per hour to tolerance but no extended walking or activity. Continue foot elevation when seated or laying down. Activity related pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 2 – Stitches are taken out and compression bandage put in place. Daily range of motion exercises provided. Able to undertake upper body exercise. Able to return to work if office based where you are able to elevate the foot.
Week 4 – Progress review with surgeon and likely transition to joggers allowed. Continued use of compression bandage. Now able to undertake increased activity to comfort but no extended walking or activity. Minimal pain and mild swelling is normal.
Week 8 – Progress review with surgeon and return to higher impact sports as comfortable. Continue compression and can return to wedged shoes or small heel. Pain should have resolved and swelling is likely to be present, particularly on increased activity.
Week 12 – Progress review with surgeon. No longer requires compression bandage. Able to use any footwear as tolerated. Able to build up sports and activities as tolerated. Mild swelling may occur for up to 12 months.
When a bunion deformity is larger, more corrective surgery is required. This may involve correction at your midfoot as well as at your big toe as per the mild bunion. You may also require a bone cut to your big toe to place it in a more appropriate position.
Typically, these bunion surgeries are undertaken open but depending on your case it may be able to be undertaken by minimal incision or keyhole bunion surgery.
Most patients will require a standard healing time with strict activity limitations.
Typical recovery is as follows:
Day 1 to week 1 – Dressings in place with a rigid-soled post-operative sandal. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 90% of the time. Waling with crutches required. Mild-moderate pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 1 to week 2 – Dressings changed and reduced. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 80% of the time, able to do home-based activity with crutches. Continue foot elevation when seated. Mild pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 2 to week 4 – Stitches taken out and compression bandage put in place at week 2. Move from crutches to walking however restricted to activity in the rigid soled post-operative sandal around home as tolerated.
Week 4 – Progress review with surgeon and likely transition to joggers allowed. Continued use of compression bandage. Now able to undertake increased activity to comfort but no extended walking or activity. Able to undertake upper body exercises. Able to return to work if office-based where you are able to elevate the foot. Minimal pain and moderate swelling is normal.
Week 8 – Progress review with surgeon and return to all activity, except sport, as comfortable. Continue compression and can return to a wedged shoe or small heel. Pain should have resolved and swelling is likely to be mild, particularly on increased activity.
Week 12 – Progress review with surgeon. No longer requires compression bandage. Able to use any footwear as tolerated. Able to build up sports and activities as tolerated. Mild swelling may occur for up to 12 months.
In large bunion deformity, a more comprehensive procedure is required. This may include fusing your big toe joint or fusing the joint before your big toe joint. They may also include a mild or moderate bunion procedure.
These bunion surgeries are all undertaken open and require multiple screws and often a metal fixation plate.
Healing time is prolonged and strict activity limitations are necessary to ensure appropriate healing and long-term resolution of your bunion pain.
Typical recovery is as follows:
Day 1 to week 1 – Dressings in place with a rigid-soled post-operative sandal. Waling with crutches required, Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 90% of the time. Mild-moderate pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 1 to week 2 – Dressings changed and reduced. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 80% of the time, able to do minimal home-based activity. Continue foot elevation when seated. Mild pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 2 to week 4 – Stitches taken out and compression bandage put in place at week 2. Restricted to activity in the rigid soled post-operative sandal around home as tolerated. Crutches may be stopped
Week 4 – Progress review with surgeon. Continued use of compression bandage. Able to return to work if office based where you are able to elevate the foot. Minimal pain and swelling is normal.
Week 6 – Progress review with surgeon and likely transition to joggers allowed. Continued use of compression bandage. Now able to undertake increased activity to comfort but no extended walking or activity. Minimal pain and mild swelling is normal.
Week 12 – Progress review with surgeon. No longer requires compression bandage. Able to use any footwear as tolerated. Able to build up sports and activities as tolerated. Mild swelling may occur for up to 12 months.
Hammertoe
Treatment
Straight after injury or trauma, the toe should be splinted into a corrected position. This is undertaken using medical tape, silk tape or sports tape in a ribbon fashion to hold the toe down. By then taping the toe into a straight position, a hammertoe or claw toe will be corrected. You can watch a video of Relieve Health Group Plantar Plate Tear Taping for more information.
By increasing the efficiency of the feet, ankles and legs we can decrease how fast your hammertoe or claw toe progresses in severity. This is typically undertaken through customised foot orthoses which increase muscle efficiency and spread your body weight throughout your whole foot. They may include accommodations to remove pressure from an inflamed plantar plate tear as well as to move pressure away from prominent or painful areas. These are purchased on assessment and recommendation by your local podiatrist and are customised individually for each one of your feet.
Exercises can help to strengthen the small muscles within your foot to help correct your hammertoe or claw toe. We recommend undertaking short footing, doming, toe curls and calf stretches. You can undertake these by getting your free download of Relieve Health Group Intrinsic Foot Strengthening Exercises to help reduce hammertoe or claw toe pain.
By changing your footwear to a wide and deep toe box and a soft and flexible upper material you will find that your claw toe or hammer toe pain may be decreased. We recommend joggers or walking shoes when you’re undertaking activity to decrease the pressure on your toes. We realise these may not be as fashionable or stylish for when you are out and about so in these instances, try to stick to as comfortable a shoe as possible and steer away from high heels or unsupportive footwear.
Changing your shoe lacing will help decrease the pressure on your toes and increases the efficiency of your lower leg and foot muscles. We recommend to everyone to have loop lock lacing to increase the efficiency of your muscles, spreading the forces more evenly to the bottom of your feet and preventing your foot slipping forward. This will stop your foot and toes from moving forward and impacting your toes on the end of your shoe. You can do this yourself by getting your free download of the Relieve Health Group Lacing Techniques to help reduce hammertoe pain.
Low level laser therapy uses red and near infrared light to increase how quickly our body heals naturally. This is used in all muscle, tendon, nerve, skin and bone injury to increase how fast we heal. The evidence indicates that we can heal up to 70% faster when using low level laser therapies to increase our healing rate. There is also growing evidence that laser therapies can heal nerves and decrease how much pain we feel. At Relieve Health Group we know our patients recovering from major surgery will benefit from low level laser therapy. We believe it so much that we provide a low level laser therapy device included in their surgical fee so that they recover quicker with less pain. For patients who require the use of the low level laser therapy during a consultation, we undertake treatment with a very powerful laser therapy unit in our rooms that only requires twice-weekly application until healed. You can purchase low level laser therapy pads directly from us. Find out more about low level laser therapy
When conservative options fail, hammertoes are managed surgically. The toes flexibility tells us the correct type of procedure that will give the best outcome for you with the least recovery time and impact on your life. When they are completely flexible a minimal incision, or keyhole hammertoe surgery undertaken in our rooms is very effective. When they are only partially flexible or unable to be moved, a minimal incision or keyhole hammertoe surgery is undertaken to provide you with the best outcome whilst preventing it from reoccurring.
Flexible hammertoes are managed by releasing a tendon that is too tight underneath your toe. This will reduce your toe into a corrected position. This procedure is undertaken via minimal incision or keyhole hammertoe surgery. The position is then maintained by taping it in position for several weeks whilst healing occurs.
Typical recovery is as follows:
Day 1 to day 4– Dressings in place with a rigid soled post-operative sandal. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation as much as possible. Mild pain and mild swelling is normal.
Day 4 to week 2– Dressings are changed and reduced. Able to return to work if office-based and able to elevate the foot. Able to do most home-based activity that does not involve prolonged standing. Continue foot elevation when seated. Mild pain and mild swelling is normal.
Week 2– Stitches are taken out (if used) and compression bandage put in place along with specific hammertoe taping instructions for the patient to undertake at home. Transition to joggers allowed. No pain and minimal swelling is normal.
Week 4– Progress review with surgeon. Continued use of compression bandage and taping. Now able to undertake activity to comfort and usually able to get back to most activities. Completely healed with minimal swelling.
Week 6– Progress review with surgeon and return to all activity as comfortable. Able to use any footwear as tolerated. Able to build up sports and activities as tolerated. Pain should have resolved and minimal swelling is likely to be present.
When a hammertoe is only partially flexible or you have irritation from corns in between your toes, a different procedure is undertaken. Usually, a combination of tendon and capsule releases will be undertaken along with one or more bone cuts. This will bring your toe into a corrected position which is then maintained by taping it in the correct position until healed.
This procedure is undertaken via minimal incision or keyhole hammertoe surgery.
Typical recovery is as follows:
Day 1 to week 1- Dressings in place with a rigid soled post-operative sandal. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 90% of the time. Mild-moderate pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 1 to week 2– Dressings changed and reduced. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 80% of the time, able to do home-based activity. Continue foot elevation when seated. Mild pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 2 to week 4– Stitches are taken out and compression bandage with corrective taping put in place at week 2. Restricted to activity in the rigid soled post-operative sandal around home as tolerated.
Week 4– Progress review with surgeon and likely transition to joggers allowed. Continued use of compression bandage and taping. Now able to undertake increased activity to comfort but no extended walking or activity. Daily range of motion exercises provided. Able to undertake upper body exercises. Able to return to work if office-based and able to elevate the foot. Minimal pain and mild swelling is normal.
Week 8– Progress review with surgeon and return to all activity as comfortable. Continue compression as required but can now stop taping. Can return to all footwear as tolerated. Pain should have resolved and minimal swelling may occur for up to 12months.
A fixed or rigid hammertoe is often present when there is a long history of this condition. In these cases, a combination of tendon and capsule releases will be undertaken along with one or more bone cuts of the toe as well as the bone before the toe. This will bring your toe into a corrected position which is then maintained usually with an internal fixation device; however, a wire may be used. Taping may also be used to hold it in the correct position until healed.
This procedure is undertaken depending on how your hammertoe presents through an open incision or via minimal incision or keyhole hammertoe surgery.
Typical recovery is as follows:
Day 1 to week 1– Dressings in place with a rigid soled post-operative sandal. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 90% of the time. Mild-moderate pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 1 to week 2– Dressings changed and reduced. Minimal activity restricted to home with foot elevation 80% of the time, able to do minimal home-based activity. Continue foot elevation when seated. Mild pain, bruising and swelling is normal.
Week 2 to week 4– Stitches are taken out and compression bandage with corrective taping utilised. Restricted to activity in the rigid soled post-operative sandal around home as tolerated. Able to undertake upper body exercises.
Week 4– Progress review with surgeon. Continued use of compression bandage and corrective taping. Daily range of motion exercises provided. Able to return to work if office-based and able to elevate the foot. Minimal pain and mild-moderate swelling is normal.
Week 6– Progress review with surgeon and removal of the wire (if utilised). Likely transition to joggers allowed. Continued use of compression bandage and taping. Now able to undertake increased activity to comfort but no extended walking or activity. Minimal to no pain and mild swelling is normal.
Week 8– Progress review with surgeon and return to all activity, except sport, as comfortable. Continue compression dressings as required. Pain should have resolved and swelling is likely to be present, particularly on increased activity.
Week 12– Progress review with surgeon. No longer requires compression bandage. Able to use any footwear as tolerated. Able to build up sports and activities as tolerated. Mild swelling may occur for up to 12months.
Podiatric
Foot Surgeon
Specialist Podiatric
Foot Surgeon
Dr. Kent Hungerford is a nationally registered Specialist Podiatric Surgeon through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). He is a member of the Australian College of Podiatric Surgeons (ACPS) and a member of the Australian Podiatry Association (APodA).
Having undertaken training locally and abroad, Dr. Hungerford specialises in the surgical treatment of the foot with a focus on minimally invasive or keyhole foot surgery. This includes treatment for conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, heel pain, Morton’s neuroma and many others.
Dr. Hungerford welcomes
all patients
With and without a referral, for the specialist opinion of all foot conditions. Come visit us in Shellharbour to get started with your treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Podiatric surgery is a branch of medicine that specialises in the surgical treatment of foot and ankle conditions. Podiatric surgeons are qualified to perform a range of surgical procedures, from simple toenail removal to more complex procedures such as joint and soft tissue reconstructions. Some common foot and ankle conditions that may require surgery include bunions, hammer toes, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, and fractures. Podiatric surgery may also be necessary for conditions such as nerve entrapment, arthritis, and deformities of the foot and ankle
For a full list of fees, please review our fees page found at the top of this page.
Shellharbour Location
5/6 Benson Avenue
Shellharbour, NSW, 2529
Trusted By.
Shellharbour
5/6 Benson Avenue
Shellharbour City Centre, NSW, 2529
Advanced specialist centre enabling lifelong movement within our community, welcoming all patients, with and without a referral, for the specialist opinion of all foot conditions.
DISCLAIMER: All information on this website is for education purposes only. Individual management plans and recovery may vary depending on your diagnosis, age, health issues and anatomy. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before undertaking any treatment, you should seek an opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
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