Some procedures which technically qualify as surgery, such as removing a wart or corn, don't require alternatives. These can be performed in the doctor's office without any inconvenience to the patient.

For foot problems that have not successfully responded to other medical treatment, such as the use of medication, corrective shoe inserts, special shoes, physical therapy, or protective pads, surgery may be the only way to relieve your pain and increase your mobility.

Following surgery, you can expect the healing process to progress in two stages. At first, your body heals the incisions. This will generally take three to four weeks and you can watch the progress as the wound heals.

Bunions are the result of a misaligned big toe that results in an unsightly bump. This presses against the shoe and causes pain. In many cases, you can get relief from bunions by changing to a shoe with a wider toe box, or by using various pads to relieve the pressure.

The various pads available at your local drug store are orthodics, and they're very reasonably priced. Arch supports, foam shoe liners and metatarsal pads all fit into this category.

An orthodic (OR-THOD-ICK) is simply a pad to prevent pressure on a specific part of the foot or to prevent abnormal movement of the foot. The standard foam shoe inserts available at most stores are orthodics, as are the various corn and callus pads.