I saw Professor Bhatia on Monday, can you please pass the following onto him.

 I am very pleased with my surgery outcome, both with the look of my foot and the relief of pain in my joint.  Having surgery as a day patient and being able to weight bear straight away with the aid of a Darco shoe was wonderful.  Key hole surgery has certainly helped my recovery,  and being able to go into supportive shoes after my 2-week post-surgery check was a great surprise.  I have been putting off surgery for a number of years due to what I thought would be an extended period of time of not being able to fully weight bear on my foot.  Had I known about the minimal invasive surgery before, I would certainly have considered having it done a lot sooner.  I am now 6 weeks post-surgery and am very happy with my progress to date.

AH

Many thanks

Marathon runner Penny Masser regains her ability to run after a life-changing operation 

For Penny Masser, running wasn’t just exercise, it was freedom, identity, and joy. A retired primary school teacher and athletics coach, she had spent decades inspiring others to push their limits. But one crisp autumn morning, everything changed.

Read the full story on the Foot & Ankle website here

Read the full story on the Spire Leicester Hospital here

Foot and Ankle Leicester (Mr Bhatia) also use a general Patient Feedback system that Spire Healthcare offer and are pleased to have received the following comments from the Spire Healthcare team in Leicester

Profile: Mr Maneesh Bhatia

Samples: Heather Mair / Mrs Garrety

Patient experience feedback (Received during Feb 2025)

The bunion on my left foot was 55 degrees out of alignment and had also compromised my second toe. For several years, it significantly affected my daily life. 

Professor Bhatia was recommended to me by a friend from the horse-riding community who had also undergone bunion surgery. From the initial consultation through to the operation, I felt completely confident in his care, and I am absolutely delighted with the outcome. 

Now, at 56, I have regained an active lifestyle. I walk my dogs daily for between 3 and 6 miles and have returned to working with horses. I am pain-free in my left foot, and footwear is no longer a problem. I would wholeheartedly recommend Professor Bhatia.

Mari

Foot and Ankle Leicester (Mr Bhatia) also use a general Patient Feedback system that Spire Healthcare offer and are pleased to have received the following comments from the Spire Healthcare team in Leicester

Profile: Mr Maneesh Bhatia

Samples: Heather Mair / Mrs Garrety

Patient experience feedback (Received during Oct 2025)

Patient 1) Professor Bhatia is a fantastic consultant – has a very good demeanour and great patient care

Patient 2) I chose Professor Bhatia to carry out the procedure based on a friend’s recommendation. His expertise was helpful in guiding me towards the procedure that was right for me. He was easy to talk to & gave me time & opportunity to have all my questions answered fully. He gave me the confidence to go ahead with the procedure.

Patient experience feedback (Received during Sep 2025)

I did my research online in 2017 in preparation to have my bunions operated on. I soon found Mr Bhatia ( now Professor Bhatia) Everything he says and does just works for me! Very happy thank you. 

Professor Bhatia is a fantastic consultant – has a very good demeanour and great patient care 

Very professional consultant answered all my questions and showed me results of surgery carried out on other patients who had the same procedure as myself. 

I chose Professor Bhatia to carry out the procedure based on a friend’s recommendation. His expertise was helpful in guiding me towards the procedure that was right for me. He was easy to talk to & gave me time & opportunity to have all my questions answered fully. He gave me the confidence to go ahead with the procedure.

Patient experience feedback (Received during Aug 2025)

Mr Bhatia was awesome; he understood the problem and organised a scan with no delay. Once the scan was done, we agreed what needed to be done and he set up the theatre and anaesthetist to operate within only a few hours, highly impressed.  

Patient experience feedback (Received during May 2025)

The joint on my big toe had virtually no mobility and had been giving me pain for a few decades. In addition, I had a lump on the side of the joint which had gradually got larger over time, I had assumed this was a bunion. The area was tender and I had pain virtually every step I took. In order to manage the pain I walked in a way that avoided bending the toe.

Mr Bhatia assessed the joint and confirmed it was quite severe arthritis in the joint and the lump was bone growth.

It was clear that I would never get full mobility back in the joint so was left with 2 viable options, fuse the joint completely or remove the arthritis and some bone from the toe to provide a degree of flexibility. In addition, reduce the bone growth lump on the side as much as possible.

I opted for option 2, try get a degree of flexibility back.

The procedure was a day case which I had under local anaesthetic (Ankle Block) and was pain free.

Over the first few days, post operation, I had pain and discomfort although this was managed by pain killers. The pain reduced over the next few weeks at which point I was able to wear soft shoes and drive. After 4 weeks the pain and aching had reduced quite a lot and I was able to start doing indoor cycle classes at the gym. At 6 weeks the pain had quite considerably reduced. At 10 weeks I had no pain.

The procedure has made a massive positive difference in terms of eliminating the pain and discomfort but also the fact that I can wear shoes which I had not worn for a long time because it was too painful. I walk without a limp, this was something I had to learn to do again having worked around the issue for so many years!

I am now 6 months on from the procedure and the positive difference this has made to everyday activities is amazing.

Mt Bhatia was fantastic throughout, he was very clear and honest about what could or could not be achieved. Thank you very much you are an absolute star! – AS

Patient experience feedback (Received during April 2025)

The consultant, Mr Bhatia, explained everything thoroughly and in a way that was easy to understand. He gave me every confidence in the procedure, and also explained any possible drawbacks. I felt happy to be able to make such an informed choice about the procedure

Patient experience feedback (Received during February 2025)

I felt very fortunate to have someone of such high calibre and experience treating me. He was also very caring and personable.

Patient experience feedback (Received during October 2024)

My consultant had treated me in the past which is why I chose him for this procedure. Mr Bhatia is excellent and I would see him again if I need surgery in the future

He was very professional and explained everything very clear which was easy to understand.

Patient experience feedback (Received during September 2024)

Thank you for being understanding and helping to put me at ease during a challenging time. My discomfort level when I came around from the anaesthetic but I appreciate this could not be helped the nerve block just hadn’t worked. 

Extremely knowledgeable as you would expect, clearly talked me through and discussed options, pros/cons etc Friendly and easy to talk to, really nice guy. Always had time for questions and I never felt rushed. 

I knew he was talented but treated me as an equal human being. Kind demeanour but efficient in explaining . He was happy to go over things again at a second consultation..surgeons are not always happy to do this. He writes in his letter to contact him if anything you don’t understand.

Mr Bhatia has been very attentive and has explained things clearly to me and has made me feel comfortable about surgery.

Patient experience feedback (Received during May 2024)

1) Very pleasant and helpful. 

2) Mr Bhatia is an outstanding surgeon and very kind and considerate. 

3) Explained everything in detail

Patient experience feedback (Received during January 2024 to March 2024)

1) I had every confidence in my consultant and have been very happy in all my dealings with him.

2) The Consultant Mr Bhatia was outstanding and went beyond the normal range of events. Prior to the operation I had some reservations about the procedure. Recognising this he arranged for me to have telephone conversations with two of his previous patients. One in particular, was outstanding and our conversation lasted almost and hour. It was most comprehensive on before and after the op, and confirmed my original intention to have the procedure. It was excellent !

3) I’m not a man of a lot of words but I definitely wouldn’t go anywhere else if I need another operation, well worth the money.

4) Mr Bahtia has given relief to a problem with my foot that 6 previous medics could not do!

Patient experience feedback (Received during October 2023)
Found him very reassuring, but equally clear about the risks and likely recovery outcomes.

Patient experience feedback (Received during June 2023)
Friendly, concise, informative, considerate, clear, accurate, timely 

Thorough, informative, respectful, very knowledgeable and trustworthy. 

Patient experience feedback (Received during May 2023)
Dr Bhatia was excellent, I felt I was in good hands, he explained the procedure very well.

Patient experience feedback (Received during Apr 2023)
Mr Bhatia is a gentleman and a magician! 

Mr Bhatia was extremely professional, explained everything that would be happening before, during and after the operation.

My consultant was really friendly and told me everything he was going to do. I felt in very safe hands

Patient experience feedback (Received during Mar 2023)
Very pleasant, reassuring and extremely knowledgeable

Very friendly patient man. Put me at ease and explained everything

Bunion surgery 13 years ago (Received February 2023)
Mr Bhatia performed surgery on my left bunion 13 years ago with excellent results and I had no hesitation about him doing the same surgery on my right foot. Hopefully, the results will be just as good. Teresa

Patient experience feedback (Received during December 2022)
Excellent level of Technical understanding and very supportive of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Felt reassured and confident that the decision making was within my best interests

Spire Healthcare Patient Experience
Patient Satisfaction Survey

(See images and video in the News Post here)

My right foot big toe joint had been painful on an off for a number of years and the joint had recently started to seize up, making walking difficult.

I am an active person and felt I needed to seek a professional opinion. Professor Bhatia was recommended to me and therefore I travelled from the Cotswolds to Leicester to be seen by him.

Professor Bhatia assessed the joint and confirmed that it was severe arthritis. There was no possibility of the joint recovering, and I was given a few options, including joint fusion. I decided to go ahead with joint preservation surgery (Moberg Osteotomy).

The procedure was a day case under general anaesthetic and a block. I woke up pain free and, as the joint was anaesthetised, there was no feeling in the joint for several hours.
I was discharged with painkillers; however, these were not needed. I had zero pain from day 1 which was totally unexpected, and I am very grateful for.

I kept the foot raised for the first couple of days and was able to hobble around after that. The dressing was removed after 2 weeks, and I was able to get into my trainers, walk the dog and drive the car at this point. I went on holiday after 6 weeks and had no issues doing my normal activities and was able to wear wedged heels.

I am writing this at 10 weeks post-surgery and I am completely pain free. The joint has healed really well and is no longer seizing up. Professor Bhatia has been fantastic throughout and I cannot thank him enough for his brilliance and expertise. I am likely to need similar surgery on my other big toe at some point in the future and will not hesitate to go back to Professor Bhatia.

Thank you so much!
Kate

Mrs B had surgery to her left foot in form of Cheilectomy and Moberg osteotomy for significant arthritis of big toe.

She is a fitness coach & postural stability instructor.

It was vital for her to keep movements of the big toe rather than fusing the joint.

She is pleased with the outcome & would like to give feedback so that it can benefit others in her situation.

My bionic toe is as good as new, I’m back running 20-30 km per week, wearing 2.5 inch heels without any issue and would recommend Dr Bhatia and the surgery to anyone in my position. See image here

Mr Bhatia is delighted to be able to publish the following authetic reviews, received from various sources, included the Spire Healthcare and personal thanks emails.

That’s what she asked me six months ago, before undergoing calcaneal osteotomy and FDL tendon transfer for severe tibialis posterior tendinopathy.

I answered honestly: “I’m not too sure.” Because I knew how tough that road can be — physically and emotionally. But she proved me wrong. Not once, but twice. Just 6 months post-op, she ran her first half marathon. Then last Sunday, she completed her second — back to back — with her daughter beside her.
🏃♀️❤️

I’m sharing this with her full permission — because she wants others to know:

👉Recovery is possible.

👉Life doesn’t stop after surgery.

👉And yes, you can run again.

Her journey is a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and not giving up. To anyone recovering from injury or surgery: let this be your hope. And to the clinicians out there — while newer classifications for flatfoot continue to evolve, this is a reminder that the traditional FDL transfer and calcaneal osteotomy remain incredibly effective tools in the right context.

Linked In Social Media Page

A snippet of Rosemary’s testimonial prior to the operation:

“I approached my operation with hope and optimism. I didn’t fear it at all. I knew my surgeon Mr Bhatia was incredibly good and I trusted him implicitly to do the best job it was possible to do.”

Read the news article here (opens new window)

The joint on my big toe had virtually no mobility and had been giving me pain for a few decades. In addition, I had a lump on the side of the joint which had gradually got larger over time, I had assumed this was a bunion. The area was tender and I had pain virtually every step I took. In order to manage the pain I walked in a way that avoided bending the toe.

Mr Bhatia assessed the joint and confirmed it was quite severe arthritis in the joint and the lump was bone growth.

It was clear that I would never get full mobility back in the joint so was left with 2 viable options, fuse the joint completely or remove the arthritis and some bone from the toe to provide a degree of flexibility. In addition, reduce the bone growth lump on the side as much as possible.

I opted for option 2, try get a degree of flexibility back.

The procedure was a day case which I had under local anaesthetic (Ankle Block) and was pain free.

Over the first few days, post operation, I had pain and discomfort although this was managed by pain killers. The pain reduced over the next few weeks at which point I was able to wear soft shoes and drive. After 4 weeks the pain and aching had reduced quite a lot and I was able to start doing indoor cycle classes at the gym. At 6 weeks the pain had quite considerably reduced. At 10 weeks I had no pain.

The procedure has made a massive positive difference in terms of eliminating the pain and discomfort but also the fact that I can wear shoes which I had not worn for a long time because it was too painful. I walk without a limp, this was something I had to learn to do again having worked around the issue for so many years!

I am now 6 months on from the procedure and the positive difference this has made to everyday activities is amazing.

Mt Bhatia was fantastic throughout, he was very clear and honest about what could or could not be achieved. Thank you very much you are an absolute star!

Kind regards
Andy

The consultation, diagnosis and surgery were all completed within 5 weeks. The staff and Mr Bhattia were amazing, everyone was polite and caring. Can’t fault them in anyway. Just superb

Sarah – via Spire Health Care services & a 5* Google Review in May 2024

Gastrocnemius release surgery for chronic plantar fasciitis & calf muscle sprains & tightness

“I have struggled with calf pain and plantar pain for years in both legs. My right leg being far worse than the left. After consultation and investigation he advised a gastrocnemius fascial release procedure. A quick, not too invasive procedure with very little aftercare and pain.  Within 10 days of surgery, I was back exercising. Free of pain and restriction that I had struggled with for years. I have now booked in for the same procedure on my left leg and I cant wait for this to be complete. It has given me part of my life back that I thought I was losing.

Couldn’t recommend enough and I am very grateful I got the chance to meet him.”

Richard ( via Spire Health Care services)

Road To Recovery by Tobi Adebayo-Rowling

An insight to the road to recovery by a footballer following ankle ligament surgery

Click the either of the links below to open the video prepared by Tobi Adebayo-Rowling or watch the You Tube publication.

Tobi_Adebayo-Rowling Testimonial

ROAD TO RECOVERY | TOBI ADEBAYO-ROWLING (You Tube)

Rosemary Conley CBE interviews Mr Maneesh Bhatia

Rosemary Conley CBE is one of the UKs most successful diet and fitness experts with 50 years ex…Read more
Rosemary asks Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Maneesh Bhatia the facts about what type of exercise is best if we suffer from arthritis. Maneesh also explains the importance of stretching before and after we exercise, particularly if we suffer from plantar fasciitis.

These videos are best viewd on Vimeo.  However, you may also watch them on this webiste.  Performacne issues may be encountered, depending on your internet connectionIntroducing Mr Maneesh Bhatia

Vimeo link 1: https://vimeo.com/547088104
MR MANEESH BHATIA EXPLAINS ARTHRITIS Vimeo Link 2: https://vimeo.com/547053622
MR MANEESH BHATIA – ALL ABOUT SURGERY Vimeo Link 3: https://vimeo.com/547052452
MR MANEESH BHATIA – ARTHRITIS AND EXERCISE Vimeo Link 4: https://vimeo.com/547051363
MR MANEESH BHATIA – OVERWEIGHT AND FEET Vimeo link 5: https://vimeo.com/548812807The videos on the Foot & Ankle website have been reduce to 360p in size to aid with performance on your device.  720p viewing is avalible on VimeoTo view the 360p videos, please read the News Post here:https://footankleleicester.co.uk/rosemary-conely-interview/

He was relaxed and very reassuring.

Pleasant. Listened. Kind and showed patience.

Mr Bhatia on both my visits before my surgery made it clear to me my options. I had ignored my injury for eight weeks and he was in no way critical of that. He explained everything extremely well both the surgical and non surgical approach. He was happy for me to discuss it with my family first – which I did. I’m very pleased I made the decision I did. I just felt at my age unless I opted for the surgical route my tennis days would be over. I couldn’t have accepted that. I’m certain that decision was the right one even at this early challenging stage. Very many thanks.

Best wishes

Teresa

Dear Mr Bhatia,

On 15th March 2021 you performed some surgery on my left Achilles tendon. At the time, I told you that I intended to run a marathon before the end of 2022.

I just wanted to let you know that I successfully completed the Valencia Marathon last weekend (4th December). In fact I not only completed it, but I smashed my personal best by 8 minutes!

Thank you for the skill and care that you provided. You have helped to get me running again which has had, and continues to have, such great benefits or both my physical and mental health.

Kind regards

Robin

(Received December 2022)

Mr Bhatia carried out cheilectomy (removal of bone spurs for treatment of hallux limitus) surgery on both of my feet this year. I had been experiencing pain and very limited movement in my big toe joints for years, and large bony spurs (osteophytes), some of which had fractured off inside the joint, had grown on the big toe joint on both feet, making wearing normal shoes impossible. I had to have a pair of specially made orthopaedic boots to accommodate the deformity. Eventually even these would no longer fit due to the size of the lumps and walking even short distances had become very painful. I am 62, recently retired and I want to remain fit and active, but my toes were limiting what I was able to do, so I decided to seek a surgical opinion from Mr Bhatia.

Mr Bhatia carried out a thorough assessment of my feet before surgery and explained all the options. I have severe arthritis in my big toe joints, and Mr Bhatia explained what I might expect after toe surgery, in terms of scarring, that the toe may look swollen for several months after the operation, potential complications, and recovery time. This was very helpful in terms of giving me the information I needed to make a decision. I elected to have a cheilectomy initially rather than a more complicated operation such as a fusion because I wanted as little downtime as possible, as I am quite an active person. Mr Bhatia explained that after the surgery, there was always the option of a steroid injection in the toe joints or further surgery should this be needed. I had the left foot done in April 2022. This involved removal of a ganglion on the tendon and the large bony spurs, and a general ‘tidy up’ of the joint. I had a regional anaesthetic (ankle block) and felt well afterward, with manageable pain for only a few days. I was given a special sandal to wear and could weight bear afterwards, although I needed crutches for support.

I had the right foot done in July 2022. The bony lump on this foot was much bigger, about half the size of a table tennis ball. I had an ankle block again and this lasted for a day or so. After that I had minimal pain and recovery progressed much as for the left foot, using a weight bearing sandal and crutches. I had a small issue with the wound which was soon resolved with some antibiotics. The follow up care from Mr Bhatia has been excellent.

My recovery at 4 months post surgery is going well. I manage any swelling or occasional pain with cold compresses and over the counter pain relief. I am having physiotherapy on both feet, have regained a good range of motion on the left and right side, and I am working on weight bearing exercises. My feet look great – no more giant lumps! I am building up my walking distance to several kilometers, and best of all, I can wear normal (sensible) shoes again!

Best wishes

Mrs F

The effect of the bunions was so bad that my Partner and I resolved to do some thing positive about them. Our resolution coincided with the Pandemic of Covid 19 and it became clear that any treatment to remove the bunions would be classified as being cosmetic and it would be up to two years before I could expect to have the bunions removed surgically. It was at this point that we agreed to have my treatment using private health care. My Partner spent time on the Internet looking for a consultant with the appropriate skills and we agreed to have a consultation with Mr Bhatia at Leicester Spire Hospital.

The appointment came through fairly quickly and the meeting with Mr Bhatia confirmed to us that not only would we get the best care available from him but that the services provided by our chosen hospital would also be of a very high standard. Because of the infection risk associated with my right foot we agreed that this would have a priority and in November of 2021 I had my first operation to remove the bunion and correctly align my toes again. Because I am not able to receive strong pain killers my foot was bit uncomfortable for a couple of days, but after that, I was able to get about on crutches and the effects of the operation progressively became less and less. After 2 weeks the stitches were removed and a further 3 weeks later, I said goodbye to the metal pins in my now straightened toes. See picture 2.This actually my left foot but the appearance of the right foot was very similar

I allowed a little time to pass before having my second operation by Mr Bhatia and in June of this year, 2022, I had my operation on the left foot. Again, everything went well, albeit the bunion was much larger than the first one and it was a much more difficult operation to remove it and the work to straighten the toes was much more involved. As before, I had a few days of discomfort after the operation but my recovery was very swift and 3 weeks after the stitch removal, (there were 27 of them!), I celebrated the removal of the long metal pins inserted to straighten my toes and almost immediately I was able to move around slowly and carefully whilst I recovered, finally. See picture 3.

In summary, I would just like to say that my treatment at the Spire Hospital was always of a very high standard and that my surgical services provided by Mr Bhatia were beyond excellent, they were almost magical. To anyone reading this short story of mine let me just say, put your feet into the caring hands of Mr Bhatia, you will not regret it, he is probably the most skilled surgeon that you will find and definitely the most caring of Consultants I have ever met.

Janette, North Warwickshire. August 2022.

Picture 1 This a photo of my left foot prior to the operation which shows the amount of deformity caused by my bunion. The right foot, (the first operation) had a bunion very similar to this but slightly smaller and the pressure on its adjacent toe was much greater and there was a danger of an infection developing which is why Mr Bhatia recommended that he operate on the right foot first.

Picture 2 This is the left foot after just 6 weeks. The small scars and stitches at the base of the toes shows how long the pins were needed to be to straighten the toes. The position of the big toe now is just slightly over o the left, this was because of the amount of deformity to the toe joint caused by the enormity of the bunion.

Here they both are then, It’s a long time since I felt minded to put nail varnish on my toes, but I couldn’t resist it!

I would like to say a massive thank you to Mr Bhatia for being such an excellent surgeon and correcting my bunion and bone spur on my left big toe. I was very fearful of surgery and had put it off for many years after hearing and googling what was involved. I had visited Mr Bhatia several times because i was so nervous and scared. I am a very active lady and i enjoy power walking, swimming etc. The problem i had meant i was suffering with pain everyday because of my big toe. Mr Bhatia took the time necessary to explain clearly the procedures even drawing pictures of what was involved. He is a very compassionate and understanding gentleman and i will be very grateful for you giving me my life back, and it was the best decision i made back in 2016. What an awesome surgeon, i have no pain at all now and i walk miles everyday. I know if i ever need help with my feet or toes i would call you. Thanks for the best possible care.

I would like to thank you very much for the operation you performed on my right foot on 10th September. I felt your care and the care I received by the nursing team was excellent. As you know, I was very nervous about the operation due to the excessive blood loss in a previous operation in 2006, not connected to you of course.  Your approach to patient care is exemplary and I feel extremely comfortable in having the same operation on my left foot in February 2019.   Again, huge thanks from me for a  very successful outcome to my operation.

For the Spire Hospital Leicester Testimonial Link and page, please click here

I was referred to Mr Bhatia in January 2017 received an MRI scan and was diagnosed with the following conditions:-

• Marked left hallux valgus deformity
• Marked arthritis of right 1^st MTP joint
• Marked arthritis of right calcaneocuboid joint
• Marked effusion of left ankle joint and
• Bilateral lateral ligament complex damage

I was advised that surgery and steroid injections would be advisable in order to relieve the pain and discomfort I was experiencing.

I had previously received surgery in 2005 to remove a bunion on my right foot, via NHT in Northampton.  At this time it was recommended for me to have the same surgery on the left foot.

However when the surgery was completed on my right foot I suffered severe pain and was re-admitted to hospital where I was informed my foot had been infected and I was readmitted for

10 days to receive antibiotics.  Unfortunately I also developed keloid around the scar on my right foot.

Therefore I had many doubts on whether I wanted to place myself back into this  vulnerable position.  However after speaking in length with Mr Bhatia and advising him of my concerns, I made the decision to go ahead with the surgery.

I had the surgery during the second week of March and suffered minimal pain; during the recovery I had minimal pain, the arthritis pain appears to have disappeared.  I was walking without my boot by the end of May.  I have attended a few events where I have had to be walking for a considerable amount of time and had minimal swelling.  It is now August and the swelling has almost disappeared.   Not only this the scar on my left  foot has healed very well.  I was worried that I might get keloid as I had after my previous surgery, but the scar has healed very well.

I would highly recommend Mr Bhatia for any surgery, not only did he listen to my concerns with empathy but he was also very patient with me due to my previous experiences.  Thank you Mr Bhatia.

A year ago, my left foot was horribly misshapen. A large bunion and crooked toes made walking very painful and buying comfortable shoes an impossibility.

Nine months ago Mr Bhatia operated on my foot and, thanks to his skills, within two months I was walking with a greatly reduced level of pain and all my toes were straight and pointing in the same direction. Within six months I was enjoying buying new shoes.

The relief of pain was the main reason for my operation but as you can see from the before and after photographs, the bonus is the improved look of my foot.

This foot reconstruction has been so successful that I am planning to have the same procedure on my right foot in the near future.

Lesley underwent right forefoot reconstruction for significant deformity and pain caused by Rheumatoid arthritis. Here is what she has to say One & a half year after the operation-

“I am delighted with the outcome of the surgery. It has helped enormously with the pain that I experienced before the operation. I think the distance I can walk will only be helped if I have the other foot done. When I show people my feet they are amazed at the difference.

Five years after surgery for Insertional Achilles Tendonitis the pain returned to my right heel. My GP referred me back to the Spire Hospital in Leicester for physiotherapy.  I met with the physiotherapist who gave me stretching exercises to do a number of times a day.

The stretches lengthened the muscles in my legs but did not ease the pain.  As well as the stretching exercises I underwent ultrasound treatment & acupuncture all of which did not ease the pain.  At this point the physiotherapist referred me to Mr Maneesh Bhatia Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Spire Leicester.  At this point I feared the worst – more surgery.

During the first consultation Mr Bhatia discussed with me the option of a new form of non-surgical treatment eSWT (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy).

Mr Bhatia explained the treatment was painful but research undertaken so far indicated a high level of success.  I opted for this treatment and was given the go ahead by my insurers to undertake a course of six treatments.  After the first treatment there was a noticeable difference in the swelling on the back of my heel and a 40-50% reduction in the pain.

After 3 treatments I have noticed a reduction of 80% in the pain in my heel with the swelling almost gone.  I would recommend this course of treatment as it has given me my life back – a life without constant pain for which I cannot thank Mr Bhatia enough.

After undergoing complex ankle surgery to repair and reconstruct her extensively damaged tibialis posterior tendon Mrs Brenda Garrety is delighted with the outcome.  “My ankle is back to normal, the scar is incredible, you can hardly see it – when you look at my ankles now you’d never know!  Mr Bhatia did a fantastic job, I’m walking perfectly now.

As a patient, with two Morton’s Neuroma on the right foot following foot trauma, due to an accident, I knew that the problem required expert specialist intervention.  The neuroma’s had to be excised or I would have impaired mobility.   As a person who has additional complex needs, I didn’t want to add to the list of problems that I encountered in daily living.

Without the clinical care that   I received in August 2013 from everyone at the Nuffield, I would have remained in pain and continued to suffer numbness in my foot. My family were delighted that the initial consultation, support during surgery and after care were “second to none”.

Mr Bhatia’s   initial diagnosis, treatment and support after surgery was honest, practical and realistic relating to the length of healing required.  There is a “seamless match” between Mr.  Bhatia’s professional competence, extensive training, wide experience and practical outcomes for patient care “Simply the best”.

Coming from a family where bunions are hereditary, at 55 my feet were not only very misshapen and difficult to find shoes for, but beginning to give me a lot of pain. I play quite a lot of golf and enjoy walking my dog but was struggling during both of these pastimes. Not only were my feet painful but the ankle and knee of my left leg were also causing me pain. I hated the pain and inconvenience they caused me but I also hated the way they looked.

My husband began to urge me to go to see someone and even though everyone I spoke to considered a bunionectomy a painful operation with a long recovery time, I went to see my GP. She agreed I should see a specialist but also reiterated what others had said, ‘ It’s not a nice operation, it can be quite painful.’  I was referred to Mr Bhatia, and with some trepidation I went to my first appointment.

I felt very much at ease immediately, had x-rays taken and was told that on a scale of ‘mild to extreme’ my bunions were ‘very extreme’!  Mr Bhatia also told me I had arthritis in my feet and that would only get worse if left them as they were. He also said he could make them straighter but it may only be about a 50% improvement in shape.  Now to someone who could put her big toe joints together and make a right angle with them, and who could only see walking becoming a more painful process as the years went on, this sounded a good deal !

I had my first foot corrected in February 2013.  I was prepared for pain but was also determined to recover and get back on the golf course for the summer.  Mr Bhatia had told me this was possible, I could play my summer golf and return for my second operation in the autumn. Directly after the procedure Mr Bhatia came to see me, showed me an x-ray of a straight foot I didn’t recognise and said I could go home because he was really pleased with how things had gone!

I had on a sort of boot that worked with Velcro fittings that allowed me to weight bear on my heel but elevated my toe area, not the plaster cast I had expected.  It was recommended that I elevated my foot as much as possible at first, which I did, and take painkillers when I needed to.  I didn’t need painkillers for long, not once did I lose any sleep and the pain I had been warned about never got any worse than soreness.  After about 10 days the bandages were removed and the stitches came out. I could get in the bath and bathe the foot and it looked so straight! After 6 weeks the boot came off and I began physio.  I wore flat boots or soft flat shoes and used ice to help keep swelling at a minimum, and after only 11 weeks I began to play golf! During the summer I played as much as possible with my ‘new’ foot by far the most comfortable foot, my ankle and knee pain had totally disappeared.

In October 2013, when I returned for my second foot operation, I wasn’t remotely worried. I am 5 weeks on from that now and if anything this foot has been even easier.  The soreness was even less than the first foot, I needed painkillers for only 3 days! This foot was the most misshapen and so after the stitches were removed after only one week I was amazed at its new shape – it’s a normal shape now! Both feet have very neat, discreet scars that really can’t be seen unless you look closely.

I am looking forward to returning again to golf, walking my dog and walking comfortably in general. I am also looking forward to shopping for shoes for my new feet, a thing I used to dread doing! If I had known how easy these operations were I would have had my bunions removed earlier and saved myself a lot of pain and discomfort. There are a lot of people who will tell you bunion operations are awful and maybe they used to be, but I know first hand they really don’t have to be like that at all now.

When I walked into the Surgery I was diagnosed by Mr Bhatia within minutes, operated on two weeks later and six months after the operation I could walk long distances without any pain  which had been impossible before even on short trips. I am amazed by the outcome of the surgery as I never expected to be pain free again and can only thank Mr Bhatia for his skill.

When Just 8 weeks after surgery, with well fitting walking boots, I happily walked 8 miles.

Mr Bhatia’s patient Mrs Monica Lloyd is back enjoying hill walking and Zumba classes after foot surgery.  Having had minimally invasive surgery to ease the pain and discomfort of an arthritic big toe, Mrs Lloyd is delighted with the outcome.

An active retiree with many hobbies and interests, Mrs Lloyd had got to the point where the pain in her foot and lower leg was beginning to impact on her day to day activities. “If I went out in the evening in heels or wedges I have to remove my shoe half way through the evening and then would be unable to get my shoe back on”.

Mrs Lloyd booked an appointment to see Mr Bhatia who examined her foot and sent her straight round to the X-ray department.  Mrs Lloyd recalls how impressed she was with the speed of diagnosis – with initial consultation, X-rays taken and reviewed and her operation booked all in the one visit.  “Mr Bhatia made me feel so at ease and explained everything to me in layman’s terms”.

With a holiday in the Lake District already in the diary Mrs Lloyd’s concerns she would be unable to accompany her husband on his walks were unfounded.  After having the surgery and undertaking all the exercises prescribed by the Physiotherapist, Mrs Lloyd enjoyed an active week away

Six weeks after the operation all the swelling has disappeared and movement has virtually returned to where it was some 30 years ago.  Thank you very much for this excellent success.

When Patricia Pinkstone realised that she was actually having difficulty walking, she realised it was time to do something about a painful problem that had plagued her for years – bunions.

“Sightseeing holidays became a dread and I felt embarrassed to constantly tell people that I couldn’t walk from A to B. I felt frustrated that the pain associated with my bunions prevented me from leading the life I could otherwise have done. Although I am 63 years of age, I still take pleasure in buying nice clothes and shoes and bunions can be a real nuisance when choosing footwear!”

Patricia decided something had to be done. She’d heard about Mr Bhatia by reputation and her GP promptly referred her to Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital.

“From the start, Mr Bhatia was honest about what could be achieved, but in my mind there was only one option left to take.” Patricia’s right foot was operated on first and after 7 weeks, she returned to Mr Bhatia for the left foot to be operated on. “I had no pain, honestly and I was out and about after 6 or 7 weeks. The staff at Nuffield Hospital were at all times professional, yet caring and nothing was too much trouble. I cannot thank Mr Bhatia and all the staff enough.”

Patricia – feet X-ray post operation at Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital

Patricia has described her results as “amazing” and she no longer gets pain from her joints or under the ball of her foot. “I brought my first pair of open toed shoes 8 weeks after my second operation and I danced the night away 4 weeks after I was discharged. My children have told me they can’t remember me having straight toes like I do now!”