Yes. Payment is due in full at the time of your visit. If you have insurance we’re contracted with, that means any copay, coinsurance, or remaining deductible that applies to your visit is collected at check-in. For cash-pay patients, the full visit fee is due at the time of service.

We accept Humana, Simply, Tricare (Prime, For Life), BCBS, Medicare, Alignment Health, Railroad Medicare, Sunshine Health/Ambetter, ChampVA and Careplus. Currently we are very close to United HC contract and Aetna Commercial contract.

Yes. We accept all major credit and debit cards, as well as cash. Payment is collected at the time of your visit, and we’re happy to provide an itemized receipt for your records or for HSA/FSA reimbursement.

5 years.

Yes, but the possibility of recurrence of a deformity is small. The greatest risk there is would be about a 20% chance. However, we mitigate this risk by obtaining sufficient correction.

For cash pay options the price is $180. If you have an insurance that we’re contracted with then you would only pay a required deductible and copay.

Orthotics don’t permanently change the structure of your foot, but they support it by effectively “bringing the floor up to the foot.” This allows the foot to rest flat and stable on a supportive surface, which improves alignment, distributes pressure more evenly, and relieves pain. For many patients, custom orthotics make standing, walking, and daily activity far more comfortable.

Custom made: Last for about 10 years with a lifetime warranty. Over-the-counter: Last for about 1-2 years and do not have any warranty.

Bunions are genetic in essence. There is not any known preventative treatment for a bunion deformity. If your bunion is not painful I don’t recommend treating it unless it becomes uncomfortable in shoes. If you have a painful bunion deformity, then consider having it surgically addressed as there is very little that conservative treatments can do.

We do not have payment plans, but we do have discounted cash pay options for patients who wish to pay cash only and are concierge.

Absolutely. Dr. Meleca treats a wide range of athletic foot and ankle injuries, from acute trauma to overuse conditions. Common examples include lateral ankle sprains, high ankle sprains, turf toe, foot and ankle fractures, Achilles tendinitis, and Achilles or extensor tendon ruptures. Whether you’re an amateur athlete or a competitive one, we’ll work to get you back on your feet safely.

Not at this time.

Yes! We have in house custom made orthotic molds to have your orthotics ready in as little as 2-4 weeks.

Yes. We have an in-house X-ray machine, so if imaging is needed to diagnose your condition, it can be done right here during your visit. There’s no separate trip to an imaging center and no waiting on outside results.

Yes, we do. Dr. Meleca cares for foot and ankle conditions in children and teens, including flat feet, in-toeing and out-toeing, heel pain, ingrown toenails, warts, and sports-related injuries. Every evaluation and treatment plan is tailored to your child’s age and stage of growth so they get gentle, age-appropriate care.

Some plans require a referral from your primary care physician (PCP) before your visit. If you’re unsure whether your plan needs one, call us at (904) 460-1120 and we’ll help you confirm before your appointment.

The most common symptoms are pain in the tendon during walking and pain just behind the heel bone. There are two types: insertional (where the tendon meets the heel) and non-insertional (higher up the tendon). Most cases improve with physical therapy and anti-inflammatory treatment. When insertional tendonitis doesn’t respond to conservative care, Dr. Meleca can perform a minimally invasive procedure called a Zadek osteotomy, which relieves tension on the Achilles tendon.

During your first visit, you will undergo a thorough evaluation where Dr. Meleca will review your medical history and perform a physical examination of your feet and ankles. We may also perform diagnostic tests to accurately diagnose your condition before discussing treatment options. From there, we’ll walk you through your diagnosis, discuss a personalized treatment plan, and answer any questions before you leave.

Yes. The large majority of patients recover with conservative treatments, primarily stretching exercises and deep massage of the plantar fascia. Other options include orthotics, anti-inflammatories, and supportive footwear. Only a small number of patients ever need surgery.

For regular walking, replacing your shoes about once a year is usually enough. Runners should swap them more frequently — every 300 to 500 miles — since worn-out cushioning loses its support and increases the risk of foot and ankle injuries.

We offer a wide range of conservative options before considering surgery, including custom orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications, splints and other durable medical equipment, physical therapy, injections, and lifestyle modifications such as targeted stretching and strengthening. For most patients, these approaches provide significant relief.

If your arch appears to be collapsing, your foot or ankle alignment is starting to change, and you’re developing pain, it’s a good time to see a foot and ankle specialist. Left unaddressed, flat feet can progress and place added strain on the tendons, joints, and ligaments. Early evaluation helps protect your long-term foot health.

Any signs of infection such as swelling, pain, purulence, or redness. If you have significant pain and cannot walk more than 5 steps on one extremity it would be a good idea to see a foot and ankle specialist. Pain with every step of walking is also good to have checked by a foot and ankle expert.

Yes, resistance band exercises are great for these ailments. Strengthening the ankles in all four directions of dorsiflexion, inversion, eversion and plantarflexion is the best way to strengthen ankles. Classes or a physical fitness gym to do calf exercises and balance training are a good way to strengthen the ankles and working on proprioception.

Minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery. Surgeries can now be done with 2-3 mm incisions, and not with any large incisions anymore. Through these small, “key-hole” incisions we can place a burr to achieve the same outcome as open surgery without disrupting almost any of the soft tissues. This decreases the risk of post-op infection, pain and recovery time. Union rates are much higher with these techniques and patient satisfaction is also very high. 

A few steps can meaningfully improve your recovery. Good nutrition matters most: maintain a healthy, balanced diet and a healthy body weight, and make sure your vitamin D levels are adequate, since vitamin D supports bone healing. Dr. Meleca often recommends a vitamin D supplement before surgery and will advise the right dose for you based on your needs. It also helps to arrive in good general fitness. Coming into surgery healthy and well-nourished gives you the strongest foundation for a smooth recovery.

Diabetic patients benefit from regular foot exams to catch problems early, since reduced circulation and nerve sensitivity can let small issues go unnoticed. We recommend diabetic shoes, which are specially designed to offload high-pressure areas and reduce the risk of ulcers, along with routine professional nail and skin care and daily at-home foot checks. Dr. Meleca can build a preventive care plan tailored to your needs.

It greatly does. From a biomechanical standpoint as well as a systemic and vascular standpoint. Ensuring to eat a healthy diet with animal product consumption in moderation, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and regularly exercising. Exercise is great if it can be performed at moderate to high intensity for 30-60 minutes per day for 5 times per week.

This decreases the risk of post-op infection, pain and recovery time. Union rates are much higher with these techniques and patient satisfaction is also very high. 

Ensuring to eat a healthy diet with animal product consumption in moderation, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and regularly exercising. Exercise is great if it can be performed at moderate to high intensity for 30-60 minutes per day for 5 times per week.

Heel spurs are in fact not bone outgrowth. They are signs of degeneration within a tendon or a ligament. These are treated NOT by removal but by carefully selected surgical techniques that are minimally invasive that would treat the underlying diagnosis.