Nearly one-fourth of all the bones of your body are in your feet, which are designed to withstand the considerable forces required for walking and running. Joints in the foot and ankle are supported by tendons that allow extending and flexing. The pain from injuring one of those bones or tendons can stop you in your tracks.
Sources of foot and ankle pain include fractures, sprains, bunions, plantar fasciitis and arthritis.
A sprain is a stretching or tearing of ligaments — the tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect two bones together in your joints. The most common location for a sprain is in your ankle. Initial treatment for both sprains and strains includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. Mild sprains and strains can be successfully treated at home. Severe sprains and strains sometimes require surgery to repair torn ligaments, muscles or tendons. A strain is a stretching or tearing of muscle or tendon. A tendon is a fibrous cord of tissue that connects muscles to bones. Strains often occur in the lower back and in the hamstring muscle in the back of your thigh.
A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. It forms when your big toe pushes against your next toe, forcing the joint of your big toe to get bigger and stick out. The skin over the bunion might be red and sore.
Wearing tight, narrow shoes might cause bunions or make them worse. Bunions also can develop as a result of an inherited structural defect, stress on your foot or a medical condition, such as arthritis.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis commonly causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As you get up and move more, the pain normally decreases, but it might return after long periods of standing or after rising from sitting. Plantar fasciitis is more common in runners. In addition, people who are overweight and those who wear shoes with inadequate support have an increased risk of plantar fasciitis.
Injury, overuse or conditions causing inflammation involving any of the bones, ligaments or tendons in the foot can cause foot pain. Arthritis is a common cause of foot pain. Injury to the nerves of the feet may result in intense burning pain, numbness or tingling (peripheral neuropathy).
The Achilles Podiatry Group has a multidisciplinary team of experts who can quickly and effectively diagnose the source of foot and ankle pain and provide you with a range of treatment options. Achilles Podiatry Group are the foot and ankle specialists who can perform advanced surgeries, as well as make recommendations about other treatments.
If you or a loved one is suffering from foot or ankle pain, contact Achilles Podiatry Group to address your specific need. We specialize in the treatment of all foot and ankle disorders. Our team of board-certified doctors and trained office staff work together to meet your podiatric needs five days a week.
