Foot & Ankle Pain

Pain in the foot and ankle can occur for many reasons, such as injuries, illness, arthritis, or overuse, making daily tasks difficult. An individualized diagnosis and treatment plan is essential for pain relief and to help manage symptoms.

When should you see a doctor for foot and ankle pain?

Foot and ankle pain can develop from problems in bones, ligaments, and tendons. Ligaments connect bones, while tendons link muscles to bones. If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, please see a provider.

• Sudden swelling or severe pain that hasn’t gone down within two days
• Inability to put weight on the foot or ankle
• Symptoms of an infection where the area becomes red or warm to the touch, and you have a fever of over 100 degrees
• A feeling that your ankle “gives out” and you fall
• Deformity of the foot or ankle
• Soreness in the heel or arch
• Pain that persists despite at-home treatments

What are common causes of foot and ankle pain?

The foot and ankle are complex structures. Each limb includes 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 ligaments, muscles, and tendons.³ Together, these provide stability and mobility. However, any injury or condition can be painful and limit movement.

Arthritis & Inflammatory Conditions

• Arthritis — A joint inflammation that leads to pain and stiffness.
• Gout — An inflammatory condition leading to pain, swelling, and warmth in the joint. It most commonly affects the big toe.
• Achilles tendonitis — An inflammation of the tendon connecting the calf muscle to the heel. Pain is often felt above and on the back of the heel.
• Peroneal tendonitis — This happens when tendons located on the outside of your ankle and foot become inflamed.
• Plantar fasciitis — An inflammation of the tissue connecting the heel to the toes. It often causes pain in the arch of the foot.

Injury or Trauma

• Ankle sprains — This is a stretching or tearing of ligaments due to overuse, sudden twist, or roll.
• Fractures — A break, crack, or disruption in the continuity of a bone.
• Achilles ruptures — A tear of the tendon which connects the calf muscles to the heel (achilles tendon).
• Metatarsalgia — A condition that causes pain in the ball of the foot.
• Morton's neuroma — A thickening of nerve tissue between the toes, causing pain and numbness.

Structural Conditions

• Bunions — Deformity at the base of the big toe leading to a bump on the inside of the foot. This is often due to tight shoes or foot shape.
• Flat feet — A lack an arch in the foot, often leading to misalignment and pain.
• Hammertoe — A condition that affects the middle joint of one or more toes. This causes the toes to bend downward.

How is foot and ankle pain treated?

An orthopedic specialist can tailor treatment options to your specific foot and ankle condition. They can also help you understand how your pain may be affecting other areas of your body, offering a more comprehensive approach to your care.

Lifestyle changes

• Quitting tobacco and controlling blood sugar may help your injury heal better.

Nonsurgical treatment options:

Your provider may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE) provides the key first steps to treat any foot and ankle injury:
  

  R	Rest the injured area.
  I	Ice the injury for 20 minutes at a time. Put the ice in a bag and wrap in a thin cloth. Do not apply the ice directly to the skin.
  C	Compress the injured area with a wrap. Do not pull the wrap or bandage tightly, as this can cut off circulation.
  E	Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart.

• Orthotics (shoe inserts) provide cushioning to relieve pain and maintain arch support.
• Braces and splints stabilize the foot and ankle to reduce the pain.
• Cortisone injections help reduce pain and inflammation.
• Physical therapy works to strengthen the muscles around your joints, reduce swelling and restore your walking and function.
• Tylenol and anti-inflammatory medications can help decrease pain.

Surgical treatment options:

Many foot and ankle pain conditions can be treated successfully without surgery. In cases where surgery is necessary, our specialized team can offer some of the most advanced techniques to help ensure the best outcomes with the fastest recovery. These techniques might include: