“Why does my foot hurt?” We must hear that question dozens of times per day. From sprains and fractures to bunions and hammertoes to capsulitis, bursitis, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and almost every other “itis” you can think of, there are all sorts of reasons why your feet and ankles might be causing you pain and discomfort. At Family Foot and Ankle Center, Inc. we’ll not only help you find an answer for why your feet are hurting. We’ll help you find a solution for that problem and get you back on the path to living pain-free.
Ankle Sprains and Fractures
These are common sports injuries, but they can occur in non-athletes as well. Sprains are caused by a tear or rupture of the ligaments surrounding a joint, while fractures involve bones cracking or breaking. An X-ray can determine whether the pain is caused by a sprain or fracture, and our full evaluation will determine whether you need physical therapy, immobilization, surgery—or just plenty of rest and ice.
Arthritis
The joints of the feet and ankles are susceptible to osteoarthritis (generally caused by mechanical damage, or “wear and tear”), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease), and gout (caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream). Depending on the source of your joint pain and the severity of your case, we’ll help you with whatever treatment plan or lifestyle adjustments are necessary—whether it’s orthotics, physical therapy, dietary changes, rest, ice, or even surgery.
Ball of Foot Pain
Also known generally as metatarsalgia, pain in the ball of your foot can be caused or exacerbated by a number of conditions, including stress fractures, deformities such as bunions, obesity, poor footwear, or nerve problems such as Morton’s neuroma. The good news is that conservative methods are often effective—an examination in our office to determine the exact cause of the discomfort will get you pointed in the right direction.
Bunions
A structural defect in your feet combined with restrictive footwear can slowly push your biggest toe toward its neighbor. As that happens, the base of the toe joint drifts in the opposite direction, forming a bump known as a bunion. Early detection and treatment can keep the condition from worsening—better shoes or custom-made orthotics could be all the solution you need.
Flat Feet
If your flat feet weren’t caused by an injury and aren’t causing you any pain or problems, you might not need treatment. However, low arches do put you at greater risk of developing other foot, ankle, and even knee and hip problems due to overpronation and poor ergonomics. We can customize an orthotic insert to help provide lacking support.
Heel Pain
Just about everyone will suffer from heel pain at least once in their lives—it can strike at any age or activity level. Plantar fasciitis is the most common culprit—that’s when the band of tissue that runs across your sole becomes inflamed and shortens, pulling on your heel. Other causes of heel pain include Achilles tendinitis, heel spurs, stress fractures, and Sever’s disease (in kids). We’ll help you get to the bottom of what’s causing your heel pain and set you on the correct treatment plan.
Toe Pain and Deformities
From hallux rigidus, bursitis, and capsulitis to claw toes, hammertoes, and mallet toes, a number of conditions can affect your digits. You need your toes for balance and to help you push off when walking or running, so toe pain can make it very difficult to go about your everyday activities. Call us at the first sign of trouble—some conditions, like hammertoes, can become rigid over time, making surgery the only workable option for relief.
These are just a small sampling of the many foot and ankle conditions—common and rare—that we treat here at Family Foot and Ankle Center, Inc. Come and see what our experts can do for you. Give us a call at (513) 728-4800 to set up an appointment in Finneytown, Hamilton, Fairfield, or either of our Cincinnati offices, or call (859) 282-1572 for our office in Florence, KY.