- Heel & Arch Pain
- Ingrown Toenails
- Bunions
- Toenail Fungus
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Custom Orthotics
- Ankle Pain
- Corns
- Calluses
- Hammertoes
- Heel Spurs/Plantar Fasciitis
- Ingrown Toenails
- Warts
- Haglund’s Deformity
- Tendonitis
- Stress Fracture
Custom Orthotics
Custom foot orthotics are designed to align the foot and ankle into the most anatomically efficient position. They look similar to insoles, but are biomedical appliances that are custom made to correct your specific foot imbalance. The plastic body of the custom orthotic helps to re-align the foot while you walk. We understand that everyone is different, which is why custom foot orthotics are made just for you.
Ankle Pain
The foot and ankle are highly specialized structures that absorb the weight of the body and enable us to move. Experts estimate that the force and pressure on your feet when walking can be up to two times your body weight. This pressure can increase with more vigorous movements such as running and jumping. With so much pressure on your feet and ankles, they undergo a lot of wear and tear throughout your life and are highly susceptible to injury and trauma.
The foot and ankle are a complex system of bones, ligaments, muscles, and joints that provide the structure and stability we need to move freely. If any of these components become compromised or weakened due to injury, overuse, degenerative conditions, or sprains, it can significantly impact your foot’s ability to move and function properly.
Bunions
A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. They can develop from an inherited structural defect, excess stress on your foot, or can result from an existing medical condition.
For the most part, bunions require no medical treatment. However, if you are experiencing one or more of the following, a podiatrist can help alleviate your symptoms.
Corns
Corns tend to be smaller than calluses and are the hard center is surrounded by irritated skin. While corns can be found on the bottom of the foot where pressure is usually applied, it is more common that you find corns on the tops and sides of your toes and even between your toes. When pressure is applied, corns can cause significant pain and discomfort.
Calluses
Calluses, on the other hand, don’t usually cause pain. They usually develop on the soles of your feet, especially under the heels or balls, on your palms, or on your knees. Calluses vary in size and shape and are often larger than corns.
Hammertoes
Hammertoe is a deformity where one or both joints of the second, third, fourth or fifth toes begin to bend outside of their normal alignment. Pressure can begin to weigh heavy on the toes as you wear shoes which is where pain and other symptoms develop.
Hammertoes typically begin with small symptoms and deformities and continue to worsen with time. In its beginning stages, hammertoes are often impressionable which means they can be controlled using minimal treatment. It is important to know the signs of hammertoes to get them evaluated early. If left untreated, hammertoes can become more firm and difficult to manipulate, requiring surgery.
Heel Spurs/Plantar Fasciitis
Heel spurs occur in at least 50% of people who have plantar fasciitis. Past treatments for heel spurs, a bony growth that begins on the front of your heel bone and points toward the arch of your foot, included surgery to remove the growth. Nowadays, surgery is rarely a treatment option and more plans for physical therapy, ice, and pain medications are used to treat heel spurs.
Ingrown Toenails
We have all made the painful mistake of trimming our nails too short at some point in our lives. Sometimes, this can really affect our foot health by causing ingrown toenails.
This happens when the nail grows downward into the skin instead of straight out, usually causing an infection. Ingrown toenails are most common on the sides of the big toe. It can also be caused by shoe pressure, injury, fungal infections, poor foot structure, etc.
Warm water soaks several times a day, properly fitted shoes and socks, and trimming nails in a straight line (rather than rounded) are ways to treat and prevent painful ingrown toenails. If there is an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Toenail Fungus
Fungal infections in the toe or fingernails can appear as thickened, discolored, or disfigured. While it may seem like the condition is just an aesthetic concern, fungal infections can lead to worsened symptoms and pain. Diabetes, a weakened immune system, and the normal aging process are all causes associated with fungal infections. It is more likely for senior citizens and adults to develop a fungal infection as opposed to children.
Warts
Plantar warts are caused by the HPV virus and cause tiny cuts and breaks on the bottom of your feet.
While most plantar warts are not a major health concern, it is advised you see a doctor to have the warts examined and removed. Some symptoms include small, rough lesions on the base of the foot, calluses in one spot, and tenderness when walking or standing for long periods of time.
Haglund’s Deformity
Haglund’s deformity is a common foot condition where a bony bump begins to form at the back of the heel bone where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel.
The bony protrusion can cause severe pain while walking or wearing shoes as the bone rubs against the shoe.
This may cause the soft tissue at the heel to become irritated and may lead to another podiatry condition known as bursitis. Bursitis is a condition where the bursa, a fluid-filled sac between the Achilles tendon and bone, becomes inflamed and aggravated.
If you are experiencing severe heel pain, please seek medical attention as this condition can worsen if left untreated. For more information on Haglund’s deformity or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office today.
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Tendonitis
The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, joining the lower portion of the calf to the heel bone. Although it is able to withstand forces of around 1,000 pounds, it is the most frequently ruptured tendon in the body. Typically, injury of the Achilles tendon is caused by athletic activities.
Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon, typically caused by overuse of the tendon during physical activity. This can include hill running, stair climbing, improper footwear, trauma caused by the sudden contraction of the calf muscle, etc.
Symptoms include pain after exercise that generally worsens, recurring pain in the calf area, mild to severe swelling, and stiffness or sluggishness of your leg.
Treatments include wearing specialized bandages, laying off physical activity involving the tendon, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), customized orthotics, and physical therapy.
In extreme cases, surgery may be used to repair tears and remove fibrous tissue.
Peroneal tendon dislocation/dysfunction happens when the tendons supporting the arch of your foot malfunction. These muscles (called peroneus Brevis and peroneus Longus), act like a stirrup gripping the arch of the foot, helping hold it up. Dislocation of the peroneal tendon is found in people who play basketball, soccer, football, and those who ski.
When the tendons dislocate, there may be swelling behind the outside of the ankle. A physical exam is required for diagnosis.
Nonsurgical treatments include crutches to keep all the weight off the foot, anti-inflammatory medications, or a cast/removable boot.
Surgery may be advised in severe cases to reposition the tendons.
Xanthomas of the Achilles tendon are cholesterol deposits on the Achilles tendon, which appear as small lumps. Although they are painless, the deposits originate from high cholesterol.
A biopsy of these lumps may be recommended.
For more information on Achilles tendonitis or to request an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at (630) 810-9966!
Ankle Pain
The foot and ankle are highly specialized structures that absorb the weight of the body and enable us to move. Experts estimate that the force and pressure on your feet when walking can be up to two times your body weight. This pressure can increase with more vigorous movements such as running and jumping. With so much pressure on your feet and ankles, they undergo a lot of wear and tear throughout your life and are highly susceptible to injury and trauma.
The foot and ankle are a complex system of bones, ligaments, muscles, and joints that provide the structure and stability we need to move freely. If any of these components become compromised or weakened due to injury, overuse, degenerative conditions, or sprains, it can significantly impact your foot’s ability to move and function properly.
For those struggling with foot and ankle pain, it is important that you seek medical attention for a proper evaluation. Our orthopedic physicians are highly trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating all facets of foot and ankle pain or injury. After a thorough examination, we can begin to craft a customized treatment plan that will take your unique needs and lifestyle into account.
If you are experiencing foot and ankle pain, contact our office today at (630) 810-9966 so that you can get back on your feet pain-free.
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