In addition to fractures, nerve damage, and arthritis, foot pain has multiple other causes. At their offices in Clarksville, Nashville, and Erin, Tennessee, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the Gateway Foot and Ankle Center team excels at finding the underlying causes of foot pain and resolving them. They can treat everything from the most complex foot abnormality to common problems like bunions. To get expert relief from foot pain, call your nearest Gateway Foot and Ankle Center office today or go online to request a consultation.
Many things can make your feet hurt. Feet contain muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones that create numerous small joints. Arthritis can develop in these joints and cause foot pain. Some forms, like osteoarthritis, are due to years of wear and tear. Others, like rheumatoid arthritis, are inflammatory disorders.
Another kind of arthritis that commonly affects the feet (especially the big toe joints) is gout. This condition develops when excess uric acid in your body crystallizes in your joints. Overuse or repetitive strain can irritate the soft tissues and cause long-term inflammation. Plantar fasciitis (which causes heel pain) is a common example.
Acute injuries cause sudden, often severe foot pain. Fractures (broken bones) are common, varying from crush injuries that squash the foot to stress fractures that build up over time. Ligament sprains can cause similar symptoms to fractures. You could also strain a muscle or tendon.
Bunions (bony lumps at the base of your big toe) are a leading cause of foot pain. Nerve compression causes conditions like tarsal tunnel syndrome and Morton’s neuroma. Hammertoes, corns, ingrown toenails, fungal nails, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (a complication of diabetes) can also cause discomfort in your feet.
To start the diagnostic process, your Gateway Foot and Ankle Center podiatrist asks about your symptoms and reviews your medical history. They also conduct a physical exam.
Diagnostic imaging procedures, such as X-rays, MRIs, or computerized tomography (CT), help your podiatrist rule out other possible foot pain causes and assess any tissue damage.
Treating your foot pain successfully begins with an accurate diagnosis.
Potential therapies that might be in your personalized treatment plan include:
If these treatments are unsuitable or don’t improve your foot pain, Gateway Foot and Ankle Center’s team of skilled surgeons can operate on your feet.
The approach they use varies according to your condition. For example, treating plantar fasciitis surgically involves cutting the connective tissue (plantar fascia release). Bunion surgery requires shaping and realigning the foot bones.
To discover what’s causing your foot pain and find an effective solution, call Gateway Foot and Ankle Center today or book an appointment online.