The feet, being the foundation of the body, carry all of the body’s weight and are therefore prone to experiencing pain and discomfort. If you are experiencing foot pain, it is important to determine where in the foot you are experiencing this pain to help discover the cause of it. While pain can be experienced virtually anywhere in the foot, the most common sites of foot pain are in the heel and ankle.   

Heel pain can be due to a multitude of conditions including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and heel spurs. Pain experienced in the ankle can be a sign of an ankle sprain, arthritis, gout, ankle instability, ankle fracture, or nerve compression. In more serious cases, pain in the foot can be a sign of improper alignment or an infection.

Foot pain can be accompanied by symptoms including redness, swelling, stiffness and warmth in the affected area. Whether the pain can be described as sharp or dull depends on the foot condition behind it. It is important to visit your local podiatrist if your foot pain and its accompanying symptoms persist and do not improve over time.

Depending on the location and condition of your foot pain, your podiatrist may prescribe certain treatments. These treatments can include but are not limited to prescription or over-the-counter drugs and medications, certain therapies, cortisone injections, or surgery.

If you are experiencing persistent foot pain, it is important to consult with your foot and ankle specialist to determine the cause and location. He or she will then prescribe the best treatment for you. While milder cases of foot pain may respond well to rest and at-home treatments, more serious cases may take some time to fully recover.

Pediatric or child heel pain is a common condition that begins to affect most young girls between the ages of 10 and 14 and young boys between the ages of 12 and 14.  There seems to be a large correlation with previous family history where parents relate that they experienced heel pain as children.  Most kids will describe a throbbing-like sensation that is worse with activities and increases with the more they do and normally resolves with rest.  The #1 cause remains an inflammatory condition of the growth plate or what is called apophysitis or Sever’s disease.

Sever’s disease or apophysitis is very treatable condition and the early intervention easier is to recover.  Most kids that have apophysitis typically have a flatter foot or playing a sport in cleats.  I do recommend an x-ray and a thorough evaluation because there are other causes of heel pain including bone pathology like stress fractures or tumors.  Typically there will be less pain with shoes and icing can be helpful.  

If your child is having heel pain I can help.  Please make an appointment to have them evaluated and get them on the road to recovery.

Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today. 

Pain experienced in the ankle can be caused by a multitude of conditions. While the most common cause is an ankle sprain, other possible problems can include arthritis, gout, ankle instability, an ankle fracture, nerve compression, or tendinitis. In more serious cases, ankle pain can be a sign of improper alignment of the foot or an infection.

Ankle pain can often be accompanied by symptoms such as redness, swelling, stiffness, and warmth in the affected area. Pain can be described differently depending on the condition: short, stabbing pain and a dull ache are some examples. If such symptoms are persistent and do not improve after time, be sure to schedule an appointment with your local podiatrist.

Depending on the condition causing your ankle pain, different treatments may be prescribed by your podiatrist. For ankle sprains, the first step in treatment involves rest, ice, elevation, and compression. Be sure to avoid placing pressure on the ankle, use an ice pack several times a day, and use a compression bandage and elevation to reduce swelling. Other, more serious conditions may require the assistance of certain drugs and medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, or even cortisone injections. 

Depending on the severity of your ankle pain and the condition behind it, recovery from ankle pain may take some time.

Consult with your foot and ankle specialist to best determine the cause of your ankle pain and the appropriate treatment.

The Achilles tendon is the thickest strongest tendon in the human body.  There are more pounds per square inch going across the Achilles tendon than any other tendon.  It is important to realize that during an active gait cycle the Achilles tendon is under chronic mechanical load.  This tendon in general can become overused and is usually attributed to an increase in activity or change in activities.

The most common cause of Achilles tendon pain is what is described as watershed region Achilles tendinitis.  I encountered this in a lot of people that have begun to run or do plyometrics type activities like box jumping or jumping rope.  I encouraged people not to plunge into new activities to begin to train slowly.  With activities the changing and loading of the Achilles tendon can lead to Achilles tendinitis-type problems.  Typically this will present as pain and swelling in the Achilles tendon.  Oftentimes patients will experience increased pain that they try to push through this in addition they are at the risk of rupturing the Achilles tendon during this time.

It is extremely important that anytime a patient has Achilles tendon pain medicines evaluated by a physician.  Long-term wear and tear can delay the return to normal activities.  The longer patients have had these conditions there is a correlation with the longer it takes to recover.  Achilles tendinopathy is one of the most common pathologies that I see if with recent developments in treatment protocols patients can return to activities sooner.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brandon Nelson

Board-Certified Foot and Ankle Physician and Surgeon