Foot Pain Specialist

What is foot pain?

Your feet are marvels of engineering and feature a complex network of over 100 muscles, 33 joints, and more than two dozen bones. Your feet carry you everywhere, but you probably don’t give them much thought until they hurt.

Pain can occur anywhere in your foot, including the ball, heel, arch, or toes. Sometimes foot pain is sharp and electric, other times it’s dull and achy. Foot pain isn’t always a cause for concern, but if it persists for more than 24-48 hours, it’s worth investigating.

What are some common causes of foot pain?

The most common causes of foot pain are sports-related injuries, overuse injuries, and inflammation of the structures in your feet, such as the bones, ligaments, or tendons. Other common causes of foot pain include foot and ankle arthritis and injury to the nerves. For example, if you have diabetes, you might experience tingling or pins and needles sensations as a result of nerve damage or neuropathy.

Some other common causes of foot pain include:

• Bone spurs
• Fractures
• Corns and Calluses
• Hammertoes
• Bunions
• Plantar fasciitis
• Flatfeet
• High Arches
• Metatarsalgia
• Morton’s Neuroma

In rare instances, tumors or bone infections can also cause foot pain.

When should I see a doctor regarding foot pain?

Most of the time, conservative measures of treatment are enough to ease foot pain. However, certain types of foot pain require immediate medical attention. For example, if your foot pain is the result of a fall or other serious injury and you’re unable to place weight on your foot or move around comfortably, make an appointment with Dr. McCabe right away.

You should also make an appointment with Dr. McCabe if you have diabetes or another ailment that affects your circulation. If you cut yourself or suffer a puncture wound, you’re at a higher risk of developing an infection and other complications.

How is foot pain diagnosed?

To diagnose foot pain, Dr. McCabe physically examines your feet and ankles, reviews your medical history, and asks about the symptoms you’re experiencing. He might also take a series of X-rays, place light pressure on different parts of your foot, or ask you to walk around the exam room to observe your gait and posture.

After taking all of this information into account, Dr. McCabe can pinpoint the source of your pain.

How is foot pain treated?

Treatment for foot pain depends on the source and severity of your symptoms. However, Dr. McCabe takes a conservative approach whenever possible. For mild or moderate foot pain, rest, physical therapy, or custom orthotics may be recommended.

For more serious foot pain that prevents you from playing sports or participating in other activities, surgery might be necessary. Dr. McCabe offers minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques that promise quicker recovery times and a lower risk of infection.

Foot pain doesn’t have to control your every move. Make an appointment at Water Oak Foot and Ankle Surgery by calling the office or clicking the online scheduling tool today.