Common foot and ankle problems which had been successfully treated by over well specialized doctors.

Foot and Ankle problems categories:

• Assimilated from mechanical changes within foot, improper footwear or physical stress.
• Arthritic foot problems – which typically involve acute or chronic inflammation of a joint.
• Congenital foot problems – which are related to condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, especially the uterine environment or we can say by nature.
• Infectious foot problems – This type of foot problem are communicable by infection, as from one person to another or from one part of the body to another which are caused by fungal, bacterial or viral.
• Neoplastic disorders – also called tumors, it can be kind or evil. This is result of uncontrolled growth of abnormal tissue.
• Traumatic foot problems – This is produced by a trauma or wound and it is associated with foot and ankle injuries.

Common treated foot problems at Foot Pain Management are :

Bunions

Bunions are malformation of the joint connecting to big toe of the foot which can lead to swollen and tender. It is characterized by deviation of the first joint of the big toe to slant outward and the second joint to angle toward the other toes. It can also be described as enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the bottom of the big toe.

 Cause – Bunions can be hereditary or due to ill fitted shoes. Bunions occur when pressure is applied to the side of the big toe forcing it inwards towards, and sometimes under or over, the other toes. As pressure is applied, the tissues surrounding the joint may become swollen and tender.

 Symptoms – Bunions symptoms are irritated skin around the bunion, pain when walking, joint redness and pain, and possible shift of the big toe toward the other toes. Blisters may form more easily around the site of the bunion as well.

Treatment – It can be treated by changes in footwear, the use of padding and shielding, rest, ice and medications. Surgery can also be performed when discomfort is severe enough.

Hammertoe

It is also called as contracted toe. Is a deformity of the second, third or fourth toe causing it to permanently bent, resembling a hammer. In this case toe is bent in claw like position. Mallet and claw toe is similar condition.

Cause – It is caused due to wearing poorly fitting shoes that can force the toe into a bent position. This is often found in conjunction with bunions or other foot problems. It can also be caused by muscle, nerve, or joint damage.

Symptoms – Painful corns, rubbing of the skin in shoes, wounds and general shoe fitting problems

Treatment – In many cases it can be cure by physical therapy and new shoes with soft, spacious toe boxes is enough to resolve the condition. But in severe case surgery may be necessary.

Heel spurs

Heel spurs is also known as calcaneal spur. Growth of the bone outgrowth from the heal bone. Heel comes in picture when plantar tendon pulls at its attachment to the heel bone. This area of heel later turns to spur. It’s typically detected by radio-graphic examination also known as an “x-ray”.

Cause – When a foot bone is exposed to constant stress, calcium deposits build up on the bottom of the heel bone.

Symptom – Pain in the region surrounding the spur it keeps on increasing after period of time, heel pain to be more severe when waking up in the morning, not be able to bear weight on the afflicted heel comfortably. Running, walking, or lifting heavy weight may exacerbate the issue.

Treatment – injections, anti-inflammatory medications, stretching exercises, orthotics and sometimes physical therapy, foot and calf workouts, icing the area is an effective way to get immediate pain relief, Extra corporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT).

Ingrown nails

It’s also called as Onychocryptosis or unguis incarnates. It’s a common painful nail disease which is caused by corners or side of nails which dig painfully into the skin. Ingrowth of nails can occur in both hand and feet but it’s mostly seen in feet.

Cause – Shoes causing a bunching of the toes in the developmental stages of the foot, which can cause the nail to curl and dig into the skin. This is particularly the case in ill-fitting shoes that are too narrow or too short, but any toed shoes may cause an ingrown nail.Poor nail-care, including cutting the nail too short, rounded off at the tip or peeled off at the edges instead of being cut straight across, or breaking a toenail. Trauma to the nail plate or toe, which can occur by stubbing the toenail, dropping things on the toe or going through the end of the shoes, can cause the flesh to become injured and the nail to grow irregularly and press into the flesh. Predisposition, such as abnormally shaped nail beds, nail deformities caused by diseases, or a genetic susceptibility increases the chance of an ingrown nail, but the in-growth cannot occur without pressure from a shoe.

Symptoms – Pain along the margins of the nail, worsening of pain when wearing tight footwear, and sensitivity to pressure of any kind, even the weight of bed sheets, Signs of infection include redness and swelling of the area around the nail, watery discharge tinged with blood, swelling at the base of the nail on the side the nail is ingrowing

Treatment – treatment with warm water and salt soaks, antibacterial ointment, and the use of dental floss, or a gutter splint to provide a track along which the nail may grow is possible, surgical treatment, nail bracing.

Neuromas

Neuromas is growth of or tumor of nerve tissue which is also refers as swelling of a nerve. It’s commonly between third and fourth toes.

Cause – It’s caused by tissue rubbing and irritating the nerves. It can also cause by pressure of ill fitted shoes or abnormal bone structure.

Symptoms – burning, numbness or cramping between the toes or in the ball of the foot.

Treatment – Orthoses, cortisone injections, surgical removal of growth, cryoablation (freezing the nerve) or radiofrequency ablation have shown promise as well.

Plantar fasciitis

It’s a disorder that results in pain in the heel and bottom of the foot. I gives the pain often while bending the foot and toes up towards the shin and may be worsened by a tight Achilles tendon

Cause – Long periods of standing, increase in exercise, obesity.

Symptoms – sharp pain, numbness, tingling, swelling and radiating pain. Typical signs and symptoms of plantar fascia rupture include a clicking or snapping sound, significant local swelling and acute pain in the sole of the foot.

Treatment – Customized shoe inserts called orthoses, surgery.

Sesamoiditis

Sesamoiditis occur on the bottom of the foot, behind the big toe. Big toe causes inflammation or rupture of the two small bones (sesamoids) under the first metatarsal bones.

Cause – Excessive forces caused by sudden bending upwards of the big toe, high heels, or a stumble can contribute to sesamoiditis.

Symptoms – Inflammation, pain, bone fracture

Treatment – Anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone injections, strapping to immobilize the big toe, orthotics with special accommodations to keep pressure off the affected bone.

Shin splints

It’s also known as medial tibial stress syndrome. Pain along the inner edge of shinbone which is cause by muscle or tendon inflammation. They are characterized by general pain in the lower region of the leg between the knee and the ankle. This is also relates to the muscle imbalance between opposing muscle groups in the leg.

Cause – Overloading of the lower leg due to bio-mechanical irregularities resulting in an increase in stress exerted on the tibia. Muscle imbalance, including weak core muscles, inflexibility and tightness of lower leg muscles.

Treatment – Proper stretching, physical therapy, corrective orthotics, rest, ice work, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and surgery

Stress fractures

It’s also known as hairline fracture, or fissure fracture. Offset of pain caused by overuse. It’s small crack in the bone with early cath.

Cause – Bones are constantly attempting to remodel and repair themselves. Suddenly undertake a burst of exercise, Muscle fatigue.

Symptoms – Pain with weight bearing that increases with exercise or activity, Percussion or palpation to the bone may reproduce symptoms.

Treatment – With complete rest, stress fractures heal quickly. Extra padding in shoes helps prevent the condition. Stress fractures left untreated may become complete fractures, which require casting and immobilization.