What Are Some Causes of Foot and Ankle Pain?
Whether it’s due to an injury or overuse from repetitive motions like running, foot and ankle pain has many causes. Our doctors in Nashville and Franklin provide comprehensive care for various conditions, including:
- Ankle sprains: When one of the ligaments in your ankle stretches outside of the normal range.
- Foot and ankle fractures: When one or more of the bones in your feet or ankle experiences a minor or major break.
- Achilles tendon injuries: When there is an injury to the Achilles tendon resulting in tendonitis, tendinosis, or an Achilles tear.
- Morton’s neuroma: When a nerve sheath in the ball of your foot between two of your toes thickens, causing discomfort.
- Stress fractures: When a small crack develops in a bone in your foot or ankle.
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: A hereditary disease that affects sheaths or fibers of your nerves.
- Metatarsalgia: When the ball of your foot is injured from overuse, ill-fitting shoes, or the shape of your foot.
- Plantar fasciitis: When the plantar fascia tissues are irritated or torn.
- Peroneal tendonitis and tendon tears: When the peroneal tendons are inflamed or torn.
- Arthritis of the foot and ankle: When the joints in your ankle or foot become inflamed.
- Sesamoiditis: When the sesamoid bones and the surrounding tendons are irritated, leading to pain in the ball of your foot or big toe.
Our doctors also treat foot deformities, like bunions and bunionettes, hammertoes, flat feet, and clubfoot. They can help with lower leg injuries like calf muscle strain and tibial fractures.
Risk Factors for Foot and Ankle Pain
Certain health conditions like arthritis, obesity, and diabetes can increase the risk of developing foot pain. Other risk factors that may contribute to foot and ankle pain are high-impact exercise, smoking, and old age.
When Should I See a Foot Doctor and Ankle in Nashville?
Foot and ankle conditions are common, but that doesn’t mean you have to endure them. Schedule an appointment with Elite's Franklin and Nashville foot doctors if you suffer severe or persistent pain.
For mild to moderate foot and ankle pain, you may want to try home remedies such as rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), and over-the-counter pain relievers. If you try at-home treatments for a few days and your pain persists, you should quickly see a foot specialist in Nashville, Tennessee. Here are some common ways to determine if you need professional help:
- Infection
- Sudden, unexplainable swelling
- Severely limited movement
- Recurring athlete's foot
Contact a foot doctor any time you believe your pain is abnormal to improve the recovery process.
Is an Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Doctor the Same as a Podiatrist?
Orthopedic foot doctors and podiatrists treat similar conditions, however they have different backgrounds and qualifications. An orthopedic foot doctor is either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) with additional training in the foot and ankle. A podiatrist is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM.)
An orthopedic foot and ankle doctor has knowledge and can treat all conditions related to the musculoskeletal system with specialized training in the foot and ankle. A podiatrist only has training related to the foot and ankle.
Both are doctors and have specialized training in the foot and ankle. Whether you choose to be treated by an orthopedic foot and ankle doctor or a podiatrist is up to you, but make sure you do your research to find the best doctor for your needs.
At Elite Sports Medicine, our foot and ankle specialists work with a range of patients including high-level athletes. If you are an athlete, it is best to seek help from an orthopedic doctor instead of a podiatrist since orthopedics has a focus on sports medicine.
To learn more about the difference between the two doctors, check out our blog: Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Doctor vs. Podiatrist.
How Do Our Doctors Diagnose Foot and Ankle Pain?
First, the Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopedics team asks about your foot and ankle pain. We'll ask about when and how it began and what other symptoms you have. They carefully examine your foot, ankle, and lower leg.
On-site imaging tests like an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan help the Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopedics team pinpoint the cause of your condition while also recommending the best course of treatment.
What Treatments Do Our Foot and Ankle Doctors Offer?
The Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopedics team takes a conservative approach to treatment. Depending on the cause of your foot and ankle pain, non-surgical treatment may include:
- Physical therapy and stretching exercises
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Steroid injections
- Custom orthotics
- Changes in footwear
- Wearing a walking boot or brace
- Using assistive devices like crutches
- Casting or splinting
- Activity modification
- Padding or strapping the foot
If your pain is severe or conservative treatment doesn’t work, our foot specialists may recommend surgery. The expert team at Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopedics performs all types of foot and ankle surgeries, including Achilles tendon repair, ankle fusion, flat foot reconstruction surgery, and total ankle replacement.
Contact Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopedics for Foot and Ankle Pain Treatment
When you have persistent foot and ankle pain, you may not be able to engage in the activities you like, such as running, exercising, or hiking. We want to help you enjoy the lifestyle you love, which is why we offer comprehensive treatment plans and surgery options. Our team of experts will examine your feet or ankles, provide a diagnosis, and develop a treatment plan.
At our advanced facilities, we have the technology to examine your foot and ankle on the spot. While you can take care of many foot and ankle pains at home, there are times when professional assistance is necessary. Our foot doctors are here to decrease your pain and help you heal quicker.
Call one of our Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics locations to find relief from foot and ankle pain, or book an appointment online today.
