Most people experience a temporary bout of foot and ankle pain during their lifetime, but 13-36% of adults deal with ongoing foot pain that stops them from the activities they enjoy. No matter what causes your foot and ankle pain, Anand Shah, MD, Mehul Taylor, MD, and the team at Valley Orthopedic Institute offer customized care that heals the source of the problem and alleviates your pain. Whether your pain is mild or severe, don't wait to seek help. Call the office in Palmdale or Ridgecrest, California, or book an appointment online today.
Your feet and ankles are complex structures that bear a significant amount of stress as they support your body, maintain balance, and propel you forward. As a result, they're vulnerable to a wide range of conditions, from sports injuries and degenerative disease to everyday wear and tear.
This list gives you a few examples of the most common problems causing foot and ankle pain:
Conditions involving damaged nerves such as Morton’s neuroma and diabetic peripheral neuropathy also cause foot pain.
The many conditions responsible for foot and ankle pain usually cause other symptoms. You may experience:
If your symptoms don't improve in several days or you have severe swelling and pain, schedule an evaluation at Valley Orthopedic Institute so you can get prompt treatment. Ignoring foot and ankle pain puts you at risk of causing further damage to the underlying ligaments, tendons, and bones.
Twisting or rolling your foot is a top cause of many foot and ankle injuries, including ankle sprains. When you pull an ankle ligament, and keep using your ankle without giving the ligament time to heal, the ligament can't regain its normal strength.
Then the ligament progressively weakens and you suffer recurrent sprains. That's when you have chronic ankle instability.
Your provider determines the cause of your pain by evaluating your symptoms, examining your foot and ankle, and taking diagnostic images as needed. They then develop an individualized treatment plan to heal the problem and alleviate your pain.
Your treatment may include any of the following:
In most cases, surgery is the last resort after trying more conventional treatments. However, conditions such as a complex fracture, ruptured ligaments, and some foot deformities require surgery to repair the underlying problem and ensure optimal healing.
If you struggle with foot or ankle pain, call Valley Orthopedic Institute or book an appointment online today.
