The Arthritis Foundation reports that millions of Americans suffer from arthritis in their feet and ankles, a condition that causes substantial pain and limited mobility. However, this inflammatory condition is not the only source of foot and ankle pain. Your Foot and Ankle Specialists of Orlando, Dr. Timothy Mason and Dr. Jason Hancock, expertly diagnose and treat the numerous podiatric conditions which cause lower extremity pain.
Why feet and ankles hurt
Some podiatric problems develop over time (simple aging is the cause), find their origin in systemic diseases such as diabetes, or just may be acute in nature (a laceration, sprain, or fracture for examples). Whatever the cause, Dr. Mason, Dr. Hancock, and their professional team will treat your foot and ankle pain with compassion in their Orlando office.
Common causes of foot and ankle pain include:
- Metatarsalgia, a painful thickening of the bones and connective tissue in the ball of the foot
- Bunions, a deformity of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe
- Plantar fasciitis, overstretching of the bond of connective tissue in the arch of the foot
- Bone spurs (heel)
- Corns and calluses
- Ingrown toenails
- Gait issues (overpronation as an example)
- Ankle sprain (the number one cause of ankle pain)
- Achilles tendinitis, inflammation of the large tendon connecting the heel and the calf muscle
- Hammertoes, a deformity of the second, third and fourth toes
- Stress fractures and acute fractures
People of all ages and walks of life suffer from foot and ankle pain. However, the American Podiatric Medical Association does indicate that women are prone to more these problems likely because of their narrow, high-heeled shoes.
Sensible interventions
What can you do for your painful feet and ankles? Call Foot and Ankle Specialists of Orlando—your podiatrist will examine your feet, look at how you walk, and take digital X-rays of the problem areas. Commonly, an individualized care plan, consisting of a variety of less invasive interventions, helps correct foot and ankle disorders without surgery.
Common recommendations include:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
- Change in footwear (low heels and good support)
- Customized shoe inserts
- Cortisone injections
- Over-the-counter analgesics
- Shoe padding
- Bracing
- In-office corn and callus removal
Find out more
Take your hurting feet and ankles to Dr. Mason and Dr. Hancock at Foot and Ankle Specialists of Orlando. We have four locations to serve you and look forward to helping you feel better fast. Call (407) 365-9511 for an appointment.