Foot and Ankle Pain in Bellefontaine, Springfield, and London, OH
What Causes Foot And Ankle Pain?
Ankle pain is often due to an ankle sprain but can also be caused by ankle instability, arthritis, gout, tendonitis, fracture, nerve compression (tarsal tunnel syndrome), infection and poor structural alignment of the leg or foot. Ankle pain can be associated with swelling, stiffness, redness, and warmth in the involved area. The pain is often described as an intense dull ache that occurs upon weight bearing and ankle motion.
Ankle Pain Treatment
Initial treatment may consist of rest, ice, elevation, and immobilization, but may also include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, physical therapy, and cortisone injection. A foot and ankle surgeon can best determine the cause of the ankle pain and appropriate treatment options.
Foot Pain Causes
Foot pain is a common symptom, and where the pain originates will help us determine its cause. The most common include:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Fractures
- Morton’s neuroma
- Arthritis
- Ingrown toenails
- Bunions
The best way to determine the cause of your pain is to see us for a proper evaluation. By assessing both your symptoms and medical history we can often determine the root problem and begin a proper treatment plan right away.
Foot Pain Treatment
While your treatment will differ depending on your diagnosis, there are many conservative treatment options that can be used to treat several conditions. A lot of these are measures you can perform at home to reduce your pain, swelling, and discomfort. We will recommend icing the injured or pained area throughout the day to reduce swelling. During this time you can also opt for over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen to help alleviate both pain and swelling. For those with more severe pain, we may need to prescribe stronger pain medication.
For some patients, custom-made orthotics will help provide the stability and range of motion necessary to walk and move around comfortably while also taking unnecessary pressure off sensitive areas of the foot. We are happy to discuss whether custom-made orthotics could help improve your foot health.
We will also promote the importance of rest. Resting gives your foot a chance to relax and heal itself. Take time to stay off your foot, unless otherwise necessary, and propping it up when at rest will help keep swelling down.
However, while we believe rest is an important component to healing, we also believe it’s important to stay mobile, which means participating in stretching and strengthening exercises to improve weak muscles and increase flexibility. We will show you a variety of different exercises you can perform daily in the comfort of your own home to improve your symptoms.
