Foot Pain

There are many different forms of foot pain. While every case is different, here are the most common forms of foot pain:

• Achilles Pain
• Toe Pain
• Tendinitis or Tendonitis
• Various injuries and diseases

An Achilles tendon injury produces a burning pain where the tendon inserts into the back of the heel. The tendon above the insertion (leading into the calf) may also become very sore. Acute pain and the inability to bear weight may be a sign the Achilles is torn or ruptured. Acute pain requires urgent assessment and possible orthopaedic referral. Our practitioners are trained to assess the cause of the Achilles pain. Treatment often includes Cold Laser, dry needling, and soft tissue therapy. Orthotics, stretching and strengthening exercises are often needed to achieve full recovery and return to an active lifestyle.

There are a number of causes of toe pain and it’s best to have an experienced practitioner assess the pain right away. Three common causes are:

• Turf Toe is caused by kicking the ground. The ligaments supporting the big toe are sprained and require specific therapy to promote ligamentous healing.
• Gout or inflammatory arthritis is inflammation of the joint in the toe due to high levels of uric acid in the blood. This results in an acutely swollen, red toe (usually the big toe) which is painful at rest and when lying in bed. Medical referral is required in the proper treatment of gout.
• Hallux Limitus is when the joint in the big toe has decreased movement, and the more severe Hallux Rigidus, when the joint has no movement. This results from advanced osteoarthritis of the toe. Management is based on pain control (Cold Laser, soft tissue therapy, etc) and the prescription of orthotics and good footwear.

There are four common tendons that can become painful and inflamed after a fall or a trauma. The podiatrist may refer to one of these as Achilles Tendonitis, Posterior Tibial Tendonitis, Anterior Tibial Tendonitis or Peroneal Tendonitis. With these types of foot pain, a person can feel tenderness in a specific area of the foot, swelling, a warm sensation, and redness.

Repetitive foot injuries, osteoarthritis, disease, or sports injuries can be the cause of more complex foot pain.

A person with pain in the ball of your foot, mostly near the big toe could have inflammation of the tendons and tissues around the small bones under your big toe joint. A person may feel a mild ache, to an intense throbbing pain. The pain tends to get worse with movement of the big toe, especially when using the toe to push the foot forward.

A person with pain in the ball of your foot, mostly near the big toe could have inflammation of the tendons and tissues around the small bones under your big toe joint. A person may feel a mild ache, to an intense throbbing pain. The pain tends to get worse with movement of the big toe, especially when using the toe to push the foot forward.

A person with pain in the ball of your foot, mostly near the big toe could have inflammation of the tendons and tissues around the small bones under your big toe joint. A person may feel a mild ache, to an intense throbbing pain. The pain tends to get worse with movement of the big toe, especially when using the toe to push the foot forward.

Foot pain can be caused by inflammation of the capsule over a joint at the base of the second or third toes and the ball of the foot (the metatarsophalangeal joints). Capsulitis is often caused by wearing the wrong size of shoes or high heels, but can also be caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

A stress fracture or a small crack in the bone can cause foot pain. A person can feel pain on the top of the foot over the fractured bone. Swelling or tenderness may be present and the pain can vary from sharp or a dull but gets worse each as a person walks or bends the foot. If a person can't bear weight on the foot or hears a crunching noise this could be a stress fracture advancing into a complete fracture.

Morton’s Neuroma feels like a sharp pain in the ball of the foot, like the feeling of a sharp pebble in a shoe. There can be numbness or stinging pain around the third and fourth toes. Poor foot alignment or high heeled shoes with narrow toe-boxes can be a cause of the pain.

Previous injury, repetitive trauma or a genetic predisposition to arthritis can lead to degenerative joint disease in one or several joints of the feet. Arthritis needs to be properly assessed and treated. Our podiatrists will look at how your foot functions and will make recommendations on exercise, footwear, nutritional supplements and a range of treatment options that can help manage the pain of osteoarthritis.

Diabetes is a serious health condition that needs effective management from a range of health professionals. Diabetes affects the smaller blood vessels and this is particularly evident in the feet. Our practitioners all recommend that each person with diabetes gets checked regularly by a podiatrist. Small cracks and cuts can get seriously infected and lead to urgent medical care. The microcirculatory changes can also damage nerves in the feet causing diabetic neuropathy which manifests as numbness, pain or pins and needles.

Our podiatrists at Burswood Health will perform a thorough examination of your feet and lower extremities. This will lead to a clear diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Occasionally x-rays or ultrasound are needed to determine the exact nature of the injury or condition. Foot pain can become very debilitating and can seriously affect a person's quality of life. Early and accurate assessment is essential for proper management and quick resolution of pain. Our friendly and experienced practitioners are here to help and answer all of your questions or concerns.

Call us, 08 9361 26 28. Make an appointment to see how we can help you.