What is foot pain?
Foot pain includes discomfort you feel in your foot and may involve the toes, heel, sole, or arch of your foot. The pain may develop after an acute injury, overuse, or an underlying problem with one or more of the components that make up your foot.
Your foot pain may also include swelling, inflammation, or bruising. You may also notice that your pain worsens during certain activities, or you may only feel pain when you first get up in the morning.
If you have severe foot pain or foot pain that fails to improve within a few days of at-home care, contact Dr. Harrison to schedule an evaluation.
What causes foot pain?
Conditions that may lead to foot pain include:
- Achilles tendonitis
- Achilles tendon tear or rupture
- Foot or ankle fracture
- Bursitis
- Sprains
- Heel spurs
- Plantar fasciitis
- Hammertoes
- Bunions
- Flatfoot or fallen arches
- Arthritis
- Corns or calluses
- Morton’s neuroma
- Tendonitis
- Neuropathy
What happens during a foot pain evaluation?
Dr. Harrison takes an individualized approach to diagnose your condition and reviews your medical history. During your exam, he asks detailed questions about your symptoms, including when they started, the type and location of your pain, and the activities that worsen or improve your discomfort.
He also uses advanced technology, including ultrasound and 3-dimensional computed tomography, for analysis.
How is foot pain treated?
Dr. Harrison takes a patient-centered approach to care. He develops individualized treatment plans for foot pain based on the underlying cause of your discomfort, severity of symptoms, your overall health, and your usual activities.
Treatment may include:
- Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
- Immobilization
- Activity modification
- Change in footwear
- Physical therapy
- Orthotics or braces
- Toe braces or toe crests (for hammertoes)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Casting
- Cortisone injections
- Platelet Rich Plasma injections (PRP)
In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat your foot pain. Dr. Harrison is an advanced orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon. He uses the latest advanced techniques when performing surgery to ensure you get the best outcomes.
Foot pain may keep you from living your active lifestyle. Call the office or Matthew J. Harrison, MD, today, or book an appointment online.
