Many people wake with a cramp in the heel area. The pain in the foot, heel and arch area typically eases after the first several steps. This type of pain in the foot is typically called plantar fasciitis and can be very debilitating. Plantar fasciitis is caused by an inflammation of the arch cord that supports the foot called he plantar fascia. There are many causes of plantar fasciitis such as weight gain, change in shoe gear, walking on uneven surfaces and even trauma, This type of foot pain can be extremely painful and can stop people from walking due tot he severity at timers. It is one of the most common ailments a podiatrist will see in their office. Treatment options for plantar fasciitis range from simple stretching exercises to custom made orthotics, a heel cup to cradle the foot and heel area, icing regimens and possibly even a cortisone shot, Physical therapy is a wonderful way to compliment the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Many times a physical therapist will stretch the tissue called the plantar fasci along with relaxation of the arch tissue via ultrasound therapy. Prescription anti-inflammatory medication is another viable option for people with this type of foot pain. So it is not normal for your heel and arch area to hurt. If you have pain in your heel and arch area; you probably have some from of plantar faciitis and you should seek the advice of a foot specialist.

Many patients come in with a painful red swollen area on the back of their heel. This may be caused by irritation of the skin at the site, may be shoe gears such as high heels; might be a bony deformity or possibly a fracture. Typically a foot doctor will evaluate the area with an xray. Which is very helpful in the treatment plan. If the problem is a bone spur there are a multitude of treatments. We typically try to treat he problem conservatively with a custom orthotic and try to change the pitch or the angle of the way the heel lands in the shoe. Obviously trying to decrease heel height may be helpful. Other forms of treatment are trimming callous tissue and applying a pad in the area to decrease pressure at the site. Surgical intervention is only used when conservative therapy fails.

Many patients come in for painful sore with hard skin on the side of their big toe. If left alone the hard skin becomes tender due to thickness. If left untreated the callous get so thick that the area becomes ulcerated or infected. There are a multitude of reasons for this. Skin irritation from the big toe rubbing against the skin is one problem; trauma caused by an improper fitting shoe may be the cause and lastly you may not be properly walking because of a joint problem in your big toe. A podiatrist will cut down the callous or hard skin with a scalpel blade and make you comfortable. A range of motion exam of the foot and ankle is usually performed. A gait exam is usually performed (watching the way a person walks). Foot doctors typically examine the shoes you wear and can provide a treatment plan for you according to the shoes you wear. Sometimes a simple type of pad can be applied to the foot and the "hard skin" will either go away or not be so painful.

Many patients come in to our office and state that they have lost feeling in their big toe. When you see a podiatrist for numbness the foot doctor will evaluate whether you truly have numbness or the fact that you may perceive your skin is numb. There are multiple instruments podiatrists use to decipher whether there is numbness or not. There are nerve tests we can perform to evaluate what the cause may be. Sometimes we can perform a nerve biopsy to decide whether you may have a condition called neuropathy which has multiple causes. If you have numbness and it is true; it is important for your podiatrist to investigate the reasons. If you have neuropathy you may be suffering from diabetes.

Many runners come in to the office complaining of pain in their knees. It typically occurs on the inner aspect of the knee. Many times patients take anti-inflammatory medication and the pain returns once the patient returns to running. Many people never think that about their feet and the impact of the way the foot and the ankle are aligned when they land. If your foot and your ankle are pronated or everted or closer to the ground and collapsing; when you land; this will put extra pressure on the inner aspect of your knee. When we run we put excessive pressure on our joints and if the foot is landing a certain way that can cause excessive stresses on different parts of then body. If you have pain in your knees or hip when running; I would recommend seeing a foot specialist. A podiatrist will evaluate the way you walk and see the way you land on your foot and many times by making a change in the way you land mechanically both via shoe style and possibly otrthotics ; your pain just may go away.