Foot & Ankle Care

Foot and ankle pain can result from wear and tear on cartilage, soft tissue or bones. It can also be caused by injuries or medical conditions like arthritis. 

Because your feet and ankles bear your body’s weight, they’re vulnerable to overuse and stress. Injury or inflammation in this area can lead to pain, stiffness and limited mobility. 

Without proper treatment, foot and ankle problems can lead to long-term complications. That’s why it’s important to see a specialist if you have ongoing pain, swelling or stiffness.  

Common foot and ankle injuries

Foot and ankle pain often follows an injury - like a sprain or fracture - caused by a fall or sudden movement. Common injuries include: 

• Achilles tendon injuries: Overuse injuries, long-lasting injuries or complete tears of the Achilles tendon that cause pain, stiffness and trouble pushing off with the toes. 
• Foot or ankle sprains: The most common foot and ankle injury, occurring when ligaments stretching or tearing cause pain, swelling, bruising and difficulty walking.
• Metatarsal fractures: Breaks in the long bones of the midfoot, often caused by dropping objects or twisting the foot while jumping, leading to pain, swelling and bruising on the top of the foot.
• Sesamoiditis: Inflammation of the sesamoid bones under the big toe joint, leading to pain when walking or putting pressure on the forefoot.
• Stress fractures: Tiny cracks in a bone caused by repetitive stress, common in athletes, with pain worsening with activity and improving with rest.
• Turf toe: Injury to the joint at the base of the big toe, often from hyperextension (bending back) during athletic activities, causing pain, swelling and bruising at the base of the big toe.

Foot and ankle pain can also result from medical conditions, including:  

• Blocked blood vessels: Occurs when plaque builds up in artery walls, restricting blood flow.
• Gout: Another form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid in the bloodstream that forms crystals in the joints and soft tissue in our extremities, characterized by sudden and severe pain.
• Joint infection (septic arthritis): Bacteria gets into a joint and causes rapid cartilage and bone deterioration and severe pain.
• Osteoarthritis: Damage and wear to the hard, slippery cartilage that covers the end of bones that form a joint.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Arteries that supply blood to the outer (peripheral) parts of the body become narrow or blocked.
• Peripheral neuropathy: Nerve damage that can affect the feet and ankles. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as diabetes, alcoholism and autoimmune diseases. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.
• Reactive arthritis: An inflammatory condition that can affect the ankles after an infection in another part of the body, such as the urinary tract or gastrointestinal system. 
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Chronic autoimmune condition that primarily affects the joints, causing inflammation, pain, stiffness and potential joint deformities. It can also impact other organs in the body. 
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome: Compression of the tibial nerve in the ankle, which can lead to pain, numbness, tingling and burning in the foot and ankle.

Additional foot conditions that may cause pain

Because the foot is more complex than the ankle, there are several other conditions that could be causing pain there. These foot conditions include:

• Athlete’s foot: A fungal infection causing itching, burning and scaling, sometimes thickening of the skin or nails.
• Bunions: Bony bumps that form at the base of the big toe due to misalignment of the joint. They can cause pain, redness and difficulty wearing shoes.
• Corns and calluses: Areas of thickened skin that develop due to friction and pressure.
• Diabetic foot ulcers: Open sores on the feet that can develop in people with diabetes due to poor circulation and neuropathy. These require prompt medical attention to prevent infection and serious complications.
• Flat feet (pes planus): The arches of the foot collapse completely or partially, sometimes leading to pain in the feet and ankles.
• Haglund’s deformity: A bony enlargement on the back of the heel.
• Hammertoes: Deformity where the toes bend abnormally, often due to muscle imbalance or wearing ill-fitting shoes. This can lead to pain, irritation and corns.
• High arches: Excessive arching can also cause pain and discomfort in the feet and ankles.
• Ingrown toenails: The corner or edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, redness, and swelling.
• Morton’s neuroma: A painful thickening of tissue around a nerve in the bottom of the foot, typically between the third and fourth toes, causing discomfort and difficulty walking.
• Plantar fasciitis: Inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot and supports the arch. A common symptom of plantar fasciitis is sharp heel pain, particularly noticeable in the morning. 
• Raynaud's disease: A condition that causes the blood vessels in the fingers and toes to constrict in response to cold or stress, leading to numbness, tingling and discoloration of the skin.
• Medication reactions: Certain drugs may cause foot swelling or discomfort.
• Warts: Plantar warts are small, noncancerous growths that appear on the soles or bottoms of the feet, often caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Mild injuries can often be treated at home with: 

• Rest 
• Ice 
• Compression 
• Elevation (RICE) 
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief 

Avoid putting weight on the injured foot and adjust your activity until symptoms improve. 

When medical care is needed

See a Banner specialist if you have chronic pain, fractures or more severe symptoms. Your provider will begin with a physical exam and may use imaging tools such as:

• X-ray
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Ultrasound

Nonsurgical treatment options

Many foot and ankle conditions and injuries can be treated without the need for a surgical procedure. Your orthopedic specialist will explore all options before choosing to operate. Nonsurgical treatments may include:

• Bracing, casting or splinting the affected area
• Using support aids like crutches
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Wearing supportive shoes to alleviate symptoms and promote healing
• Steroidal injections
• Building a lifestyle modification plan

Surgical treatment for foot and ankle problems

If nonsurgical care isn’t effective, surgery may be the next step. Common procedures include:

• Achilles tendon repair: An incision is made to the calf and the tendon is stitched back together.
• Partial or total ankle replacement surgery: Joint replacement procedure where the three bones that make up the ankle joint are replaced with metal or plastic implants.
• Foot or ankle reconstruction: Surgery to restore function and relieve pain. It can involve repairing or transferring tendons, implanting prosthetic joints, or manipulating bones through cutting, grafting or fusing to correct deformities and improve stability.
• Fracture repair: Some bones that are broken cannot heal with casting or boot immobilization and require surgery to realign and then stabilize them with metal plates and screws.

Recovery time can range from 2 to 6 months depending on the procedure. You’ll have regular follow-up visits and may need physical therapy. With proper care, most patients make a full recovery. 

When you choose Banner Health, you get a team of experienced specialists committed to personalized, compassionate care. Whether you're dealing with everyday pain or a more complex condition, we’re here to guide you every step of the way - from diagnosis through recovery.