Foot Pain Specialist

What might cause foot pain?

Foot pain is a common problem – after all, your feet have to support your entire body weight, and more if you’re running and jumping. While it’s not unusual to have tired feet after a long walk or run, if you’re getting severe or recurring foot pain, it could be due to an underlying cause such as:

• Stress fractures
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Tendinitis
• Morton’s neuroma
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Metatarsalgia
• Bunions
• Heel spurs
• Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It occurs when inflammation develops in the plantar fascia, a tough length of connective tissue running along the bottom of your foot. You could also get acute foot pain from traumas like fractures, crush injuries, and stubbed toes.

Some people have abnormalities in their foot structure, such as flat feet (fallen arches) or high arches. These don’t always cause problems, and many people have them their whole life without needing treatment. However, foot abnormalities can increase your risk of developing foot pain.

What can I do about foot pain?

Many foot problems come from wearing ill-fitting or unsuitable footwear. The main culprits are flat-soled shoes like ballet slippers that have no arch support; high heels, which distort your feet and put undue pressure on them; and worn or unsupportive sports footwear.

Even if they haven’t caused the problem, these types of footwear can certainly make your condition worse. Therefore, you should always make sure you wear shoes that fit well, offer good support to your feet, and don’t force them into unnatural positions.

Other factors that increase your risk of developing foot pain include being overweight or obese (which increases the pressure on your feet), standing for prolonged periods, and not getting enough exercise.

What treatments are available for foot pain?

Dr. Flanagan creates a treatment plan for your foot pain after examining your foot, discussing your symptoms and lifestyle, and looking at X-rays or MRI scans of your feet.

In most cases, rest is essential in treating foot pain, as your feet can’t heal if you don’t take the pressure off them. Physical therapy is one of the most helpful treatments, as it eases pain and encourages tissue healing.

You might need to take medication to relieve pain and inflammation and use devices like canes and walkers or orthotics (supportive shoe inserts). Low-dose steroid injections may be helpful for some patients. Dr. Flanagan also specializes in using regenerative medicine treatments like stem cell therapy and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy to treat foot pain.

For expert nonsurgical treatment of your foot pain, call Naples Regenerative Institute today or book an appointment online.