Podiatry Conditions

Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon runs down the back of the lower leg. This tissue connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. It facilitates walking by helping to raise the heel off the ground. Two common issues that occur concerning the Achilles tendon are Achilles tendonitis and Achilles tendonosis. These are overuse disorders caused by a sudden increase in repetitive activity involving the Achilles tendon. This type of activity puts too much stress on the tendon too quickly, leading to injury of the tendon fibers.

Arthritis

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more of your joints. Your MMG Podiatrist may assist you to manage arthritis in your feet or ankle. After the proper treatment, many patients are able to manage their pain, remaining active, and living fulfilling lives. 

Ball of Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia)

This condition causes the ball of your foot to become inflamed and painful. Sufferers often develop this condition from activities involving jumping and running. Other causes include foot deformities and improperly fitting shoes.

Corns

Corns and calluses are thick layers of skin. This skin hardening develops as your skin tries to protect itself from pressure and friction. For many, dealing with the source of friction removes the problem. Those with diabetes or other conditions that cause poor blood flow to the feet are at risk for complications from corns.

Flat Feet

Flat feet are common and usually painless, although this condition may cause problems for some patients. They occur when the arches don’t develop during childhood. Flat feet may also develop after an injury or from simple wear-and-tear of age.

Flatfeet may contribute to problems in the knees and ankles because the condition may alter the alignment of the legs.

Foot Injuries

Foot and ankle sprains and fractures are the most common types of injuries affecting the feet. Many fractures and sprains occur during sports. Stumbling or tripping on uneven ground is another common cause of foot and ankle injury. Swelling, pain, bruising, and difficulty walking most commonly occur with a sprained or fractured foot or ankle.

Gout

Gout is a complex yet common form of arthritis marked by sudden, severe attacks of swelling, pain, redness, and tenderness in the joints. It is often found in the joint at the base of the big toe.

Heel or Toe Spurs

A heel spur or toe spur is a calcium deposit that forms a bony growth. They eventually affect other parts of your foot.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails usually affect the big toe. They occur when the side or corner of a toenail grows into the soft flesh surrounding the nail. Ingrown toenails can cause swelling, pain, redness, and infection.

Neuromas

Neuromas cause pain between the toes when walking. They are also known as “pinched nerves” or nerve tumors. This benign growth often occurs in the nerve tissue between the third and fourth toes. Those suffering from a neuroma may also experience a burning sensation, tingling, or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.

The principal symptom associated with a neuroma is pain between the toes while walking.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is like carpal tunnel syndrome that occurs in the wrist. Both tarsal tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome arise from the compression of a nerve in a tight space. During this condition, the posterior tibial nerve is squeezed and produces discomfort along the path of the nerves from the inside of the ankle to the foot.

Ankle Pain

A sprain is the most common cause of ankle pain. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments connecting the ankle bones. Less common causes of ankle pain include gout, arthritis, and infection. Achilles tendonitis, or overusing the calf muscles may also cause ankle pain.

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection. It often begins between the toes and commonly occurs in those whose feet sweat while confined inside tight shoes. Symptoms include a scaly rash that itches, stings, or burns.

Bunions

Bunions are painful bumps that are bony and develop slowly at the joint of the big toe. The pressure on the joint causes the big toe to lean toward the second toe. Gradually, the bone structure evolves, creating a bunion bump that makes it painful to wear shoes or walk.

Foot Tumors

When the tissues of the foot swell without any other known cause of inflammation, a tumor may be the cause. Tumors are abnormal growths of tissue. Tumors are either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Calluses

A callus is a thick area of skin on the foot. It is caused by pressure and repeated rubbing, often from a sock or shoe. In response to the rubbing, the skin produces a layer of protective skin. Calluses vary in size and may be painful. Your MMG Podiatrist will work with you to discover the underlying cause of your callus. Without discovering the cause, the callus may return after removal.

Foot Fracture

A bone fracture is another name for a broken bone. Fractures vary from small, hairline cracks in the bone to breaks that have separated the bone into three or more pieces (comminuted fractures). Your MMG Podiatrist can diagnose and treat foot fractures and determine if a cast or surgery is necessary.

Toenail Fungus

Nail fungus is a common condition. It starts as a yellow or white spot under the tip of your toenail. As the infection deepens, your nail crumbles at the edge, discolor, and thickens. If you experience thickened nails and pain due to nail fungus, your MMG Podiatrist may recommend self-care steps and medication.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a deformity occurring from an imbalance in tendons, ligaments, or muscles that work to hold the toe straight when functioning properly. Hammertoe can occur because of foot structure, trauma, the type of shoes you wear, and certain disease processes.

Heel Pain

Bones are subject to outside influences that may affect their integrity. The heel is no exception. Heel injury generally results from poor biomechanics such as walking gait abnormalities. These issues place stress on the heel bone and the tissues attached to it. The stress may also occur from a bruise incurred while walking, running, or jumping on a hard surface, being overweight, or poor footwear.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts usually appear on the heels and other weight-bearing areas of your feet. Plantar warts are small growths that are caused by HPV. The virus enters the body through tiny cuts or weak spots on the bottom of your feet.

Swollen Feet

In the majority of cases, swelling isn’t a serious concern. Although uncomfortable, it usually goes away after addressing the underlying cause. Some of these causes include pregnancy, varicose veins, kidney damage, or heart problems.

Toe Pain

Pain in the toes may occur for a number of reasons your MMG Podiatrist can diagnose and treat. Causes may include sports injuries, arthritis, bunions, and gout.