Common Causes of Foot Pain & Foot Pain Specialist Available in Richmond VA
Causes of Foot Pain
The foot is a complex structure that carries the weight of your entire body. Thus, foot pain is common and can arise from a number of problems. It is important to differentiate the underlying causes so that the appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Bunions:
Bunions, or Hallux Valgus, is a deformity of the big toe joint. The hallux, or big toe, starts to drift laterally and causes the joint to be inflamed and painful. When pain persists at the big toe joint, diagnosis is confirmed based on clinical exam and radiographs.
If conservative home remedies such as anti-inflammatory medications or wider shoes do not help, there are surgical options including minimally invasive approaches to correct the deformity. The surgical treatment plan depends on the extent of joint damage secondary to the deformity. If correction of the deformity cannot be done outside of the joint, or extra-articular, sometimes the joint may need to be fused to prevent further pain. We will discuss with you the most appropriate plan of action that addresses your individual case.
Hammer toes:
Hammer toes are contractures of your lesser toes that may cause pain with contact. It can be an isolated deformity but can be also found in conjunction with a bunion. If conservative treatments such as toe sleeves or wider shoes do not relieve pain, there are surgical options to correct the deformity. The surgery is an outpatient procedure and patients may weight bear in a post-operative shoe on the same day.
Flatfoot:
Flatfeet, or pes planus, is a structural deformity in which the arch of the foot collapses. Children commonly have flat feet and develop arches as they progress into adolescence. As a caregiver, it is important to determine if a child is having pain or walking abnormally. This condition is very amenable to conservative treatment such as physical therapy and orthoses. In rare instances, surgical intervention may be a consideration.
Adult-acquired flatfeet is a deformity that can be caused by injury or stress over time. When pain develops, it is important to see a foot and ankle specialist to determine the extent of the deformity. If the medial arch is able to correct itself with certain clinical maneuvers, it is noted to be a flexible deformity. A flexible deformity is usually amenable to conservative treatments. However, when the pain persists and deformity does not correct, or is rigid, surgical intervention may be needed.
Surgical options consist of re-creating an arch to your foot with the utilization of bone cuts and tendon work. We will discuss with you the most appropriate plan of action that addresses your clinical scenario.
High-arched feet:
High-arched feet, or pes cavus, can be a hereditary or acquired foot deformity. Sometimes the underlying cause may be due to neurologic or neuromuscular disorders. Other times, the cause may just be structural in nature.
Similar to flatfeet, high-arched feet can be asymptomatic and people can live their whole life without any problems. However, when foot pain secondary to high-arched feet start to affect your daily activities, treatment options should be considered. Some treatments may be as simple as custom orthoses or bracing, but discussions for surgical intervention may be warranted in certain cases.
At G2 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, we will review non-surgical treatment options for foot pain with you and only recommend surgery if absolutely needed.
Why G2 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine?
To our Ankle Specialist, Dr. Anson Chu patient care is of the utmost importance. He is committed to finding the best treatment plan suited for each patient and exhausting all conservative measures before surgical intervention. He is dedicated to staying up to date with the latest foot and ankle research in order to find the best approach to fit the lifestyle goals of his patients.
G2 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is Richmond & Midlothian VA’s boutique orthopedic surgery and sports medicine practice that focuses on individualized patient care in a comfortable environment. Request an appointment online or give us a call at 804-375-4322 to get started.
