Scottsdale, AZ - Non-Surgical Orthopedic Options for Painful Foot Issues
A lot of people put up with sore feet for a surprisingly long time. They buy new insoles at the drugstore. They switch to sandals, then switch back. Someone’s big toe gets so stiff that the last climb on the Pinnacle Peak trail turns into a slog, and someone else gets a burning spot under the ball of the foot every time they walk the back nine. By the time they call us, it’s been bugging them for months. The good part is that most of these problems settle down with simple, non-surgical care.
Figuring Out What’s Wrong
There are 26 bones in each foot, plus a mess of tendons and ligaments, so it helps to start with where it hurts. Here’s what we usually think of first:
- Heel pain that’s worst on the first steps of the day: plantar fasciitis
- Burning or numbness between the third and fourth toes: a pinched nerve called a Morton’s neuroma
- A big toe that won’t bend much and aches when you push off: arthritis in that joint
- A bump on the side of the big toe that rubs your shoes raw: a bunion
- An ache on the inside of the ankle while the arch slowly drops: a tired tendon that’s supposed to hold the arch up
How Feet End Up Sore
Usually it’s the shoes, at least partly. Pointy dress shoes cram the toes together. Sneakers lose their cushion way before they look worn out, and flip-flops give the arch zero help. On top of that, calves tighten up with age, the pad under the heel gets thinner, and joints stiffen. Then you add a new hobby or a trip to Europe with fifteen thousand steps a day, and the foot finally complains.
How We Treat It
You’ll walk for us with your shoes on and then barefoot. We’ll press around until we find what’s tender, bend the big toe and ankle, and turn your shoes over to see where they’re wearing down. Sometimes an X-ray helps.
The plan depends on the problem. Heel pain responds well to calf and arch stretches, plus strength work for the little muscles under your foot. A neuroma or bunion often calms down in a roomier shoe, sometimes with a small pad that spreads the pressure out. A stiff big toe does better in a shoe with a firm sole that doesn’t make the joint bend as much. When something stays inflamed despite all that, a cortisone shot is an option.
If your feet have been making every step harder than it should be, come see us at Modern Medicine of Phoenix, AZ. We’ll figure out what’s going on and help you get back on your feet comfortably.
