The human foot and ankle contain 33 joints, 26 bones and over 100 tendons, ligaments and muscles. While all of these parts of the foot should work together, there are certain conditions, injuries and diseases that can affect the health and functioning of your foot or ankle. There are many instances in which you should turn to a podiatrist for individualized care that you can trust time and time again.

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendinitis
• Heel pain
• Ankle sprains and fractures
• Foot fractures
• Sports-related injuries
• Bunions and hammertoes
• Corns and calluses
• Diabetic foot care
• Fungal infections
• Ingrown toenails
• Heel spurs

Your feet hurt along the arch and heel when you walk or take a run. To uncover the problem and treat it, consult the experts at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists in Turnersville and Pennsauken, NJ. Often it is plantar fasciitis, and he'll prescribe simple treatment modalities to help you manage it. You can function and feel much better!

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of connective tissue running along the arch of the foot between the heel bone and the toes. It provides substantial support to your foot particularly when you are in motion.

Nearly two million people have plantar fasciitis, says the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), and frequently, the condition is associated with overpronation, a defect in how you place your feet on the ground and on factors such as:

• Obesity
• Repetitive motion, such as jumping or running
• A high arch structure

How your podiatrist can help

At Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists in Turnersville and Pennsauken, your podiatrist will examine your foot, take digital X-rays and/or an MRI and watch how you walk (gait analysis). This information, along with a review of your symptoms, can confirm a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.

Your prescribed treatment can vary, but likely, it will be simple and non-invasive. Surgery is rarely used unless severe symptoms continue for more than one year, states the AAOS.

Most care plans include some of the following:

• Stretching exercises, particularly for the calf muscle and arch of the foot
• Shoe orthotics, customized inserts, to correct gait issues
• Rest
• Ice
• Elevation as needed
• Cortisone injections to reduce inflammation
• Night splints
• Supportive shoes with thick soles

While many people with plantar fasciitis also have spurs off the front of the heel bone, podiatrists typically do not remove these small bony projections.

Don't suffer with foot pain

You can be on your feet and return to your normal activities when you receive care for your plantar fasciitis at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists. Call one of our two office for an appointment. In Turnersville, phone (856) 875-8855, or for the Pennsauken location, call (856) 488-5290.

Is heel pain keeping you down? Pain that occurs following an injury or early in an illness may play a protective role, warning us about the damage we have suffered. So what causes heel pain?

Understanding Heel Pain with Help from Your Podiatrist

• Wear shoes that fit well
• Wear proper shoes for each activity
• Do not wear shoes with excessive wear on heels or soles
• Prepare properly before exercising by stretching and warming up
• Pace yourself when you participate in athletic activities
• Don’t underestimate your body’s need for rest and good nutrition
• Lose excess weight

Heel pain is one of the most common complaints a podiatrist hears about from patients. If you are dealing with heel pain above the heel bone then you could be dealing with Achilles Tendonitis, a result of overuse. The Achilles tendon is the longest tendon in the body and it serves to connect the muscles of the calf with the lower leg and heel bone.

While Achilles Tendonitis tends to occur most often in runners, this condition can still occur in athletes that play certain sports such as soccer or tennis. Unfortunately, this tendon does weaken as we get older, which makes at an increased risk for developing this overuse injury as we age.

What are the symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis?

The most obvious symptom of Achilles Tendonitis is pain above the heel bone. When the pain first appears it’s usually pretty mild and you may only notice it after running; however, over time you may notice that the pain gets worse after certain exercises. Along with pain you may also experience stiffness or tenderness in the heel, especially in the morning or after long periods of sitting.

When should I see a podiatrist?

If this is the first time that you’ve ever experienced heel pain then it’s a good idea to turn to a foot doctor who can determine whether Achilles Tendonitis is causing your symptoms or whether it’s something else. If you’re experiencing chronic heel pain around the Achilles tendon it’s also a good time to see a doctor. If the pain is severe or you are unable to put weight on your foot it’s possible that you might be dealing with a ruptured tendon, which requires immediate attention.

How do you treat Achilles Tendonitis?

In most cases, Achilles Tendonitis can be treated with simple self-care options. Unless symptoms are severe you may be able to treat your heel pain by:

• Taking over-the-counter pain medications
• Avoiding high-impact activities or activities that exacerbate symptoms
• Elevating the foot to reduce swelling
• Performing stretching exercises or undergoing physical therapy
• Icing the heel
• Wearing custom orthotics
• Replacing worn-out shoes, especially running shoes

Surgery is only necessary if your symptoms aren’t responding to any other nonsurgical treatment options after several months or if the tendon is torn.

If you think your heel pain could be the result of Achilles Tendonitis then it’s time to turn to a podiatrist as soon as possible. A podiatrist can provide you with a variety of treatment options, from simple lifestyle modifications to custom orthotics.

At Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists in Pennsauken and Turnersville, your podiatrist specializes in everything related to your feet and ankles. Whether you are experiencing problems walking, have skin issues, or need diabetic shoes, we can treat your issues and help you live a better life. Are you experiencing foot pain? Read on to learn how we can uncover the reasons why and make you feel better.

Why do my feet hurt?

There are a number of possibilities. At Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists in Turnersville and Pennsauken, we are experts in foot anatomy and have the skills to discover your source of foot pain and how to treat it. We use visual inspection, gait analysis (how you walk), and sophisticated imaging techniques, such as digital X-rays, CAT scans and MRIs, to see inside your feet and to discover the deformities and conditions which cause pain.

Common sources of foot pain are:

• Plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the connective tissue between the heel and the toes
• Bunions at the base of the big toes
• Hammertoes, a claw-like deformity of the second, third, fourth, and fifth toes
• Arthritis and bursitis
• Heel spurs, which are often associated with plantar fasciitis
• Neuromas, which are benign tumors located between the third and fourth toes
• Flat feet--either congenital or acquired through age, obesity or overuse
• Stress fractures, a common overuse injury suffered by athletes

Getting relief
After examining your feet, your podiatrist will put you on a care plan to resolve your pain. Surgery is not usually the first choice, as simpler interventions often work extremely well. Treatments for your foot pain can include:

• A change in footwear to something which is more supportive
• Rest, ice, and elevation
• Analgesic medications
• Shoe padding to relieve friction
• Shoe inserts, or orthotics, which are custom-made to cushion, support, and provide gait correction
• Cortisone injections to reduce inflammation
• Physical therapy and stretching exercises
• Diabetic foot wear
• Soft casts and crutches
• Corrective and supportive splints

Contact us
The last thing you should do is suffer foot pain. You can have happy, functional feet with compassionate treatment from your podiatrists at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists. For an appointment, call the office nearest you. In Turnersville, phone (856) 875-8855, and for the Pennsauken location, call (856) 488-5290.