Common Foot and Ankle Injuries

Find out which foot injuries require a trip to the podiatrist's office.

Foot pain is never normal and yet it’s something that the majority of Americans have dealt with. Foot pain and injuries can greatly impact your life and affect what activities you can enjoy. Here in Pennsauken, and Turnersville, NJ, our podiatrists have seen a wide range of foot and ankle injuries but here are the most common ones, and how we treat them.

Stress Fractures

If you participate in high-impact activities such as running, you may be prone to stress fractures. Signs of a stress fracture include severe pain, swelling, tenderness, and even bruising.

• When to see a doctor: If you suspect that you might have a stress fracture you must see your Turnersville, NJ, podiatrist as soon as possible. You want to make sure that you get the proper care to prevent the bone from breaking completely.
• How to treat it: While waiting to see the podiatrist it’s best to rest the foot as much as possible, making sure to elevate, ice, and use compression bandages to help ease pain and swelling. Your podiatrist will provide you with treatment options and care instructions depending on the severity of the stress fracture.

Plantar Fasciitis

This inflammatory condition is the main cause of heel pain and surfaces as a result of overuse. If you experience pain on the bottom of the heel that is worse in the morning, then chances are good that it’s plantar fasciitis. It can take several weeks for plantar fasciitis to go away.

• When to see a doctor: While heel pain can often be treated at home with rest and proper care, you may want to see your podiatrist if your heel pain is getting worse, doesn’t respond to home care, or is severe.
• How to treat it: Plantar fasciitis can often be treated with rest, icing, compression, and foot exercises. You may also want to brace the foot while sleeping to reduce pain and stiffness in the morning.

Ankle Sprains

Around 25,000 people sprain their ankles every day in the US, and each year more than 1 million people go to the ER for ankle injuries. A sprain occurs when the ligaments on the outside of the ankle become overstretched or torn.

• When to see a doctor: if you experience severe pain or swelling, or if you can’t put weight on the ankle without dealing with pain, then you must turn to our Pennsauken, NJ, podiatrist for care.
• How to treat it: Minor ankle sprains can be eased through the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation), but more severe sprains may benefit from an ankle boot, crutches, bracing, physical therapy, and special exercises.

The podiatrists at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists provide comprehensive care to the Pennsauken and Turnersville, NJ, communities. If you are dealing with a foot or ankle injury and need to see a specialist, call us today at (856) 488-5290 or (856) 875-8855.