Foot and Ankle Pain Treatment

Because the average person takes about 10,000 steps per day, foot and ankle pain can disrupt your entire life. At Virtua Orthopedics & Spine, our foot and ankle team can keep you on your feet by evaluating, diagnosing, and treating common and complex foot and ankle conditions.

Signs and Symptoms of Foot and Ankle Conditions

Sometimes, foot and ankle pain can be treated with a few days of rest and relaxation. But if you've been dealing with any of these symptoms, it could be a sign of a serious injury or condition that requires specialized care:

• Persistent pain—sharp or dull—that lasts for more than two days
• Stiffness or the inability to rotate and stretch your ankle
• Instability or the unexplained loss of balance
• Swelling that lasts for more than 48 hours
• Popping or snapping noises
• An out-of-place limb or joint

Types of Foot and Ankle Conditions

Featuring 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles—your feet and ankles are incredibly susceptible to injuries and issues due to how much we use them. At Virtua Orthopedics & Spine, our board-certified podiatrists and sports medicine specialists can treat all foot and ankle conditions, including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Sprains and fractures
• Bunions
• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Heel spurs
• Ganglion cysts
• Gout
• Hammertoe
• Metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of your foot)
• Neuromas (growth of nerve cells following a nerve injury)

Our Approach to Foot and Ankle Pain at Virtua

During your consultation, a Virtua podiatrist or sport medicine specialist will thoroughly examine your foot and ankle. This might include feeling for warmth and tenderness, measuring your range of motion, and identifying any unusual issues. From there, we might recommend additional testing, including:

• MRI or CT scan: These tests will capture clear images that can show issues affecting your bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments, and blood vessels in your feet or ankles.
• X-ray: This common test can detect fractures, broken bones, and arthritis in your feet.
• Blood tests: We might order this screening to see if an infection is causing you pain.

Foot and Ankle Pain Treatment at Virtua

Whether you're dealing with pain from arthritis, a sudden injury, or a more complex condition, our foot and ankle specialists are here for you. At Virtua Orthopedics & Spine, our specialists will create personalized treatment plans designed to address whatever it is you're experiencing.

Depending on the severity of your foot and ankle condition, here's how we might approach your care:

• Pain management: A regimen of anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroid injections could help with arthritis-related pain in your feet and ankles. We might also recommend a brace, splint, or inserts to help relieve and treat symptoms.
• Physical therapy: Our team of therapists will develop strength-building exercises and activities that can improve and restore mobility in your feet.
• Surgery: If your foot and ankle are not responding to conservative treatment methods, surgery might be your best option. Our team utilizes minimally invasive techniques whenever possible to repair and replace tendons, cartilage, ligaments, and other issues.