Foot and Ankle Injuries, you can’t ignore

Your feet and ankles support all your weight. Yet we don’t pay enough attention to them. From being stuffed into cramped footwear to the daily workout, the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves in the feet and ankles take a beating every day. As a result, injuries occur and problems develop.

A foot or ankle injury is not limited to these parts of your body. It often affects your knees, hips, and even the spine. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the damage this can cause and this can further worsen their condition.

Here is a look at a few foot and ankle problems that you can’t ignore.

Achilles Tendonitis

The Achilles Tendon is the largest tendon in the body that connects your calf muscles to the heel. An overuse injury to this tendon can cause inflammation, aching and stiffness. Achilles tendonitis is often seen in runners and middle-aged weekend athletes. Left untreated, it can worsen into a chronic, painful condition that increases chances of a tendon rupture and the surgery to repair it.

Ankle sprain

Ankle sprainsare common injuries to the ankle ligaments. Over-stretching of the ligaments can result in partial or complete tears. Severe pain can limit movement and cause serious pain. See the foot doctor right away. Left untreated, the ligament tears may become larger, resulting in long-term or permanent joint instability, loss of flexion, and arthritis.

Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma (metatarsalgia) is the result of swelling in the nerve in the foot that carries sensation from the toes. Morton’s neuroma limits yourfoot’s weight-bearing capacity and causes pain in the ball of thefoot. Lack of treatment can lead to the need for surgery and/or permanent nerve damage.

Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a thick tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects the heel bone to the toes. The most common symptom is heel pain. Left untreated, small tears form, pain gets worse, and the fascia may rupture. Even a heel spur may develop. Custom orthotics and other treatments by your podiatrist can greatly help in helping you back on your feet.

Fractures

• Big toe–When left untreated, a fractured big toe bone may grow back the wrong way. This will require surgery. A badly healed big toe fracture can impact your gait, leading to further issues in your spine, hips and knees.
• Sesamoid - These are small bones are located in the ball of the foot. An acute fracture may be caused by an injury. A chronic fracture creates persistent pain in the ball of the foot. If not treated, sesamoid bone fractures can reduce strength and mobility in the big toe. Sometimes, a lesion may form beneath the ball of the foot, causing difficulty and pain while walking, and arthritis in the long-term.
• Talus - The talus is a small, dome-shaped bone between the heel bone, and the two bones of the lower leg. Talus injuries are usually related to high-impact sporting accidents. If the talus fracture doesn’t heal, foot function is compromised, resulting chronic pain and even bone collapse.

If you are looking for the best foot surgery doctor or foot orthotics treatment in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ, call Oasis Foot and Ankle Center at 602-993-2700 right away.

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oasisfootankle Joined: June 25th, 2018