Foot Pain Specialist

Seeking a Foot Pain Specialist in Mesquite, Nevada, or St. George, Utah?

Our feet are the foundation for nearly everything we do throughout the day. From exercising to chasing kids and grandkids to driving, our feet make it possible to get around and take care of business. Never is this more evident than when it hurts just to get out of bed. When every step makes you mentally say, “Ouch,” you know you’re in for a rough day.

Over-the-counter pain meds can take the edge off for a while, but they don’t last forever and can often cause side effects like upset stomachs. You end up popping pills like Tic Tacs just to get through the day. This onslaught of chemicals over time can damage your liver, which filters medications out of your blood.

Or, you can look for a foot pain specialist in Mesquite, Nevada, or St. George, Utah, who can find you lasting solutions.

What Causes Foot Pain?

While there can be multiple causes at once, here are the main foot injuries and conditions we see every day.

Direct Trauma: Pain is a natural result of trauma. People step on nails and broken glass and slip on rocks. Something can fall on the foot, breaking a bone and bruising the soft tissue. Sometimes, it seems like the only reason for a baby toe is to find furniture in the dark.

Overuse Fractures: The small bones of the foot can handle a lot of stress, but they have their limits. If one part of the foot gets disproportionately more of the load because the foot is at the wrong angle—or you go on a hike much longer than your body was prepared for—the stress can cause cracks in the bones.

Body Alignment: The body is a finely calibrated machine. Each joint has an optimal angle and range of motion. When one part of the body is hurt, the rest of the body can overcompensate, putting unusual stress on the other moving parts. When a person gains weight and their feet carry a heavier load than they’re designed to carry for months or years, it can cause the arch to fail, turning the ankle inward and affecting both the knees and hips. The foot strikes the ground at the wrong angle, causing pain in all three joints.

Shoes: The right pair of shoes can give you a bounce in your step that can carry you through the whole day. The wrong shoes can cause a lot of damage and foot pain.

• Elevated heels cause the fascia to shorten. Then, walking barefoot pulls on the shortened fascia, which can inflame the tissue and cause plantar fasciitis.
• Some people step on the outside of their heel and roll to the inner foot at the ball and toe, creating uneven wear and tear. The right shoes will correct your alignment and allow you to work with a more natural gait.
• The wrong shoes can also cause friction, create blisters, pinch the toes, and retain moisture, where fungus can grow.

Sprains and Strains: A sudden misstep can overstretch or even tear the tendons and ligaments in the foot and ankle. This type of sprain or strain makes the foot more prone to injury, can swell and throb, and makes it difficult to stand and walk without pain.

Arthritis: Sustained inflammation in foot joints can deteriorate the cartilage and joints. As damage continues, walking grows more painful.

Our foot pain doctors in Mesquite, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, can conduct a thorough exam to determine the source of your foot pain.

If there are indications of arthritis or a broken bone, your doctor may order an x-ray to confirm or disprove their theory. They may send you to get an MRI if they suspect a soft tissue injury, like a torn ligament or tendon. Additional tests or imaging will depend on the severity of symptoms.

Once your foot doctor has a clear understanding of your condition, he or she will help you understand the diagnosis, treatment options, and what to expect. Together, you will devise a treatment plan that suits your unique needs. Treatment options may include:

• Pain medications and anti-inflammatories
• Physical therapy: Strong muscles may compensate to help out weaker muscles or to protect a painful injury while the injured muscles and structures lose strength. This causes unbalanced stress. Physical therapy works to even things out, improving function, alignment, flexibility, stability, and overall strength for long-term success.
• Orthotic shoes and insoles: When people have flat feet, fallen arches, or roll their feet in or out as they walk, specially designed shoes can provide support and stability to encourage more natural movement. Custom orthotics are good for protecting bunions, hammertoes, and other abnormalities. They are also an excellent option for people who are on their feet all day, such as factory workers, teachers, nurses, and more.
• Corrective devices: Sometimes, the joint needs extra support due to an injury, congenital disease, or medical procedures. Braces, walking boots, and other similar structures can help prevent further injury.
• Topical treatments: Sometimes, foot pain comes from a skin condition, like athlete’s foot, plantar warts, or toenail fungus. A medication or topical ointment could be the best solution in such cases.
• Surgery: Surgery may be the right decision if there are broken bones that need more than a splint to heal or your foot pain comes from a condition that can’t be remedied by physical therapy or corrective devices. In such cases, your foot pain surgeon will go over your options and how to get the best possible results.