From walking the dog to navigating the grocery store, foot pain and ankle pain can interfere with your daily routine. Our foot and ankle specialists offer a range of treatments to help reduce your pain and restore your mobility.
At MU Health Care, we offer complete foot and ankle care in at both of our Missouri Orthopaedic Institute locations in Columbia and Jefferson City, making your diagnosis and treatment more convenient. You’ll receive care from a team of specialists, including orthopaedic surgeons, podiatrists, sports medicine doctors, physical therapists and other experts. Once we have a diagnosis, we’ll help you find the best treatment for your foot or ankle pain based on your specific goals.
When to Seek Help for Foot and Ankle Pain
If you have pain in your ankle, toe, heel or ball of your foot, it’s best not to ignore it. Many types of foot and ankle pain can get worse over time. Schedule an appointment if you have:
- Numbness in your foot
- Pain that limits your ability to walk
- Pain that is severe or lasts longer than a few weeks
- Redness or swelling, which could be signs of infection
- Wounds on your foot that won’t heal
You have several options for getting help for sore feet and ankles, including talking to your primary care provider. Or, you can reach out directly to one of our podiatrists or orthopaedic specialists who specialize in treating foot and ankle pain. Our team will examine your foot, order tests and recommend treatments based on the cause of your pain.
Common Causes of Foot and Ankle Pain
Foot and ankle pain can result from a wide range of conditions, including:
- Achilles tendonitis and other types of inflammation of the foot tendons
- Ankle and foot arthritis
- Ankle instability
- Bone and joint infections
- Bone spurs
- Bunions
- Cavus foot, or high-arched foot
- Clubfoot and other foot deformities
- Diabetic foot wounds and ulcers
- Flatfoot
- Foot paralysis
- Ganglion cysts, which are masses of soft tissue
- Hammertoes
- Heel spurs
- Ingrown toenails
- Neuromas, which are noncancerous nerve tumors
- Pinched nerve (nerve entrapment)
The following injuries also commonly cause foot and ankle pain:
Whether your foot or ankle pain is from an injury or a condition that has developed over time, our team of specialists can help.
How We Diagnose Foot and Ankle Pain at MU Health Care
Because foot and ankle pain can have so many different causes, getting a precise diagnosis is the first step. Our team has the expertise and imaging technology to help uncover the cause of your pain.
At your first visit, we’ll review your medical history and examine your foot and ankle. We may also order X-rays of your foot, ankle or both. Other tests we may order to understand what’s causing your pain include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can help identify foot structures in more detail than an X-ray.
- Computed tomography (CT), which helps doctors see your anatomy and may help them plan a future surgery, if needed.
- Ultrasound, which can examine ligaments, tendons and other soft tissue to identify tendon tears and other issues.
