Are you dealing with numbness, tingling, or muscle cramps in your feet? If so, you could be dealing with poor circulation. Your feet must be getting proper blood flow, as this can provide the tissue with the oxygen and nutrients they need to stay healthy. Unfortunately, as we get older, we’re more likely to deal with poor circulation. If you are experiencing symptoms of poor circulation in your feet, you must seek podiatry care from a qualified foot doctor.

• A “pins and needles” sensation in your feet
• Changes in the color of your feet
• Swelling
• Cold feet
• Heaviness
• Pain
• Numbness or tingling

• Age: As we get older most people will deal with some degree of decreased blood flow.
• Inactive lifestyle: If you lead a sedentary lifestyle you are more likely to deal with blood flow issues, especially as you get older. We see this most often in seniors who have mobility issues and can’t stay active.
• Overweight or obese: Being overweight or obese also puts a lot of stress on the body, causing the heart to work harder to pump out blood to the rest of the body including the feet.
• Smoking: Smoking restricts blood flow, which makes it more difficult for blood to reach the feet. Smoking can also increase your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• Diabetes: Diabetes can increase your risk for inflammation, poor circulation, and even nerve damage in the feet (known as neuropathy). You must work with your doctor and a podiatrist to control your blood sugar to reduce your risk.

A podiatrist can help you with a variety of conditions that affect the feet, including Morton’s neuroma. A neuroma is the thickening of nerve tissue in the body, with Morton's neuroma specifically happening in the ball of the foot. It’s caused by an irritation in the nerve between the third and fourth toes. Patients experience pain while walking, with a burning, tingling, or numbness. 

• Trauma or injury to the foot, damaging the nerve and resulting in swelling.
• Improper footwear, like shoes that squeeze the foot together. High heels also increase pressure on the vulnerable areas.
• Recurring stress to the feet through repeated physical activities or exercise. This is common with patients who are constantly on their feet due to their job. 
• Deformities of the foot, like a high arch or flat foot. These lead to instability throughout the foot. 

• Taping and padding: This is a special type of tape and bandages that you place on the bottom of the foot. This helps with your symptoms. 
• Orthotics: These are the custom shoes that your podiatrist can create for you. 
• Medication: Cortisone injections reduce the pain and inflammation in the foot. Anti-inflammatory drugs also reduce your swelling. 
• Surgery is the last resort for treatment. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis. The injured nerve is removed and recovery takes a few weeks.

The arches of the feet play a role in supporting your body’s weight when standing or in motion. The tarsal and metatarsal bones make up the arches of the feet, also receiving additional support and stability from tendons and ligaments; however, our feet, like the rest of our body, can be affected by infections, disorders, and structural changes that can impact not only the health of our feet but also our mobility. It’s important to recognize the warning signs of arch problems so you know when you to see a podiatrist.

Arch Pain Causes

If you are dealing with arch pain it is most likely caused by an injury or by structural abnormalities in the foot. For example, those with very high arches as well as those with flat feet may experience arch problems due to these common structural issues.

As a result, there are other factors that could also lead to further arch problems including:

• Being overweight or obese
• Aging
• Plantar fasciitis
• Cavus foot
• Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

It’s important to understand a little bit more about these common foot disorders and how they could affect the arches of your feet.

Plantar fasciitis

This condition that causes inflammation and microtears in the plantar fascia is also the most common cause of heel pain. Of course, because the plantar fascia (a ligament that connects the toes to the heel bone) also supports the arches of the feet this can also lead to arch pain. This condition is usually the result of overuse and is seen most often in runners. If you have plantar fasciitis it’s important to avoid physical activities until the fascia has fully healed.

Cavus foot

This condition, which affects the structure of the foot, leads to excessively high arches. People who’ve had a stroke, as well as people with certain conditions such as cerebral palsy may be more likely to develop cavus foot. This problem causes arch pain when standing or walking and can increase the risk for ankle injuries. Your podiatrist may choose to treat cavus foot through custom-made orthotics (shoe inserts), bracing, or by recommending specialized and supportive footwear.

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

The posterior tibial tendon runs from the calf muscles to the inner portion of the foot. This condition leads to changes in the tendon, which in turn affects its ability to support the arches of the foot. Flat feet can be caused by posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and this is often the cause of flat feet that develop in adulthood. Like the other conditions above, treatment for PTTD usually involves bracing, orthotics, or providing custom devices that provide additional support to the arches of the feet.

If you are experiencing foot pain, swelling or other problems that affect mobility then it’s time that you turned to a podiatrist for care. Conditions and injuries that don’t respond to rest and at-home care may require more advanced treatments and therapies.

There are 52 bones in your feet and ankles, which means that feet contain about 25 percent of the bones in our bodies. Our feet also contain about 20-25 percent of the total joints in our body; therefore, it’s not too surprising to find out that your feet and ankles are unfortunately more likely to deal with tendon and joint pain at some point, whether through injury or certain conditions such as arthritis. When pain and other foot problems arise it’s important that you have a podiatrist you can turn to.

Common Causes of Tendon and Joint Pain in the Feet

Tendons are soft tissues that connect the muscles to the bones. Everything from overuse and foot injuries to structural imbalances can lead to pain. Common causes of tendon and joint pain include:

• Tendonitis: inflammation of the tendon caused by injury or overuse
• Sprains and strains: a common but usually minor foot and ankle injury, typically caused by physical activity
• Arthritis: a chronic, progressive condition that leads to joint pain, stiffness, and damage (osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to affect feet and ankles)
• Obesity: being overweight or obese can also put excessive pressure on the joints and tendons of your feet and ankles, leading to pain and other problems

Treating Tendon and Joint Pain

Visiting a podiatrist is the best choice you can make if you are dealing with severe, persistent, or new foot and ankle pain. Since some conditions can get worse without proper care and rest it’s important to find out what’s causing your pain so you know how to effectively treat it.

If you are dealing with pain caused by a sports injury or strain it’s a good idea to see a medical professional so you know the extent of the injury. More severe sprains may require protective boots or crutches to reduce the amount of weight being placed on the injured ankle or foot.

Arthritis is also a surprisingly common cause of foot pain. If you notice joint pain and stiffness that affects functionality, range of motion and mobility in your feet then you could be dealing with arthritis. Since arthritis can get worse without treatment, it is important that you work with your pediatrician and a team of medical professionals to determine the best medications and course of action to help manage your foot pain and to prevent permanent joint damage.

If you are experiencing foot pain it’s important to see a qualified medical professional that can determine the best way to treat your symptoms. Call your podiatrist today for a comprehensive evaluation.

It’s important to know when it’s time to consider foot and ankle surgery.

Surgery isn’t always necessary; however, it’s important to recognize when nonsurgical treatments just aren’t cutting it. This is when our Colorado Springs, CO, podiatrists Dr. Eric Gessner, Dr. Bryan Groth, and Dr. Jacob Fassman can step in and discuss whether foot and ankle surgery may provide you with the very best outcome for your health.

While there are many foot and ankle conditions that can be treated or managed through nonsurgical treatment options, there are instances where surgery may actually end up being the better approach. Some foot and ankle conditions that could benefit from surgery include:

Bunions

A bunion is a common foot deformity that pushes the joint at the base of the big toe out of alignment, causing the joint to stick out. A bunion can be managed through nonsurgical options such as splinting, icing, massage therapy, and proper footwear; however, if the bunion is very large, causes severe pain that doesn’t respond to conservative treatment or is affecting mobility then it’s time to speak with out Colorado Springs foot doctors about whether surgery may be the next best option.

Ankle Arthritis

If arthritis is detected early enough this progressive condition that causes joint damage can be slowed through the use of medication; however, some forms of arthritis can cause significant joint damage that causes severe pain and difficulty walking. If arthritis has caused extensive joint damage then a podiatric surgeon may recommend surgery to repair and replace the damaged joint or joints.

Chronic Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes inflammation within the ligament of the foot known as the plantar fascia. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain and while rest and conservative care is often all that’s needed to make a full recovery, sometimes plantar fasciitis can become chronic. If your heel pain is unresponsive to other treatment options then surgery may be necessary to release the plantar fascia and reduce inflammation and tension.

It may be time to visit a foot and ankle surgeon if you are dealing with:

• Any abnormal changes in the structure or appearance of your foot or ankle
• Persistent or severe pain and swelling
• Tingling, numbness, or burning in the foot
• Decreased mobility
• A foot or ankle injury
• A health problem that impacts the health of your feet (e.g. neuropathy; diabetes)

With a brand new ADDITIONAL office location in Colorado Springs opening in March, Colorado Foot and Ankle will be able to provide foot and ankle care to even more patients. If you are dealing with foot and ankle pain or have any questions about foot and ankle surgery then schedule a consultation with us at (719) 475-8080.