Common Sources of Foot Pain and How We Can Help

When your feet hurt, you hurt all over. Here at Providence Foot Health Center in Washington, DC, your podiatrist, Dr. James Mintzer, helps people who have sore bunions, ingrown toenails, plantar fasciitis, and more. Read on to learn about how his treatments can help you get your life back.

Causes of foot pain

Sore feet aren't natural. The symptoms may stem from an injury, obesity, impaired nerve function, or circulation or acquired or congenital deformity. Simple overuse from playing sports or going to work can change both your foot structure and function, resulting in soreness and pain.

How we can help

Healthline reports that bunions, ingrown toenails, and plantar fasciitis are on the list of top foot and ankle issues in the US. Dr. Mintzer sees numerous patients with these problems. By examining foot structure and gait in our Washington, DC, office, he formulates treatment plans for bunions and other conditions. These plans often involve lifestyle changes and simple in-office interventions that relieve pain, increase mobility, and typically allow you to avoid surgery.

Here is some information on these issues and what can be done to help them:

Bunions: A bony bump on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe, a bunion causes extreme soreness, corns, calluses, and general changes in foot structure. Also called Hallux valgus, a bunion progresses unless treated, t may cause the big toe to cross over the second and even third toes of the foot.

To treat a bunion, Dr. Mintzer may ask you to wear shoe orthotics or padding to reduce friction. Wider, low-heels shoes help too. Over-the-counter analgesics or cortisone shots relieve pain and swelling, and stretching exercises help retain joint range of motion. As the last option, surgical removal of the bunion (bunionectomy) re-aligns the joint.

Ingrown toenails: Typically caused by the improper cutting of the nails and by tight shoes, ingrown toenails invade the skin of the toes. Inflammation and pain result and ingrown toenails may become infected, as well. Soaking at home and wearing clean, properly fitting socks helps. In the office, Dr. Mintzer may trim the nail properly (straight across, not rounding the corners) or perform a partial nail avulsion, or in-office removal of the problem nail.

Plantar fasciitis: This inflammatory condition comes from poor placement of the foot as you walk. Due to overpronation, or the twisting of the foot toward the midline, the connective tissue along the arch becomes overstretched and inflamed. Additionally, the heel bone may develop a painful spur. To correct this condition, Dr. Mintzer may advise rest, ice, and elevation of the foot. Additionally, shoe orthotics and well-supportive footwear corrects poor gait and evenly distributes body weight.

Don't wait

At Providence Foot Health Center in Washington, DC, Dr. James Mintzer and his team will get to the source of your discomfort and correct it. Call us today for a consultation: (202) 269-4062.