Your feet and ankles have complex anatomical structures comprising numerous bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. And because your feet and ankles bear the weight of your body while providing support, posture, and balance, they are susceptible to numerous conditions and diseases that may affect their health. If you have a condition affecting your foot and ankle, you must visit an Alamo Heights podiatrist immediately for diagnosis, treatment, and management. A podiatrist often treats problems in your ankle and foot, such as fallen arches, ingrown toenails, and many others.
When you are feeling pain and discomfort in your foot and ankle, that is a way your body is informing you there is a serious or developing health issue. A podiatrist has the education and experience to identify the underlying health problem affecting your foot and ankle and prescribe the right treatment approach to ensure a quick recovery.
Consequently, below are signs you may need to visit the podiatrist’s office immediately.
- Heel pain
Your heel pain may come from plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, joint inflammation, inflammatory joint disease, stress fractures, a bone infection, or tarsal tunnel syndrome.
For instance, tarsal tunnel syndrome is a heel pain and tingling sensation that results from compression of the posterior tibial nerve as it passes via the tarsal tunnel. The tarsal tunnel stretches across your foot and provides a passage for blood vessels, nerves, and tendons, allowing flexibility and movement of your feet.
- Sports injuries
According to the CDC, more than 40% of injuries from recreational and athletic activities affect your lower extremities, including the legs, ankles, and feet.
Baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, volleyball, football, soccer, and running are common sports that make you prone to foot and ankle injuries.
A podiatrist can treat injuries related to sports like athlete’s foot, ankle sprains, and shin splints. Shin splints refer to the pain and discomfort emanating from the overuse of the connective tissues attaching your muscles to the bone and your shin bone, which is the large bone in the front of the lower leg.
Shin splints often affect military recruits, dancers, and runners. As a runner, you may experience shin splints when you intensify or change your training activities.
If you are also starting to run regularly, you may need to visit your podiatrist to help you assess potential issues and how to avoid them.
- Diabetes
Over time, high blood glucose in your bloodstream may cause damage to the nerves in your foot and ankle, a condition referred to as diabetic neuropathy.
Thus, you may feel tingling and pain, making you lose feeling in your ankles and feet. Sometimes, diabetic neuropathy may even cause your leg to require amputation.
- Arthritis
According to the CDC, more than 55 million Americans have arthritis diagnosed by a doctor. Arthritis usually affects the small joints and cartilage in your ankle and foot.
When one or more joints in your ankle and foot become inflamed, it may be difficult for you to walk or participate in daily activities.
Contact Marque Allen, DPM, FACFAS, today to schedule an appointment with a specialist in foot and ankle problems.