Foot and Ankle Pain

Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of a joint and is very common in the small joints of the ankle and foot. Several types of arthritis can affect the foot and ankle:

Osteoarthritis most often affects those during and after middle age. When the cartilage that protects the joints wears away, the bones rub against each other causing pain and stiffness. Other risk factors are family history and obesity.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the tissue covering the joint. This causes damage to the cartilage and bone. Joint deformity and disability are often the results.
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the big toe and other joints. Some risk factors include heavy alcohol intake, obesity and high blood pressure.
Arthritis can result from trauma to the foot or ankle such as fractures and dislocations.

Symptoms

Pain with motion
Tenderness
Joint swelling
Joint warmth
Difficulty walking

Bunions

A bunion is a bump on the base of the big toe joint.

Bunions can cause severe pain because this big toe joint carries much of the body’s weight. Wearing tight or narrow shoes can aggravate the bunion. Those with flat feet or low arches are prone to bunions, as are people with arthritis or inflammatory joint disease.

Symptoms

Callus or bump on the base of the big toe on the outside of the foot
Pain, swelling or redness
Callus development under the ball of the foot
Developing hammertoes
Irritated skin including corns where the first and second toes overlap
Painful and restricted big toe motion

Hammertoe

Arthritis is inflammation of a joint and is very common in the small joints of the ankle and foot. Several types of arthritis can affect the foot and ankle:

Osteoarthritis most often affects those during and after middle age. When the cartilage that protects the joints wears away, the bones rub against each other causing pain and stiffness. Other risk factors are family history and obesity.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the tissue covering the joint. This causes damage to the cartilage and bone. Joint deformity and disability are often the results.
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the big toe and other joints. Some risk factors include heavy alcohol intake, obesity and high blood pressure.
Arthritis can result from trauma to the foot or ankle such as fractures and dislocations.

Symptoms

Pain with motion
Tenderness
Joint swelling
Joint warmth
Difficulty walking

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis occurs when the Fascia band of tissue in the arch of the foot becomes inflamed, causing sharp pain in the heel of the foot.

Symptoms

Pain on the bottom of the heel
Increased pain after exercise
Pain in the arch of the foot
A swollen heel
Pain that continues for months.
A tight Achilles tendon

Neuroma

A neuroma is a nerve tissue growth often located between the third and fourth toes. Although benign, a neuroma can be painful with a burning sensation or numbness.

Symptoms

Pain between the toes when walking
Feeling like there is a stone in the shoe
Numbness or tingling in the ball of the foot
Pain in the ball of the foot with weight-bearing.
Swelling between the toes