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Dr. Christopher A. Toth

Common Foot & Ankle Problems

The foot and ankle are two of the most versatile and complex areas of your body. One foot alone contains 26 bones supported by a network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When everything’s working well, we hardly give them a thought. But when a problem arises, it’s often impossible to ignore. Every year, foot and ankle problems account for nearly 5 million visits to the doctor. As always, the first step is determining a proper diagnosis. We offer a proven record of success in treating a wide variety of foot and ankle conditions including:

• fractures and sprains
• tendonitis
• tarsal tunnel syndrome
• plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
• bone spurs
• ankle pain
• Morton’s neuromas
• bunions
• hammertoes
• ingrown toenails
• diabetic foot
• acute/chronic wound

Fortunately, most cases of foot and ankle pain respond well to treatments like rest, ice, orthotics (shoe inserts), prescribed exercises with physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory oral medication. Local cortisone injections can also provide pain relief.

However, when these conservative treatments fail to provide adequate pain relief, surgery may be an option. Often foot and ankle surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using minimally invasive techniques, like ankle arthroscopy, which may cause less risk and pain for you and offer the potential for faster recover time. Whether your condition warrants this type of outpatient procedure or more extensive surgery, like fracture repair, ankle fusion, or flatfoot reconstructions, we are experienced in the latest techniques.

How Joints Work

When you stand, sit, walk, or extend any limb, you use your joints, those miraculous connecting points that support your skeleton, while allowing you to move. Fibers called ligaments form a tough sleeve around each joint preventing it from separating. Cartilage, a smooth plastic-like tissue, coats the ends of some bones and lines sockets to prevent the bones from rubbing against each other. The synovium is a delicate membrane that lines the joint and helps to reduce friction by producing a lubricating fluid.

Causes of Joint Pain

Age, stress, and disease can make joints stiffen in much the same way as wear and a lack of lubrication can cause stiffness and squeaking in mechanical hinges. A joint can be injured as a result of trauma or during sporting activities. But the most common joint problem is arthritis, which affects about 43 million Americans or nearly 20 percent of the population. In patients with arthritis, the joint’s cartilage lining wears away, allowing the bones to rub against each other, resulting in friction, swelling, stiffness, instability, and sometimes deformity. Severe arthritis can cause crippling pain when you bend, walk, climb stairs, or even sit. This constant pain and immobility can dramatically affect your quality of life.

The good news is that no matter what is causing your joint pain, we can help. There are many treatment options and we believe no one should have to just “learn to live with it.”