Toe, Foot & Ankle Problems

Our world-renowned orthopedic surgeons and orthopedists are experts in their fields with specialized training to provide the optimal diagnosis and treatment for a range of orthopedic conditions. We are internationally recognized for delivering the highest-quality orthopedic care to our patients. 

Everyone has likely had a minor problem with a toe, foot or ankle. Most of the time, daily physical movements don’t cause problems; however, everyday wear and tear and overuse can lead to problems, as can the natural aging process.

In such instances, the toes, feet or ankles may burn, sting, hurt, feel tired, sore, stiff, numb, tingly, hot or cold. You may experience a charley horse (muscle cramp) in your foot while lying in bed at night. Your feet or ankles may change color or swell. You may notice an embarrassing odor from your feet. Some changes in your feet and ankles are normal as a person ages or during pregnancy. For such conditions, home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve symptoms.

Most skin problems that affect feet are more annoying than they are serious. Some of the following symptoms may indicate a specific condition. 

• A feeling of walking on pebbles may indicate plantar warts on the bottom of the feet. 
• Patches of thick, tough skin on the heel or ball of the foot may indicate a callus, corn, blister or skin growth.
• Red, peeling, cracking, burning and itchy skin between the toes or on the bottoms of feet may indicate athlete’s foot or a reaction to shoes (shoe dermatitis).
• Red, swollen and painful skin around a toenail may indicate an ingrown nail or infection around the nail (paronychia).
• Red, swollen foot soles that are painful to the touch or when walking may indicate a bacterial infection; public showers, hot tubs and swimming pools are common areas where bacterial infections, athlete’s foot and warts can spread.

You may develop pain in the front (ball) of the foot (metatarsalgia) or in the heel. Heel problems commonly occur when you overuse calf muscles, wear shoes with high heels or participate in activities, such as running, that cause repeated pounding on the heels.

• Sharp pain on the bottom of a heel may indicate plantar fasciitis.
• Pain in the back of a heel and ankle may indicate Achilles tendinitis or tendinosis (tendinopathy) or retrocalcaneal bursitis.
• Pain that worsens before or after exercise but improves during exercise may indicate a stress fracture of a bone in a foot (usually a metatarsal bone).
• Small bony growths under a heel bone may indicate a heel spur.
• Pain in the midfoot may indicate fallen arches or flatfoot. 
• Pain or a bump on the back of a heel may indicate a type of bursitis called Haglund’s deformity.

Many conditions may affect the nerves of the foot and cause the above symptoms.

• Pain, numbness, tingling or burning that occurs between the toes, especially the third and fourth toes, and in the ball of the foot may indicate a growth around the nerves (Morton’s neuroma).
• Pain, numbness and tingling that begins in the back or buttock, moves down the leg and into the foot may indicate sciatica, caused by a pinched nerve (nerve root compression).
• Foot and ankle pain that occurs with numbness and weakness in the foot may indicate a pinched nerve in the ankle (tarsal tunnel syndrome) or back (sciatica).
• Burning, numbness or lack of feeling in the feet may indicate poor circulation, especially in people who have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease; this circulation problem can lead to nerve damage (peripheral neuropathies). Foot problems are more likely to develop in people who have these conditions.