Foot Pain

The good news is that we make it easy for you to know what to do here at Ripepi Foot & Ankle Clinics. Simply come in and see us, and we will accurately diagnose the condition affecting you before creating an effective treatment plan to resolve the issue. Even better, many causes of foot pain are addressed with conservative (nonsurgical) care. 

• Plantar Fasciitis – When listing causes of heel pain, we start with plantar fasciitis for the simple reason it is, by far, the most common condition for adults. The problem arises in a connective tissue known at the plantar fascia, which runs along the underside of your foot, helps support the arch, and connects the heel to the forefoot area. This fascia is generally quite strong, but excessive strain can lead to tiny tears and inflammation. The body works to repair those tears during times of rest and the initial steps afterwards can reopen them, which explains why the pain is most severe in the morning (after the body has spent all night mending the tears). 
• Achilles Tendinitis – After plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis is the second-most common source of heel pain for adults. Much like with the previous condition, this one is caused by an inflamed connective tissue. In this case, it is the Achilles tendon. Your Achilles is actually the largest and strongest out of the thousands of tendons in your body, but it is not infallible.  
• Sever’s Disease – When it is a child or adolescent who is experiencing heel pain, the likely culprit is a condition known as Sever’s disease (or calcaneal apophysis). Now, the name is a bit misleading, since this is not actually a disease. Instead, it is a literal growing pain that occurs when a growth plate found in the back of the heel bone reaches physical maturity before the Achilles tendon. This creates a situation wherein the Achilles tendon, which isn’t as long as it will ultimately become, tugs on the insertion point in the back of the heel and causes pain for your son or daughter. The pain is typically strongest following physical activity.  

• Heel Spurs – In addition to bursae, not many people are familiar with bone spurs, but these are calcium deposits the body builds up on bone tissue over time. They are often found in areas facing excessive pressure or force on a frequent basis, such as the bottom of the heel. Heel spurs are frequently found when plantar fasciitis has been an issue for a patient. 
• Retrocalcaneal (back of the heel) Bursitis – A fairly unknown anatomical feature in our bodies is the bursa. Bursae (pluralized) are fluid-filled sacs that provide extra cushioning for the muscles, bones, and tendons near joints.  

1. Swelling and pain in the top of your foot.
2. Bruising in the top and bottom of the affected foot, with bruising on the underside being particularly indicative of a Lisfranc injury. 
3. Pain that worsens either while walking or standing. In some cases, the pain is severe to the point crutches are needed.  

• Osteoarthritis. This is the most common form of arthritis, and one that develops over time and from basic wear and tear. Given how common osteoarthritis is, this condition is the one people generally think of when they hear the word “arthritis.” The key symptom is joints that are stiff and pained. 

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Unlike osteoarthritis, RA is an autoimmune disorder causing the pain and stiffness in joints. With RA, the body’s immune system begins targeting and attacking the protective joint lining. At this time, no one is completely sure why this happens, but there is likely a genetic component. 
• Gout. This type of arthritis has yet a different origin – the process the body uses to break down food products. More specifically, gout is caused when too much uric acid (a natural byproduct of the food breakdown process) builds up in the blood stream and is not properly flushed out of the body. When this happens, the uric acid settles into joints and crystallizes. The joint at the base of the big toe, the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint is most commonly affected. 
• Posttraumatic arthritis. An accident or physical force causing a joint bone to break can lead to an early onset of osteoarthritis. Posttraumatic arthritis can take years to develop, but it will often emerge before an individual would expect to experience typical osteoarthritis symptoms.