Table of Contents
Heel Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spurs
Precision Foot and Ankle Centers treats a lot of heel pain or plantar fasciitis. Many of the symptoms include pain when you first get up in the morning, burning, numbness and increased symptoms by the end of the day. The pain is usually caused by tightening of the plantar fascia ligament located on the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia ligament supports the arch. When you’re resting, the ligament contracts. As you start to walk, the ligament pulls and may tear slightly causing pain. Heel pain can also be brought on by trauma, over exertion, ill- fitting shoes or poor foot alignment.
Our Doctors use a step-wise heel pain protocol to help alleviate fasciitis and heel pain and prevent recurrence. We utilize special devices i.e. Air heel gauntlets, night splints and custom made orthotics. Our doctors are trained in Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomies when heel pain is persistent.
More than 80% of our heel pain patients resolve their pain with conservative care and our treatment protocols.
Proper foot support is one of the most important treatments we recommend. The purpose of foot support is to stop the ligament from tearing, thereby, getting at the cause of the problem. We often prescribe custom orthotics for the best possible foot support. Custom made orthotics are inserts that fit into your shoes, which are custom molded specifically to your foot, to correct the faulty foot alignment and bring your foot into a more correct position. At our podiatry practice, we find that most of our patients respond to conservative treatment with favorable outcomes. For those patients that require additional treatment surgery may be necessary.
If you’re suffering with heel pain, don’t wait for it to become a chronic problem. Contact us and our Foot Doctor will get you back, to the activities you love, in no-time.
Ankle Sprain and Pain
Ankle sprains are an extremely common injury. They involve possible joint damage resulting in swelling, instability and pain, to more severe damage, such as torn ligaments, bruised cartilage and broken bones. Immediate treatment includes rest, ice, compression and anti-inflammatories. Unfortunately of untreated sprained ankles result in prolonged symptoms. These can include chronic pain or ankle instability, that makes a person prone to repetitive injury later in life and arthritic changes.
Our doctors have highly advanced medical and surgical training in the management of ankle pain. These techniques include specialized braces, therapeutic injections, ankle reconstruction, and ankle arthroscopy. We are one of the only practices in Los Angeles and the South Bay with the experience to care for your chronic ankle pain. We often see patients who are referred from surrounding areas of southern California for this type of care.
If you’ve sprained your ankle or have a history of ankle sprains, early evaluation and aggressive treatment is the best way to avoid chronic pain, instability and arthritis of the involved joints. Schedule a complete evaluation with Precision Foot and Ankle Centers and learn more about all of your treatment options.
Achilles Tendinitis, Tendon Injury
Treatment for Tendinitis
Generally, tendons such as the Achilles tendon do not heal rapidly or completely. A lifestyle change is sometimes needed to prevent the recurrence of Achilles tendinitis. The aim in treating Achilles tendinitis is to relieve the pain and reduce the swelling. Tendon Injury Treatment includes the following:
- Resting the leg, Cold compression therapy
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
- Physical therapy
- Heel lift
- Using of a brace or cast to keep the heel and tendon still
Surgery may be needed if the symptoms do not improve. Our Foot Doctor will assess the severity of the condition and select the best procedure to repair the Achilles tendon. Please contact Precision Foot and Ankle Centers for an appointment.
Foot and Ankle Fractures
A broken bone is also known as a fracture. There is a common misconception that a broken bone is worse than a fracture. In reality they are the same. There are many different types of fractures or breaks.
A bone can be broken and the fragments can be out of position. We call this a displaced fracture. Conversely, if they are in good alignment it’s called a non-displaced fracture. If a bone is broken and you can barely see it on an x-ray, it is a hairline fracture. Finally, if a bone is broken and one of the fragments has punctured the skin, we call this an open or compound fracture. Since open fractures can easily become infected immediate surgical management is required.
Broken bones are usually splinted initially to prevent bone movement and further damage to the soft tissues that surround them. If the fracture is displaced it may need to be set. In certain fractures, setting them can be difficult. In these types of fractures, surgery is also indicated. This will provide the best opportunity for healing. Even though all of this sounds very scary, most fractures can be managed in a cast without going to the OR. Even simple fractures of the toes respond very well to this treatment. And yes, we do put casts on toes. Not the plaster or fiberglass most people think of. Instead, we use a mesh tape which holds the toe in place.
If you have sustained an injury to the foot or ankle please call us, our Podiatrist will make every attempt to see you ASAP, usually the day you call.
