With the stress of supporting the whole body, it’s important to take good care of your feet and ankles. When they hurt, it affects your whole body and every aspect of your day. Simple activities, such as walking or standing, can increase your pain. Even wearing shoes can become painful. 

The structure of the foot and ankle is quite complex. The foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and more than a hundred muscles, ligaments and tendons. The ankle joint is formed by the connection of three bones—the anklebone (talus), the shinbone (tibia) and the small bone of the lower leg (fibula). Working together, the foot and ankle allow us to walk, run, jump, kick and do many other movements. They also provide balance and shock absorption.

Joints in your feet that don’t function properly cause pain, inflammation and sometimes injury. Foot issues may impact the heels, toes, nerves, soft tissues and bones of your feet with pain that is intense or a persistent dull ache. 

The ankle is the joint most commonly injured in the body. Ankle disorders and injuries, such as sprains, fractures, tendonitis and arthritis, result in damage to the bones, muscles or soft tissues.

At The Christ Hospital Health Network, our board-certified specialists offer a wide range of options for the diagnosis and successful treatment of foot and ankle conditions. We use advanced techniques and equipment to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible. Our continuum of care provides excellent outcomes for our patients, from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation services.

Foot and ankle conditions

Our highly skilled orthopedic specialists and surgeons treat a variety of foot and ankle conditions.

• Arthritis  - Symptoms may include difficulty walking, pain and stiffness, problems bending the joint, reduced mobility,  swelling, warmth and redness.
  

• Bunions - Symptoms may include burning sensation, inflammation and redness, numbness, restricted movement, foot pain, and swelling. 
  

• Fractures and sprains - Symptoms may include bruising or redness, difficulty using your ankle, numbness or weakness, pain, swelling and deformity.

• Hammertoe - Symptoms may include corns, calluses, inability to straighten, inflammation, redness or burning, pain when wearing shoes and increased pain with movement.
  

• Plantar fasciitis - Common symptoms may include pain in arch or bottom of foot, pain when standing for a period of time, and pain when stepping out of bed.
  

• Stress fractures - Symptoms may include pain in foot or ankle during exercise, swelling, and tender when touched.
  

• Tendonitis and bursitis  - Symptoms may include swelling, inflammation, and abnormal foot structure.