<Home
<Back to Articles
Common Foot Problems to Watch for in Your Feet
By Michael Nirenberg, DPM
Eighty percent of people, at some point in their lives, have a foot problem that requires medical care. However, many people let their problems persist and worsen untreated. Here is a list of the most common foot problems I see in my practice that you can watch for to ensure the health of your feet.
Heel Pain
Heels get a bad rap. The dictionary defines a heel as a dishonorable person, and the term "Achilles' heel" refers to a fatal weakness. The reality is our heels are quite strong, though no other part of our foot malfunctions more. Heel pain is the number one reason people come see me.
Heel pain can be very complicated and may have a variety of causes, including a stress fracture, pinched nerve, bone cyst, or tumor. Most patients with heel pain believe they have a heel spur. This may be part of the problem, but the most common cause of heel pain-whether or not a heel spur is also present-is inflammation of the largest ligament in our foot, the plantar fascia. In doctor-speak this problem is called plantar fasciitis.
Treatments for plantar fasciitis range from custom-made arch supports (called orthotics), to simple stretching exercises, to the revolutionary, high-tech shockwave treatment.
Nerve Problems
Burning, numbness, tingling, or shooting pain in our feet or ankles often means something is wrong with a nerve. Nerve problems are common in our feet, so if you have one don't get nervous. Most of the time, the treatment is relatively simple.