This injury happens due to sudden force or stress on the Achilles tendon which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Sudden sensations include a pop or snap, and what feels like a painful stab in the back of your ankle or calf, followed by swelling between your heel and calf. Another telling sign is you can’t stand on your tiptoes. A rupture is a partial or complete tear. If you think you tore your Achilles tendon, then it’s very important to get it treated as soon as possible to avoid more damage. The RICE Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation can help until you can come in and see Dr. Huey.

If you put too much stress on the tendon too quickly, such as doing a repetitive exercise without properly stretching first, you could develop Achilles Tendinitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon). Runners and weekend warriors are prone to getting it. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, soreness, stiffness, and tenderness. If it’s tendinitis, then it should get better within days to weeks.

Achilles Tendonosis is a degenerative condition in which the tendon is more likely to develop micro-tears over time. The ongoing stress that you put on these injured fibers gets in the way of your body’s natural healing ability to repair them. This leads to continued pain.

If you knocked your ankle joint out of position from a blow, fall, or twist, then you might have sprained your ankle by injuring one of more of the ligaments—tissues that connect bones together. With an ankle sprain, you’ll likely feel pain, soreness, and stiffness, and see swelling and/or bruising. Immediate and complete rehabilitation is key to a full recovery. The RICE Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation can help until you can come in and see Dr. Huey.

If you feel intense pain coming on followed by warmth, swelling and redness, then you might be experiencing a gout attack. This happens when too much uric acid crystallizes in the joint. In the foot, gout often occurs in the big toe but can affect the ankle, too.

Osteoarthritis (a gradual wearing down of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones) can damage any joint. In the ankle, it’s the most common form of arthritis. If you have inflammation and stiffness in ankle, then it may be a form of osteoarthritis.

If you’ve ever fractured a bone, then you could develop Post-traumatic Arthritis. Often, people don’t notice the problem until years later. Be sure to tell Dr. Huey if you ever had an injury where you’re currently experiencing pain, stiffness, or swelling.

If you have inflammation in the same joint of both feet or ankles, then it’s an indication of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This autoimmune form of arthritis inflames the joint lining causing pain and swelling. Also, it can affect other joints in your body.

Small fliuid-filled sacs called bursae act as cushions to protect your joint areas from friction. Bursitis occurs when the bursae in your joints become inflamed. Causes range from arthritis, to poorly fitting footwear, to repetitive or sudden injury. If you notice pain in the area of your ankle or heel particularly when you flex your foot in different positions or when you bear weight on it, then please let Dr. Huey examine, diagnose, and treat the problem.

If your ankle recurrently gives way, you might be suffering from Chronic Ankle Instability. The condition usually develops if you sprained your ankle and didn’t rehabilitate it completely. Each time your ankle gives way, it weakens or stretches the ligaments even more. Please let Dr. Huey develop a proper rehabilitation plan for you.

If your foot comes in contact with an irritant, then it could inflame your skin. You could be allergic to irritants such as poison ivy, harsh chemicals, and even the materials used to construct your shoes. Reactions such as itchiness, redness, and small blisters take place usually within 24 hours. Dr. Huey can evaluate your condition and treat your problem with care.

This foot and ankle deformity looks like your foot is held downward as if you’re stepping on a gas pedal and you have limited range bending your foot and ankle upward. Equinus is often caused by tight calf muscles or a tight Achilles, the tendon that connects the calf muscle. This condition can cause a wide variety of lower leg, ankle, and foot problems including cramping, pain, shin splints, and sores.

Adult Acquired Flatfoot which also known as Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD) can occur in one or both feet. This painful condition is usually caused by overusing the posterior tibial tendon which attaches your calf muscle to the bones on the inside of your foot. In its early stage, you would feel pain in the inner side of the foot and ankle along the tendon. As your arch flattens, your ankle begins to roll inward as your foot turns outward.  Because it’s progressive, early treatment prevents it from getting worse.

If you notice pain, swelling, redness, or bruising after a repetitive activity or an injury, then it may be a fracture. Stress fractures (tiny breaks in the bone) can develop over time and lead to a full fracture (complete break). Ankle fractures are often caused by rolling your ankle and can be mistaken for an ankle sprain. If you suspect an ankle fracture, please seek emergency medical care. The RICE Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation can help until you can come in and see Dr. Huey.

If you notice a round knot-like lump under the skin, then it may be a Ganglion cyst (also called a Bible cyst). This noncancerous sac is filled with a jellylike fluid. Although they most often develop on the wrists and hands, they also can show up on the ankles and feet.

If you have an open sore, then please don’t wait to get it properly treated. Because your ankle is far away from your heart, ankle ulcers are very slow to heal; for that reason, it increases your risk of infection not just in the skin but the bone. Besides inflammation and thickening of the tissue, telling signs include drainage and odor from the wound. For diabetics, even the smallest scrape or blister can turn into an ulcer and can become limb- or life-threatening.

Does it hurt in the back of your ankle when you push off your big toe or when you point your toes downward? Some people are born with an extra bone behind the ankle bone called an Os Trigonum. If you also notice swelling and tenderness to the touch, then you might have Os Trigonum Syndrome. Dr. Huey can help with a treatment plan to relieve your symptoms.

When one or both peroneal tendons slip out of their normal position, you may notice weakness or instability and a sporadic pain behind the ankle bone facing out. A common characteristic of Peroneal Subluxation is a snapping feeling around the ankle bone. If you think these tendons are continually moving out of position, then you don’t want them to rupture. Please come in and see us immediately.

You can develop Peroneal Tendinitis (inflammation of the peroneal tendons) from exercising in a repetitive motion before properly stretching them, from overusing them, or even wearing footwear that doesn’t provide good support. When the tendons rub on the bone, the friction causes them to swell. You’ll probably notice pain, swelling, and a feeling of warmth when you touch them.

Peroneal Tendonosis is a degenerative condition. The tendons are more likely to develop micro-tears over time. The ongoing stress that you put on the injured fibers from your daily activity gets in the way of your body’s natural healing process to repair them. Symptoms include pain on the outer side of your ankle, weakness and instability in your ankle, and a higher arch in your foot.

With Psoriasis, new skin cells turn over faster than normal, building up over your old skin cells. If you notice whitish/silvery scales over dry, red patches of skin on the bottom of your feet, then chances are good that you have Psoriasis. This very common condition can happen anywhere on the body.

Your ankles can swell for a wide variety of reasons—from injury to diabetes, to heart-related conditions. Let Dr. Huey examine your ankles, diagnose the cause, and treat your problem based on his findings.

The top of your ankle bone is covered with cartilage. After an ankle injury, a legion might form if the cartilage doesn’t heal properly. If this happens, you might feel deep pain that’s worse when you bear weight and sensations like catching, clicking, giving way, and locking. You may even experience swelling from time to time when you’re on your feet. Because symptoms can show up months or years later, be sure to tell Dr. Huey if you ever had an ankle injury.

The tarsal tunnel is located on the inner side of your ankle. When the posterior tibial nerve gets compressed inside the tunnel, it causes ankle pain. If you have Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, you might feel symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning, and shooting pain inside the ankle and/or the bottom of your foot. Because the condition is progressive, getting diagnosed early is the key to preventing permanent nerve damage.

These twisted, enlarged veins may show up most commonly in your legs, ankles, and feet. This happens when the vein valves or walls become weak or damaged. If you have Vericose Veins, you might experience aches, pain, swelling, bruising, itching, nighttime cramps, skin discoloration, and the feeling of heavy legs and feet. You’re also at risk of developing complications such as bleeding, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and skin sores. If you’re bleeding from this condition, please get emergency medical help.

Warts are small, rough-looking growths that are similar in color to your skin. They’re caused by exposure to a virus and can spread by touch. It’s common to find them anywhere on your hands or feet.

This injury happens due to sudden force or stress on the Achilles tendon which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Sudden sensations include a pop or snap, and what feels like a painful stab in the back of your ankle or calf, followed by swelling between your heel and calf. Another telling sign is you can’t stand on your tiptoes. A rupture is a partial or complete tear. If you think you tore your Achilles tendon, then it’s very important to get it treated as soon as possible to avoid more damage. The RICE Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation can help until you can come in and see Dr. Huey.

If you put too much stress on the tendon too quickly, such as doing a repetitive exercise without properly stretching first, you could develop Achilles Tendinitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon). Runners and weekend warriors are prone to getting it. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, soreness, stiffness, and tenderness. If it’s only tendinitis, then it should get better within days to weeks.

Achilles Tendonosis is a degenerative condition in which the tendon is more likely to develop micro-tears over time. The ongoing stress that you put on these injured fibers gets in the way of your body’s natural healing ability to repair them. This leads to continued pain.

If you’ve ever fractured a bone, then you could develop Post-traumatic Arthritis. Often, people don’t notice the problem until years later. Be sure to tell Dr. Huey if you ever had an injury where you’re currently experiencing pain, stiffness, or swelling.

If you have inflammation in the same joint of both feet or ankles, then it’s an indication of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This autoimmune form of arthritis inflames the joint lining causing pain and swelling. Also, it can affect other joints in your body.

Do you notice dry, scaly skin and an itching, burning sensation between your toes or on your soles? If so, then you might have Athlete’s Foot. The rash can spread up the sides of your feet as well. Blisters may even form because of it. The fungus that causes this infection thrives in warm, damp environments like swimming pools, locker rooms, and your shoes. Because it’s contagious, it can spread to other areas of your body as well.

Small fliuid-filled sacs called bursae act as cushions to protect your joint areas from friction. Bursitis occurs when when the bursae in your joints become inflamed. Causes range from poorly fitting footwear that causes friction in the back of your heel to repetitive or sudden injury. Please let Dr. Huey examine, diagnose, and treat the problem.

The heel bone doesn’t reach full development until at least the age of 14. If your child is actively involved in sports where a lot of running is involved and complains about a lot of heel pain, then the problem could be an inflamed growth plate. This happens when too much repetitive stress is placed on it. If your child suffers from heel pain, then a proper diagnosis can help rule out more serious conditions.

If an area of thick skin has built up on the bottom of a toe, then you likely have a callus. Calluses usually form in pressure or friction areas where you bear weight—more commonly on your heels or balls of your feet. They’re rarely painful.

If your foot comes in contact with an irritant, then it could inflame your skin. You could be allergic to irritants such as poison ivy, harsh chemicals, and even the materials used to construct your shoes. Reactions such as itchiness, redness, and small blisters take place usually within 24 hours. Dr. Huey can evaluate your condition and treat your problem with care.

Although dry skin is common, dry cracked heels could be a sign of diabetes or nerve damage (neuropathy). Cracks in your skin can lead to open wounds. The farther the wounds are from your heart, the longer they take to heal. For this reason, the risk of infection is greater. If you have dry skin, please make a habit to moisturize your feet. If you notice an open sore, then please don’t wait to get it treated properly.

If you notice pain, swelling, redness, or bruising after a repetitive activity or an injury, then it may be a fracture. Stress fractures (tiny breaks in the bone) can develop over time and lead to a full fracture (complete break). Broken heels are often caused by a high-impact event such as falling off a ladder or crushing your heel in a car accident. If you suspect a heel fracture, please seek emergency medical care. The RICE Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation can help until you can come in and see Dr. Huey.

How this abnormal bony bump forms on the back of the heel isn’t exactly known. Probable reasons include having a tight Achilles tendon, a high arch, and even wearing high-heel pumps. Whatever the cause, the friction from your shoes rubbing against this bony enlargement can cause a lot of irritation, lead to blisters and also Bursitis (inflammation of a bursa, a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion).

If you have an open sore, then please don’t wait to get it properly treated. Because your foot is farthest away from your heart, foot ulcers are very slow to heal; for that reason, it increases your risk of infection not just in the skin but the bone. Besides inflammation and thickening of the tissue, telling signs include drainage and odor from the wound. For diabetics, even the smallest scrape or blister can turn into an ulcer and can become limb- or life-threatening.

The plantar fascia ligament connects your heel bone to your toes. When this thick band of tissue gets inflamed, it’s called Plantar Fasciitis (a.k.a. Policeman’s Heel). With this condition, you might experience pain and swelling in the bottom of your heel and also pain in the arch of your foot. The symptoms can increase over time. Another telling sign is pain that’s worse when you get up in the morning or after you’ve been sitting for a while, but better in minutes after you start walking. People with this condition are more likely to develop heel spurs (abnormal bone growth) which in itself can cause a lot of pain.

To learn more, check out this Sutter Health article about Plantar Fasciitis. We like it because it’s thorough and easy to understand, and includes useful illustrations and a good video.

Warts are small, rough-looking growths that are is similar in color to your skin. They are caused by exposure to a virus and can spread by touch. It’s common to find them anywhere on your hands or feet. The ones that appear on the bottom of your feet are called Plantar Warts.

With Psoriasis, new skin cells turn over faster than normal, building up over your old skin cells. If you notice whitish/silvery scales over dry, red patches of skin on the bottom of your feet, then chances are good that you have Psoriasis. This very common condition can happen anywhere on the body.