If you are suddenly experiencing pain in your foot or ankle, the culprit may be a case of tendonitis. Tendonitis occurs when the muscles in your foot or ankle, often the plantar fascia, are overused or stretched incorrectly during exercise.
One of the most common symptoms of tendonitis is a dull, aching pain in the sole of your foot. As the condition progresses, the pain will worsen. You may begin to feel a sharp or burning sensation around the distressed muscle, and the skin above the injury may feel tender. This being said, you also may not be able to put weight on your foot or ankle for extended periods of time. This affected area may begin to swell, causing discomfort in shoes. Tendonitis can either begin all at once or worsen over time.
Tendon injuries will worsen over time without proper treatment. Depending on the severity of the injury, the recommended treatment can evolve with the injury. If your case of tendonitis is in the early stages, your podiatrist may begin by prescribing conservative treatments, including new shoe recommendations, custom orthotic support, and anti-inflammatory medication. For more advanced cases, cortisone injections may be recommended for immediate, temporary relief.
If you are not responding to injections, your podiatrist will recommend a minimally invasive surgery. During this procedure, your doctor will create a small incision and manually repair the damaged tendon. From there, you will be on crutches for several weeks before beginning a prescribed course of physical therapy, performed in your podiatrist’s office during follow-up visits to monitor your recovery.
If you are experiencing foot pain, contact Dr. Jyotsna Thapar, the Ankle & Foot Specialist of New Jersey, today! Dr. Thapar will perform a diagnostic ultrasound and physical exam of your foot and ankle, taking note of any swelling, weakness or instability in your muscles. After completing her diagnosis, Dr. Thapar will prescribe a treatment plan designed specifically to get you back on your feet in no time! The Ankle & Foot Specialist offices can be reached at 908-222-8980 or 732-356-FOOT, or you can request an appointment at our Warren or South Plainfield offices online.
