Foot Pain

Daniel Nelson, MD

Interventional Pain Medicine & Regenerative Medicine located in Greater Seattle area, Kirkland, WA

Foot pain can make it hard to walk and have a significant impact on your day to day life. If you’re experiencing foot or ankle pain, Dr. Daniel Nelson can help. At his practice in Kirkland, in the Greater Seattle area of Washington, Daniel Nelson, MD, and Sarah Goble, PA-C, provide comprehensive treatment programs for foot and ankle pain, including cutting-edge regenerative medicine therapies like stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments. Call the office today today to find out more or book an appointment online.

425-823-4000

Foot Pain Q & A

What causes foot pain?

Foot pain can arise when you’ve done too much walking or standing, making your feet feel sore, bruised, or achy. This type of foot pain usually wears off overnight or in a day or two. However, some causes of foot pain are more intense and long-lasting.

Damage to any of the many bones in your feet can cause foot pain, as can ligament sprains, muscle and tendon strains, and nerve injuries. Having problems like flat feet or very high arches can also cause foot pain, because of the extra stresses and strains these foot abnormalities place on your feet.

Your toes can cause foot pain, as well. Bunions develop when the joint at the base of your big toe comes under pressure, causing painful, bony lumps. Conditions like hammertoe can also cause foot pain. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause foot pain and might twist and distort your feet and toes.

Pain in your ankle can also affect your foot, so injuries like Achilles tendon strains or tears can cause radiating pain into your foot. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can affect your foot and ankle, causing chronic pain that worsens over time.

Foot Conditions we treat:

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One of the main causes of foot pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a disorder where the plantar fascia becomes irritated and inflamed. The plantar fascia is a thick, fibrous piece of connective tissue that goes from your heel along the bottom of your foot to your toes. It provides support for your foot’s arch.

Plantar fasciitis typically develops because of repetitive or excessive strain on the plantar fascia. This strain causes small tears in the tissue, and this leads to inflammation and pain.

The stabbing pain of plantar fasciitis can make it hard to bear weight on your heels. The pain is often worse in the morning and after you’ve been on your feet for a while, but can ease off in between.

What treatments are there for foot pain?

Rest is usually necessary for foot pain. If you have inflammation or swelling in the tissues, using ice packs can reduce these effects. Anti-inflammatory medications can also help ease foot pain.

If your foot pain doesn’t resolve within a few days or is too severe to cope with, Dr. Nelson can find out what’s causing your pain and recommend further treatments. He might suggest using a splint or wearing orthotics (corrective shoe inserts). Physical therapy also plays an essential part in relieving foot and ankle pain.

Regenerative medicine techniques like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) help your body repair damaged tissues and grow new cells, and are particularly useful for problems like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. Dr. Nelson can also provide a course of steroid injections for your foot pain.