Podiatry Treatments
Foot Pain Relief
Forefoot, Arch and Heel Pain
Forefoot Pain
If you suffer from pain in the ball of your foot or the wider forefoot area, an assessment by a podiatrist is a good first step.
At our Dartford Foot Clinic, we treat lots of patients with forefoot pain. An examination and assessment of the problem lead to a variety of treatment options. If left untreated, forefoot pain is likely to cause issues elsewhere in the body. Interconnected body parts can start to compensate for the pain in your foot, leading to further problems.
What causes forefoot pain?
Forefoot pain (often referred to as metatarsalgia) has lots of causes, mostly relating to too much force going through specific areas of the foot. A full assessment enables an accurate diagnosis and establishes a cause for the condition. The following problems result in forefoot pain:
- Metatarsalgia
- Nerves that have become thickened and impinged. This is a Morton’s neuroma.
- The bones in the foot have been put under too much pressure / overloaded. This may be due to a decrease in the adipose (fat) pad.
Whatever the cause, it is worth a discussion with a podiatrist and an assessment of the forefoot.
Arch and Heel Pain
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause for both arch and heel pain. It is caused by inflammation to the Plantar fascia that stretches from the toes to the heel. Usually caused by a particular event or overuse.
Some other common causes of heel pain are a heel spur, bursitis or achilles tendonitis (inflammation)
How does Feet Matters treat these types of pain?
Our treatments focus on achieving a “normal loading” through the foot. The treatment removes the pressure on the affected area. We do this by advising on footwear, simple orthotics/insoles that support and relieve stresses on the foot and realign the joints in the foot and ankle, prescription orthotics if required and rehabilitation.
Orthotics / foot supports enhance foot function. They are very successful in treating many conditions, including:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel pain
- Tendonitis
- Knee pain
- Shin splints/ compartment syndrome
- Back pain
- Ankle pain
- Bunion and metatarsal pain
The specifics of the treatment all come down to the precise diagnosis and analysis of the patient’s foot. In rare cases, we may refer you for surgery.
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Feet Matters are regulated by the Health & Care Professionals Council and The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.
