Educating yourself on your symptoms can help you get the right treatment faster. Here are some of the most common conditions we treat:
Broken bones in the ankle, long bones of the foot, or toes, commonly resulting from falls, direct impacts, or twisting injuries
This occurs when the ligaments (tough bands connecting your bones) are stretched or torn, usually from an awkward roll or twist. It is the most common ankle injury, and severity ranges from mild to severe
Stress fractures are small, overuse driven cracks common in runners or athletes, who ramp up training too quickly. Often affecting the metatarsals or heels, they cause aching pain that intensifies during activity but fades with rest
Repetitive stress can cause damage to the Achilles tendon. You will typically feel pain and tenderness about 1 to 2 inches above where the tendon attaches to your heel bone
Characterized by sharp pain in the bottom of your heel, especially during your first steps in the morning or after sitting for a long time
Sometimes called a “pump bump,” this is a bony prominence on the back of the heel bone that can rub against the Achilles tendon and cause pain, redness, and swelling
While minor sprains can sometimes be managed at home with initial rest, ice, compression, and elevation, you should call our office immediately for an evaluation if you experience:
If you twist your ankle, your first instinct might be to go to the emergency room, but most ankle sprains can be treated quickly and effectively in our office
Emergency rooms are designed for life-threatening emergencies, which means you may face hours of waiting, less specialized care for ankle injuries, and higher out-of-pocket costs. By coming directly to Stride Forward Podiatry, you receive:
When you choose a board-certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeon, you are choosing a specialist who has dedicated their entire medical education and career exclusively to the foot and ankle. Here is why you should trust us with your recovery:
Don’t let foot and ankle pain limit your life. Whether you’ve just suffered a sudden injury or are tired of living with chronic heel pain, early evaluation is the key to a faster recover
It is usually better to skip the ER and visit a foot and ankle specialist for an ankle sprain. Emergency rooms are built for life-threatening emergencies and often involve long wait times, higher costs, and less specialized care. Visiting our office provides expert evaluation, necessary X-rays, immediate treatment, and comprehensive follow-up care tailored to your injury
For the first 3 days, focus on the acute phase: rest, apply ice for 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours, use a compression wrap, and elevate your ankle above heart level to reduce swelling. You can take acetaminophen for pain relief. Do not apply heat during these first few days, as it can make swelling worse
You should seek medical attention if you cannot bear weight or walk four steps immediately after the injury, experience severe pain when pressing on your bones, or cannot move your foot up and down. Other red flags include numbness, tingling, a visible deformity, or pain and swelling that do not improve after 5 to 7 day
This is a classic symptom of plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the thick band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot. It typically causes sharp pain during your first steps in the morning or after you have been sitting for a long period of time
You may have Achilles tendinopathy, a condition caused by repetitive stress on the tendon that connects your calf to your heel. It causes small areas of damage that lead to pain about 1 to 2 inches above the heel, which is often severe when you first start moving or after intense or prolonged exercise
You might have Haglund’s deformity, often referred to as a “pump bump” This is a bony prominence on the back of the heel bone that rubs against your Achilles tendon and bursa, causing pain, redness, and swelling. It is frequently aggravated by wearing shoes with rigid backs
This sensation is commonly caused by a Morton Neuroma, which is a thickening of the tissue around a nerve in the ball of your foot, usually between the third and fourth toes. It can cause a burning pain, numbness, or the distinct feeling of having a pebble stuck in your shoe
Recovery depends heavily on the severity of the sprain. Mild sprains generally take 1 to 2 weeks, moderate sprains take 2 to 4 weeks, and severe sprains can take 6 to 8 weeks. High ankle sprains may take up to 8 to 12 weeks to heal. Most people are able to return to their normal activities within 6 to 12 weeks with proper care
Most foot and ankle injuries heal successfully with conservative treatments such as rest, custom orthotics, physical therapy, and bracing. Surgery is typically only considered if conservative treatments fail after several months, if you have a complete ligament tear with severe instability, certain types of fractures, or persistent pain that severely limits your daily life
Unlike general orthopedic surgeons, board-certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeons dedicate their entire medical practice exclusively to the foot and ankle. They complete four years of specialized podiatric medical school followed by at least three years of comprehensive surgical residency. This intense focus gives them a deep, comprehensive understanding of the 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments in each foot, resulting in highly accurate diagnoses and advanced surgical skills
-Cooper MT. Common Painful Foot and Ankle Conditions: A Review. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2023. -Venugopal V, Fleming TA, Mee M, Grice JE. An Update on Current Concepts and Management of Mid-Substance Achilles Tendinopathy. The Bone & Joint Journal. 2026. -Morancie NA, Irvin L, Rayala BZ. Heel Pain: Diagnosis and Management. American Family Physician. 2025. -Herring SA, Kibler WB, Putukian M, et al. Initial Assessment and Management of Select Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Team Physician Consensus Statement. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2024. (Guideline) -Wu V, Padilla CA, Smith NA. Management of Acute Ankle Sprains: Common Questions and Answers. American Family Physician. 2025. -Smith SE, Chang EY, Ha AS, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria®: Acute Trauma to the Ankle. Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR). 2020. (Guideline) -American Academy of Family Physicians. Recovering From an Ankle Sprain. 2025. (Guideline) -Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Selected Issues in Injury and Illness Prevention and the Team Physician: A Consensus Statement. 2016. (Guideline) -Kaminski TW, Hertel J, Amendola N, et al. National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Conservative Management and Prevention of Ankle Sprains in Athletes. Journal of Athletic Training. 2013. **The information provided on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions or concerns about your health or treatment options.**
