When the weather starts getting warmer, our ankles and feet come out of hibernation, but they may not be in the best condition for sandal season. Most people tend to ignore their ankles or feet problems and delay visiting a doctor or specialist because they don’t know if it’s severe or where they should go for treatment. Some believe that discomfort or pain in their foot should be expected, but it’s not something you should ever take for granted. 

If you’re experiencing any issues such as numbness, swelling, or pain in your ankle or foot, it’s best to visit an experienced podiatrist. Most people don’t even know who a podiatrist is and what they do, which we will discuss in detail here. Podiatrists are specialist doctors who are experts in treating, preventing, and diagnosing ankle and foot-related injuries and conditions. 

Many people put off seeing a specialist unless they have an ankle or foot condition requiring immediate and specialized care. That’s why experienced podiatrists like The Feet People have grown in popularity, as they can guarantee the foot care you need to live a healthy and carefree life. If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms or problems, you should take out the time to book an appointment with experienced podiatrists in Brisbane today. 

1. Ankle Pain

Ankle pain is a common issue faced by many people regardless of their lifestyle. There are several reasons you may be experiencing ankle pain, and people who have this condition know how uncomfortable and painful it can be. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer as to what causes ankle pain. Numerous ligaments surround the bone in your ankle, and the pain could be due to a problem with the bone or the ligaments. 

Ankle pain is commonly caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sever’s disease, Achilles tendinopathy, and stress fractures. You can also suffer damaged ligaments in your ankle, twist it at an awkward angle while running, or lose your balance while walking down the stairs. 

2. Foot and Arch Pain 

The bones in your feet and ankles have many ligaments and tendons that can be injured or damaged, resulting in excruciating pain throughout your foot. They may also affect foot function, and you may need crutches to walk anywhere. The tendons, bones, and ligaments in your feet aren’t the only injuries you can experience, as you can also have a problem with your toenails or feet’ skin. 

Foot and arch pain are commonly caused by plantar warts, fungal toenails, corns & calluses, Morton’s neuroma, plantar fasciitis, and bunions. You need to book an appointment with a podiatrist if you are experiencing discomfort or pain in your foot and arch. 

3. Hip Pain 

Pain and problems with your ankle and feet aren’t the only reason to visit a podiatrist, as they can also treat hip pain as well. Even though older people are thought to be the ones most liable to suffer from hip pain, people of all ages can experience this discomfort. Many will attest that hip pain causes severe discomfort and prevents walking. 

The hip is the body’s biggest ball-and-socket joint and covers a large area, but it is vulnerable to several issues due to its mobility. Hip pain is commonly caused by rheumatoid arthritis, iliotibial band syndrome, bursitis, and osteoarthritis. 

4. Foot and Leg Pain in Children 

Children of all ages are constantly moving about as they are brimming with energy, but they are also prone to accidents and falls. It’s common for little kids to have bumps and bruises on their feet or legs from playing and falling outside or inside the house. However, the pain your kid feels in their leg or foot isn’t always due to injuries from playing and running around. Parents know how painful it can be to watch your kid go through pain in their feet or legs. 

In children, foot and leg pain can be caused by athlete’s foot, shin splints, ingrown toenails, plantar warts, Osgood-Schlatter disease, and sever’s disease. You must learn about these conditions and how a podiatrist can treat them to ensure your child doesn’t suffer pain in their feet or legs. 

5. Knee Pain 

Knee pain is a common condition that most people experience in their life, and you probably know someone who is suffering from it even if you haven’t gone through it. Knee injuries can be severe and require extensive treatment and rehabilitation to get back to normal. Sports injuries are known to be the number cause of knee pain, but the pain you’re feeling in your knee may not be from an injury, as there are other reasons you are experiencing knee pain. 

Knee pain can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, iliotibial band syndrome, osteoarthritis, stress fractures, Osgood-Schlatter disease, and bursitis. If you’re experiencing knee pain and don’t know why you have it, you should visit a podiatrist immediately. 

6. Leg Pain 

Nobody wants to suffer from leg pain as it is not only excruciating but hampers mobility ultimately. You may be suffering leg pain due to problems with your bones, muscles, ligaments, tissues, and tendons. If you don’t treat leg pain, it will only get worse, and you won’t be able to put any weight on it after some time. Therefore, it’s vital to get to the root cause of the leg pain, so it is treated appropriately. 

Leg pain is commonly caused by conditions like stress fractures, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, sciatica, iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), shin splints, and bursitis. 

7. Lower Back Pain 

You may have started experiencing back pain as you get into your late twenties and early thirties. It’s a common condition, but the bad news is that it gets worse over time if not treated. Lower back pain can be debilitating and extremely uncomfortable, and sciatica is the most common cause of it. 

Sciatica is pain that starts in your spine and goes through to the back of your leg. The condition may be caused by a bone spur on the spine compressing a nerve or a herniated disk. 

Final Words

The importance of taking good care of your feet and ankles can’t be stressed enough, as it impacts your overall health directly and results in severe problems if left untreated. Therefore, if you’re experiencing any pain, discomfort, or issues with your ankles and feet, book an appointment with experienced podiatrists, and improve the function and health of your feet and ankles today.