Total Spine & Orthopedics team of podiatrists treat all kinds of common foot and ankle conditions with conservative and minimally invasive care. Read on to get all the details.
Total Spine & Orthopedics provides comprehensive podiatry services for a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, from everyday heel pain and sports injuries to complex deformities, arthritis, diabetic foot concerns, and surgical problems.
At Total Spine & Orthopedics, our podiatric care team takes a patient-first approach to diagnosing and treating foot and ankle pain. Your feet support your entire body, so even a small issue can affect how you walk, move, work, exercise, and enjoy daily life. Whether your symptoms started suddenly after an injury or developed gradually over time, our goal is to identify the source of the problem and create a clear treatment plan that helps you get back on your feet.
Our podiatry team treats many foot and ankle conditions with conservative care first, including bracing, activity modification, custom orthotics, physical therapy, medication, wound care, and image-guided injections when appropriate. When surgery is the best option, we emphasize advanced, minimally invasive, and outpatient techniques whenever possible to help reduce pain, limit downtime, and support a smoother recovery.
Explore the common podiatric conditions below to learn more about symptoms, causes, and available treatment options at our convenient Florida locations.
Heel and arch pain are among the most common reasons patients visit a podiatrist. These conditions can make standing, walking, and exercising difficult, especially when pain is worse first thing in the morning or after long periods of activity.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot becomes irritated or inflamed. It often causes sharp heel pain, especially with the first steps in the morning.
Heel Spurs
A heel spur is a bony growth that can develop on the heel bone, often in connection with long-term plantar fascia irritation. The spur itself is not always the main source of pain, but it may contribute to discomfort.
Achilles Tendinitis and Achilles Tears
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. Irritation, overuse, or injury can cause pain, tightness, swelling, or, in more severe cases, a partial or complete tear.
Haglund’s Deformity
Haglund’s deformity is a bony bump on the back of the heel that can rub against shoes and irritate nearby soft tissue, sometimes leading to bursitis or Achilles tendon pain.
Ankle injuries can range from mild sprains to fractures and chronic instability. Even a “simple” ankle sprain can lead to long-term problems if the ligaments do not heal properly. Podiatric treatment can help patients recover properly and reduce the risk of repeat injuries.
Ankle Sprains
An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments are stretched or torn, often after twisting or rolling the ankle. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking.
Chronic Ankle Instability
Chronic ankle instability can develop after repeated sprains or an ankle injury that does not heal correctly. Patients may feel like the ankle “gives way,” especially on uneven ground.
Ankle Fractures
An ankle fracture involves a break in one or more bones of the ankle. Treatment may include immobilization, casting, or surgical fixation depending on the severity and alignment of the injury.
Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
An osteochondral lesion of the talus, or OLT, is an injury to the cartilage and underlying bone inside the ankle joint. It may cause deep ankle pain, swelling, stiffness, catching, or locking.
Pain in the front of the foot or toes can interfere with walking, balance, shoe wear, and daily activity. Many forefoot conditions develop gradually due to pressure, alignment issues, arthritis, or nerve irritation. A podiatry evaluation can help determine whether symptoms are coming from the joint, tendon, nerve, bone, or surrounding soft tissue.
Bunions
A bunion, also called hallux valgus, occurs when the big toe shifts toward the second toe, creating a painful bump at the base of the big toe.
Lapiplasty
Lapiplasty is an advanced bunion correction procedure designed to address the underlying three-dimensional alignment problem that contributes to bunion formation.
Hallux Rigidus
Hallux rigidus is arthritis of the big toe joint. It can cause stiffness, swelling, and pain when walking, bending the toe, or pushing off during movement.
Hammertoes and Claw Toes
Hammertoes and claw toes occur when the toe joints bend abnormally. This can cause rubbing in shoes, corns, calluses, soreness, and difficulty wearing certain footwear.
Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is irritation or thickening of a nerve, most often between the third and fourth toes. It may cause burning, tingling, numbness, or the feeling of stepping on a pebble.
Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia causes pain under the ball of the foot, often described as an aching, bruised, or pressure-like sensation. It may be linked to overuse, footwear, foot structure, or increased pressure on the forefoot.
Sesamoiditis
Sesamoiditis is inflammation around the small bones beneath the big toe joint. It is often related to repetitive pressure, high-impact activity, or shoes that place extra stress on the forefoot.
Foot alignment plays an important role in how force moves through the foot and ankle. When the arch is too flat, too high, or unstable, patients may develop pain, fatigue, tendon problems, or recurring injuries. Podiatric care focuses not only on relieving pain, but also on improving the way the foot functions during standing and walking.
Adult-Acquired Flatfoot
Adult-acquired flatfoot occurs when the arch gradually collapses, often due to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. It may cause inner ankle pain, arch fatigue, swelling, and changes in walking mechanics.
Cavus Foot
Cavus foot refers to a high-arched foot structure. A rigid high arch can contribute to ankle sprains, calluses, instability, and pain in the heel, arch, or ball of the foot.
The tendons of the foot and ankle help stabilize movement and support the arch. Tendon irritation or tearing can lead to pain, weakness, swelling, and difficulty walking. Our podiatry team may recommend bracing, therapy, injections, or surgical repair depending on the severity of the tendon problem.
Posterior Tibial Tendinopathy
Posterior tibial tendinopathy affects the tendon along the inside of the ankle. It can cause inner ankle pain and may lead to progressive arch collapse if not treated properly.
Peroneal Tendinopathy or Tears
The peroneal tendons run along the outside of the ankle. Injury or overuse can cause outer ankle pain, swelling, snapping, or instability.
Tibialis Anterior Tendinitis
Tibialis anterior tendinitis causes pain at the front of the ankle or top of the foot. Symptoms may worsen with uphill walking, stairs, or lifting the foot.
Nerve compression and soft tissue masses can cause symptoms that feel very different from typical joint or tendon pain, including burning, tingling, numbness, or radiating discomfort. A podiatric specialist can help identify whether nerve irritation is contributing to your symptoms.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tibial nerve is compressed near the inner ankle. It may cause burning, tingling, numbness, or shooting pain into the foot.
Ganglion Cysts
Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled lumps that often form near joints or tendons. They may be painless or may cause aching, pressure, or nerve irritation depending on their size and location.
Some foot and ankle injuries happen suddenly, while others develop over time from repetitive stress. Early podiatry evaluation is important because untreated fractures or midfoot injuries can lead to long-term pain and instability.
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are small cracks in the bone caused by repetitive strain or overuse. They commonly affect the metatarsals or navicular bone and often cause pinpoint pain that worsens with activity.
Lisfranc Injuries
A Lisfranc injury affects the joints and ligaments in the midfoot. It may involve a sprain, fracture, or dislocation and can cause swelling, bruising, arch pain, and difficulty pushing off while walking.
Podiatry also includes treatment for skin, nail, and wound conditions. These issues can be especially important for patients with diabetes, neuropathy, circulation problems, or a history of foot ulcers.
Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes infection.
Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the toenail that can cause thickened, brittle, discolored, or misshapen nails.
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are viral skin growths that occur on weight-bearing areas of the foot. They may become painful with standing or walking.
Corns and Calluses
Corns and calluses are areas of thickened skin caused by repeated friction or pressure. They are often related to shoe fit, toe deformities, or changes in foot mechanics.
Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy can reduce sensation in the feet, making it harder to notice wounds or pressure injuries. Diabetic foot ulcers require careful wound care, off-loading, monitoring, and early treatment to reduce the risk of complications.
Charcot Foot
Charcot foot is a serious condition that can occur in patients with neuropathy. It may cause weakening, collapse, or deformity of the foot and often requires urgent specialist care, immobilization, and off-loading.
Arthritis and inflammatory joint conditions can affect the ankle, midfoot, hindfoot, and toes. These problems often cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty with walking or shoe wear. Podiatric treatment may include orthotics, injections, bracing, medication, or surgery depending on the joint involved and the severity of the condition.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is wear-and-tear joint degeneration that can affect the ankle, hindfoot, midfoot, or toes. Symptoms may include stiffness, swelling, aching pain, and reduced range of motion.
Gout
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystal buildup. It often causes sudden, intense pain, redness, and swelling, commonly in the big toe joint.
Children can develop foot and ankle pain due to growth, activity, injury, or structural concerns. Many pediatric podiatry conditions improve with conservative care, but persistent pain should be evaluated by a specialist.
Sever’s Disease
Sever’s disease, also called calcaneal apophysitis, is a common cause of heel pain in active children and adolescents. It occurs when the heel growth plate becomes irritated.
Flexible Flatfoot in Children
Flexible flatfoot is common in children and often does not cause pain. When symptoms develop, treatment may include supportive shoes, stretching, orthotics, or further evaluation.
At Total Spine & Orthopedics, podiatric treatment begins with a careful evaluation of your symptoms, medical history, activity level, and foot structure. When needed, we may use weight-bearing X-rays, advanced imaging, gait evaluation, or other diagnostic tools to better understand the source of your pain.
Your podiatry care plan may include:
Our goal is to help relieve pain, restore function, and support long-term foot and ankle health with the least invasive podiatric treatment approach that makes sense for your condition.
Foot and ankle pain should not keep you from walking comfortably, staying active, or enjoying your normal routine. Whether you are dealing with heel pain, a bunion, an ankle injury, diabetic foot concerns, arthritis, or a complex deformity, Total Spine & Orthopedics can help you understand your options and take the next step toward relief.
Schedule your visit online today.
