Ankle and Foot

Get back on your feet

It’s easy to take your feet for granted. But when something goes wrong with them, your daily life can grind to a halt. Getting the care you need helps you find relief from pain and allows you to stay active and do all the things you enjoy.

The podiatrists at Reid Health have the expertise to address your pain and help you get the treatments you need.

Rapid recovery. Better outcome.

The board-certified podiatric medicine providers at Reid Podiatry are part of our comprehensive team of foot specialists. Together, we have the skills and expertise needed to diagnose and treat a variety of foot, ankle, and lower -leg problems successfully.

With locations throughout East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio, Reid Podiatry offers comprehensive care to adults and children experiencing foot and ankle concerns.

Experienced, multidisciplinary foot and ankle care

In some cases, effective ankle and foot care might require the expertise of additional specialists, such as endocrinologists. At Reid Health, we work together to address all your health needs, especially for conditions like diabetes, that impact foot health. Your care team will create a personalized treatment plan to improve outcomes and your overall health. 

Common causes of foot and ankle pain

Your feet are made up of 26 bones and more than 30 joints, all working together to help you stay active and enjoy the activities you love. Although some foot and ankle pain could stem from poorly fitting shoes, there are numerous other causes, ranging from common to complex conditions. Many of these issues can be addressed by our dedicated foot and ankle specialists.

Achilles tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is a common condition that causes pain and swelling in your Achilles tendon — the large tendon at the back of the ankle that connects your heel to your calf muscle. You could be more likely to develop this condition if you have flat feet or incredibly high arches.

Tendonitis occurs when you suddenly increase your activity levels without properly preparing for it first. For example, if you run a 5K or an obstacle race without working your way up to it. The added stress from the extra activity damages fibers in your tendon, leading to swelling, pain, and tenderness.  

While Achilles tendonitis often heals with nonsurgical care — including rest, medications, orthotics, and physical therapy — if you’ve had it for a while, your podiatrist might recommend surgery to help you recover.

Arthritis in the toes, feet, or ankles

Arthritis causes inflammation that can make your toes, feet, and ankles painful or stiff. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and the types most likely to affect the feet and ankles include:

• Osteoarthritis: This type occurs when the tissues within your joints break down over time.
• Post-traumatic arthritis: Similar to osteoarthritis, this form develops after an injury.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: This autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack the joints.

Although there is no cure for arthritis, your podiatrist or orthopedic specialist can recommend a range of surgical and nonsurgical treatments to reduce your symptoms and get you back to your life. 

Bunions

Bunions are bony bumps that form on the joint at the base of your big toe. Despite what you might have heard your whole life, bunions aren’t caused by tight shoes. Although your footwear can make bunions worse, in most cases, they develop because of genetics, medical conditions, or structural problems, such as having flat feet.

You don’t always need surgery to get relief from bunions. Many people feel better and have reduced symptoms by wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes, protective bunion pads, or orthotics. However, if your bunion causes pain or makes walking difficult, surgery might help reduce your symptoms.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Diabetes can damage nerves throughout your body. When the damage occurs in your legs and feet, it’s called diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This uncomfortable condition can lead to pain, tingling, and numbness, which might make you more likely to develop a sore, a chronic nonhealing wound, or even a fracture, without realizing it.

The primary treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy is managing your diabetes. The dedicated team at Reid Podiatry will work with your primary care provider and diabetes care team to help you address high blood sugar while also addressing symptoms and long-term complications of your neuropathy.

Flatfoot and high arches

Flat feet and high arches might seem like opposite problems, but both can be painful and lead to difficulty with physical activities.  

With flatfoot, there's little to no arch in your foot, causing your ankle to look like it’s rolling inward. While there are different types of flatfoot, all of them can lead to pain in your foot, shinbone, and lower leg. Hip, knee, or low-back pain can also occur.

When you have high arches, your balls and heels bear more weight than normal, leading to pain, instability in your ankles, and the development of hammertoes or calluses.

Our podiatrists can help you find the right solution for your flat feet or high arches, working with other providers if needed, so you get the care you need.  

Hammertoes

With hammer toes, the muscles in your second, third, or fourth toes are unbalanced, causing the toe to bend in the middle joint. As a result, the toe looks like a hammer.

There are two types of hammer toe:

• Flexible hammer toe: The joint can still move and, often, can be treated nonsurgically.
• Rigid hammer toe: The joint can no longer move and typically requires surgery.  

If you develop flexible hammer toe, see a podiatrist, who can help address the condition before you need surgery.  

Plantar fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel to the ball of your foot. Plantar fasciitis occurs when it becomes inflamed and painful.  

Providers don’t always know what causes plantar fasciitis, but overuse, standing on hard surfaces for long times, age, and excess weight (among other factors) can increase your risk.  

Fortunately, nonsurgical treatments are highly successful at relieving plantar fasciitis. You have many options for care, ranging from rest to physical therapy to orthotics and night splints. Your podiatrist can offer a complete evaluation and develop a plan that helps you overcome heel pain and other symptoms.

Sports injuries

Many sports injuries can affect the feet and ankles, including:

• Achilles tendonitis
• Dislocations
• Fractures
• Plantar fasciitis  
• Sprains  
• Strains
• Stress fractures

At Reid Health, our podiatrists work closely with our physical therapists and athletic trainers to help you recover from and prevent sports injuries.  

Whether you’re a high school or college athlete or an active adult, we’re here to support you and protect your feet and ankles for the long term. 

Nail care clinic

Some toenails are too difficult to cut at home, and commercial nail salons don’t offer the care necessary for underlying medical conditions or if you’ve had surgery recently. Without proper care, they can quickly become sources of pain, infection, and serious health problems. This is especially true for people with diabetes who are at increased risk for foot injuries.  

Reid Podiatry’s specialized Nail Care Clinic treats toenails, including basic trimming and cleaning. This service is like a pedicure, except it’s performed by medical professionals who are specially trained to identify and handle problems when they arise.  

Treatment is $40. Insurance isn’t billed for this service.