Our specialty-trained foot doctors at North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic are experts in providing experienced care for patients’ foot injuries and conditions.

Foot doctors take on a challenging role. First, they must understand how the 26 bones and 33 joints of the foot function as well as the many muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments that surround them. Second, they must know how to properly treat patients who have problems within any of these structures.

Because any part of the foot can become damaged—such as through a one-time event, like an accident that results in a fracture, or damage caused by a wear-and-tear condition, like arthritis—foot doctors must be highly knowledgeable. They must also have a deep understanding of foot and toe deformities and how to treat them, whether they appear at birth or develop over time.

Foot specialists also educate the public about the importance of preventive foot care and wearing proper footwear. That’s because they know that many foot issues are entirely preventable. At the same time, when a patient is experiencing foot pain, our experts understand the difficulty this causes and work hard to find treatment options that help bring long-lasting relief.

When It’s Time to Seek Foot Care

Take note of the symptoms you are experiencing and communicate those to your doctor so they will have a better understanding of what may be happening. Here are just some of the symptoms that people with foot problems typically have: 

• Burning pain sensations that radiate from the lower leg to the foot and toes
• Electrical or tingling sensations
• Pain in a specific area on the bottom of the foot, such as the ball or heel
• Sharp pain when bearing weight on your foot
• Tenderness
• Toe joints are stiff and difficult or impossible to move
• Toes, foot, or ankle have increased in size due to swelling
• Visible lump near the big toe
• You avoid walking because it causes pain
• You have an unusually high arch

If any of these symptoms describe your issue, it’s possible that you may have one of these foot conditions or injuries:

• Bunion
• Flatfoot
• Foot arthritis
• Foot deformity
• Fracture
• Heel spur
• Metatarsalgia
• Pes cavus (claw foot)
• Plantar fasciitis
• Sprain
• Toe conditions (hammertoe or mallet toe)

Foot pain can have a negative effect on your life, leaving you unable to complete everyday tasks. If the pain and underlying condition go on untreated, there is a risk of further injury or damage occurring, which is why it’s imperative to contact one of our foot specialists and set up a consultation.