Foot and ankle injuries are especially frustrating because they can affect your ability to walk, drive, and participate in recreational activities. When you experience pain or discomfort in your feet or ankles, it can impact your physical and mental well-being as well as your social life. Working with a foot and ankle pain specialist in Richmond to help you understand your available treatment options is wise.
At Richmond Orthopedic Institute, skilled foot and ankle specialist Dr. Anson Chu, offers patient-friendly care for all types of foot and ankle injuries. If you’re in pain or having trouble moving around, reach out to a foot and ankle pain specialist in Richmond by phone or click on the online booking tool for help today.
Any time you experience new foot and ankle symptoms, it’s important to reach out to a physician at Richmond Orthopedic Institute before the problem worsens. Foot and ankle symptoms may start suddenly or build gradually over time.
Symptoms may worsen after a recent injury or medical problem, or they may gradually appear in a foot or ankle that was injured years ago. In general, if you notice a change in how your foot or ankle feels, looks, or moves, it’s time to call for help. Some common symptoms in the feet and ankles include:
It is normal for both feet to swell slightly or be sore and tired occasionally. This can happen after standing all day or after a significant athletic event. However, numbness, pain, or swelling in one foot is a signal to call for an appointment.
Various conditions can cause one or both feet and ankles to feel weak or unstable, such as a sprain or strain, nerve damage, biomechanical issues, tendon problems, or ligament laxity.
Your foot and ankle may be red, warm, or bruised after an injury or because of circulatory problems, infection, inflammatory condition, or even an allergic reaction.
The sensation of tingling in one or both feet can result from several conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies, peripheral neuropathy, a pinched nerve, or inflammatory conditions. The correct diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent long-term damage.
While these are more common symptoms, they can result from a variety of conditions. Dr. Chu’s knowledge and experience are invaluable in the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle pain.
At Richmond Orthopedic Institute, Dr. Chu reviews your full health history and discusses your ankle and foot symptoms with you. If you have experienced a sudden injury (such as a workers’ compensation injury), Dr. Chu will review the circumstances of the accident with you in detail.
During his exam, Dr. Chu will assess your foot and ankle function. He may ask you to stand, move your foot and ankle in particular ways, or bear weight so he can better make a diagnosis.
While Dr. Chu can often make a preliminary diagnosis after his physical exam of your foot and ankle, he may request imaging tests like an X-ray or diagnostic ultrasound for an internal view of your injury. This helps to pinpoint the exact place of injury and gauge the severity of the damage.
Treatment of foot and ankle pain can incorporate a blend of treatment options. Dr. Chu may prescribe several of the following options to help you heal and feel better fast:
However, severe foot and ankle pain may require surgical intervention. Dr. Chu is a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon who can perform highly complex procedures, such as total ankle replacement surgery, in the Richmond office.
Pain in your foot and ankle can get worse when it is not diagnosed and treated effectively. Richmond foot and ankle specialist Dr. Chu will look for some of the common causes and risk factors that can trigger pain and discomfort, including:
There are over 100 different types of arthritis, several of which can affect your foot and ankle, such as reactive, septic, or psoriatic arthritis.
These can form around the foot and ankle, causing pain and limited movement.
In this injury, the bone is not completely broken or fractured, but it has tiny cracks that result from overuse of the joint or foot. Without proper treatments, a stress fracture can cause a large longitudinal crack in the bone, resulting in significant pain and disability.
Several types of tendonitis can affect the foot and ankle, including tendons in the tibial, flexor, perineal, and extensor regions.
These are small areas in the foot or ankle bones where extra growth occurs. This can cause significant pain and difficulty with movement.
Foot and ankle pain or injury can make it difficult to complete your activities each day. Chronic pain is wearing on your mental and emotional state and often interferes with your social activities.
We encourage you to call a foot and ankle pain specialist in Richmond to schedule a consultation for an accurate assessment of your foot and ankle pain problems.
