Common Foot Conditions

On this page you’ll find descriptions and causes of our most common foot health issues. If you don’t see your foot or ankle related health issue, please call an OPMA podiatrist near you to inquire.

Arthritis is a frequent component of complex diseases that may involve more than 100 identifiable disorders. The big toe joint is very prone to injury and arthritis. One of the biggest problems common in the big toe joint is cartilage damage with resultant bone spur formation. Diagnostic imaging is usually necessary to determine the degree of joint damage. Based on studies and symptoms, we formulate a treatment plan. Although conservative treatment options are available (cortisone injections, orthotics and shoe modifications), these treatments may not permanently solve the problem. Surgery may then be necessary to fix the cause of the pain.

Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes.

Bunions are an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe—the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint—that forms when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place.

Corns and Calluses are a common cause of painful feet and toes. A corn/callus is an area of densely thickened skin, which may have a core in its center. Although corns/calluses can be painful, they are largely benign and usually require simple treatments. The initial treatment usually consists of paring or trimming the lesion, then providing methods to prevent recurrence, which can be both medical (prescription creams called keratolytics) and mechanical (a special type of pad or arch support).  

Diabetes is the leading cause of lower extremity amputations in the United States. Diabetes can affect the feet in many ways. It can damage the nerves to the feet, making it difficult for people to detect minor injuries. Diabetes also can reduce blood circulation, which helps such injuries heal, in addition to delivering antibiotics to the sites of infection and keeping skin healthy. The disease can have an impact on how effectively the immune system fights infection. All of these factors add up to patients with diabetes having an increased chance of a foot infection, as well as more serious complications that may lead to hospitalization and amputation. Podiatrists help people with diabetes prevent such serious situations through education, inspection, foot care, shoe and insole recommendations, wound care and even limb salvage surgery. Most diabetic complications are preventable. People with diabetes can minimize their chances of developing complications by controlling blood glucose levels, inspecting their feet every day, not walking barefoot, and alerting their diabetes doctor or podiatrist as soon as a problem arises.

Foot and Ankle Injuries happen every day. Broken bones, dislocations, sprains, contusions, infections, and other serious injuries can occur at any time.  Early attention is vitally important. Whenever you sustain a foot or ankle injury, you should seek immediate treatment from a podiatric physician.

Fungal infections are the most common cause of dry, cracked, itchy skin. If a topical antifungal cream used as directed is not working, you may be misdiagnosing the condition or you may need a stronger medicine.

Bacterial infections are rare in healthy people, but have the potential to cause systemic problems, such as blood poisoning, if left untreated. Most people with a bacterial infection will have pain, redness, warmth and swelling of the infected area. There is usually a crack or hole in the skin where the bacteria get in and that may drain a whitish or yellow viscous discharge, called pus. You also may have systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, malaise, and nausea. Treatment of foot infections usually involves surgical decompression when necessary, and oral or IV antibiotics.  


Fungal Nails Fungal infection of the nail, or onychomycosis, is often ignored because the infection can be present for years without causing any pain. The disease is characterized by a progressive change in a toenail's quality and color, which is often ugly and embarrassing. In reality, the condition is an infection underneath the surface of the nail caused by fungi. When the tiny organisms take hold, the nail often becomes darker in color and foul smelling. Debris may collect beneath the nail plate, white marks frequently appear on the nail plate, and the infection is capable of spreading to other toenails, the skin, or even the fingernails. If ignored, the infection can spread and possibly impair one's ability to walk. This happens because the resulting thicker nails are difficult to trim and make walking painful when wearing shoes. Onychomycosis can also be accompanied by a secondary bacterial or yeast infection in or around the nail plate. Because it is difficult to avoid contact with microscopic organisms like fungi, the toenails are especially vulnerable around damp areas where people are likely to be walking barefoot, such as swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers. Injury to the nail bed may make it more susceptible to all types of infection, including fungal infection. Those who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, circulatory problems, or immune-deficiency conditions, are especially prone to fungal nails. Other contributing factors may be a history of athlete's foot and excessive perspiration.

Heel Pain has many causes. It is generally the result of faulty biomechanics (walking gait abnormalities) that place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it. The stress may also result from injury, or a bruise incurred while walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces; wearing poorly constructed footwear; or being overweight.

Hammertoes  A hammertoe is a contracture—or bending—of the toe at the first joint of the digit, called the proximal interphalangeal joint.  Hammertoes can be painful and can often cause a corn on top of the affected toe.

Ingrown Toenails are a common nail impairment, where the nails’ corners or sides grow painfully into the soft tissue of nail grooves, often leading to irritation, redness, swelling, and infection. Usually, toenails grow straight out, but sometimes, one or both corners or sides curve and grow into the flesh. The big toe is usually the victim of this condition, but other toes can also become affected. Ingrown toenails may be caused by: improperly trimmed nails, heredity, shoe pressure; crowding of toes or repeated trauma to the feet from normal activities.

Neuromas are a painful condition, also referred to as a "pinched nerve" or a nerve tumor. It is a benign growth of nerve tissue frequently found between the third and fourth toes that brings on pain, a burning sensation, tingling, or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.

Arthritic (Rheumatologic) Induced Pain and/or Deformity There are many different arthritic diseases that can affect the foot and ankle. Arthritic pain involves a team approach, as medicines are usually necessary to reduce the auto-immune component of the problem. The podiatrist's objective is to help relieve pain via medical (cortisone injection), mechanical (footwear, orthotics) and sometimes surgical treatment – when necessary.

Sesamoiditis The sesamoid bones are two bones under the big toe joint. They are embedded in two tendons and function as a pulley to help pull the big toe down toward the ground. Symptoms are usually insidious and involve pain under the big toe which usually worsens with weight-bearing activities. Because of their location, the sesamoid bones have a tremendous amount of force to distribute and are prone to injuries. Sesamoid injuries can be as simple as inflammation of the tendon and bone (sesamoiditis) or as complex as a fracture. Sometimes X-ray, MRI, Bone scan, or Ultrasound are used to differentiate between these injuries. Treatment is determined by the severity of the injury.

Sports Injuries The goal in treating sports injuries is to help you feel better, and get you back to your normal athletic activity. This involves treatment of your injury and eliminating factors for reinjury such as improper footwear, training errors and musculoskeletal imbalances.  Podiatrists can perform extensive biomechanical analysis including running and walking gait evaluation to determine whether knee, hip or back pain may be stemming from improper foot mechanics.

Tendon Disorders of the Foot and Ankle  Tendon disorders of the foot and ankle are very common, frequently involving the Achilles tendon, Posterior Tibial tendon, and/or Peroneal tendons. Tendon problems include tendonitis, chronic inflammation, scarring, and acute ruptures. Tendon disorders are usually characterized by pain and stiffness that is worse in the morning and may get a little better, but tends to worsen as the day goes on. This is usually accompanied by swelling and a painful lump may be present in the tendon itself. Treatment for mild to moderate injuries may be conservative, but when the injuries are more severe, surgery may be necessary to relieve symptoms or correct the problem.

Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by a virus, which generally invades the skin through small or invisible cuts and abrasions. A plantar wart is caused by a non-cancer causing strain of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Treatment can be loosely divided into three categories: topical, excisional, and injection based.