Foot pain can turn even simple activities—walking through the grocery store, exercising, working, or standing for long periods—into uncomfortable experiences. Because the foot contains a complex combination of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and other soft tissues, pain can develop for many different reasons. Finding the right treatment starts with identifying the actual source of the problem.

At New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale, our podiatrists evaluate and treat a wide range of conditions affecting the feet and ankles. Whether your discomfort appeared suddenly after an injury or has gradually become worse over months or years, a proper evaluation can help determine what is causing your symptoms and which treatment options may be appropriate.

Foot pain does not always require surgery. Depending on the diagnosis and severity of the condition, treatment may involve changes in activity, footwear modifications, custom orthotics, medications, physical rehabilitation, minimally invasive procedures, or surgical correction.

If foot pain is interfering with your ability to walk comfortably or participate in the activities you enjoy, scheduling an evaluation with a podiatrist can be an important first step toward getting back on your feet.

What Causes Foot Pain?

Foot pain is a symptom rather than a specific diagnosis. The location, type, intensity, and timing of the pain can all provide important clues about what may be causing it.

Pain may originate from bones and joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, skin, toenails, or the biomechanics of the foot itself. Some problems develop after a specific injury, while others result from repetitive stress, structural abnormalities, arthritis, nerve disorders, diabetes, or normal wear over time.

Common causes of foot pain include plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammertoes, arthritis, Achilles tendon problems, flat feet, Morton’s neuroma, stress fractures, peripheral neuropathy, metatarsalgia, gout, ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, tendon disorders, and sports injuries. Heel pain in particular is frequently associated with conditions such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy. (Mayo Clinic)

The right treatment therefore depends heavily on identifying which structure is producing the pain.

Where Does Your Foot Hurt?

The location of your discomfort can help narrow down the possible cause.

Heel Pain

Heel pain is among the most common reasons patients visit a podiatrist. Pain underneath the heel is frequently associated with plantar fasciitis, while discomfort toward the back of the heel may involve the Achilles tendon or nearby structures.

Other potential sources include heel spurs, stress fractures, bursitis, nerve irritation, trauma, and inflammatory conditions. Because several conditions can produce similar symptoms, persistent heel pain should be evaluated rather than automatically assumed to be plantar fasciitis. (Mayo Clinic)

Arch Pain

Pain through the arch of the foot can develop from plantar fascia problems, overuse, flat feet, abnormal biomechanics, tendon dysfunction, or insufficient support.

Some patients experience discomfort only during exercise, while others notice aching or fatigue after standing for long periods. Treatment often focuses not only on reducing pain but also on addressing the mechanical forces contributing to the problem.

Ball of the Foot Pain

Pain beneath the forefoot or behind the toes is often described as ball-of-foot pain. Conditions such as metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma, sesamoiditis, plantar plate injuries, arthritis, and stress injuries may produce symptoms in this area.

Some patients describe aching or pressure, while nerve-related problems can create burning, tingling, numbness, or the sensation of standing on a pebble.

Big Toe Pain

Pain in or around the big toe can occur because of a bunion, arthritis of the big-toe joint, gout, an ingrown toenail, trauma, or repetitive stress.

A progressive bunion can alter the position of the big toe and change the mechanics of the forefoot. Arthritis may instead cause stiffness and pain during walking, particularly when the toe bends upward.

Outer Foot Pain

Pain along the outside of the foot can result from tendon injuries, fractures, stress injuries, abnormal foot mechanics, or excessive pressure.

Determining whether the pain originates from a bone, joint, tendon, or another structure is important before beginning treatment.

Burning, Tingling or Numbness

Burning, tingling, pins-and-needles sensations, or numbness may indicate involvement of the nerves.

Peripheral neuropathy can cause gradual numbness, tingling, sensitivity, burning discomfort, or weakness in the feet. Diabetes is one potential cause of neuropathy, although many other conditions can affect peripheral nerves. (Mayo Clinic)

Because decreased sensation can make injuries harder to detect, people experiencing persistent numbness—particularly individuals with diabetes—should have their feet professionally evaluated.

How a Podiatrist Diagnoses Foot Pain

Effective foot pain treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis.

During your visit, your podiatrist may ask when the pain began, where it is located, which activities make it worse, whether there was an injury, and whether you have experienced swelling, numbness, weakness, or changes in your ability to walk.

Physical Examination

The foot and ankle may be examined for areas of tenderness, swelling, deformity, instability, range of motion, strength, circulation, sensation, and changes in alignment.

Your podiatrist may also evaluate how you stand and walk because abnormal foot mechanics can contribute to certain painful conditions.

Imaging

Not every patient requires imaging.

Depending on the suspected condition, X-rays or other imaging studies may be recommended to look for fractures, arthritis, structural abnormalities, bone changes, or soft-tissue injuries.

For example, plantar fasciitis can often be diagnosed from the patient’s history and physical examination without advanced imaging, although imaging may be used when another problem such as a stress fracture needs to be ruled out. (Mayo Clinic)

Neurological and Vascular Evaluation

When burning, numbness, wounds, temperature changes, or circulation problems are present, additional evaluation of the nerves and blood flow may be appropriate.

This can be especially important for patients with diabetes, neuropathy, or wounds that are slow to heal.

Foot Pain Treatment Options

There is no single treatment that works for every type of foot pain. Treatment should address the underlying diagnosis, severity of symptoms, lifestyle, activity level, and individual medical needs.

Whenever appropriate, conservative treatment is often considered before surgery.

Rest and Activity Modification

Reducing or temporarily modifying activities that repeatedly aggravate the foot can allow irritated tissues to recover.

A runner with an overuse injury, for example, may need to temporarily replace high-impact exercise with lower-impact activities. Someone whose work requires prolonged standing may benefit from changes in footwear, additional support, or scheduled periods of rest.

The goal is not necessarily to stop all activity. Rather, activity can often be modified while the affected structure heals.

Ice and Short-Term Symptom Management

Cold therapy may help decrease discomfort and swelling associated with certain injuries or overuse conditions.

For some conditions, nonprescription pain medications may also provide temporary relief when medically appropriate. Medication can reduce symptoms, but it does not necessarily correct the structural, mechanical, or neurological issue causing the pain.

Patients with other medical conditions or those taking prescription medications should discuss medication use with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Supportive Footwear

Shoes affect how pressure is distributed throughout the foot.

Footwear with appropriate cushioning, arch support, room for the toes, and stability can make a significant difference for some conditions. Worn-out shoes may lose much of their original cushioning and support.

For conditions such as plantar fasciitis, supportive footwear and avoiding poorly supportive shoes may be incorporated into conservative treatment. (Mayo Clinic)

Custom Orthotics

Custom foot orthotics are specially designed devices worn inside shoes to influence how forces are distributed across the feet.

Unlike generic over-the-counter insoles, custom orthotics can be designed around an individual’s foot structure and specific mechanical needs.

Depending on the diagnosis, orthotics may be considered for conditions such as plantar fasciitis, flat feet, metatarsalgia, certain forms of arthritis, and other biomechanical problems.

Orthotics are not necessary for every patient with foot pain. A podiatric evaluation can determine whether additional support or mechanical correction may be beneficial.

Stretching and Rehabilitation

Tight muscles, reduced flexibility, weakness, and altered movement patterns may contribute to some foot and ankle problems.

A targeted rehabilitation program may include stretching the calf muscles or plantar fascia, strengthening muscles that support the foot and ankle, improving balance, and gradually returning to normal activities.

For plantar fasciitis, stretching and physical therapy are among the conservative treatments commonly used to reduce symptoms and improve function. (Mayo Clinic)

Bracing, Splints and Immobilization

Certain conditions require temporary stabilization.

An ankle brace may be appropriate following some ankle injuries, while night splints may be used in certain cases of plantar fasciitis. Walking boots can sometimes be used to reduce stress on an injured bone, tendon, ligament, or other structure.

The correct device and length of use depend on the diagnosis.

Injection Therapy

For selected conditions, injections may be considered when other conservative measures are insufficient.

The type of injection, potential benefits, and risks vary significantly depending on the condition being treated and the tissue involved.

Injections should therefore be recommended only after proper evaluation rather than being viewed as a universal solution for foot pain.

Minimally Invasive Treatment Options

Some chronic tendon and plantar fascia conditions may continue despite rest, physical therapy, medications, injections, or other conservative treatments.

New Hope Podiatry Group offers Tenex Health TX, a minimally invasive technology designed to target and remove diseased soft tissue while limiting disruption to surrounding healthy tissue. The practice currently identifies plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, peroneal tendonitis, and certain other tendon-related problems among conditions for which Tenex may be considered. (New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale, CA)

Whether a minimally invasive procedure is appropriate depends on the diagnosis and individual circumstances.

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of pain beneath the heel.

Many patients improve without surgery. Treatment may include activity modification, stretching, icing, supportive footwear, physical therapy, orthotics, night splints, or temporary immobilization depending on the severity and duration of symptoms. More persistent cases may require additional treatment options.

Surgery is generally reserved for select cases in which substantial symptoms continue despite appropriate nonsurgical treatment. (Mayo Clinic)

Treatment for Bunions and Structural Deformities

A bunion is more than simply a bump on the side of the foot. It involves a change in the alignment of the bones and joint near the big toe.

Mild symptoms may sometimes be managed with wider footwear, padding, activity modifications, orthotics, or other measures designed to reduce pressure and discomfort.

When a painful bunion becomes severe or continues to interfere with normal activities despite conservative treatment, surgical correction may be discussed.

New Hope Podiatry Group also offers Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction as a surgical option for appropriate patients. (New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale, CA)

Treatment for Nerve-Related Foot Pain

Burning, tingling, numbness, or electrical sensations require a different approach from ordinary muscle or joint pain.

The first step is determining whether symptoms are related to peripheral neuropathy, localized nerve compression, Morton’s neuroma, diabetes, another medical condition, or a different source.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. In addition to reducing discomfort, protecting areas with decreased sensation is particularly important because patients may not notice cuts, pressure injuries, or wounds as quickly.

Treatment for Arthritis-Related Foot Pain

Arthritis can affect numerous joints throughout the foot and ankle.

Treatment depends on which joint is affected, how advanced the arthritis has become, and how significantly it limits daily activity. Nonsurgical management may include footwear modifications, orthotics, bracing, activity modification, medications, or other conservative measures.

If arthritis becomes severe and substantially interferes with function, surgical treatment may be considered.

Treatment for Sports Injuries

Running, hiking, basketball, tennis, soccer, and other physical activities place repetitive forces on the feet and ankles.

Sports-related foot pain may result from ankle sprains, tendon injuries, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, sesamoid problems, or other overuse injuries.

Returning to activity too quickly can sometimes worsen an injury. Treatment should therefore focus not only on reducing pain but also on restoring strength, stability, mobility, and function before full activity resumes.

When Is Foot Surgery Necessary?

Most patients who visit a podiatrist for foot pain will not automatically require surgery.

Surgery may become an option when there is a significant structural deformity, unstable injury, advanced arthritis, tendon damage, fracture, persistent pain, or another condition that has not responded adequately to appropriate nonsurgical treatment.

The decision depends on the condition, severity, overall health of the patient, goals, and expected benefits and risks.

When surgery is appropriate, New Hope Podiatry Group’s physicians have clinical interests that include reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, trauma, sports medicine, nerve surgery, limb salvage, and amputation prevention. (New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale, CA)

When Should You See a Podiatrist for Foot Pain?

Occasional soreness after unusual activity may improve with rest. Persistent or severe symptoms deserve more attention.

Schedule a podiatric evaluation if your foot pain continues for weeks, repeatedly returns, interferes with walking or exercise, or is accompanied by persistent swelling, burning, numbness, tingling, or weakness.

More urgent evaluation may be appropriate if you have severe pain or swelling after an injury, cannot place weight on the foot, notice obvious deformity, develop signs of infection, or have an open wound. People with diabetes should be particularly cautious about wounds or injuries that do not heal normally. (Mayo Clinic)

Why Choose New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale for Foot Pain?

The goal of foot pain treatment is not simply to temporarily mask discomfort. Whenever possible, treatment should identify the underlying source of the problem and help restore comfortable function.

At New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale, patients have access to podiatric evaluation and treatment for a broad range of foot and ankle conditions, from common problems such as heel pain and bunions to sports injuries, neuropathy, diabetic foot complications, wounds, and complex reconstructive conditions.

Our podiatrists include Charles E. Ananian, DPM, FACFAS, whose clinical interests include amputation prevention, lower-extremity nerve surgery, and reconstructive surgery, and Jano Boghossian, DPM, whose clinical interests include sports medicine, trauma, limb salvage, reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, and diabetic wound care research. (New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale, CA)

If foot pain is keeping you from comfortably walking, exercising, working, or enjoying everyday life, contact New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale to schedule an evaluation.

New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale
1530 E Chevy Chase Dr #107
Glendale, CA 91206
Phone: (818) 265-1581 (New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale, CA)

Frequently Asked Questions About Foot Pain Treatments

1. What is the most common cause of foot pain?

There is no single cause that accounts for every case of foot pain. Common causes include plantar fasciitis, overuse injuries, bunions, arthritis, tendon disorders, flat feet, nerve problems, stress fractures, ingrown toenails, and improperly fitting footwear. The location and characteristics of the pain help a podiatrist determine the most likely diagnosis. (Mayo Clinic)

2. When should I see a podiatrist for foot pain?

Consider seeing a podiatrist when pain persists for several weeks, repeatedly returns, interferes with walking or exercise, or occurs with swelling, numbness, tingling, or weakness. Severe pain after an injury, inability to bear weight, signs of infection, or an open wound may require more immediate medical evaluation. (Mayo Clinic)

3. Can foot pain be treated without surgery?

Yes. Many foot conditions can initially be treated without surgery. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include activity modification, supportive footwear, orthotics, stretching, physical therapy, bracing, immobilization, medications, or other conservative treatments. Surgery is generally considered when the condition is severe or symptoms continue despite appropriate nonsurgical care.

4. Can custom orthotics help with foot pain?

Custom orthotics may help certain patients by changing how pressure and mechanical forces are distributed across the feet. They may be considered for conditions such as plantar fasciitis, flat feet, metatarsalgia, and some forms of arthritis. An evaluation can determine whether custom orthotics are appropriate for the specific cause of your pain.

5. Why does my foot hurt when I first get out of bed?

Pain during the first steps in the morning is commonly associated with plantar fasciitis, particularly when the discomfort occurs beneath the heel. Other conditions can cause similar symptoms, however, so persistent morning foot pain should be evaluated rather than self-diagnosed. (Mayo Clinic)

6. What causes burning or tingling pain in the feet?

Burning, tingling, numbness, or pins-and-needles sensations can be associated with nerve problems such as peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes is one potential cause, but nerve compression, injury, and other medical conditions can also produce similar symptoms. A podiatrist can evaluate the feet and determine whether additional testing or medical evaluation is appropriate. (Mayo Clinic)

7. How do I know whether my foot pain is serious?

Foot pain warrants prompt attention when it follows significant trauma, prevents you from bearing weight, causes severe swelling, accompanies visible deformity, or occurs with an open wound or signs of infection. People with diabetes should take foot wounds especially seriously because reduced sensation and other diabetes-related complications can make injuries more difficult to detect or heal. (Mayo Clinic)

8. What type of doctor should I see for chronic foot pain?

A podiatrist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions involving the foot and ankle. If foot pain has become chronic, repeatedly returns, or limits your normal activities, a podiatric evaluation can help determine the underlying diagnosis and appropriate treatment options. New Hope Podiatry Group of Glendale provides care for a broad range of foot and ankle conditions at its Glendale, California office.