Foot & Ankle Pain & Injury Care in Boynton Beach

Common Foot & Ankle Symptoms

Foot and ankle pain can build slowly with walking, running or long hours on your feet, or it can start suddenly with a twist, fall or push-off.

• Sharp pain at the bottom of the heel with your first steps in the morning: typical of plantar fasciitis.
• Pain and swelling on the outer ankle after rolling it: often an ankle sprain.
• An ankle that keeps giving way or feels wobbly after past sprains: may point to ankle instability from stretched ligaments.
• Pain, stiffness or thickening at the back of the heel or above it: often Achilles tendon irritation (tendinopathy).
• A sudden pop at the back of the ankle with trouble pushing off: possible Achilles tendon rupture.
• Pain on the top of the foot or in the shin bone that worsens with activity: may be a stress reaction or stress fracture, a small crack from repeated stress.

If the foot or ankle looks deformed, you cannot bear weight, or you suspect a fracture, go to the emergency room or call 911. A suspected Achilles rupture should be seen within a few days, because early treatment keeps more options open.

When to see a specialist

Call our office if foot or ankle pain lasts more than a few weeks, keeps you from walking or exercising normally, or keeps coming back. It is also worth being seen if your ankle gives way repeatedly after a sprain, if heel pain has not improved with stretching and better shoes, or if you have numbness or tingling in the foot.

How we diagnose foot and ankle problems

At Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches, your physician asks how the pain started, examines where the foot and ankle are tender, tests ligament stability and strength, and watches how you walk. X-ray, MRI and diagnostic ultrasound are on site. Ultrasound shows the Achilles tendon, the plantar fascia and the ankle ligaments in real time and lets the physician guide an injection to the exact area of injury.

How we care for foot and ankle problems at POPB

Our team provides non-surgical evaluation and care for common foot and ankle problems, including sprains, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon problems, stress reactions and fractures. Your plan may include:

• Rest from the aggravating activity, ice, supportive shoes and inserts, and bracing or a walking boot when needed.
• Physical therapy in our office to restore motion, strength and balance, with therapists who share your chart with your physician.
• Ultrasound-guided injections in selected cases. Cortisone is used cautiously around the Achilles tendon and the plantar fascia because it can weaken them.
• Shockwave therapy for stubborn heel and tendon pain. Coverage varies by plan, so ask our team.
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma, prepared from your own blood). Evidence is still developing, results vary, and insurance usually does not cover it.

Most of these problems improve without surgery, though recovery can take weeks to months. If surgery may help, your physician can discuss referral to a foot and ankle surgeon and coordinate your care. You can continue your rehabilitation in our office afterward.

Your foot and ankle care team

Dr. Alexandra Adelman is dual board-certified in family medicine and sports medicine and provides non-operative care for sprains, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon problems and stress reactions, including ultrasound-guided injections. Dr. Jeffrey Press, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, treats Achilles tendon problems and fractures with a conservative-first approach.