Foot and ankle pain usually comes from strained tendons and ligaments, such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis or an ankle sprain, or from arthritis and nerve problems. At Advanced Physical Medicine in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, we treat it without surgery using MLS laser, ultrasound-guided injections, PRP and physical therapy.
The foot and ankle have 26 bones and dozens of tendons and ligaments, so pain can come from many places. Common problems include:
Frequent causes include:
Pain on the outside of the lower leg above the ankle, especially at night, can come from an irritated tendon or a nerve, and sometimes from the lower back.
Dr. Stephen Wilson, MD, is double board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine and has more than 25 years of experience treating pain. We examine how you stand and walk, check the tendons and nerves, and plan treatment that keeps you on your feet. Options include:
MLS laser therapy reduces pain and inflammation in the heel, Achilles and ankle with no downtime.
Ultrasound lets us place anti-inflammatory medication precisely in a tendon sheath, joint or around the plantar fascia. See our interventional procedures.
Our regenerative medicine treatments can support healing in long-standing plantar fasciitis, Achilles problems and loose ankle ligaments.
Physical therapy stretches tight calves, strengthens the foot and ankle and retrains balance after a sprain.
If burning or numbness suggests a nerve problem, we perform nerve conduction studies in our office.
Book a visit if foot or heel pain lasts more than two weeks, an ankle keeps giving way, or pain changes how you walk. Heel pain caught early is usually easier to treat.
Do not wait out pain that is slowly getting worse. Many people change the way they walk to protect a sore heel or ankle, and that can strain the knee, hip and lower back over time. Treating the foot early protects the rest of the body too.
Get urgent care if you cannot bear weight, the ankle looks deformed, or a foot is red, hot and swollen. People with diabetes should see a doctor quickly for any foot wound.
Rest from long standing, ice the sore area, stretch your calves, wear supportive shoes and avoid going barefoot on hard floors. If the pain lasts more than two weeks, get it checked.
Keep the ankle raised on a pillow above heart level to reduce swelling, and wear a brace if your doctor recommends one.
Ankle pain after exercise is often tendinitis, an old sprain that left the ankle unstable, or early arthritis. Shoes, training load and calf tightness also play a part.
This can come from an irritated peroneal tendon, a nerve problem, or a pinched nerve in the lower back. An exam and, if needed, nerve testing can find the cause.
Most people with plantar fasciitis get better without surgery. Stretching, supportive shoes, physical therapy, laser therapy and injections are the usual first steps. Surgery is generally considered only after many months of care that has not helped.
Advanced Physical Medicine accepts most major insurance plans. Some treatments, such as regenerative injections, may be self-pay, and our staff will go over coverage and costs with you before you start.
Book a visit with Advanced Physical Medicine at 24345 Harper Ave, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, or call us at (586) 563-3300. We will find out what is behind your foot and ankle pain and talk you through every option before anything is decided.
