Nonsurgical Treatments for Foot and Ankle Pain

Key Takeaways:

Most foot and ankle pain can be effectively treated without surgery using well-established conservative methods. Approaches such as the R.I.C.E. protocol, structured physical therapy, shoe or orthotic modifications, short-term immobilization, and targeted injections (including cortisone or PRP) can reduce inflammation, support tissue healing and restore mobility. These nonsurgical strategies address common issues such as arthritis, tendinitis, traumatic injuries and structural foot deformities. Early evaluation and a personalized treatment plan help ensure safe recovery, improved stability, and a faster return to normal activities.

The foot and ankle play a critical role in a wide range of everyday movements. Whether you are walking around or engaged in more strenuous activities such as running, jumping or quick directional changes, your foot and ankle will help provide the balance and stability necessary to perform these motions.

But the foot and ankle are also highly complex structures consisting of intricately connected bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. These structures are tasked with bearing the weight of your body, which makes them susceptible to injury or chronic pain that can limit your mobility and prevent you from enjoying your favorite activities.

While foot and ankle pain can significantly impact your quality of life, there are a wide range of treatments that can help alleviate your pain and restore mobility without the need for invasive surgery. In fact, most foot and ankle pain can generally be resolved with nonsurgical treatments.

Common Causes of Foot and Ankle Pain

There are several potential causes of foot and ankle pain, and the right treatment plan for you will depend on the specific issue triggering your pain. Some of the most common causes of foot and ankle pain include:

• Arthritis
• Traumatic injuries (typically sports injuries or accident-related issues)
• Tendinitis
• Foot deformities

Nonsurgical Approaches to Alleviate Your Pain

While there are certain severe injuries which may require surgery, most foot and ankle conditions can be addressed with more conservative approaches. Depending on your specific condition, one or more of the following nonsurgical treatment methods will generally be implemented prior to recommending surgery.

R.I.C.E. Method

Many minor foot and ankle injuries can be treated with the R.I.C.E. method:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

Staying off your feet (resting) is often an important way to manage pain and facilitate proper healing after a foot or ankle injury. Intermittent treatment with ice can be an effective way to reduce pain and manage swelling. Using compression stockings and elevating your foot above the heart will also help reduce swelling immediately after an injury.

Physical Therapy

As with many other types of injuries, physical therapy can be an effective treatment for foot and ankle pain. Your physical therapy program will generally include a variety of stretches and exercises to strengthen foot muscles, improve flexibility and restore range of motion.

Shoe Modifications

In some instances, shoe modifications can help alleviate foot and ankle pain. Orthotics, custom inserts or switching to low-heeled, broad toe box shoes can relieve pressure points and improve foot mechanics. These modifications can be an effective approach to treat conditions such as plantar fasciitis or flat feet.

Immobilization

Immobilizing your foot and ankle using a brace, splint or cast can often provide proper support and facilitate healing after traumatic injuries such as a fracture or severe sprain. In many instances, immobilizing a broken bone can help it heal on its own without surgery. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may also need to use crutches while walking until your foot and ankle has healed sufficiently to support your full body weight.

Injections

Some foot and ankle conditions can be treated with injections to alleviate pain, reduce swelling and restore proper function. The two most common types of injections used to treat foot and ankle pain are:

• Cortisone
• PRP

Cortisone injections are often used when inflammation is the primary driver of your pain. They can be effective at treating conditions such as plantar fasciitis, bursitis, arthritis, and some forms of foot and ankle tendinitis. Your foot and ankle specialist may recommend cortisone injections if:

• Pain is moderate to severe and interferes with walking
• Short-term pain relief is needed to calm a flare-up so that you can begin other treatments such as physical therapy to provide more long-term relief

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are often used to treat chronic conditions that haven’t improved with other nonsurgical treatment methods. They can be an effective way to promote soft tissue healing and long-term improvement of your condition. In general, it can take longer to experience the pain relief benefits of PRP than cortisone, making it a better option for individuals who don’t require a rapid alleviation of their pain.

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Can Help Alleviate Foot and Ankle Pain

If you’re experiencing foot or ankle pain, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics can help. Our team of board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons includes Dr. Alejandro Miranda, a foot and ankle specialist with a dual fellowship in sports medicine and foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Miranda has extensive experience performing a wide range of nonsurgical foot and ankle procedures, and he can develop a customized treatment plan that will help you restore a pain free life.

In addition to his work at CAO, Dr. Miranda is in the medical pool for US Ski and Snowboard, and he travels internationally as the team physician for the US Snowboardcross Team. He’s also served as a team physician with the US Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams. Dr. Miranda’s specialization and broad experience handling foot and ankle conditions has helped CAO develop a reputation as one of the top orthopedic facilities on the Western Slope for foot and ankle treatments.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We serve patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.