Foot deformities are a range of different conditions that can affect the bones and tendons in your feet. Thus, you may want to know the answer to the question, “Are all foot deformities painful?”
Well, some are painful, while others are not. Some can affect how you walk, while others may cause some to feel shame or embarrassment about their appearance.
If you are looking for treatment for pediatric foot deformities, make an appointment with our foot and ankle specialists today at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center. We gladly serve our patients throughout the Greater Columbus area.
Visiting an orthopedic surgeon doesn’t mean that surgery is necessary. Our orthopedic doctors always prefer to use non-surgical procedures to treat injuries.
“The doctor completed a removal of several bone spurs that were rubbing my Achilles tendon after first trying a conservative approach. His care was phenomenal. A month out of surgery, I am not fully healed and walking, but I am pain free for the first time in years and am looking forward to resuming a more active lifestyle chasing my dogs and actually participating in life without my purse Tylenol and Aleve on hand. I can’t recommend them enough!” — Elizabeth L.
There are several different types of foot deformities. Many of them are related to abnormalities in the tendons or bones of the feet or toes.
Some common foot deformities include bunions and hammertoes. Less common foot deformities include conditions such as clubfoot, fused toes (tarsal coalition), mallet toes, or a flat foot (pes planus).
You may be born with a foot deformity, or it can develop after birth. The following list contains some ways that foot deformities can occur:
There are many different types of foot deformities. Each condition presents its own symptoms. Some of the common symptoms related to foot deformities include:
Below are some of the most common foot deformity conditions and their specific symptoms.
Bunions can be caused by wearing shoes that are tight at the front. The big toe is forced inwards, and the joint is forced out. This causes friction on the outside of the foot, and callous skin starts to form where it rubs against the shoe.
You can be born with flat feet, or it can be acquired through injury to the posterior tibial tendon. A flat foot is characterized by a lack of an arch in the foot.
A club foot is when the muscles on one side of the foot are tighter than the other. The tight muscles cause the foot to turn sharply inwards.
Claw toe is where your small toes, like your pinky toe, turn downwards. Their appearance becomes like those of a bird’s claw.
If you have a habit of wearing tight-fitting shoes, your toe joints can become permanently bent upwards and thus forming a hammertoe.
The opposite of hammer toe happens with this condition. The toes bend downward at the joint. This can make wearing shoes uncomfortable.
This condition occurs when there is an abnormal connection between the toes. Fused toes often develop through adolescence, causing pain and, in some cases, stiffness.
This condition is closely associated with psoriasis, a skin condition characterized by a thickening of the skin. Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause joints to become hot, swollen, and painful. Toes can also become deformed.
This is another autoimmune disease that affects the joints. It can cause joints to become painful, swollen, and stiff. If rheumatoid arthritis is not treated, irreversible joint damage and deformity can occur.
Bone spurs can develop anywhere on the foot. They can be felt as a bony protrusion under the skin. They don’t always cause pain but sometimes can be red and swollen.
There are several treatment options for foot deformities. When possible, our surgeons will use non-surgical treatments to correct a deformity. Some treatments for foot deformities include the following:
Your physician can also give you anti-inflammatory and/or pain medications to treat your symptoms of discomfort.
If you are looking for help with a proper foot deformity diagnosis and treatment, make an appointment today with our foot and ankle specialists at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center. Our experienced orthopedic surgeons in Columbus, OH are ready to answer any questions you might have. Contact our team today!
Medically Reviewed by Sarah M. Abshier, DPM
