A podiatrist evaluates and treats conditions involving the foot, ankle, and related lower-extremity structures. Care ranges from skin and nail problems, heel pain, bunions, and sports injuries to fractures, arthritis, diabetic foot complications, deformity, and reconstructive surgery.

Schedule an evaluation when foot or ankle pain persists, limits activity, keeps returning, or is associated with swelling, weakness, numbness, deformity, skin changes, a wound, or difficulty walking. Significant injuries and sudden changes should be evaluated promptly.

Foot problems become more common with age, but persistent pain should not simply be accepted as normal aging. Arthritis, tendon disease, deformity, nerve problems, poor circulation, and changes in biomechanics may all contribute and can often be treated.

Prolonged standing can expose underlying problems such as plantar fasciitis, flatfoot, arthritis, metatarsalgia, tendon overload, or poorly fitting footwear. The location and pattern of pain help determine the cause.

Foot and ankle swelling can result from injury, overuse, arthritis, venous disease, medication effects, infection, or systemic medical conditions. New, one-sided, painful, red, or unexplained swelling warrants medical evaluation.

Differences in alignment, prior injuries, arthritis, tendon function, nerve irritation, footwear pressure, and activity can cause symptoms on only one side. A focused examination can help identify the source.

Foot mechanics can influence how forces travel through the lower extremity. In selected patients, abnormal gait or alignment may contribute to symptoms elsewhere, although knee, hip, and back pain can have many causes.

Bring your medication list, insurance information, relevant medical history, and prior imaging or operative reports when available. Bringing the shoes, braces, or orthotics you commonly use can also be helpful.

Not every patient needs X-rays. Imaging is selected based on the problem being evaluated. Weight-bearing X-rays are especially useful for many structural, arthritic, traumatic, and deformity-related conditions.

No. Many foot and ankle conditions are treated without surgery. Treatment may include activity modification, therapy, bracing, orthotics, medications, injections, immobilization, footwear changes, or other conservative approaches.

Pain with the first steps in the morning is commonly associated with plantar fasciitis, although other conditions can produce similar symptoms. An examination can distinguish plantar fascia pain from nerve, tendon, bone, or stress-related causes.

Plantar fasciitis is irritation and degeneration involving the plantar fascia, a strong band of tissue supporting the arch. It commonly causes pain at the bottom or inside of the heel, especially after rest or prolonged activity.

Contributors may include sudden changes in activity, tight calf muscles, prolonged standing, altered foot mechanics, inappropriate footwear, and repetitive loading. Often several factors are present at the same time.

Heel spurs are common and do not always cause symptoms. Many people with plantar heel pain have a spur that is incidental; treatment is usually directed toward the painful tissue and underlying mechanics rather than the X-ray finding alone.

Yes. Most cases can be managed non-surgically with stretching, activity modification, supportive footwear, orthotics when appropriate, physical therapy, and other targeted treatments.

Seek evaluation when heel pain persists, worsens, limits walking or exercise, follows an injury, or is accompanied by swelling, numbness, night pain, or inability to bear weight.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy may be considered for selected patients with persistent plantar heel pain after an appropriate evaluation and conservative treatment. Candidacy depends on the diagnosis and individual clinical factors.

A bunion is a structural deformity in which the first metatarsal and big toe progressively move out of alignment, creating a prominence at the inside of the forefoot.

Shoes can aggravate symptoms and may influence progression, but bunions commonly reflect inherited foot structure, biomechanics, and joint alignment rather than footwear alone.

Bunions can progress, but the rate varies. Some remain stable for years while others gradually become more painful, stiff, or difficult to accommodate in shoes.

Non-surgical care can reduce pressure and pain but cannot permanently realign the bones. Surgery is the method used to structurally correct a symptomatic bunion.

Surgery may be considered when pain or deformity interferes with walking, exercise, work, or footwear despite reasonable conservative treatment.

Minimally invasive bunion surgery uses small incisions and specialized instruments to reposition bone and correct the deformity while limiting soft-tissue disruption.

Many patients can begin protected weight-bearing early after selected minimally invasive procedures. The exact protocol depends on the correction, fixation, bone quality, and individual healing.

Recovery occurs in stages. Bone healing takes weeks, while swelling and gradual return to unrestricted activity can continue for several months. The timeline varies by procedure and patient.

Recurrence is possible after any bunion procedure. Appropriate procedure selection, adequate correction, fixation, healing, anatomy, and postoperative compliance all influence risk.

Pain and stiffness at the big toe joint may result from hallux limitus or hallux rigidus, cartilage injury, inflammation, gout, sesamoid disorders, or prior trauma.

Hallux rigidus is arthritis of the big toe joint that causes pain, stiffness, and loss of motion. Treatment ranges from shoe modification and injections to joint-preserving surgery or fusion depending on severity.

Hammertoes develop when muscle and tendon imbalance causes a toe joint to bend abnormally. Foot structure, shoe pressure, arthritis, and instability at the ball of the foot can contribute.

Flexible or mildly symptomatic hammertoes may be managed with wider shoes, padding, activity changes, and other conservative measures. Surgery may be considered for persistent pain, rigid deformity, or recurrent sores.

Ball-of-foot pain can result from metatarsalgia, plantar plate injury, neuroma, stress injury, arthritis, callus formation, or abnormal loading. Accurate diagnosis is important because treatment differs by cause.

A Morton's neuroma is irritation and thickening around a nerve in the forefoot, commonly causing burning, tingling, numbness, or the sensation of a pebble beneath the foot.

The plantar plate is a stabilizing structure beneath the lesser toe joints. Injury can cause pain under the ball of the foot, swelling, instability, and gradual drifting or elevation of a toe.

Crossover toes commonly result from instability of the toe joint and plantar plate, often combined with deformity or abnormal forefoot mechanics.

An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail edge irritates or penetrates surrounding skin. Nail shape, trimming technique, tight shoes, trauma, and genetics can contribute.

Persistent pain, recurrent ingrowth, drainage, infection, or significant inflammation may require partial nail removal. A matrix procedure can be considered for recurrent cases.

Digging into the nail border can worsen irritation or infection. This is especially risky for patients with diabetes, neuropathy, poor circulation, or immune compromise.

Fungal infection is common, but trauma, psoriasis, aging, and other nail disorders can look similar. Testing may be appropriate before committing to prolonged antifungal treatment.

Fungal nails can be difficult to eradicate and recurrence is possible. Treatment options may include topical or oral medication, debridement, and management of environmental factors depending on the patient.

Plantar warts are caused by human papillomavirus entering the skin. They often develop on weight-bearing surfaces and may become painful because pressure pushes the lesion inward.

Warts often interrupt normal skin lines and may contain pinpoint dark areas, while calluses usually preserve skin lines and form over pressure points. Examination can clarify uncertain lesions.

Corns and calluses are usually a response to repeated pressure or friction. Treating only the skin may provide temporary relief unless the underlying shoe pressure, deformity, or biomechanics are also addressed.

Yes. Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that can spread through contaminated surfaces, footwear, towels, and direct contact. Keeping feet dry and treating footwear can help reduce recurrence.

No. Many people have flat feet without symptoms. Treatment is generally considered when flatfoot is associated with pain, progressive deformity, tendon dysfunction, fatigue, or difficulty with activity.

Adult-acquired arch collapse can be associated with progressive collapsing foot deformity, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, ligament failure, arthritis, trauma, or other structural problems.

The posterior tibial tendon helps support the arch. Dysfunction can cause pain and swelling along the inside of the ankle followed by progressive flattening and deformity.

High-arched or cavus feet may be asymptomatic, but some patients develop lateral foot overload, calluses, recurrent ankle sprains, stress injuries, or tendon problems.

Orthotics can be useful when a condition is influenced by pressure distribution or biomechanics. They are not necessary for every patient and work best when prescribed for a specific diagnosis and goal.

Over-the-counter inserts provide generalized cushioning or support. Custom orthotics are fabricated from an individualized assessment and can be designed to modify pressure, alignment, or function for a specific problem.

The shell of a quality custom orthotic may last for years, while covers and cushioning wear sooner. Changes in symptoms, activity, body weight, or foot structure may justify reassessment.

Numbness and tingling can result from peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, nerve compression, spinal conditions, vitamin deficiencies, medication effects, or other neurologic problems.

Burning pain can occur with neuropathy or nerve entrapment, but vascular, dermatologic, and other conditions may also contribute. Persistent burning warrants evaluation.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is compression or irritation of the posterior tibial nerve or its branches near the inside of the ankle. Symptoms can include burning, tingling, numbness, or shooting pain into the foot.

That depends on the cause. Some causes can improve when the underlying problem is corrected, while others are chronic. Treatment focuses on identifying the cause, protecting the feet, and managing symptoms.

Peripheral nerve stimulation uses targeted electrical stimulation near a peripheral nerve to modify pain signaling. It may be considered for selected chronic peripheral nerve pain after appropriate diagnostic evaluation.

Diabetes can affect sensation, circulation, skin integrity, and healing. Small injuries may go unnoticed and can progress to infection or ulceration, making prevention and early treatment especially important.

The appropriate frequency depends on individual risk. Patients with neuropathy, deformity, poor circulation, previous ulcers, or amputation history generally require closer surveillance than low-risk patients.

Generally, people with diabetes—especially those with neuropathy—should avoid going barefoot because small cuts, punctures, burns, or pressure injuries may go unnoticed.

A new blister, sore, drainage, redness, or skin breakdown should be evaluated promptly, particularly if you have neuropathy or poor circulation. Delaying care can allow a minor wound to become more serious.

A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound, often related to neuropathy, repetitive pressure, deformity, and sometimes impaired circulation. Treatment addresses the wound as well as pressure, infection, blood flow, and underlying mechanics.

Delayed healing can result from pressure, infection, poor circulation, diabetes, swelling, inadequate offloading, nutritional factors, or deeper bone involvement. Successful wound care requires identifying these barriers.

Offloading reduces pressure on an injured or ulcerated area using footwear, casts, boots, braces, padding, or other devices. It is often a critical component of diabetic wound healing.

Limb preservation combines wound care, infection management, pressure relief, vascular assessment, reconstruction, and other treatments to preserve a functional limb when severe disease places it at risk.

Achilles pain can result from repetitive overload, sudden activity changes, degeneration, tight calf muscles, biomechanics, or irritation where the tendon attaches to the heel.

Tendinitis refers more specifically to inflammation, while tendinosis describes chronic degenerative change. Long-standing Achilles symptoms often involve degeneration rather than isolated inflammation.

Insertional Achilles tendinopathy affects the tendon where it attaches to the heel bone and may be associated with calcification, bone prominence, or Haglund-related irritation.

A rupture may cause a sudden pop, weakness, difficulty pushing off, and inability to perform a normal single-leg heel rise. Prompt examination is recommended.

No. Both operative and nonoperative protocols can produce good outcomes in selected patients. Treatment depends on the tear, activity demands, health, goals, and risk profile.

Haglund deformity is a bony prominence at the back of the heel that may irritate the Achilles insertion and surrounding bursa. Symptoms and tendon involvement determine treatment.

Seek evaluation for inability to bear weight, severe swelling, significant bruising, deformity, persistent pain, recurrent giving-way, or symptoms that are not improving as expected.

Chronic instability may develop when ankle ligaments heal in a lengthened or insufficient position. Weakness, proprioceptive deficits, tendon injury, cartilage damage, or alignment can also contribute.

A high ankle sprain involves the syndesmotic ligaments connecting the tibia and fibula above the ankle. These injuries often recover more slowly than routine lateral ankle sprains.

Persistent pain may reflect incomplete ligament healing, instability, cartilage injury, scar tissue, tendon injury, impingement, occult fracture, or another diagnosis.

Pain that changes your gait, worsens during running, persists at rest, repeatedly returns, causes focal swelling, or prevents normal training deserves evaluation.

Mild transient soreness may be manageable, but focal or progressive pain can signal stress injury, tendon disease, or another condition that worsens with continued loading.

A stress fracture is a small bone injury caused by repetitive loading that exceeds the bone's ability to recover. Early X-rays can be normal, so additional imaging may sometimes be needed.

Return-to-sport decisions depend on pain, strength, motion, stability, healing, sport-specific demands, and sometimes imaging. A gradual progression is safer than relying on time alone.

Fractures can cause pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, deformity, and difficulty bearing weight. Some fractures still allow walking, so the ability to walk does not rule out a break.

No. Many fractures heal with immobilization and protected weight-bearing. Surgery is considered when alignment, stability, joint involvement, displacement, or healing risk makes operative treatment preferable.

A Jones fracture occurs in a specific region of the fifth metatarsal with relatively limited blood supply. Healing can be slower, and treatment depends on displacement, activity level, and individual risk.

A Lisfranc injury affects the joints and ligaments of the midfoot. Severity ranges from sprain to fracture-dislocation, and subtle injuries can be missed without appropriate weight-bearing imaging or advanced imaging.

Delayed union or nonunion can be influenced by fracture location, instability, smoking, circulation, metabolic factors, infection, medications, and other patient-specific risks.

Arthritis commonly causes pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced motion, and difficulty with walking or uneven ground. Symptoms may worsen with activity or after periods of rest.

Unlike hip and knee arthritis, ankle arthritis frequently develops after prior fractures, severe sprains, instability, or other trauma that damages cartilage or changes joint mechanics.

Options may include activity modification, bracing, medications, injections, therapy, joint-preserving procedures, ankle fusion, or total ankle replacement depending on severity and patient factors.

Fusion eliminates painful ankle-joint motion by joining the bones, while total ankle replacement removes damaged joint surfaces and uses an implant to preserve motion. Neither option is best for every patient.

Candidacy depends on arthritis severity, bone quality, deformity, stability, circulation, infection risk, activity demands, surrounding joints, and overall health.

Flatfoot reconstruction combines procedures selected to restore alignment, support failing tendons and ligaments, and improve function. The exact combination depends on where the deformity originates and whether joints remain flexible.

Charcot reconstruction is complex surgery used in selected patients to create a more stable, plantigrade, braceable foot or ankle when Charcot deformity threatens function or limb preservation.

Minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions and specialized instruments to perform selected corrections while limiting soft-tissue exposure. It is a technique, not a single operation.

No. The best approach depends on the condition, deformity, anatomy, surgeon experience, and goals. Some problems are well suited to minimally invasive techniques, while others are better treated through open or combined approaches.

No surgery is pain-free. Smaller incisions may reduce some soft-tissue trauma, but postoperative discomfort, swelling, and healing still occur.

Swelling often persists longer than pain and can fluctuate for months after foot and ankle surgery. The amount and duration depend on the procedure, activity, circulation, and individual healing.

Driving depends on which foot was treated, weight-bearing status, immobilization, medications, reaction time, and the ability to safely perform an emergency stop. Clearance is individualized.

Return to work depends on the procedure and job demands. Sedentary work may be possible earlier than occupations requiring prolonged standing, walking, climbing, or heavy labor.

Activity is advanced in stages based on tissue and bone healing. Low-impact conditioning often precedes running, jumping, and sport-specific activity.

Physical therapy is helpful after many procedures but not every operation requires the same rehabilitation. Therapy may address motion, strength, gait, balance, swelling, and return to activity.

Most plates and screws are intended to remain in place unless they become symptomatic, infected, prominent, or interfere with another procedure.

A second opinion can be valuable for complex reconstruction, ankle replacement, revision surgery, amputation recommendations, persistent pain after previous surgery, or whenever you want to better understand alternatives.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound provides real-time imaging of many tendons, ligaments, soft tissues, joints, and fluid collections and can also guide selected injections or procedures.

ESWT uses externally applied acoustic energy and may be considered for selected chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as persistent plantar heel pain or tendinopathy after appropriate evaluation.

Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy uses high-energy magnetic pulses as a non-invasive musculoskeletal treatment technology. Its role depends on the condition, available evidence, device labeling, and individual treatment plan.

Class IV laser therapy uses higher-powered therapeutic laser energy for specific cleared indications such as temporary relief of certain pain and stiffness. It should be used as part of a diagnosis-driven treatment plan.

No. Biologic and regenerative products vary significantly in composition, evidence, regulation, and intended use. Treatment should be selected only after reviewing the diagnosis, alternatives, risks, and current evidence.

Fat-pad augmentation aims to supplement deficient cushioning beneath painful pressure areas of the foot. Patient selection should also address the mechanical reason the area is overloaded.

BPC-157 is not an FDA-approved drug, and human clinical evidence remains limited. Any discussion of peptide therapy should clearly address its investigational status, uncertainties, and potential risks.

Sometimes a non-surgical technology may help a selected condition, but advanced treatments do not eliminate the need for surgery when a structural problem requires correction. The diagnosis should drive treatment.

Yes. Milwaukee Foot & Ankle Specialists evaluates patients from Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, surrounding communities, and patients who travel for specialized or second-opinion care.

Referral requirements depend on your insurance plan. Some patients can schedule directly, while others need authorization or a referral from another clinician.

Yes. Second-opinion visits can review the diagnosis, imaging, prior treatment, proposed surgery, alternatives, and expected recovery so patients can make informed decisions.

Yes. Bring the actual images when possible, not only the radiology report, along with prior operative reports, clinic notes, and relevant treatment records.

The visit generally includes review of symptoms and goals, examination, imaging review, discussion of prior treatment, and an explanation of reasonable non-surgical and surgical options.

Write down your main concerns, how long symptoms have been present, what makes them better or worse, treatments already tried, medications, and your goals for returning to work, exercise, or daily activity.