Sports injuries happen, and your feet and ankles are especially vulnerable. Your feet and ankles are overworked to begin with, and if you play a sport with a lot of running or high levels of foot stress, it adds to your risk of injury. Fortunately, your podiatrist is just the person to see when you’ve experienced a sports injury to your feet or ankles.

Sometimes a sports injury will heal by itself. For mild sports injuries, you can try:

• Elevating and resting the area to take weight and stress off of it
• Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication

More severe sports injuries should be seen by your podiatrist. So, when should you see a podiatrist for a sports injury? You should have an examination by a podiatrist if you:

• Experience severe pain or swelling
• Are unable to put weight on the injured area
• Notice differences in your foot or ankle structure
• Heard popping or snapping when you injured yourself
• Feel tingling, numbness, or weakness in your foot or ankle

Sports injuries involving feet and ankles are common, and the most common injuries include:

Plantar fasciitis, which causes pain on your heel and down the side of your foot; runners and joggers often have this injury.

Shin splints, which cause pain running down the front of your leg, next to the tibia; leg stress without proper stretching can cause shin splints.

Dislocated or fractured bones, which cause swelling, bruising, severe pain and loss of function; impact sports like soccer and football can cause this injury.

Tendon or ligament tears or strain, which causes severe pain and instability; leg stress without proper stretching can cause this injury.

Toenail injuries, which causes pressure under your toenail and moderate to severe toe pain; impact sports like soccer, football, and basketball can cause this injury.

When you visit your podiatrist, treatment recommendations may include:

• Orthotics for plantar fasciitis and other conditions
• Prescription anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling and pain
• Assistive devices like casts and crutches to take the weight off of your injury
• Surgical treatment to realign fractured or broken bones
• Physical therapy to help you regain mobility and strength

If you experience a sports injury involving your feet or ankles, don’t wait. See your podiatrist today.

There are numerous benefits to seeing a foot doctor regularly. Podiatrists help you maintain healthy feet. Scheduling periodic podiatry visits also helps reduce your risk of sustaining a foot or ankle injury or developing various foot conditions. Dr. Dallin Greene and Dr. Nathan Judd, the board-certified foot doctors at Big Sky Foot and Ankle Institute in Bozeman, MT, offer a diverse range of services to keep your feet healthy.

Conditions Treated by Foot Doctors

Foot doctors diagnose and treat various foot and ankle conditions and injuries. They develop individualized treatment plans to ensure injuries heal properly. Without prompt treatment, a foot or ankle injury could lead to chronic problems, such as ongoing pain or instability. Podiatrists also help patients manage specific foot and ankle conditions, such as arthritis. Additionally, foot doctors provide diabetic foot care for patients with diabetes.

The experienced foot doctors at our Bozeman, MT, foot and ankle institute diagnose and treat a broad range of conditions, including:

• Flat feet
• Heel pain
• Ankle pain
• Foot fractures
• Plantar fasciitis
• Sprained ankles
• Achilles tendon injuries
• Diabetic foot care
• Puncture wounds
• Ingrown toenails
• Toenail fungus
• Neuromas
• Foot warts
• Bunions

Benefits of Seeing a Foot Doctor

Your feet serve an important function by supporting your entire body. A problem with your feet or ankles could lead to problems in other parts of the body, such as leg or back pain. One of the benefits of seeing a foot doctor regularly is healthier feet. Taking care of your feet helps reduce leg or back pain and other side effects related to specific foot or ankle problems.

Another benefit of seeing a podiatrist periodically is that the doctor can identify potential issues early on before they have a chance to progress and become worse, which could lead to chronic problems. Some key benefits of seeing a foot doctor are:

• Diagnose and treat various types of injuries and foot conditions
• Monitor foot and ankle injuries to ensure they heal properly
• Develop treatment plans tailored to the needs of each patient
• Provide specialized care to help patients enjoy better foot and ankle health
• Personalized recommendations for preventing injuries or other problems
• Help with management of pain relief and other symptoms
• Provide individualized footwear recommendations

Enjoy better foot and ankle health by seeing a podiatrist regularly. To see a foot doctor in Bozeman, MT, schedule an appointment with Dr. Greene or Dr. Judd by calling Big Sky Foot and Ankle Institute at (406) 782-2278.

Are you dealing with a nasty case of plantar fasciitis?

Heel pain is a frustrating little problem, especially if you are someone who values their morning run or daily exercise routine. Even if you aren’t what you’d call an avid exerciser, you may still find that your heel pain makes moving around and going about your day more complicated than you would like. A podiatrist is the best medical specialist to turn to when heel pain becomes an issue.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes inflammation within the thick band of tissue known as the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia runs the length of the foot along the soles from the toes to the heels and provides the arches of your feet with support and shock absorption. Unfortunately, microtears within the tissue can occur gradually over time (common in runners), leading to irritation and inflammation.

What Are the Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?

Those with plantar fasciitis may notice that their heel pain is at its worst first thing in the morning or after long periods of sitting or standing. The tricky thing is that the pain often subsides throughout the day, making you think you can get in your run or regular workout routine after all. The only problem with that is that the heel pain often comes back with a vengeance after exercising. Along with heel pain, you may also notice painful or aching arches.

When Should I See a Podiatrist About My Heel Pain?

We know that no one wants to make an unnecessary trip to see their podiatrist unless the situation warrants it. Of course, if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or nerve damage in your feet and you are experiencing heel pain or any symptoms, it is important that you always seek immediate medical care to prevent the issue from getting worse.

While most healthy individuals will be able to handle their heel pain on their own, it’s also important to know when you need proper and more comprehensive care from a podiatrist. It’s important to turn to a podiatrist right away if you have severe pain, pain that makes it impossible to walk or put weight on the foot, numbness or tingling in the heel or foot, or heel pain caused by an injury.

If at-home care isn’t easing your heel pain after five days, then you should also give us a call so that we can create a more effective treatment plan for you.

Don’t let heel pain drag you down. If you are having trouble managing your symptoms and they are impacting your everyday activities and quality of life, it’s time to schedule an evaluation with a podiatrist.

Patients in and around the Bozeman, MT area, searching for a podiatrist; let Dr. Dallin Greene and Dr. Nathan Judd at Big Sky Foot and Ankle Institute handle all your foot needs.

What Is A Podiatrist?

Our feet are a few of the most important parts of our bodies. They hold us up, allow us to move, and take the brunt of our body weight all day, every day. If you’re lucky, your feet feel good and you’re using them without too much thought. For others, foot health is a constant struggle. Podiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating all sorts of foot and ankle issues. 

A variety of conditions can arise which require a podiatrist’s expert attention. Some examples are:

• Hammertoe
• Ingrown Toenail
• Bunions and corns
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Heel Spur
• Athlete’s Foot
• Gout
• Fungal Infection
• Diabetic neuropathy

Some of these may be familiar to you or you may have experienced them. Some are quite serious and, if left untreated, could result in serious, long-term problems. With a professionally trained doctor of podiatry on your side, you’ll be able to navigate these and other bi-pedal problems. 

Feet Don’t Fail Me Now

For many patients, treatments for the feet don’t take place until the pain or discomfort is severe enough to disrupt normal activities. Podiatrists are specialists in recognizing problems in your feet, but you have to see them and let them see you before problems become dire. 

How do you know if you have a problem, though? 

We’re often the first to realize a new strain or pain in our bodies. We’re also the first to dismiss and move on. Start to listen to your body more often. If you feel something causing discomfort, something smarting in your heel or toes, give your podiatrist a call. Let them take a look and determine what the root problem is before you cause irreparable damage. 

Consult and Diagnose

Are you experiencing problems with your feet? Dr. Dallin Greene and Dr. Nathan Judd at Big Sky Foot and Ankle Institute in Bozeman, MT are ready to put your mind and body at ease. Call (406) 782-2278 today for an appointment and consultation.

When should you turn to a podiatrist for care?

There are many reasons why people turn to podiatrists. After all, our feet and ankles deserve the same lovin’ care that you provide to the rest of your body. Wondering if it’s time to see a podiatrist (chances are good you could benefit from a visit)? You may want to turn to one for,

Injury Prevention

You turn to your dentist for routine checkups to prevent cavities and gum disease from happening so why wouldn’t you do the same thing with a podiatrist? By coming in once a year for a comprehensive evaluation, a podiatrist can examine your feet, discuss your lifestyle and determine if there are additional measures you should be taking to prevent injuries and other foot problems. A podiatrist can be as much preventive as they can be a great source for treatment. Athletes and active individuals can particularly benefit from undergoing preventive care with a podiatrist.

Bunion Treatment

Bunions are common foot deformities that can continue to enlarge and impact the structure and function of your feet. A podiatrist wants to prevent individuals from needing surgery in the future, which means coming in the minute you suspect that you have a bunion so that they can provide simple lifestyle changes that can slow the progression of the deformity. Simple lifestyle changes can go a long way to improving bunion symptoms.

Foot and Ankle Injuries

Dealing with an injury? If so, you definitely want to turn to a foot and ankle specialist who can diagnose and treat the injury. While you may be able to treat minor injuries on your own with rest and home care, it’s often best to play it safe and turn to an expert who can figure out the extent of the injury so you can get the customized care you deserve.

Persistent Joint Pain

Dealing with painful, stiff or inflamed joints in your foot or ankle that won’t go away? This could be a sign of arthritis, a progressive chronic condition that can cause permanent joint damage if you don’t take the necessary steps to manage it. A podiatrist can craft the perfect treatment plan to improve your symptoms, which may include medications to slow the progression of the disease. A podiatrist is going to be the best medical professional to have on your treatment plan if you have arthritis.

When in doubt, call your local podiatrist to find out if the issues or concerns you’re facing require a professional opinion. A podiatrist can answer your questions, diagnose your issues and provide you with the treatment you need.