Sore feet and ankles are common, especially after a long day or a tough workout. But what about pain or numbness that seems to come out of nowhere? It could be your body trying to tell you something about your health.
At Ahwatukee Foot & Ankle Center, we can help you understand the messages your feet are sending. Our team specializes in connecting the dots, especially when it comes to systemic conditions that affect your feet and ankles, such as diabetes, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis.
April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, the perfect time to uncover the real problem behind persistent foot and ankle issues. Could they be signs of a condition that goes beyond your lower extremities? Here’s what you should know.
Perhaps you’re waking up with tender, swollen ankles or throbbing pain in your feet with no clear cause. These aren’t just typical aches from overuse — unexplained pain and inflammation deserve attention.
Autoimmune disorders that cause joint pain, like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, often manifest in the feet and ankles. These conditions cause your immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissues, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Gout attacks are known for their sudden, intense pain, typically in the big toe. The joint becomes extremely swollen, red, and sensitive due to a buildup of uric acid crystals.
Changes in sensation in your feet, such as pins and needles, tingling, or numbness, could mean you have peripheral neuropathy. This type of nerve damage can stem from a variety of sources, including diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Over time, the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage your nerves, leading to pain, tingling, and eventually a loss of sensation in the foot.
Similarly, PAD narrows the arteries that carry blood to your extremities, which can cause neuropathy, muscle cramps, and persistently cold feet.
While your feet undergo some natural changes as you age, significant differences like bony bumps or shifting toes aren’t a normal part of getting older. These changes can affect your balance, gait, and overall mobility.
The inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis can damage the joints in your toes and cause them to stiffen, leading to hammertoes, corns, and bunions. Charcot’s foot, a complication of diabetic neuropathy, occurs when nerve damage weakens the joints and soft tissues in the foot, causing fractures and deformities.
Don’t overlook changes like thickened or discolored toenails, peeling skin, or recurring cracks and sores. Fungal infections are common, but these changes may also be related to circulatory problems, or even diabetes.
Dry, cracked skin can be a sign of dehydration or nerve damage, while slow-growing or brittle nails may indicate nutritional deficiencies or poor circulation.
Pay close attention to any sores that aren’t healing, especially on the soles of your feet. These can be a serious concern for people with diabetes, as they can easily lead to infections and complications.
Don’t wait for minor foot and ankle issues to become major problems. Schedule an appointment at Ahwatukee Foot & Ankle Center in Phoenix and Maricopa, Arizona, online or by phone today.
