Diagnosis of Foot Pain

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

Rate This

Diagnosis of Foot Pain

If you have foot pain and/or suspect that a bone in your toe or foot has been broken (fractured), call your doctor. You may be able to walk even if a foot bone has been fractured, particularly if it is a chipped bone or a toe fracture.

Diagnosis of foot pain may include the following:

Initial Evaluation —Your doctor will review your medical history and will ask questions about your foot pain, your daily activities, and any present or previous injuries.

Physical Exam —Your doctor will examine your feet. Many foot problems are obvious from a simple exam.

X-rays —You may have x-rays of your foot. X-rays can identify problems, such as ]]>arthritis]]> , bone spurs, fractures, bone tumors, and metallic foreign bodies.

References:

American Diabetes Association website. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp .

American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society website. Available at: http://www.aofas.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1 .

American Podiatric Medical Association website. Available at: http://www.apma.org/s_apma/index.asp .

National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/ .

Last reviewed April 2009 by ]]>Robert Leach, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.