Common foot & ankle disorders
Understanding what's going on with your feet is the first step toward relief. Select a condition below to learn the basics, what causes it, the signs to watch for, and how it's treated.
Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel bone, and Achilles tendonitis is the inflammation that develops when it is overworked. It is common among runners and weekend athletes, but tight calf muscles, a sudden increase in activity, and unsupportive shoes can trigger it in anyone. Typical symptoms include pain and stiffness along the back of the heel, especially in the morning, along with swelling and tenderness that worsen with activity.
Most cases improve with rest, stretching, supportive footwear, custom orthotics, and physical therapy that gradually rebuilds strength. Treating it early matters, because a neglected tendon can weaken and eventually rupture. A podiatrist in Novi, MI can confirm the diagnosis and design a recovery plan that protects the tendon for the long term.
Adult Flatfoot
Adult flatfoot describes a collapse of the arch that develops over the years rather than from birth. It often stems from weakening of the posterior tibial tendon, arthritis, or injury, and it allows the foot to roll inward and flatten with every step. Many people notice aching arches, swelling along the inner ankle, tired feet, and pain that can travel into the knees and lower back.
When flatfoot causes discomfort, custom orthotics, bracing, supportive shoes, stretching, and physical therapy realign the foot and ease the strain remarkably well. A biomechanical evaluation with a Novi podiatrist identifies the cause and the least invasive path back to comfortable, stable walking.
Athlete's Foot
Athlete's foot is a contagious fungal infection of the skin that usually begins between the toes and spreads across the sole. It thrives in the warm, damp conditions found in sweaty shoes, locker rooms, and pool decks. Symptoms include itching, burning, redness, peeling or cracking skin, and occasional blisters.
Mild cases sometimes respond to over-the-counter antifungals, but stubborn or recurring infections need professional care to clear completely and to rule out other skin conditions. A podiatrist in Novi, MI can prescribe effective treatment and help you prevent reinfection, which is especially important for patients with diabetes.
Bunion Deformity
A bunion is a bony bump that forms at the base of the big toe when the joint drifts out of alignment and the toe leans toward its neighbors. Bunions develop slowly and are driven by inherited foot structure, faulty mechanics, and tight or narrow shoes. Common signs include a visible bulge on the side of the foot, redness, swelling, soreness, and trouble finding comfortable footwear.
A bunion will not resolve on its own, but early treatment slows its progression and keeps you comfortable with roomier shoes, padding, custom orthotics, and anti-inflammatory measures. When a bunion becomes severe or painful, our board-certified foot surgeons in Novi offer proven surgical correction.
Calluses & Corns
Calluses and corns are thickened areas of skin that form where there is repeated friction or pressure, often from footwear or the way you walk. Calluses tend to appear on the soles and are usually painless, while corns are smaller, develop on or between the toes, and can be quite tender. Both are the body protecting itself, yet they signal an underlying pressure problem worth addressing.
A podiatrist can safely reduce calluses and corns and, more importantly, treat the cause with padding, custom orthotics, and footwear guidance so they do not return. Patients with diabetes or poor circulation should never trim these at home, and professional care in Novi keeps small skin issues from turning into wounds.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood sugar, and the feet are usually affected first. It can cause numbness, tingling, burning, or a loss of sensation that makes it hard to feel a blister, cut, or callus. Because injuries can go unnoticed, they may progress to serious wounds or infections before they are discovered.
Regular podiatric checkups are one of the most effective ways to prevent complications from neuropathy. Professional nail and skin care, early wound treatment, and proper footwear dramatically lower the risk of ulcers. The team in Novi works alongside you and your primary physician to protect your feet and your mobility.
Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in a joint, and it most often strikes the big toe. Attacks tend to come on suddenly, frequently at night, with intense pain, redness, heat, and swelling that can make even a bedsheet feel unbearable. Diet, genetics, and certain medical conditions all influence who develops it.
Gout is very manageable with the right plan, combining medication, dietary changes, and care for the affected joint during and between flare ups. A podiatrist in Novi, MI can relieve an acute attack, help protect the joint from long-term damage, and coordinate ongoing management.
Hallux Limitus
Hallux limitus is a stiffening of the big toe joint that limits its normal upward motion as you walk. It often results from joint mechanics, injury, or early arthritis, and it tends to worsen over time if left untreated. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the big toe, difficulty bending it, and discomfort that increases when pushing off during each step.
Early treatment with stiff-soled shoes, custom orthotics, and anti-inflammatory care can preserve motion and reduce pain. If the joint continues to stiffen toward hallux rigidus, additional options are available. An evaluation with a Novi podiatrist determines the stage and the best way to keep you moving comfortably.
Hammertoes
A hammertoe is a toe, usually the second, third, or fourth, that bends abnormally at the middle joint so it curls rather than lying flat. It is typically caused by a muscle and tendon imbalance, often made worse by shoes that crowd the toes. Over time the bend can stiffen, and the raised joint frequently rubs against footwear, forming painful corns and calluses.
Caught early, hammertoes stay flexible and respond to roomier shoes, toe exercises, splinting, and custom orthotics that rebalance pressure. If the toe becomes rigid and painful, a straightforward outpatient procedure can restore alignment. A podiatric evaluation in Novi identifies the right approach for your stage.
Heel Pain, Heel Spurs
A heel spur is a calcium deposit that builds up on the underside of the heel bone, often where the plantar fascia attaches. Spurs form gradually in response to repeated strain on the foot, and they frequently accompany plantar fasciitis. Many people have heel spurs without any pain, but when discomfort occurs it is usually a deep ache or sharp pain during the first steps of the day.
Treatment focuses on relieving the underlying strain rather than the spur itself, using stretching, supportive shoes, custom orthotics, anti-inflammatory care, and physical therapy. These measures resolve symptoms for nearly all patients, so surgery is rarely needed. A podiatrist in Novi can confirm the diagnosis with a quick in-office X-ray.
Heel Pain, Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain we treat in Novi. It develops when the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot, becomes inflamed from overuse, tight calf muscles, unsupportive shoes, or long hours on hard surfaces. The hallmark symptom is a sharp, stabbing pain with your first steps in the morning that eases with movement but returns after standing.
Plantar fasciitis responds very well to conservative care, including stretching, supportive footwear, custom orthotics, night splints, and targeted physical therapy. Seeing a podiatrist early prevents the condition from becoming chronic and gets you back on your feet sooner.
Metatarsal Stress Fracture
A metatarsal stress fracture is a tiny crack in one of the long bones of the forefoot, caused by repetitive impact rather than a single injury. It is common among runners, dancers, and anyone who quickly increases activity, and it can also signal weakened bone. Symptoms include aching pain in the forefoot that worsens with activity and eases with rest, along with localized swelling and tenderness.
Stress fractures heal well when caught early, usually with rest, protective footwear or immobilization, and a gradual return to activity. Ignoring the pain can lead to a complete fracture and a much longer recovery. A podiatrist in Novi, MI can confirm the fracture with imaging and guide safe healing.
Neuroarthropathy
Neuroarthropathy, often called Charcot foot, is a serious condition in which the bones of the foot weaken and can fracture or dislocate in people who have lost sensation, most commonly from diabetic neuropathy. Because protective pain signals are reduced, patients may keep walking on the damaged foot, leading to swelling, warmth, redness, and a gradual collapse of the arch.
Early recognition is critical to prevent permanent deformity and ulcers. Treatment centers on immobilization, offloading pressure, protective footwear, and close monitoring, sometimes with surgery to stabilize the foot. The team in Novi provides the prompt, specialized care this condition demands.
Neuroma
A neuroma, most often a Morton's neuroma, is a thickening of tissue around a nerve between the toes, usually between the third and fourth. It produces a burning or tingling pain in the ball of the foot, along with the feeling of standing on a pebble or having a bunched up sock. Narrow, high heeled, or tight shoes and high impact activity are frequent triggers.
Most neuromas improve with wider footwear, metatarsal padding, custom orthotics, activity adjustments, and sometimes injection therapy to calm the nerve. When symptoms persist, further in-office options are available. An accurate diagnosis from a Novi podiatrist ensures you treat the true source of the pain.
Orthotics
Orthotics are custom medical devices worn inside your shoes to correct alignment, redistribute pressure, and support the unique structure of your feet. Unlike mass produced inserts, prescription orthotics are made from a precise model of your foot and are used to treat a wide range of conditions, from plantar fasciitis and flatfoot to arthritis and diabetic pressure points.
The right orthotic can relieve pain, improve the way you walk, and prevent problems from returning. A podiatrist in Novi, MI evaluates your gait and foot mechanics to determine whether custom orthotics will help, then designs them specifically for you.
Plantar Fasciitis/Arch Pain
Arch pain frequently comes from plantar fasciitis, the inflammation of the tissue that spans the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. It can also stem from flat feet, high arches, or overuse. Patients describe aching or burning across the arch, tightness, and pain that intensifies after long periods of standing, walking, or exercise.
Because arch pain has several possible causes, an accurate diagnosis guides the most effective treatment, which may include stretching, supportive footwear, custom orthotics, and physical therapy. A podiatrist in Novi can pinpoint the source of your arch pain and relieve it before it becomes chronic.
Plantar Fibromas
A plantar fibroma is a benign nodule that grows within the arch of the foot, in the band of tissue called the plantar fascia. It feels like a firm lump in the arch and may stay small or slowly enlarge. While it is not cancerous, a fibroma can become uncomfortable when it presses against shoes or the ground during walking.
Conservative care with custom orthotics, padding, and supportive footwear often relieves pressure on the nodule, and additional options exist if it continues to cause pain. A podiatrist in Novi, MI can evaluate the lump, confirm what it is, and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
The posterior tibial tendon helps hold up the arch of the foot, and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction occurs when it becomes inflamed, stretched, or torn. It is a leading cause of adult flatfoot, producing pain and swelling along the inner ankle and arch, weakness when pushing off, and a gradual flattening of the foot.
Treated early, the condition responds to rest, bracing, custom orthotics, supportive shoes, and physical therapy that strengthens the tendon. Left unaddressed, it can lead to a rigid, painful flatfoot. A Novi podiatrist can stage the dysfunction and intervene before lasting damage occurs.
Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
Posterior tibial tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendon that runs along the inside of the ankle and supports the arch. It commonly results from overuse, a sudden increase in activity, or an injury, and it is felt as pain and tenderness along the inner ankle and arch that worsen with activity. Swelling and reduced support of the arch may also appear.
Prompt care with rest, supportive footwear, custom orthotics, and physical therapy usually calms the inflammation and protects the tendon from further damage. Because untreated tendonitis can progress to tendon dysfunction and flatfoot, an evaluation with a podiatrist in Novi is worthwhile at the first sign of pain.
Sever's Disease
Sever's disease is a common cause of heel pain in active children and adolescents, occurring when the growth plate in the heel becomes irritated during growth spurts. It is often linked to sports that involve running and jumping. Children typically complain of heel pain, limping, tenderness when the heel is squeezed, and discomfort that increases with activity.
The condition is temporary and resolves as the growth plate matures, and symptoms are well controlled with rest, stretching, heel cushioning, supportive shoes, and activity adjustments. A podiatrist in Novi, MI can confirm the diagnosis, rule out other causes, and help your child stay comfortable and active.
Sesamoiditis
Sesamoiditis is inflammation of the two small sesamoid bones beneath the big toe joint and the tendons around them. It develops from repetitive pressure or overload, common in runners, dancers, and people who wear high heels. The main symptom is a dull, aching pain under the ball of the foot near the big toe that builds gradually and worsens with activity.
Most cases settle with rest, padding, supportive footwear, custom orthotics, and activity changes that offload the area. A podiatrist in Novi can confirm the diagnosis, rule out a fracture, and create a plan to relieve the pressure and prevent recurrence.
Skin Disease
The skin of the feet is prone to a variety of conditions, from fungal infections and warts to dryness, cracking, blisters, eczema, and unusual growths. Because the feet spend their days enclosed in shoes and socks, skin problems can develop quietly and, in some cases, point to a broader health issue. Changes in color, texture, or any new lesion are always worth a professional look.
A podiatrist is uniquely trained to diagnose and treat skin conditions of the feet and to identify anything that needs further attention. Patients across Novi rely on us for accurate diagnosis and effective care, which is especially important for those with diabetes or circulation concerns.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is the foot equivalent of carpal tunnel, caused by compression of the tibial nerve as it passes through a narrow tunnel along the inside of the ankle. It can result from flat feet, swelling, injury, or a growth that takes up space in the tunnel. Symptoms include tingling, burning, numbness, or shooting pain along the inner ankle and into the sole of the foot.
Treatment depends on the cause and may include rest, custom orthotics, bracing, anti-inflammatory care, and physical therapy, with additional options when conservative care is not enough. A podiatrist in Novi, MI can locate the source of nerve compression and relieve the pressure before symptoms become constant.
Warts
Plantar warts are skin growths caused by a virus that enters through tiny breaks in the skin on the bottom of the foot. They can appear as rough, grainy lesions, sometimes with small black dots, and because they grow inward under the pressure of walking, they often become painful. Warts are contagious and can spread or multiply if left untreated.
While some warts eventually clear on their own, painful, spreading, or persistent ones respond best to professional treatment, which may include topical therapy, in-office procedures, or other options. A podiatrist in Novi can remove warts effectively and help keep them from returning, which is especially important for patients with diabetes.
Browse our full A–Z of conditions
This page covers the conditions we see most. For the complete library, grouped by category, visit our More Common Disorders index.