Foot and Ankle Pain Treatment in Goodyear, AZ
Sharp pain on the top of your foot. Aching in the arch after a long shift. Burning in the ball of your foot at the end of the day. Ankle pain that flares with every step. If your foot or ankle hurts and you are not sure why, this is the page to start with.
Dr. Craig Udall, DPM is the West Valley's specialist in lower-extremity biomechanics, and most patients leave their first visit with a real diagnosis and a clear treatment plan. Same-week visits. Se habla español.
Foot Pain by Location: A Quick Guide
Top of Foot Pain
Pain on the top of the foot is often missed because it does not always come from the obvious places. Common causes include:
Extensor tendonitis
Inflammation of the tendons that lift the toes. Common in runners, hikers, and patients with tight or laced-too-firmly shoes. Pain runs along the top of the foot and is often worse after long activity. Most cases resolve with footwear changes, rest, and at-home care.
Stress fracture
Tiny cracks in one of the long bones of the foot caused by repeated impact. Often felt as a focused, deep pain that worsens with weight-bearing. Runners and patients who recently increased their activity are most at risk. A stress fracture often does not show up on the first X-ray and may need additional imaging. Learn more about stress fractures and other injuries.
Hyperlink: "Learn more about stress fractures and other injuries" links to /services/foot-ankle-injuries/
Nerve compression
Tight shoes or a structural issue can compress the nerves on top of the foot, causing burning, tingling, or sharp pain. The pain often worsens in tighter shoes and eases when the shoe is off.
Arthritis
Wear in the joints of the midfoot can cause aching and stiffness on the top of the foot, especially in older patients. Pain often comes on gradually and is worse after activity.
When to call us
If you have top-of-foot pain that does not improve over a week of rest and supportive shoes, or if the pain feels focused on a bone after impact, we can examine and image the foot in-office. Call 623-335-4017.
Bottom of Foot Pain
Bottom-of-foot pain is one of the most common reasons patients come in. The exact location on the bottom of the foot points to specific causes.
Heel pain
The most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel is plantar fasciitis. The signature symptom is sharp pain with the first few steps in the morning. Heel spurs often show up alongside plantar fasciitis but are usually not the source of the pain. Learn more about plantar fasciitis and heel pain.
Hyperlink: "Learn more about plantar fasciitis and heel pain" links to /services/plantar-fasciitis-heel-pain/
Arch pain
Pain in the arch is most often related to plantar fasciitis (the same band of tissue that causes heel pain runs the length of the arch), flat feet, or posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Custom orthotics relieve arch pain for the majority of patients with mechanical causes. Learn more about flat feet and custom orthotics.
Hyperlinks: "Learn more about flat feet" links to /services/flat-feet/ ; "custom orthotics" links to /services/custom-orthotics/
Ball of foot pain
The ball of the foot, just before the toes, takes a lot of impact during walking and running. Common causes include:
Metatarsalgia, which is general overload of the front of the foot.
Plantar plate tears, especially of the second toe.
Morton's neuroma, a thickening of a nerve between the toes that causes burning, tingling, or numbness.
Hammer toes, which change how weight loads under the ball of the foot. Learn more about hammer toe treatment.
Side of Foot Pain
Pain on the side of the foot points to different problems depending on whether it is the inside (medial) side or the outside (lateral) side.
Pain on the inside of the foot
The inside of the foot is dominated by the posterior tibial tendon, which supports the arch. Pain on the inside, especially behind the inside ankle bone or along the arch, is often related to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD). PTTD is the most common cause of adult-acquired flat feet and progresses if left untreated. Learn more about flat feet and PTTD.
Hyperlink: "Learn more about flat feet and PTTD" links to /services/flat-feet/
Pain on the outside of the foot
The outside of the foot is dominated by the peroneal tendons and the 5th metatarsal bone. Pain on the outside is most often related to peroneal tendonitis, lingering ligament issues from prior ankle sprains, or a 5th metatarsal fracture (often called a Jones fracture). Learn more about foot and ankle injuries.
Ankle Pain
Ankle pain is sometimes obvious (after a sprain) and sometimes a slow, mysterious problem. The pattern often points to the cause.
Ankle pain after a recent injury
A recent twist, fall, or sports injury causing ankle pain usually means a sprain, a strain, or a possible fracture. Get evaluated promptly so we can image the ankle and start the right treatment. Learn more about ankle and foot injuries.
Ankle pain when walking, without a recent injury
Persistent ankle pain that happens with walking, without a recent injury, is often related to:
Lingering ligament damage from a prior sprain.
Tendonitis (peroneal or posterior tibial).
Arthritis, especially in older patients.
Alignment issues, including flat feet that put extra strain on the ankle.
Inside ankle pain
Pain behind the inside ankle bone is often posterior tibial tendon related. This is the early sign of adult-acquired flat feet and needs prompt evaluation because PTTD progresses if untreated.
Outside ankle pain
Pain along the outside of the ankle is often peroneal tendon related, or it points to ligament instability from prior sprains.
Ankle pain with swelling at the end of the day
This pattern often points to arthritis, lymphatic or circulatory issues, or chronic instability. Pain at the end of the day that resolves with rest and elevation is worth getting evaluated.
Sudden Foot Pain Without an Obvious Injury
Foot pain that comes on suddenly without a clear cause is worth getting checked. The most common reasons we see in clinic are:
A stress fracture that has been building up over time and finally crossed the pain threshold. Common in runners and patients who recently increased their activity.
A gout flare, especially if the pain is severe, in the big toe joint, and accompanied by redness and warmth.
A tendon issue (Achilles, posterior tibial, peroneal) that has been progressing silently and then flares.
Inflammatory arthritis, which can cause sudden joint pain.
An infection, especially in diabetic patients or patients with a recent skin break in the foot.
If sudden foot or ankle pain is severe, accompanied by fever, warmth, redness, or rapid worsening, call us right away at 623-335-4017 or go to the emergency room.
When to Call Us and When to Go to the ER
Call 911 or go to the ER for:
- Severe pain combined with a bone visibly out of place or sticking through the skin.
- A foot that is cold, blue, or numb (could mean loss of blood flow).
- Severe sudden swelling with chest pain or shortness of breath.
- A rapidly worsening diabetic foot wound, especially with fever.
Call us for everything else, including:
- Foot or ankle pain that has not improved over a few weeks of rest and supportive shoes.
- Pain that is interrupting your sleep, work, or activity.
- Numbness, burning, or tingling that is not going away.
- Any foot or ankle problem you have been putting off looking at.
- A new injury that you suspect might be a fracture but is not an emergency.
Call us at 623-335-4017. Same-week visits are usually available.
How We Find the Cause of Your Pain
Patients often come in expecting we will jump straight to imaging. The truth is that a careful exam catches the cause of most foot pain, and imaging is added when we need it. Here is how a typical first visit works.
Why Patients See Dr. Udall for Foot and Ankle Pain
Dr. Udall sees foot and ankle pain patients every week, and he treats it the way you wish every doctor did. A full lower-extremity exam. A real conversation about your symptoms. A gait analysis. In-office digital X-ray when needed. And a treatment plan that starts with the lowest-impact options and steps up only if they are not enough.
His specialty in lower-extremity biomechanics is directly relevant because so much foot pain comes from how the foot loads during gait. When the mechanical cause is corrected, the pain often goes with it.
He is board certified, fellowship trained, and a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), with hospital privileges at St. Joseph's Westgate Medical Center for the rare cases that require surgical care.
Nerve Pain, Burning, Numbness, and Tingling
Foot pain that feels like burning, tingling, electric shocks, or numbness is usually nerve-related rather than purely mechanical. The most common causes are:
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Long-term diabetes damages the small nerves in the feet, causing burning, numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations. Diabetic foot pain needs prompt evaluation because the same nerve damage that causes the pain also reduces your ability to feel injuries, which raises the risk of unnoticed wounds and infections.
Morton's neuroma
A thickening of a nerve between the toes, usually between the third and fourth toes. Causes burning, tingling, or the feeling of standing on a marble. Custom orthotics, footwear changes, and addressing the underlying mechanics resolve most cases.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
A compressed nerve at the inside of the ankle. Causes burning, tingling, or shooting pain in the foot and arch. Can mimic plantar fasciitis but the burning quality and nerve distribution point to a nerve cause.
Drop foot
Weakness lifting the front of the foot, often paired with numbness or tingling on the top of the foot. Drop foot is a nerve problem and needs evaluation to find the underlying cause.
Learn more about drop foot.
At-Home Pain Relief vs. When to See a Doctor
What you can try at home for 1 to 2 weeks
- Switch to supportive shoes and avoid the ones aggravating the pain.
- Stretch the calf, arch, and toes daily.
- Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes after activity.
- Use an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory if you are otherwise healthy and your doctor has not told you to avoid them.
- Reduce or modify the activity that is making it worse.
- Try an over-the-counter arch support or insole.
Call us if any of the following is true
- The pain has not improved after 1 to 2 weeks of consistent at-home effort.
- The pain is severe enough to interrupt your work, sleep, or activity.
- You feel numbness, burning, or tingling along with the pain.
- The pain started suddenly without an obvious cause.
- You have diabetes and any new foot pain (diabetic foot pain deserves prompt evaluation because of the higher risk of complications).
- The pain is paired with redness, warmth, fever, or swelling.
- You have fallen recently and now have foot pain, even if it seems mild (older bones can have hidden fractures).
Reach us at 623-335-4017. Same-week visits are usually available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Foot and Ankle Pain
Why does the top of my foot hurt?
Common causes include extensor tendonitis from overuse or tight shoes, stress fractures (especially in runners), nerve compression, and arthritis. A good rule of thumb: pain directly on a bone after impact or with no clear injury warrants evaluation for a possible stress fracture.
What causes pain in the ball of the foot?
Most ball-of-foot pain comes from metatarsalgia (general overload of the front of the foot), plantar plate tears, neuromas, or hammer toes. Custom orthotics, footwear changes, and addressing the underlying cause usually resolve it.
What does sudden foot pain without injury mean?
Most often a stress fracture, an inflammatory flare (gout, arthritis, tendonitis), or a tendon issue building up over time without a single triggering injury. Sudden severe pain in the foot or ankle without a clear cause deserves prompt evaluation.
Why does my ankle hurt when I walk?
Common causes include lingering ligament damage from a prior sprain, arthritis, tendonitis, or alignment issues. Persistent ankle pain with walking is worth getting evaluated, especially if you have had ankle injuries in the past.
Is foot pain at night a red flag?
Foot pain that wakes you from sleep or is worse at rest can be a sign of something more serious than typical mechanical foot pain. Causes include infection, neuropathy, certain stress fractures, and inflammatory arthritis. Call us for an evaluation if your pain is keeping you up at night.
Should I be worried about pain in just one toe?
It depends on the toe and the cause. Sharp pain in the big toe joint with redness and warmth can be gout. A persistent painful corn or pressure spot on top of a toe often signals a hammer toe. A bent, painful toe with skin breakdown is more urgent in diabetic patients. We can identify the cause during an exam.
Will custom orthotics fix my foot pain?
For mechanical foot pain (plantar fasciitis, flat feet, certain ball-of-foot pain), often yes. Custom orthotics correct how the foot loads and take stress off the painful tissues. They are not a cure-all for every foot pain, which is why we figure out the cause first.
Does insurance cover foot pain treatment?
Yes. Most major insurance plans cover the exam, imaging, and most treatments. We accept Medicare and most Medicare Advantage plans. We verify benefits before any work starts.
¿Habla español?
Sí. Dr. Udall y nuestro equipo hablan español con fluidez. Llame al 623-335-4017 para programar una cita.
Foot & Ankle Pain Related Conditions We Treat
Custom Orthotics
Prescription-grade custom foot orthotics designed by Dr. Udall, the West Valley’s dedicated specialist in lower-extremity biomechanics.
Hammer Toes
In-Office Treatment
Conservative care first, with a minimally-invasive in-office procedure for flexible hammer toes when needed. Less downtime than traditional surgery.
Heel Pain &
Plantar Fasciitis
The most common foot pain we see — and the most treatable. Real relief through stretching, custom orthotics, and conservative care.
Ingrown Toenails
Same-week relief for painful or infected ingrown toenails. Permanent solutions, gentle technique, and we’ll get you out of pain fast.
Bunions
From mild bunions to advanced cases, we start with conservative care — footwear, padding, custom orthotics — and only consider surgery when nothing else has worked.
Flat Feet
Custom orthotics, supportive bracing, and conservative care for flat feet (pes planus). Veteran and Luke AFB community welcome.
Drop Foot
Diagnosis, AFO bracing, and rehabilitative care for drop foot. We figure out the cause and build a plan — conservative care first.
Foot & Ankle Injuries
Sprained ankle, foot fracture, sports injury, or stress fracture? Same-week visits, in-office digital X-ray, and a plan to get you back to activity.
Book a Visit to Find the Cause of Your Foot and Ankle Pain
The fastest way to know what is causing your foot or ankle pain is an in-office exam. Dr. Udall will examine your feet, watch you walk, image the foot if needed, and tell you exactly what is going on. Most patients leave with a real diagnosis and a treatment plan they can start the same day.
