Introduction
Good foot and ankle health is essential for an active life. Feet are surprisingly complex: they have 26 bones, 33 points and over 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons. Because of this, there’s a variety of different health conditions that you may experience in your life, caused by general bodily wear and tear, wearing the wrong shoes, injuries or the ageing process.
During your consultation, our specialist foot and ankle consultants will discuss your concerns, and appropriate treatment with you.

Ready to book now? Get in touch to discuss your needs and decide on the best course of treatment for you.
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Ready to book now? Get in touch to discuss your needs and decide on the best course of treatment for you.
Reasons to see a foot and ankle specialist
You may choose, or be referred on, to see a specialist if you experience:
- Inflammation of the joint, indicated by swelling
- Ongoing joint pain
- Pain in the ball of your foot
- Tenderness of the joints
- Stiffness, redness or warmth
- Deformity of the joint
- Loss of range of motion or flexibility
- Fatigue, weakness or a lack of energy
Common foot and ankle conditions
Bunions (Hallux valgus)
A bunion is a bony lump on your foot. Bunions don’t always cause symptoms but can get worse over time. They can be painful, especially when you’re walking or wearing shoes. The main symptoms of bunions include:
- Hard lumps on the side of your feet, by your big toe
- Your big toe pointing toward other toes
- Hard, swollen skin. The bunion itself may look red or darker than the surrounding skin.
Arthritis of the big toe (Hallux rigidus)
Arthritis (osteoarthritis) of the big toe can result in your toe becoming stiff and painful (hallux rigidus). This can lead to a bony lump on the top of the joint. This can make wearing shoes challenging.
Toe deformities
(Hammer toe, claw toe, mallet toe)
Hammertoe (mallet toe, claw toe) is a deformity in the toes due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons or ligaments that normally hold them straight. If you experience a toe deformity, you may experience pain, and find it unpleasant to look at.
Morton’s neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is a condition that affects the ball of your foot, typically the area between your third and fourth toes. Morton’s neuroma may feel as if you are standing on a pebble in your shoe.
Ingrown toenails
Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the surrounding flesh. This can result in pain, redness, swelling and in some cases an infection. Ingrown toenails usually affect the big toe.
Heel pain
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain around your heel and arch. It is caused by inflammation of the thick band of tissue across the bottom of your foot.
It’s more likely to be plantar fasciitis if you experience that:
- The pain is worse when you start walking after sleeping or a period of rest
- The pain feels better during exercise, but returns after resting
- It’s difficult to raise your toes off the floor.
Foot bursitis
Bursitis is when a joint becomes painful and swollen. This happens when fluid-filled sacs (bursa) that cushion joints become inflamed. Bursitis can affect any joint, but commonly occurs in feet.
You may have foot bursitis if one of your joints is:
- Painful – typically a dull, achy pain
- Tender or warmer than surrounding skin
- Swollen
- More painful when you move it or press on it.