Common Foot Problems: Causes, Symptoms & When to See a Podiatrist

Your feet carry your entire bodyweight through every step you take. So when something goes wrong - whether it is a sharp jab of heel pain first thing in the morning, a toenail that keeps becoming inflamed, or a growing bump on the side of your foot - it affects everything: how you move, how you work, how you sleep.

The good news is that most foot problems are well understood and, in the right hands, very treatable. This guide covers the conditions we see most frequently at Bexley Podiatry, what causes them, and the signs that tell you it is time to get a proper assessment rather than waiting it out.

Why do foot problems happen?

Most foot problems come down to one or more of the following underlying causes:

• Biomechanical factors - the way your foot and ankle move can place excess load on specific structures over time.
• Footwear - poor fit, insufficient support, or excessive heel height changes how load is distributed across the foot.
• Activity level and loading - sudden increases in training volume, standing all day at work, or carrying excess weight all increase stress on the foot.
• Structural factors - flat feet, high arches, bunions, and hammer toes are often hereditary and predispose certain areas to injury.
• Systemic conditions - diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and peripheral vascular disease each affect foot health in specific and serious ways.
• Skin and nail conditions - fungal infections, ingrown toenails, warts, corns, and cracked heels are among the most prevalent foot complaints in the general population.

A thorough foot and ankle assessment is always the starting point - because treating the symptom without identifying the cause is how temporary relief turns into a chronic problem.

The most common foot problems, explained

Below are the conditions we assess and treat most frequently. Each one is different - in cause, in how it presents, and in what works best to resolve it.

• [Plantar fasciitis & heel pain](/conditions/plantar-fasciitis) - sharp pain under the heel, worst with the first steps of the morning. Caused by overload of the plantar fascia, the band of tissue connecting the heel to the ball of the foot.
• [Achilles tendinopathy](/conditions/achilles-tendinopathy) - stiffness and pain at the back of the heel, aggravated by running, walking uphill, or prolonged activity. A degenerative tendon problem that rarely resolves without structured treatment.
• [Bunions (hallux valgus)](/conditions/bunions) - a bony prominence at the base of the big toe caused by the joint drifting outward. Often hereditary. Causes pain, redness, and difficulty fitting shoes comfortably.
• [Morton's neuroma](/conditions/mortons-neuroma) - a thickening of tissue around the nerve between the toes, producing burning, sharp, or electric-shock pain in the ball of the foot. Often described as walking on a small stone.
• [Hammer toes](/conditions/hammer-toes) - a bending or curling of the lesser toes at the middle joint. Can be flexible (correctable) or rigid, and often leads to corns, calluses, and shoe-fitting problems.
• [Ingrown toenails](/conditions/ingrown-toenails) - when the nail edge grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling, and infection. Recurring or infected ingrown toenails may need a minor surgical procedure for permanent correction.
• [Chronic ankle instability](/conditions/chronic-ankle-instability) - a history of ankle sprains that have left the ankle feeling unstable or repeatedly giving way. Often undertreated, leading to ongoing ligament weakness and joint damage.
• [Flatfoot](/conditions/flatfoot) & [high-arch foot](/conditions/high-arch-foot) - structural variations in arch height that alter load distribution through the foot. Both can cause pain in the foot, ankle, knee, or even lower back without appropriate management.
• [Fungal nails](/conditions/fungal-nails) & athlete's foot - fungal nail infections cause thickened, discoloured, brittle nails. Athlete's foot produces itching, scaling, and cracking of the skin. Both spread easily and require targeted treatment.
• [Corns & calluses](/conditions/corns-and-calluses) - areas of thickened skin caused by repeated friction or pressure. Corns have a hard central core; calluses are broader. Both can be painful and are safely debrided by a podiatrist.
• [Tarsal tunnel syndrome](/conditions/tarsal-tunnel-syndrome) - compression of the tibial nerve as it passes behind the ankle, producing burning, tingling, or numbness along the sole of the foot. Often misdiagnosed or confused with plantar fasciitis.
• [Cracked heels](/conditions/cracked-heels) - deep fissures in the heel skin that can be painful and become infected if left untreated. Often linked to dry skin, open-backed footwear, and prolonged standing on hard surfaces.

How are foot problems treated?

The right treatment depends entirely on the diagnosis. What works for plantar fasciitis is very different from what works for a Morton's neuroma, and applying the wrong approach is one of the main reasons people live with foot pain longer than they should.

At Bexley Podiatry, treatment always follows an accurate clinical diagnosis - and the principle is conservative first, then more advanced if needed. The most common treatment pathways include:

• [Orthotic therapy](/services/orthotic-therapy) - custom-prescribed orthoses correct the biomechanics driving your pain, taking load off the injured structure.
• [Shockwave therapy (ESWT)](/services/shockwave-therapy) - non-invasive shockwave for stubborn plantar fasciitis, heel pain, and chronic tendinopathy.
• [Injection therapy](/services/injection-therapy) - ultrasound-guided corticosteroid, PRP, and regenerative injections delivered in-house for precise, lasting relief.
• Exercise and rehabilitation - structured loading programmes that retrain tissue and restore function over time.
• [Nail surgery](/services/ingrown-toenail-surgery) - permanent correction of painful or recurrent ingrown toenails under local anaesthetic, in-clinic.
• Minor surgical procedures - led by our podiatric surgical registrar, for presentations that have not resolved with conservative care.
• [Coordinated surgical referral](/services/surgical-consultations) - for complex cases (bunions, hammer toes, tendon tears) that require a specialist surgeon.

Explore the full list of podiatry services available at our Bexley clinic.

When should you see a podiatrist?

A common mistake is waiting too long. Foot pain that has been present for several weeks does not simply "go away on its own" - in most cases it becomes harder to treat the longer it is left. Early intervention consistently produces faster recovery and less invasive treatment requirements. See a podiatrist if you have any of the following:

• Foot or ankle pain that has lasted more than one week.
• Pain that is affecting how you walk, stand, or exercise.
• A toenail that is infected, painful, or repeatedly ingrown.
• Numbness, tingling, or burning in the foot or toes.
• A visible deformity - a bump, bent toe, or collapsed arch - that was not there before.
• Foot wounds, ulcers, or skin changes, particularly if you have diabetes.
• Heel pain that is worst first thing in the morning.
• Ankle instability or repeated sprains.
• Any foot concern in a child - the earlier developmental problems are caught, the better the outcome.

If you have already had treatment elsewhere and it has not resolved the problem, a second-opinion assessment at Bexley Podiatry may help identify what was missed and what the next step should be.

Foot problems in specific populations

Children and adolescents

Growing feet are not simply small versions of adult feet - they are still developing, and gait abnormalities, flat feet, heel pain during growth spurts (Sever's disease), and developmental issues respond best when caught early. Our children's podiatry service is designed specifically for young patients, with a child-friendly approach to assessment and treatment.

People with diabetes

Diabetes affects circulation and nerve function in the feet, making even minor issues - a blister, a small cut, a thickening nail - potentially serious. Regular diabetic foot assessments screen for vascular and neurological risk before problems develop, and are an important part of preventive diabetes management.

Athletes and active adults

Runners, team-sport athletes, and people who exercise regularly place significantly higher loads on their feet and ankles than the general population. Stress fractures, tendinopathies, ankle instability, and overuse injuries require a targeted sports assessment and a structured return-to-sport plan rather than generic advice to rest.

Why Bexley Podiatry for complex foot cases?

Bexley Podiatry is positioned as a destination clinic - not a generalist provider. The practice is led by a podiatric surgical registrar with an active referral network that includes GPs, sports physicians, physiotherapists, and orthopaedic surgeons across the St George area and greater Sydney. What that means practically:

• Advanced injection therapies and in-clinic diagnostic ultrasound - no referrals out for imaging in most cases.
• Minor surgical procedures performed in-clinic, not in a hospital day-surgery setting.
• Complex, referral-grade presentations are specifically welcomed - including cases where previous treatment has failed.
• 60+ years of combined clinical experience across the team.
• 4.9-star Google rating across 250+ reviews.
• Urgent appointments available - we endeavour to see acute foot and ankle concerns as promptly as possible.

Visit the full list of conditions we treat - from plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy through to osteochondral lesions, tendon tears, and failed previous treatment.

Foot pain holding you back?

Book an assessment with our podiatrists at Bexley Podiatry: Foot & Ankle Clinic, 390 Forest Rd, Bexley NSW 2207. We will pinpoint the cause and start you on the right treatment path - conservative first, surgical only when it is genuinely the best option. Call 1300 345 226 or book online to get started.