How X-rays Help Us Diagnose Foot Problems
You’ve got foot pain. Maybe you twisted your ankle on the stairs, or perhaps a nagging ache has finally gotten bad enough to worry you. When you visit your podiatrist, you might wonder if an X-ray is really necessary. The short answer is: sometimes, it’s the only way to truly know what’s going on beneath the surface of your skin. X-rays are a fast, accurate tool we use in the office at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. Today, we’re giving you a clear look into how X-rays give us a clear look.
Is Your Foot Broken or Sprained?
The most common reason we use an X-ray is right after an acute injury. If you can’t put weight on your foot, if there’s dramatic swelling, or if you see any deformity after a fall or twist, you need an X-ray. It’s the only way to accurately confirm or rule out a fracture.
For example, a severe ankle sprain can cause pain similar to a broken ankle, but the treatment plan is drastically different. A weight-bearing X-ray, though, can immediately show us the integrity of the ankle and foot bones and ensure we don’t miss a subtle break.
How X-rays Find Chronic Pain
X-rays aren’t just for emergencies; they are also essential when you have persistent, chronic pain, such as:
- Arthritis: If you have chronic joint pain, an X-ray can show the severity of the arthritis by revealing narrowing of the joint space and the presence of bone spurs. This gives us a clear baseline to manage the disease.
- Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spurs: While plantar fasciitis is a soft tissue problem, an X-ray can show if you have a heel spur, which can confirm the chronic nature of the strain on the plantar fascia.
- Foot Deformities: For conditions like bunions or hammertoes, an X-ray is non-negotiable. It helps us determine the exact degree of bone misalignment, which is the primary factor in deciding if you need surgery.
- Stress Fractures: If you’re an active person with pain that worsens during exercise, an X-ray can be used to look for a stress fracture. Though often invisible on initial X-rays, we may still take one to see subtle signs of stress reaction, or to compare it to a follow-up image taken a few weeks later.
The X-ray and Foot Injury Diagnosis
The X-ray simply allows us to officially diagnose you.
For instance, we’d confirm arthritis by measuring the loss of joint cartilage and spotting bone spurs, or we’d confirm a bunion by measuring the angle of the misaligned bones.
This image provides clear, objective blueprints for your treatment plan moving forward.
If you’re experiencing foot pain, discomfort, or changes in how you walk, come see the expert team at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. With locations in Tucson and Oro Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., are here for you. Call us at (520) 575-0800 or contact us online!
