Comprehensive Podiatric Care for All Stages of Foot and Ankle Pain
Your feet and ankles are incredibly complex structures, collectively containing more than 50 bones, dozens of joints, and an intricate network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Because your feet bear your entire body weight with every single step, even a minor misalignment or injury can quickly compromise your daily mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.
At Bluestone Podiatry, dual board-certified foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Kurt Relation, DPM, treats a wide spectrum of podiatric conditions. From stubborn skin and nail infections to complex structural deformities requiring advanced, small-incision surgical correction, we are dedicated to providing personalized care that targets the root cause of your pain.
Explore the common foot and ankle conditions we specialize in below.
Structural Toe & Forefoot Deformities
Structural imbalances in the bones and joints of the forefoot can lead to chronic friction, inflammation, and pain when wearing footwear.
● Bunions: A progressive structural deformity where the big toe joint leans inward, creating a painful, bony bump on the side of the foot.
● Hammer Toe Correction: An abnormal muscle/tendon imbalance that forces the smaller toes to permanently curl downward into a claw-like position.
● Tailor’s Bunions (Bunionettes): Similar to a standard bunion, this is a painful bony protrusion that forms on the outside edge of the foot at the base of the little toe.
Heel & Arch Pain
Deep, aching heel or arch pain is one of the most common reasons patients visit our Slingerlands office.
● Plantar Fasciitis: Intense, sharp pain in the heel—especially during your first steps out of bed in the morning—caused by chronic inflammation of the thick band of tissue supporting your arch.
● Heel Pain: Broad discomfort triggered by structural strain, nerve entrapment, or protective fat pad thining.
● Foot Pain & Flat Feet (Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction): Pain caused by fallen arches, which can lead to overpronation, muscle fatigue, and ankle instability.
● High Arches (Cavus Foot): A structural shape that places excessive weight on the heel and the ball of the foot, leading to a high susceptibility to shock-related injuries.
Nerve & Cushioning Conditions
When nerves in the foot become compressed, or when your natural biological protection wears down, daily steps can become agonizing.
● Morton’s Neuroma: A painful thickening of the nerve tissue between the third and fourth toes, often causing a burning sensation or the feeling that a pebble is stuck in your shoe.
● LipoSana® Fat Pad Restoration: A cutting-edge tissue augmentation therapy to replenish lost biological padding beneath the heel and forefoot, eliminating the raw “walking on bone” sensation.
● Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: A painful compression of the tibial nerve as it passes through the ankle, resulting in burning, tingling, or numbness that shoots into the sole of the foot.
Skin & Nail Pathology
Nail and skin issues are highly responsive to safe, medical-grade, in-office interventions.
● Ingrown Toenails: A painful condition where the edge of a toenail curves downward and grows into the surrounding skin, frequently causing swelling, redness, and acute infections.
● Plantar Warts: Stubborn, non-cancerous skin growths on the soles of the feet caused by a localized viral infection (HPV).
● Fungal Toenails (Onychomycosis): Thickened, brittle, yellowish nails that are highly responsive to advanced antifungal protocols and cosmetic KeryFlex™ Nail Restoration.
● Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis): A contagious fungal infection of the skin that causes intense itching, cracking, scaling, and burning between the toes or on the soles of the feet.
Sports Injuries, Trauma & Chronic Tendonitis
Active lifestyles, running, and unexpected physical trauma can place severe stress on the lower extremities.
● Achilles Tendonitis: Inflammation of the thick tendon connecting your calf muscles to your heel bone, which causes stiffness and pain along the back of the leg.
● Ankle Sprains & Chronic Instability: Stretched or torn ligaments resulting from a twisting injury, which can lead to permanent weakness if left untreated.
● Stress Fractures: Hairline cracks in the weight-bearing bones of the foot (commonly the metatarsals) caused by repetitive stress or sudden increases in activity.
Diabetic Foot Care & Wound Management
For patients living with diabetes, proactive podiatric evaluations are vital to preventing severe systemic complications.
● Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Nerve damage that decreases your ability to feel pain, heat, or cold, making minor cuts or blisters difficult to notice.
● Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Chronic, high-pressure open sores that require advanced offloading and clinical wound care to heal safely and prevent infection.
Take the First Step Toward Pain-Free Mobility
No matter how minor or severe your foot and ankle discomfort may seem, seeking early evaluation from an experienced podiatric surgeon can help you avoid complex surgical interventions down the road.
Click here to schedule your appointment online or call Bluestone Podiatry today to establish your custom path to recovery.