If your feet or ankles are causing pain, don't ignore it.

"Pain, in any part of the body, is simply not normal. It may be an indication that there is a problem that should at least be assessed," Dr. Abicht says.

Seek expert attention for:

1. Foot or ankle injuries including sprains, cuts, puncture wounds and broken bones
2. Flat feet especially if accompanied by pain or stiffness
3. Great toe joint pain, such as bunions or arthritis, that cause you to change the way you walk or limit your daily activities
4. Diabetic foot ulcers, or open wounds on the bottom of the feet, which put patients with diabetes at increased risk for non-healing, infection and/or amputation

"When foot and ankle problems are identified early, we find that they are more amendable to non-surgical treatments. If foot and ankle problems are ignored, symptoms and pathology often progress, making non-operative options less predictable and less effective," Dr. Abicht points out.

Treatment can range from establishing a diagnosis and monitoring the condition without any intervention to conservative treatment (such as physical therapy or a brace) to help with symptoms and lessen the likelihood of them worsening or progressing. In some situations, surgery is the best option.

You don't need to live with lingering pain. Gundersen foot and ankle specialists see patients at more than a dozen locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Find a clinic near you.