When Foot Pain Isn’t Just Foot Pain: Knowing When to See a Specialist

We all know the feeling of foot pain after a long day on your feet, a weekend of yardwork, or a strenuous workout or sporting event. But what happens when that discomfort doesn’t go away and starts to interfere with your daily life? That’s when it may be time to get checked out by a specialist.

At Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Dr. Cameron Eilts has been helping patients find relief from foot and ankle pain since 2011. Whether it’s a sprained ankle, complications from diabetes, or chronic heel pain, Dr. Eilts focuses on understanding each patient’s unique needs and finding the right treatment—surgical or not—to relieve the pain and get them moving again.

Common Causes of Foot & Ankle Pain

Foot and ankle pain can come from many sources. Some of the most common include:

Plantar Fasciitis
Symptoms: A sharp, stabbing pain in the heel that’s often worst in the morning.
Cause: strain or small tears in the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot, often due to overuse, poor arch support, or tight calf muscles.

Arthritis
Symptoms: Stiffness, swelling, and discomfort in the joints of the foot or ankle.
Cause: Results from wear and tear (osteoarthritis), autoimmune conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis), or post-injury degeneration that leads to joint inflammation and cartilage breakdown.

Tendonitis
Symptoms: Pain due to inflammation of the tendons.
Cause: Typically caused by repetitive stress or sudden increases in activity, leading to inflammation of tendons that connect muscle to bone.

Ankle Sprains
Symptoms: Ankle pain due to overstretched or torn ligaments.
Cause: Often a result of sudden twisting, rolling, or impact during sports or uneven walking.

Diabetic Foot Issues
Symptoms: Include nerve damage and reduced blood flow that can lead to infection, ulcers, and decreased healing ability.
Cause: Stems from long-term high blood sugar

While these conditions vary widely, the goal is always the same: relieve pain, restore function, and prevent further damage.

Not All Foot & Ankle Issues Require Surgery

One of the most common misconceptions about seeing an orthopedic specialist is the fear that surgery is the only option. Dr. Eilts emphasizes a conservative approach to treatment whenever possible. Many patients find non-surgical relief through physical therapy, injections to reduce inflammation, or bracing to immobilize and protect the area so it can heal.

When It Might Be Time to Consider Surgery

Of course, not all pain can be resolved non-surgically. If conservative treatments haven’t worked, or if your condition is worsening, surgical intervention might be the best path forward. Here are a few signs that it’s time to see a foot and ankle specialist like Dr. Eilts:

Chronic pain that doesn’t improve with rest or conservative care

Recurrent sprains or instability in the ankle

Numbness, tingling, or visible deformities

Limited mobility affecting your quality of life

Dr. Eilts takes the time to evaluate each case individually, using a physical exam and advanced imaging and diagnostics, to create a treatment plan tailored to your specific condition and lifestyle. If surgery is needed, he will walk you through every step of the process, from pre-op preparation to post-op rehab.

Don’t Wait on the Pain

The longer foot and ankle pain goes untreated, the harder it can be to fix. Trying to “tough it out” can sometimes do more harm than good. Whether you’re dealing with nagging heel pain, recurring ankle sprains, or diabetic foot concerns, Dr. Eilts and the team at Atlantic Orthopaedics are here to help. With a focus on personalized care and a full range of treatment options, we’re ready to set you on the path to recovery–so you can get back to doing the things you love as soon as possible.

If you’re suffering from foot or ankle pain, don’t wait it out. Get in touch to schedule an appointment with Dr. Eilts today.

Dr. Cameron Eilts Speaks at Specialist Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island

Dr. Cameron Eilts Speaks at Specialist Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island.

Dr. Cameron Eilts, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, was a speaker at The Podiatry Institute and The Rhode Island Podiatric Medical Association meeting in Newport, Rhode Island on April 25th through the 28th.

The meeting, called Surgical Pearls by the Sea, discussed current trends in the management of foot, ankle and leg disorders.

Dr. Eilts was a speaker for multiple segments throughout the weekend, and audiences included other Doctors of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Eilts is a faculty member at The Podiatry Institute. His specialties include Foot surgery; ankle surgery; wound care; diabetic limb salvage; non-surgical and surgical treatment of foot pain, foot deformity, pediatric flatfoot, ankle and foot fractures, plantar fascia, tendonitis, neuropathy, neuromas, heel spurs, ingrown toenails, hammertoes, warts, corns, calluses, bunions and other podiatry services. Learn more about Dr. Eilts here: https://www.atlanticorthopaedics.org/providers-surgeons-nh-me/eilts/

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine is a leading practice on the Seacoast of New Hampshire. They have offices in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and York, Maine and physicians have full medical staff privileges at both Portsmouth Regional Hospital and York Hospital.

Dr. Cameron Eilts to Teach National Cadaver Course at The Podiatry Institute

Cameron Eilts, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, will be teaching a Cadaver Course at The Podiatry Institute in Decatur, Georgia from December 3 through December 6.

Surgeons in various specialties from around the world will attend this course for rearfoot and ankle procedures. The surgeons attending will learn through live surgical observation and hands on participation with cadaver limbs. They will also learn multiple alternative options for fixation of osteotomies and/or fractures and be exposed to new techniques and the latest procedural trends.

Dr. Eilts is a faculty member of The Podiatry Institute, an honor in his specialty. The faculty members are all volunteers who serve without compensation and are committed to ongoing education in the area of foot and ankle surgery.

The Podiatry Institute is a non-profit educational foundation that offers a variety of programs including conferences, workshops and postgraduate courses. The Institute has achieved national and international recognition for its leading role in developing and advancing podiatric medicine and surgery.

Dr. Eilts to Lecture to Saco Bay PT

Dr. Eilts, who specializes in podiatry as well as foot and ankle surgery and reconstruction, will be holding a talk this evening with physical therapists from Saco Bay PT. He will be lecturing on the latest technology in ankle and foot surgery, and how this affects post-op protocols for surgeons and patients.

Saco Bay Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy has multiple locations in Southern Maine. Utilizing evidence-based care and proven treatment techniques in a supportive and educational environment, Saco Bay PT strives to ensure high quality healthcare and cost-effective outcomes for its patients to promote movement, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability.

Cameron Eilts, DPM, received his BS from the University of South Dakota and his DPM from Des Moines University. His specialities include: foot surgery; ankle surgery; wound care; diabetic limb salvage; non-surgical and surgical treatment of foot pain, foot deformity, pediatric flatfoot, ankle and foot fractures, plantar fascia, tendonitis, neuropathy, neuromas, heel spurs, ingrown toenails, hammertoes, warts, corns, calluses, and bunions. Dr. Eilts is also affiliated with the American Podiatric Medical Association and American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery, and is a member of the Podiatry Institute.

Dr. Eilts Teaches Surgical Skills Course

Cameron Eilts, DPM of Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine will teach a Cadaver Surgical Skills Course in Atlanta, Georgia from October 27^th-30^th. National and international surgeons will attend the Podiatry Institute workshop to learn advanced surgical techniques on the foot and ankle.

During the training course, physicians will perform surgical cases during an in-depth, hands-on lab using cadavers and bone models. Procedures range from 5^th digit arthroplasties to complex rearfoot fusions. Surgical topics will also be discussed throughout the course, whose purpose is to increase comfort of physicians performing podiatric surgical procedures, improve skills through live surgical observation as well as hands-on participation with cadaver limbs and learn new surgical techniques.

Dr. Eilts practices foot and ankle surgery and reconstruction, wound care, and diabetic limb salvage at the Portsmouth, NH and York, ME offices of Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. He also specializes in fractures of the foot and ankle, tendon injuries and other surgical and non-surgical treatment of foot and ankle pain. Board-Certified in rearfoot and ankle surgery, Dr. Eilts received his BS from the University of South Dakota and his DPM from Des Moines University in Iowa. He is affiliated with the American Podiatric Medical Association and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is also a member of the Podiatry Institute, where he will teach his peers in Georgia. Dr. Eilts has helped teach over 30 of these courses.