When Foot Pain Doesn't Match the Physical Exam

<p>What do you do when a patient has severe foot pain, but the examination doesn't reveal a clear explanation? In this episode of Podiatry Practice Mastery, Dr. Don Pelto shares the case of a 25-year-old woman who had already seen several doctors, tried different shoes and orthotics, and continued to experience significant foot pain. Drawing on ideas from The Body Keeps the Score and Dr. Sarno's work, Don explores the relationship between pain, the nervous system, stress, and past emotional experiences.</p><p>Discover why persistent foot pain sometimes requires looking beyond traditional biomechanical explanations, how to approach sensitive conversations with patients, and why collaboration with primary care and mental health professionals may be valuable. This episode encourages podiatrists to consider a broader approach to unexplained pain while recognizing that pain is real even when its underlying cause isn't immediately apparent.</p><p>Keywords: chronic foot pain, mind-body connection and pain, unexplained foot pain, trauma-informed podiatry, nervous system and chronic pain</p>