Podiatry Services provides specialist care for adults with MSK conditions. Most patients will attend the Beauchamp Centre at Mount Gould Hospital in Plymouth for such care.
Help and advice for specific conditions
If you have one of the problems list below, please click on the button for information follow the self-care advice given below before you submit a self-referral.
If your problem is not listed, please make a self-referral using the link at the bottom of this page.
Heel Pain – Plantar Fasciitis
Pain usually occurs underneath the heel but can spread around to the sides of it and underneath the arch and front half the foot.
People often get pain when they first stand and walk in the morning or after they have been resting for some time. Some people find that walking or running can make it feel worse.
Our advice about treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
80% of musculoskeletal problems will get better by themselves within 12 months and most can be improved or resolved with self-help advice before seeing a health care professional for support.
There can be confusing and conflicting self-help advice found on the internet but the advice we have included here and in our leaflets, is based on research and evidence of what works, and reflects the advice and support a Podiatrist would give you in person.
If your symptoms start to improve with this self-help advice, then you should continue to improve if you keep going with what you are doing. We suggest that you try self-help care for at least 3 months before considering a self-referral to see us. This will allow you enough time for self-care to start working. Some symptoms can take a little longer to improve, so if you notice your symptoms are continuing to improve with time then you are doing the right things.
It is important to keep as active as possible because for most people, resting usually does not improve musculoskeletal conditions. We suggest that as best possible you keep active within your “symptom tolerances” – this which means adjusting how often and for how long you do activities and how intensely you do them, depending on how it feels on any given day. For example, going for shorter walks more often, or planning rest periods to help keep you moving.
You should consider making a self-referral to Podiatry Service if you feel the self-help care is not working, your symptoms are getting worse or if your symptoms do not continue to improve. Please now see the information in the leaflets listed below to start your self-care process.
Links to our self-help leaflets
- Plantar Heel Pain Syndrome Leaflet
- Plantar Fascia Conditioning Advice Sheet
- Plantar Fascia Exercise Sheet
- Rocker-Soled Footwear Advice Sheet
- Footwear Advice Sheet
Bunions and Hallux Abducto-Valgus (HAV)
A bunion is a change in shape of the big toe joint where the big toe bends out towards the other toes and can cause you have a bony lump on the inner side of the foot. Sometimes this condition can result in discomfort or pain. If it is not painful then treatment is not required.
Our advice about treatment for bunions and Hallux Abducto-Valgus (HAV)
80% of musculoskeletal problems will get better by themselves within 12months and most can be improved or resolved with self-help advice before seeing a health care professional for support.
There can be confusing and conflicting self-help advice found on the internet but the advice we have included here and in our leaflets, is based on research and evidence of what works, and reflects the advice and support a Podiatrist would give you in person.
If your symptoms start to improve with this self-help advice, then you should continue to improve if you keep going with what you are doing. We suggest that you try self-help care for at least 3 months before considering a self-referral to see us. This will allow you enough time for self-care to start working. Some symptoms can take a little longer to improve, so if you notice your symptoms are continuing to improve with time then you are doing the right things.
It is important to keep as active as possible because for most people, resting usually does not improve musculoskeletal conditions. We suggest that as best possible you keep active within your “symptom tolerances” – this which means adjusting how often and for how long you do activities and how intensely you do them, depending on how it feels on any given day. For example, going for shorter walks more often, or planning rest periods to help keep you moving.
You should consider making a self-referral to Podiatry Service if you feel the self-help care is not working, your symptoms are getting worse or if your symptoms do not continue to improve. Please now see the information in the leaflets listed below to start your self-care process.
Links to our self-help leaflets
Pain in Your Forefoot - Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is a general, “catch-all” term that is used to describe pain in the front half of the foot, most often in or around the ball of the foot. This pain may ease when you rest and get worse when you first stand up, walk or exercise. Symptoms of metatarsalgia might include:
- pain in the big toe joint or any of the smaller toe joints
- the sensation of having a stone in your shoe when walking
- increased pain with exercise, or when wearing certain shoes, especially thin-soled shoes, narrow footwear or shoes with too high a heel
- a dull ache in or around the ball of your foot
- corns or callus under the ball of your foot
Our advice about treatment for metatarsalgia
80% of musculoskeletal problems will get better by themselves within 12months and most can be improved or resolved with self-help advice before seeing a health care professional for support.
There can be confusing and conflicting self-help advice found on the internet but the advice we have included here and in our leaflets, is based on research and evidence of what works, and reflects the advice and support a Podiatrist would give you in person.
If your symptoms start to improve with this self-help advice, then you should continue to improve if you keep going with what you are doing. We suggest that you try self-help care for at least 3 months before considering a self-referral to see us. This will allow you enough time for self-care to start working. Some symptoms can take a little longer to improve, so if you notice your symptoms are continuing to improve with time then you are doing the right things.
It is important to keep as active as possible because for most people, resting usually does not improve musculoskeletal conditions. We suggest that as best possible you keep active within your “symptom tolerances” – this which means adjusting how often and for how long you do activities and how intensely you do them, depending on how it feels on any given day. For example, going for shorter walks more often, or planning rest periods to help keep you moving.
You should consider making a self-referral to Podiatry Service if you feel the self-help care is not working, your symptoms are getting worse or if your symptoms do not continue to improve. Please now see the information in the leaflets listed below to start your self-care process.
Links to our self-help leaflets
Morton’s Neuroma
This condition is often described as having “electric shock” type sensations, numbness or tingling which affects the toes and front half of the foot. It can also feel sore or “bruised” and people describe the feeling of walking on a pebble or a lump. It most commonly affects the area around 3rd and 4th toes on the foot but can happen elsewhere.
Our advice about treatment for Morton’s Neuroma
80% of musculoskeletal problems will get better by themselves within 12 months and most can be improved or resolved with self-help advice before seeing a health care professional for support.
There can be confusing and conflicting self-help advice found on the internet but the advice we have included here and in our leaflets, is based on research and evidence of what works, and reflects the advice and support a Podiatrist would give you in person.
If your symptoms start to improve with this self-help advice, then you should continue to improve if you keep going with what you are doing. We suggest that you try self-help care for at least 3 months before considering a self-referral to see us. This will allow you enough time for self-care to start working. Some symptoms can take a little longer to improve, so if you notice your symptoms are continuing to improve with time then you are doing the right things.
It is important to keep as active as possible because for most people, resting usually does not improve musculoskeletal conditions. We suggest that as best possible you keep active within your “symptom tolerances” – this which means adjusting how often and for how long you do activities and how intensely you do them, depending on how it feels on any given day. For example, going for shorter walks more often, or planning rest periods to help keep you moving.
You should consider making a self-referral to Podiatry Service if you feel the self-help care is not working, your symptoms are getting worse or if your symptoms do not continue to improve. Please now see the information in the leaflets listed below to start your self-care process.
Links to our self-help leaflets
If you think you need to make a self-referral to Podiatry Services you can do so here: