Diagnostic Ultrasound

Our Approach: See the Problem During Your Visit

X-rays show bone. A great deal of foot pain lives in soft tissue — the plantar fascia, tendons, nerves, bursae, and joint linings — which X-rays cannot evaluate. Diagnostic ultrasound images those structures directly, in the exam room, during your appointment.

Two advantages matter clinically. It is dynamic: we can watch a tendon glide as you move the foot and press exactly where it hurts while looking at the tissue underneath, which static imaging cannot do. And it is immediate: the diagnosis and the treatment plan land in the same visit, instead of waiting on an imaging center and a return appointment. There is no radiation and no contrast.

Recognizing the Signs: When Ultrasound Changes the Answer

Ultrasound is particularly valuable for heel pain that has not responded to treatment, suspected Morton's neuroma, Achilles and posterior tibial tendon problems, plantar plate injuries, ganglion cysts, foreign bodies such as glass or splinters, and joint effusions.

It is also how we guide injections precisely into the intended target, which improves accuracy substantially over landmark-based injection. If you have been treated for months without a confirmed diagnosis, imaging the tissue is often the step that finally explains why the treatment has not worked.

Recovery: Nothing to Recover From

The scan itself is quick, painless, and requires no preparation, no needles, and no downtime — gel on the skin and a probe. You will typically see the images as we go, and we will explain what we are looking at rather than reporting conclusions from another room.

When findings suggest something deeper — bone marrow changes, cartilage damage, or a complex tear — we order MRI selectively. Using ultrasound first means MRIs happen when they will genuinely change the plan, which saves you time, money, and a wait.