# Foot pain treatment in Shepperton > Most people with foot pain in Shepperton search for a physio first, and sometimes a physio is exactly right. But if the pain is in the foot itself — the arch, the ball of the foot, the ankle, a nerve, a joint — a podiatrist is the specialist for that part of the body. This page explains which you need, honestly, including when we'd send you to someone else. **Price:** from £90 _Foot and ankle assessment (includes biomechanical exam and treatment plan) from £90. Exact fee confirmed when you book._ ## About this treatment ### Podiatrist or physiotherapist? The honest answer They overlap, and neither is 'better'. A physiotherapist is the specialist for muscles, joints and rehab across the whole body, and is who you want after a sprain, for a knee or hip problem, or for a graded return to running. A podiatrist specialises in the foot and ankle specifically: how they're built, how they load, and the skin, nail, nerve and joint problems unique to them. As a rule of thumb, if you can point at the pain and it's below the ankle, start with a podiatrist. If the foot pain arrived alongside back, hip or knee trouble, a physio may be the better first call. If you book with us and you'd genuinely be better served elsewhere, Aaron will tell you at the appointment rather than sell you a plan. ### What foot and ankle pain usually turns out to be Pain in the ball of the foot is often metatarsalgia or a neuroma, a nerve irritated between the toe bones, which produces that distinctive burning or 'sock bunched up' feeling. Arch pain that builds through the day tends to be load-related. Ankle pain long after a sprain is often an incompletely rehabilitated ligament rather than fresh damage. Pain that wakes you at night, or that came on with no obvious cause, is worth getting looked at properly. Each of those has a different plan, which is exactly why the first appointment is an assessment rather than a treatment. ### What an assessment actually involves Aaron takes a history, watches you walk, examines the foot and ankle directly, and tests the structures that reproduce your pain. You leave knowing what it is, what's driving it, and what the plan is — which might be footwear changes, a specific loading programme, padding or strapping, orthotics if your foot genuinely needs them, or onward referral for imaging or physiotherapy. It's a biomechanics specialist's assessment, not a fifteen-minute look and a leaflet. We see foot pain patients from Shepperton, Sunbury, Ashford, Feltham, Walton-on-Thames and Staines. ## How it works 1. **History:** What hurts, when it started, what makes it worse — and what you need to get back to. 2. **Assess:** Gait observed, foot and ankle examined, the painful structures tested directly. 3. **Diagnose:** A clear explanation of what it is and what's driving it, in plain English. 4. **Plan:** A treatment plan you can start, or an honest referral if a physio or scan is the right next step. ## Frequently asked questions ### Should I see a podiatrist or a physiotherapist for foot pain? If the pain is in the foot or ankle itself, start with a podiatrist — it's the part of the body we specialise in. If your foot pain came with knee, hip or back problems, or you're rehabbing a sports injury more broadly, a physiotherapist may be the better first call. Aaron will say so honestly if that's you, and can refer on. ### Do I need a GP referral? No. This is a private clinic, so you can book an assessment online yourself with live availability, usually within a few days. ### My heel is the painful bit. Is this the right page? Heel pain has its own page, since plantar fasciitis and Achilles problems need a specific plan. Have a look at heel pain treatment in Shepperton, or book the same assessment and Aaron will sort it either way. ### Will I be told I need orthotics? Only if your foot genuinely needs them. Plenty of foot pain resolves with footwear changes, loading advice or strapping, and Aaron would rather fix it that way than sell you insoles. If orthotics are the right answer, you'll be told why. ### How much does an assessment cost? Foot and ankle assessments start from £90, including the biomechanical examination and your treatment plan. The exact fee is confirmed when you book, with no surprises on the day. ### What if it turns out I need a scan? Some problems need imaging to be certain, and Aaron will tell you plainly if yours is one of them rather than guessing. You'd be referred on with a clear explanation of what's being looked for. ## More at the clinic - [Heel pain](/treatments/heel-pain-shepperton/) - [Sports podiatry](/treatments/sports-podiatry-shepperton/) - [Orthotics](/treatments/orthotics-shepperton/)