Foot Pain Causes
When you experience foot pain, it can be due to many different parts of the foot. You have bones, tendons, toenail beds, skin, blood vessels, nerves, fascia, ligaments and muscles in your foot — any of those areas can be the source of your pain. The cause of the pain is determined by the location of the pain.
Pain in the Heel
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that connect the heel to the toes. Sometimes, those tissues can become inflamed/irritated. Heel pain is typically the worst first thing in the morning when you’re getting out of bed. You may also experience pain in your arch. Treatments include:
- Rest
- Stretches
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Shoes with strong arch support/cushioned sole
Pain in the Ball of the Foot
One of the most common causes of pain in the ball of the foot is metatarsalgia. This condition causes pain and inflammation. Many times, activities such as jumping, running, or wearing shoes that don’t quite fit right are the cause. These are often referred to as a stone bruise. Treatment for this condition includes:
- Pain relievers
- Rest/Ice the foot
- Switch footwear
- Orthotic inserts to relieve ball of foot pressure
Pain in the Arch of the Foot
In most cases, pain in the arch is the result of plantar fasciitis. No matter where the condition is located, the treatment options are the same. If the treatments mentioned above don’t work, you may want to consider a steroid/anesthetic injection.
Pain in the Toes
Most often, arthritis or gout is the cause of toe pain. With gout, crystals will deposit in the joints causing swelling and severe pain. In most cases, it is the big toe that is affected. Treatments for this condition include:
- Medication
- Pain relievers
- Rest
- Diet restrictions
Outer Edge of Foot Pain
Pain on the outer edge of the foot is often the result of a fracture. The most commonly fractured bone in the foot is the fifth metatarsal bone, which is on the outer edge of the foot. Treatment for foot fractures include:
- Medical attention
- X-rays
- Pain relievers
- Elevation
- Rest
- Ice
Pain in the Foot that is Anywhere and Everywhere
Neuropathy is one of the common causes of widespread foot pain. This condition is typically caused from diabetes. This foot pain can be stinging, burning, or feel electric. Pain from neuropathy can occur anywhere in the foot. Treatment for neuropathy includes focusing on controlling the cause, diabetes.
No matter what the cause of your foot pain, if you can’t treat it with at-home remedies, you will need to see a foot specialist to get to the root of your problem and eliminate your pain. Request an appointment with Kansas City Foot Specialists for diagnosis and customized care for your feet.
