Different Types of Foot Pain
Your feet take you everywhere you need to go. They do a lot and often are an afterthought. However, it’s normal for us to ignore them until pain sets in. And there are many different types of foot pain.
Several things can be causing your foot pain. However, effective treatment depends on identifying the cause. Now, the place to start is where the foot pain is located.
Foot Pain Located in the Heel
Pain in the heel could be plantar fasciitis. There is a tough tissue that connects the heel to the toes. It becomes inflamed if strained or overused. Plantar fasciitis is often worse in the morning. The pain will be felt in the heel and arch. It all depends on the types of foot pain.
Heel spurs can also cause pain in the heel. These abnormal growths appear on the heel. The wrong shoes, or bad posture, are common causes. Spurs will hurt when standing or walking. They are also common in people with high arches. Not everyone feels pain with bone spurs.
Stone bruises are deep bruises on the fat pad of the heel. Impact injury is the most common cause. Or stepping down hard on an object. It can feel like you are walking on a pebble. Stone bruises typically go away on their own.
Heel fractures come from high-impact injury. The heel bone may break or shatter. Symptoms of a heel fracture will include:
- pain when walking
- swelling
- bruising
- Ball of Foot Pain
Metatarsalgia is pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot. Poorly fitting shoes are the usual culprit. Strenuous activity can also cause this pain.
Morton’s neuroma occurs between the third and fourth toes. Then, once the tissue has thickened. You may feel pain, numbness, or tingling across the ball of the foot. Women tend to develop this condition more often. Wearing high-heels is a common cause.
Sesamoids are the two bones close to the big toe connecting by tendons. These can become injured or inflamed, causing sesamoiditis. This form of tendonitis is common in dancers and runners.
Arch Pain
Plantar fasciitis can also affect the arch as well as the heel. Treatment is the same regardless of location. You may need steroid injections if the condition is chronic.
Fallen arches develop when the arches flatten. This is more noticeable when standing and walking. However, shoe inserts can help reduce foot pain. You can also try ice or using a brace. Physical therapy or surgery is often required.
Toe Pain
Gout is a type of arthritis affecting the toes. Crystals develop in the toe joints causing pain.
Bunions are bony bulges on the outer edge of the foot. Typically these develop at the base of the big toe. A bunion is a misaligned toe joint from shoes worn too small or incorrectly fitted. Bunions are more common, especially with age, and often also develop with hammertoes. However, they are hereditary, so if your grandma had bunions, be careful what shoe you wear!
A hammertoe develops when the toe bends at the middle joint. The toe takes on a hammer-like appearance. Muscle imbalance and poor-fitting shoes are to blame. The special footwear can help with both hammertoes and bunions.
Claw toe is caused by nerve damage. This is most often associated with diabetes or alcoholism. The toe bends up or down and cannot be straightened. Special footwear is needed to prevent pain and calluses.
Pain in the Foot
Turf toe is a pain at the base of the big toe from overuse or strain. Turf toe occurs by jamming the big toe or repeatedly pushing off of the big toe forcefully.
Toe sprain is an injury to the ligament. A toe sprain occurs when an injury results in trauma or hyperextension of the toe. Stubbing or jamming the toe causes pain and swelling.
Toe fractures can happen to any of the toe bones. By icing or resting, you can help to heal minor toe fractures. More severe breaks, though, will need surgery.
Hallux rigidus is another term for a stiff big toe. However, the pain and stiffness get worse over time. Although, pain relievers and stretching can help heal hallux rigidus.
Corns or calluses occur when the portions around the skin begin thickening. They develop from pressure or irritation to the area. In fact, poor-fitting shoes are the most common cause.
So, if you are experiencing foot pain, call us at 888-409-8006. Our top award-winning podiatrist is here to help. Depending on the types of foot pain that is occuring, will also determine our treatment methods. Call us now.