causes of foot pain

Medically Reviewed By : Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS

Introduction

Foot pain is experienced by almost everyone. Causes of foot pain may be different for everyone.

Feet are the end portion of the body where the body balances on this flat, complex structure. Feet are less cared for and used more than any part of the body. They help us in walking, standing, balancing, sitting and many more.

Feet are privileged with footwear, like shoes, sandals, stilettos. But at the same time if they are ill-fitting, they are responsible for causing the foot pain.

Pain in the feet is common because it helps in walking, standing, and running. Anything carrying out extra, ill fitting shoes stilettos puts the pressure on feet causing feet pain.

In This Article

What is foot pain:

Foot pain may be incapacitating for many. As it causes restrictions on important activities like walking and running, which keep the body active and cheerful.
If these movements are restricted, the body becomes weak and debilitated.

If this can interfere in living daily life, and compromising important functions then we must look into its causes

Causes of foot pain:

Aging: As age advances the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones of feet are overworked, taxed thus causing foot pain.
Obesity: being overweight is another reason causing undue pressure on feet thus resulting in pain.
Prolonged standing, walking: it can also cause exertion of muscles and overall feet structure causing the pain.
Deformity in feet since birth: anatomical defects like eversion or inversion of feet can cause feet pain.
Poorly fitting shoes
Any injury to the feet causes pain

Secondary causes:

Corns or horny growth on the soles of feet due to constant pressure.
Bunions of toes. It is a large lumpy mass at the base of great toe
Plantar fasciitis: it is an inflammation of fascia of soles
Achilles tendinitis: it is an inflammation of achilles tendon causing foot pain
Plantar warts are viral infective warts which causes foot pain
Fracture of foot bones
Spurs of the bone of feet. The excessive growth of bony like mass.
Hammer toes: it is a condition in which the toes turn out like claws causing changes in the structure of the foot
Gout: it is an inflammation of joints due to excessive deposition of uric acid causing swelling and pain in the toes or joints of feet.
Morton neuroma: it is a condition in which the nerve is thickened in between the toes.
Stress fractures: it is fracture of bones of foot, it is a small break fracture. More common in runners, when stress produces on feet due to repetitive and overloading of work on feet. It mostly causes dorsal foot pain.
Flat feet: when the arch under the feet is missing and feet appear to be totally flat. This causes pressure on the whole foot resulting in pain
Peripheral neuropathy: Diabetes, hypertension, brain or spinal diseases cause peripheral neuropathies. This causes burning pain and tingling numbness in the feet.
Psoriatic arthropathy: Psoriasis is the skin disease which causes silvery patches on flexor surfaces of extremities like elbows knees. This disease eventually ends up in arthritis and hypertension causing arthritis in bones of feet causing feet pain.

Diagnosis:

Physical examination of foot is carried out to see for callus, corns, viral warts or flat feet. Reflexes are checked to confirm peripheral neuropathy.
Patients' history should be taken in detail about family history of diabetes or hypertension to look for any hereditary cause or any history of injury.
X -ray can be helpful to confirm fractures, injuries, bone spurs, bunions or hammer toes. Any of the congenital deformity osteoarthritis or psoriatic arthritis can be detected.
Blood tests to rule out bone disease, plantar fasciitis
CT, MRI for arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, cancer, injuries, or bone diseases.

How to reduce at home

So many people experience pain in the feet after a long walk or standing for long or a run. Many use home remedies like massage feet at night, immersing feet in warm water soothes, these remedies often prove helpful

Lets see them in detail what you can do to reduce it at home

Applying ice on the burning feet or achy tired feet can prove helpful swelling is also reduced by ice
Wear comfortable fitting shoes or footwear which has room for the air and is not tight.
Avoid high heels to avoid the ankle pains and stretching of muscles.
Elevation of feet at night can reduce the swelling and pain and increases the blood flow thus reducing pain
If corns or calluses cause pain then one must use pads under the shoes to avoid undue pressure on feet, pads can reduce discomfort.
Stretching exercises are recommended in feet pain
Exercising heavily can cause foot pain. In such cases first exercise slowly is advised then it should be increased with stamina.
If obese, then one must try to reduce the weight to avoid foot pain as extra weight produces pressure on feet.
Massage can help sometimes but not always because it can aggravate the swelling. But in some mild cases it can give relief in some patients.

Treatment

Pain-relieving medications, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), effectively ease discomfort.
Physiotherapy provides valuable aid in reducing pain related to tendons, bones, or ligaments, assisting in better mobility and function.
The use of oral corticosteroids or targeted injections into the affected area offers extended pain relief, contributing to prolonged comfort.
Incorporating a blend of customized exercises and periods of rest can significantly contribute to pain management and overall well-being improvement.
In specific cases, for conditions such as osteoarthritis, complex fractures, or bone spurs, skilled orthopedic surgeons might recommend surgical intervention to address the root cause of the problem.
When dealing with foot infections, a course of antibiotics is the preferred treatment to effectively combat the underlying infection and promote healing.