DESCRIPTION

The foot is a complex anatomical structure that may be affected by disease within the body or the foot itself.
The arches of foot are the primary structures that control the amount of ground force transmitted into the body.
When pain due to foot pain interferes with your normal activities, you should seek medical advice. Injury, overuse or conditions causing inflammation involving any of the bones, ligaments or tendons in the foot can cause foot pain. Arthritis is a common cause of foot pain. Injury to the nerves of the feet may result in intense burning pain, numbness or tingling (peripheral neuropathy).

GENERAL INFORMATION

Your feet bear weight when you’re standing and help you get where you need to go. Because of this, foot pain is common. Foot pain refers to any pain or discomfort in one or more parts of the foot. These parts may include the:

  • Toes
  • Heels
  • Arches
  • Soles

The pain can range from mild to severe, and it may last a short time or be an ongoing issue. Many measures can help relieve your foot pain.

CONDITIONS & SYMPTOMS

Doctors at IPM often see conditions like:

Entire Foot Pain
Neuropathy, or nerve damage in the feet, is most often caused by diabetes. The pain can be burning, stinging, or feel like electricity. It can happen anywhere in the feet. Tendinitis is inflammation and irritation of tendons, the bands attaching muscles to bones. Tendons run along all the surfaces of the foot and can cause foot pain in many different locations.

Heel Pain
If your pain is in your heel, you may have plantar fasciitis. That’s an irritation or inflammation of the band of tough tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes. Usually, it is most painful in the morning when getting out of bed. You can feel it in your heel or in your arch.

Ball of Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia)
You feel this pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot. Ill-fitting shoes are the usual cause. But you might get it from strenuous activity, such as running or jumping.

Arch Pain (Plantar fasciitis)
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of arch pain and can affect the heel, arch, or both. Fallen arches , or flat feet, happen when the arches of the feet flatten out, often when standing or walking, causing foot pain and other problems.

Toe Pain
Gout, a form of arthritis, can causes pain in the toes. Crystals collect in toe joints, causing severe pain and swelling. The big toe is often affected. Corns are thick buildups of tough skin on a point of irritation or pressure on the foot or toe. They sometimes look like horns. Calluses are wider areas of tough skin buildup on the toes or feet. They happens as a result of irritation or pressure. Calluses and corns are generally caused by poor-fitting footwear.

Treatments for the Foot

Treatments for foot pain includes the following. If pain persists or is significant, please contact our pain specialists right away.

  • Rest your foot
  • Do heel and foot muscle stretches
  • Wear shoes with good arch support and a cushioned sole, ones that fit well and have shock-absorbing soles
  • Wear a cutout heel pad
  • Use a custom-made insert (called an orthotic) worn in the shoe
  • Physical therapy
  • ear crutches, splint, or cast to avoid putting pressure on the feet and protect the heel bone
  • In severe cases, surgery may be recommended