Foot Pain

The feet is what keep us upright and how we move around every day. However, feet are often neglected and you don’t think of them until they start hurting. Not all foot pain is created equal, and the first thing to look at when you feel pain is where it is.

Heel Pain

If the pain is in your heel, a common cause would be Plantar Fasciitis. This is when there’s an irritation or inflammation of the band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. Generally, the pain is at its worst in the morning when you’re getting out of bed. You’ll feel it the most in your heel or in your arch.

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 hurts the worst in the morning when you’re getting out of bed. You can feel it in your heel or in your arch.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have plantar fasciitis:

• Sharp pain in the foot or heel
• Pain in the sole of the foot
• Limping
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• It’s worse in the morning

Another type of heel pain, is heel spurs. Heel spurs are abnormal growths of bone at the bottom of heel. These come about if you wear the wrong shoes, have an abnormal walk, misaligned posture, or even running. The pain comes as you’re walking or standing for an extended period of time. Many people can get this, but it affects those with flat feet or high arches.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have heel spurs:

• Intermittent or chronic pain while walking, jogging or running
• Inflammation where the spur is formed
• The sensation of a knife or pin sticking into the bottom of your foot
• A dull ache when sitting, that becomes sharp after you start moving

Ball of the Foot

A type of pain that can be found in the ball of the foot can be from a stone bruise. This is a deep bruise of the padding of the ball of the foot. It generally comes from an impact injury, but can happen from stepping on hard objects. The pain feels as if you’re walking on a pebble.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have a stone bruise:

• Pan in the ball of your feet
• The feeling of stepping on a pebble

If the ball of the foot is inflamed, it could be metatarsalgia. The inflammation is generally caused by ill-fitting shoes, but could also come from strenuous activity, like jumping or running.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have metatarsalgia:

• Pan in the ball of your feet
• The feeling of stepping on a pebble

A condition that generally affects women, is Morton’s Neuroma. It’s when a the tissue around the nerves between the base of your toes thickens. There will be pain, odd sensations and numbness. This can be a result of wearing high heels.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have Morton’s Neuroma:

• Pain at the base of your toes
• Odd sensations throughout the ball of your feet
• Numbness

Another pain you can get, is near your big toe. In that area there are two bones that are connected by tendons. These are called sesamoids. If you injure that area or they become inflamed, you get Sesamoiditis. It’s a form of tendonitis that is common with runners and ballet dancers.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have Sesamoiditis:

• Pain under your big toe, right on the ball of your foot.
• Pain in that area that continues to develop
• Swelling or bruising
• Inability to bend or straighten the big toe

Arch Pain

Arch pain is most commonly caused by Plantar fsciitis, which can also affect the heel, arch, or both.

Another form of arch pain comes from fallen arches (flat feet). This is when the arches of your feet lose that curvature. This comes about from standing or walking without proper footwear. This can cause foot pain and other problems.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have fallen arches:

• Your foot has lost its curvature
• Pain in the arch of your foot

Toe Pain

Common toe pain can be caused by gout, which is a form of arthritis. This is when crystals collect in the toe joints, and cause incredible pain and swelling. This tends to affect the big toe.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have gout:

• Warmth, swelling, extreme tenderness and pain around the big toe joint
• Red or purplish skin around the affected joint
• Can’t move the joint as well
• The skin is peeling and itches around the affected joint

Another cause of toe pain is the bunion. A bunion is a bulge, created by bone, at the edge of the foot. It normally is at the base of the big toe. It’s caused by the first toe joint being misaligned. Most people can get bunions from wearing shoes that don’t fit, or uncomfortable shoes. Bunions become more common as people age.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have a bunion:

• Bone deformity
• Pain
• Stiffness

When someone has a bunion, it’s often accompanied by a hammertoe. This is when your second, third, or fourth toe bends at the middle joint and it creates a type of hammer. This can be due to a muscle imbalance or by wearing ill-fitting shoes.

A claw toe is when one of your toes points up or down and can’t straighten out. This can come about due to nerve damage, from alcoholism or diabetes. These both weaken the muscles in your foot. Special footwear can accommodate a claw toe, if not you may develop other irritations or calluses.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have a hammertoe or claw toe:

• A toe that bends in the middle join
• Painful calluses
• Toe that can’t straighten out

You can sprain your toe when you jam or stub it. It’s due to damage to the tendon or soft toe tissue. However, if the swelling is very painful, check for a toe fracture, which is a broken bone. A fracture can happen in any bone of the toes.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have a toe sprain or fracture:

• Painful swelling
• Can’t move the toe

Pain on the Foot Edge

The outer edge of the foot can commonly be broken. This can come from a hard impact of any kind.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you might have a break:

• Pain to walk
• Swelling

If you have, or think you may have any of the above conditions, please don’t hesitate, call Family Foot Center at 718-767-5555. CALL NOW!

Some of the causes of foot pain are:

• Ingrown Toenails
• Heel Pain & Arch Pain
• Warts
• Corns & Calluses
• Fungus & Dry-Itchy Feet
• Sprained Ankles, Broken Foot & Toe Bones
• Hammertoes
• Bunions
• Diabetes and Feet
• Gout
• Fungus Toenails