4 Common Causes of Foot Pain

Foot pain is not only annoying, but it can also restrict your ability to perform necessary daily tasks. In order to get the pain resolved, the first thing you need to do is determine the cause of your foot pain. The following article examines four of the most common causes of foot pain.

Plantar Fasciitis

The large strip of tissue on the bottom of your foot is called the plantar fascia. It is a connective tissue that runs from the heel bone to your toes. When the plantar fascia becomes inflamed, the resulting condition is called plantar fasciitis. The pain from this disorder is quite sharp and is often at its worst when you take your first steps in the morning.

As you move around more during the day, the pain typically decreases but can get worse when you walk around after a long period of sitting down. Also, the pain is generally worse after you exercise, rather than during the exercise itself.

Causes

The causes of plantar fasciitis are not always clear, but risk factors include having flat feet or a high arch, as well as standing many hours each day or being obese. Women also have a higher risk of plantar fasciitis.

Stress Fractures

A stress fracture occurs when a very small crack develops in one of your bones. Your foot is especially susceptible to stress fractures. The pain from a stress fracture will usually decrease when you rest your feet. In addition to the pain, you may also have swelling around the affected area.

Causes

The main cause of stress fractures is performing certain activities that put excessive pressure on your foot, such as running long distances, carrying heavy loads, or being involved in high-impact sports. Another common cause is osteoarthritis. Once again, women tend to have a greater susceptibility to stress fractures than men.

Bunions

Bunions are the result of some of the bones in your foot moving out of place. When the bones are not in their proper position, your big toe has an unnatural lean toward your other toes and a noticeable bump develops at the base of the toe. You’ll probably experience redness at the site of the bunion or limited movement in your big toe. The pain might be continuous or intermittent.

Causes

Bunions have several possible causes, including wearing shoes that are too tight or too narrow. Bunions can also occur because of deformities of the feet or because of arthritis. 

Complications

Potential complications from a bunion include bursitis, which is an inflammation of certain tissues near a bone, joint or tendon. Another possible complication is a hammertoe, an abnormal bending in the middle joint of a toe.

Corns and Calluses

Corns and calluses are areas of thick, dead skin that are common on certain areas of the body, such as your feet and toes. Although the two conditions are similar, calluses are usually larger than corns. Also, corns are sometimes painful, while calluses usually are not.

Causes

One of the main reasons people develop corns and calluses is because they wear shoes that do not fit properly. Not wearing socks can also cause these conditions because your bare skin is rubbing against your shoes. If you already have a bunion on your foot, it could increase your chances of developing a corn or callus as well.

If you have pain in your feet from any of the conditions listed in this article, or from any other cause, you need to seek medical attention from a health care provider who specializes in foot problems, such as the experienced podiatrists at Upperline Health California.