When it comes to your feet, there seems to be an endless amount of reasons you’re in pain. An injury, overuse or a diagnosed condition could be just a few of the causes for your aching feet. As your feet act as your shock absorbers while supporting your body weight during all of life’s activities, it is common to complain of pain. If you’re experiencing new pain for any reason and don’t know the foot pain causes, it is important to address it promptly with a proper diagnosis to prevent your problem from getting worse.
In addition to overusing your feet and sustaining an injury, here are some of the most common conditions causing your foot pain causes.
The Top Foot Pain Causes
Bunions
Described as a bony protrusion which forms on your big toe joint, a bunion is caused when your first toe is continuously pushed against your second toe. This results in your big toe growing larger and bulging out. Not only does this condition cause consistent foot pain, it also includes your big toe and the surrounding area swelling and becoming red. Additionally, it is common to develop corns or calluses when you have a bunion or have restricted movement.
Diabetic Neuropathy
The lower extremities of a diabetic are very sensitive. The chronic condition can result in nerve damage when it is not properly managed. When the feet, ankles and legs have damaged nerves, it can be difficult to feel pain or an injury occurring to your lower extremities. If an injury, sore or cut goes unnoticed an infection may develop, which will require immediate and proper attention to prevent further problems and the possibility of amputation.
Gout
The main symptom of gout unfortunately is pain. And not just a dull, achy pain. Gout, which is a type of arthritis, is known to cause a sudden, sharp and persistent pain in the joint of your big toe or ankle. This condition not only occurs out of nowhere, but leaves the person wondering what are foot pain causes. Eeven in the middle of the night waking you from you sleep, it can feel like you toe is on fire. While pain is the most common symptom, you may also experience inflammation, redness, reduced range of motion and discomfort that lingers after your gout attack from a couple days to a several weeks.
Plantar Fasciitis
A common running injury, plantar fasciitis is heel pain due to your plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue connecting your toes to your heel. Pain from plantar fasciitis, which is often described as a stabbing-feeling in the bottom of the foot, is normally at its worse right after you wake up in the morning and take your first few steps. In most cases, the pain then begins to decrease. However, after a long period of sitting or standing, the pain may return. While runners are likely to be diagnosed with this condition, people who are overweight or wear improperly fitting footwear may also be diagnosed with the condition.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Inside your tarsal tunnel, a small passageway surrounded by soft tissue and bone that runs inside your ankle, is your tibial nerve. If your tibial nerve is damaged or compressed by repeated pressure, you may experience a sharp and shooting pain occurring along the tibial never, on the inside of your ankle or sole of your foot. Symptoms of this condition, known as tarsal tunnel syndrome, may also cause a pins and needles feeling or a burning sensation.
Not only can we treat all of the conditions mentioned above at Certified Foot and Ankle Specialists, our board-certified podiatrists and foot surgeons can treat any and all reasons your feet, ankles or lower legs are in pain. After diagnosis, it is our mission to first exhaust every conservative treatment method available, before moving on to more invasive methods. We are proud to serve our communities in a caring and compassionate environment where we put the needs of our patients first. Make appointment at one of our clinics today – we have locations from Ft. Lauderdale to Palm City to serve you.
