Foot pain

Answer 1

Foot pain can arise from multiple causes such as overuse, injury, poor footwear, Arthritis, or underlying conditions like plantar fasciitis and nerve-related issues. Persistent discomfort may interfere with walking, daily activities, and overall quality of life. Proper evaluation is essential to identify whether the pain stems from bones, joints, muscles, or nerves. Dr Sachin Mittal, Pain Physician, provides expert assessment and guidance to help patients understand and manage their condition. At Advance Pain Care Clinic, patients benefit from a comprehensive approach. Recognized as the best pain Dr in Delhi NCR, he consults at the Chronic pain relief clinic in Indirapuram. Always consult a doctor.

Answer 2

Definition

Pain or discomfort can be felt anywhere in the foot, including the heel, toes, arch, instep, sole, or ankles.

See also:

• Ankle pain
• Heel pain

Alternative Names

Pain - foot

Common Causes

Foot pain can be caused by:

• Bunions -- a protrusion at the base of the big toe, which can become inflamed. Bunions often develop over time from wearing narrow-toed shoes.
• Hammer toes -- toes that curl downward into a claw-like position.
• Calluses and corns -- thickened skin from friction or pressure. Calluses are on the balls of the feet or heels. Corns appear on your toes.
• Plantar warts -- from pressure on the soles of your feet.
• Fallen arches-- also called flat feet.

Poorly fitting shoes often cause these problems. Aging and being overweight also increase your chances of having foot problems.

Morton's neuroma is a type of foot pain that is usually centered between the third and fourth toes. It results from thickening and swelling of tissue around a nerve in the area. Symptoms include tingling and sharp, shooting, or burning pains in the ball of your foot (and sometimes toes), especially when wearing shoes or pressing on the area. Pain gradually gets worse over time. Morton's neuroma is more common in women than men.

Other common causes of foot pain include:

• Broken bones
• Stress fracture
• Arthritis
• Gout -- common in the big toe, which becomes red, swollen, and very tender
• Plantar fasciitis
• Bone spur
• Sprains
• Bursitis of the heel
• Tendinitis

See also: Heel pain

Home Care

• Apply ice to reduce pain and swelling. Do this just after an activity that aggravates your pain.
• Elevate your painful foot as much as possible.
• Reduce activity until the problem improves.
• Wear foot pads in areas of friction or pressure. This will prevent rubbing and irritation.
• Take over-the-counter pain medicine, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Try this for 2 to 3 weeks (unless you have a history of an ulcer, liver disease, or other condition that does not allow you to take one of these drugs).

For plantar warts, try an over-the-counter wart removal preparation.

For calluses, soak in warm water and then rub them down with a pumice stone. Do NOT cut or burn corns or calluses.

For foot pain caused by a stress fracture, an extended rest period is often necessary. Crutches may be used for a week or so to take the pressure off, if your foot is particularly painful.

For foot pain due to plantar fasciitis, shoe inserts and stretches may help.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if:

• You have sudden, severe pain.
• Your pain began following an injury -- especially if there is bleeding, bruising, deformity, or you cannot bear weight.
• You have redness or swelling of the joint, an open sore or ulcer on your foot, or a fever.
• You have new foot pain and have been diagnosed with Diabetes or peripheral vascular disease (a condition characterized by poor circulation).
• You do not respond to self-care within 1 to 2 weeks.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will perform a physical examination, paying particular attention to your feet, legs, and back, and your stance, posture, and gait.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

• Are both of your feet affected? If only one, which one?
• Exactly what part of your foot is affected?
• Does the pain move from joint to joint, or does it always occur in the same location?
• Did your pain begin suddenly and severely or slowly and mildly, gradually getting worse?
• How long have you had the pain?
• Is it worse at night or when you first wake up in the morning?
• Is it getting better?
• Does anything make your pain feel better or worse?
• Do you have any other symptoms?

X-rays may be useful in making a diagnosis.

For bunions, plantar fasciitis, bone spurs, Morton's neuroma, or other conditions, your doctor may inject cortisone. This will be considered if oral medication, changing your shoes, and other measures have not helped. No more than three injections in a year should be attempted in most cases.

A broken foot will be casted. Broken toes will be taped.

Orthotics fit by an orthotist or other specialist can help many structurally related problems. Physical therapy is also quite helpful for conditions related to overuse or tight muscles, such as plantar fasciitis or achilles tendinitis.

Removal of plantar warts, corns, or calluses may be necessary. This may be performed by a medical doctor or a podiatrist.

Surgery may be considered for certain conditions like bunions or hammer toes if the pain interferes with walking or other activities.

Prevention

The following steps can prevent foot problems and foot pain:

• Wear comfortable, properly fitting shoes. They should have good arch support and cushioning.
• Wear shoes with adequate room around the ball of your foot and toe.
• Wear sneakers as often as possible, especially when walking.
• Avoid narrow-toed shoes and high heels.
• Replace running shoes frequently.
• Warm up before exercise, cool down after exercise, and stretch adequately.
• Increase your amount of exercise slowly over time to avoid putting excessive strain on your feet.
• Lose weight if you need to.
• Learn exercises to strengthen your feet and avoid pain. This can help flat feet and other potential foot problems.
• Keep feet dry to avoid friction. This may help prevent corns and calluses.
• Avoid alcohol to prevent attacks of gout.

References

Hochman MG. Nerves in a pinch: imaging of nerve compression syndromes. Radiol Clin North Am. 2004;42(1):221-245.

Kay D. Morton's neuroma. Foot Ankle Clin. 2003;8(1):49-59.

American College of Radiology (ACR), Expert Panel on Musculoskeletal Imaging. Chronic Foot Pain. Reston, VA: American College of Radiology; 2002.

Ho K, Abu-Laban RB. Ankle and foot. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006:chap 55.

Answer 3

Definition

Pain or discomfort can be felt anywhere in the foot, including the heel, toes, arch, instep, sole, or ankles.

See also:

• Ankle pain
• Heel pain

Alternative Names

Pain - foot

Common Causes

Poorly fitting shoes can cause foot pain. Problems may include:

• Bunions: A bump at the base of the big toe, which can become inflamed. Bunions often develop over time from wearing narrow-toed shoes.
• Calluses and corns:Thickened skin from rubbing or pressure. Calluses are on the balls of the feet or heels. Corns appear on the top of your toes.
• Hammer toes: Toes that curl downward into a claw-like position.
• Fallen arches: Also called flat feet.
• Plantar warts: Sores on the soles of your feet due to pressure.

Other common causes of foot pain include:

• Arthritis
• Bone spur
• Broken bones
• Bursitis of the heel
• Gout -- common in the big toe, which becomes red, swollen, and very tender
• Morton's neuroma, a thickening of nerve tissue between the toes
• Plantar fasciitis
• Sprains
• Stress fracture
• Tendinitis

Aging and being overweight also increase your chances of having foot problems.

See also: Heel pain

Home Care

The following steps may help relieve your foot pain:

• Apply ice to reduce pain and swelling.
• Raise your painful foot as much as possible.
• Reduce your activity until you feel better.
• Wear foot pads to prevent rubbing and irritation.
• Use an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. (Talk to your doctor first if you have a history of ulcer or liver problems.)

Other home care steps depend on what is causing your foot pain.

• For plantar warts, try an over-the-counter wart removal preparation.
• For calluses, soak in warm water and then rub them down with a pumice stone. Do NOT cut or burn corns or calluses.
• For foot pain caused by a stress fracture, an extended rest period is often necessary. Crutches may be used for a week or so to take the pressure off, if your foot is particularly painful.
• For foot pain due to plantar fasciitis, shoe inserts and stretches may help.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if:

• You have sudden, severe foot pain
• Your foot pain began following an injury, especially if your foot is bleeding or bruising, or you cannot put weight on it
• You have redness or swelling of the joint, an open sore or ulcer on your foot, or a fever
• You have pain in your foot and have diabetes or a disease that affects blood flow
• Your foot does not feel better after using at-home treatments for 1-2 weeks

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will perform a physical examination, paying particular attention to your feet, legs, and back, your posture, and how you walk.

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and medical history, such as:

• Do you have pain in one or both feet?
• What part of the foot hurts?
• Does the pain move from joint to joint, or does it always occur in the same place?
• Did the pain begin suddenly or slowly?
• How long have you had the pain?
• Is it worse at night or when you first wake up in the morning?
• Is it getting better?
• Does anything make your pain feel better or worse?
• Do you have any other symptoms?
• Do you have numbness in your toes?

X-rays may be done to help your doctor diagnose the cause of your foot pain.

Treatment depends on the exact cause of the foot pain. Treatment may include:

• A cast, if you broke a bone
• Removal of plantar warts, corns, or calluses by a foot specialist
• Orthotics, or shoe inserts
• Physical therapy to relieve tight or overused muscles
• Foot surgery

Prevention

The following steps can prevent foot problems and foot pain:

• Wear comfortable, properly fitting shoes, with good arch support and cushioning.
• Wear shoes with plenty of room around the ball of your foot and toe.
• Avoid narrow-toed shoes and high heels.
• Wear sneakers as often as possible, especially when walking.
• Replace running shoes frequently.
• Warm up and cool down when exercising. Always stretch first.
• Increase your amount of exercise slowly over time to avoid putting excessive strain on your feet.
• Lose weight if you need to.
• Learn exercises to strengthen your feet and avoid pain. This can help flat feet and other potential foot problems.

References

Koenig MD. Ligament injuries. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:section C.

Baer GS, Keene JS. Tendon injuries of the foot and ankle. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:section D.

Brodsky JW, Bruck N. Stress fractures of the foot and ankle. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:section E.

Klein SE. Conditions of the forefoot. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:section H.

Hirose CB, Clanton TO, Wood RM. Etiology of injury to the foot and ankle. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:section J.

Abu-Laban RV, Ho K. Ankle and foot. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 55.

Price MD, Chiodo CP. Foot and ankle pain. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Harris ED Jr, et al, eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 43.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 02/19/2011

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.