Foot Pain Causes

The foot is a complicated structure of small bones, ligaments and tendons that withstand, literally, tons of pressure every day as we walk. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that you place 60 tons of stress on your foot every time you walk a mile. 

So it should not be surprising that foot pain happens. Maybe it should be surprising that it doesn't happen more often.

There are dozens of possible foot pain causes. The goal of this article is to list and describe the most common causes and their symptoms.

Some foot pain causes are obvious: fractures, bruises, injuries, etc. They may be caused by accidents or playing sports. You usually know how they happened and when they happened, so we won't invest much space on them here. We'll focus on foot pain causes that may be harder to identify.

Your doctor, of course, is your best source for diagnosing the causes of foot pain, and he or she should be the one to explain your treatment options. This article is intended only to give you an overview.

Strains, sprains, tears and pulls

Besides the muscles in your foot, there's also a system of ligaments and tendons. These can be stretched beyond their elastic limits. Some of the strands fibrous tissue in them actually snap or tear.

These types of injuries often happen suddenly. The pain may be acute at first, but then it subsides with treatment and time

Pain, swelling, and bruising are the most obvious signs something is wrong. Sometimes your doctor will be able to diagnose the cause of your pain in a simple examination. Other times, an x-ray or MRI may be necessary.

"Itis" means inflammation

There are also conditions that occur over time like tendinitis and bursitis.

Whenever you see the suffix "itis," it means some kind of inflammation is involved. In the case of tendinitis (sometimes spelled tendonitis), you're talking about a tendon that has become inflamed and irritated. Often this kind of condition results from over use or misuse. You ask your feet to do too much: walk too far perhaps, or jog without warming up. The tendon reacts by becoming inflamed. "Tennis elbow" is an example of elbow tendinitis.

Bursitis is slightly different, but often occurs for similar reasons. A star baseball pitcher who doesn't rest his or her arm enough between games is a candidate for bursitis.

A bursa is a fluid-filled sac located at the point where a muscle or tendon slides across bone. When it becomes inflamed and irritated, usually by overuse or repetitive use, you have bursitis.

The foot, of course, is packed with joints which can be subject to forms of arthritis. Gout is a type of arthritis that often causes pain in the big toe.

Other foot pain causes

One of the more common causes of foot pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is the thick, tough tissue which connects the heel bone to the base of the toes. When you over-extend this tissue with constant running, jumping, and repetitive stress, it sometimes becomes irritated and inflamed. You usually feel the pain in the area under your heel.

When you have plantar fasciitis, you may need to do special exercises, wear a heel pad in your show, and take medications to minimize swelling.

A heel spur is another typical cause foot pain. A heel spur is basically a calcium deposit that forms where the fascia tissue band connects to your heel bone.

Abnormal arches can be another source of foot pain. If the arches are too high or too low, there could be a biomechanical problem when you walk or run.

Shoes that fit poorly or incorrectly often cause foot pain. Blisters, calluses and bruises are short term effects of bad footwear. But there can be long term effects too: bunions, corns, irritation of nerves and joints, misalignment of the toes, etc.

There are a number of diseases that cause foot pain, including diabetes. There's also a condition called peripheral neuropathy which is a nerve condition that causes numbness, loss of sensation, and pain.

Many bone diseases and conditions can cause foot pain. To learn more, click on bone pain.

Viruses, fungi and bacteria cause a variety of foot conditions that result in foot pain. Athlete's foot is caused by a fungus but can develop complications that involve both bacteria and viruses.

Ingrown toenails seem relatively harmless, but it's not always so. Sometimes an ingrown toenail can grow through the skin, causing irritation, inflammation and even infections.