15 Causes of Foot Pain and How to Treat It Appropriately

According to Healthline – Pain in the soles of the feet can cause discomfort, especially when you are on the move. This condition can appear in certain parts, such as the heel, near the toes, or even the entire surface, so it is important to know the causes of foot pain.

You may feel it when you stand or walk for too long. It is generally harmless and resolves itself over time.

However, some cases of sore feet can also signal a serious health problem.

Causes of sore feet and how to treat them:

Ranging from mild conditions to serious problems, here are the causes of sore feet that can occur.

1. Sprains and muscle strains

Pain in the soles of the feet can be caused by sprains and strained leg muscles. This condition generally occurs when you sprain your foot or fall.

Foot pain due to sprains and strained muscles causes foot swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking.

To remedy this, try resting the foot, placing an ice pack for 15-20 minutes on the painful area, or using compression socks.

2. Plantar fasciitis

The cause of stabbing pain in the soles of the feet can be plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue that runs from the heel bone to the arch of the foot and the base of the toes. This condition commonly occurs in long-distance runners or people with obesity.

The sensation is a stabbing pain in the heel or centre along the sole of the foot. In addition, similar sensations may occur when walking, running or standing on hard surfaces.

Treatment of plantar fasciitis can be done by taking painkillers. In addition, your doctor may give you a splint to wear while sleeping and recommend physical therapy.

3. Calluses

Calluses are thick layers of skin on areas that experience frequent friction. This condition commonly occurs on the soles of the feet.

Calluses are thick yellowish skin with a hard texture. If they are too thick, this condition can cause the soles of the feet to hurt when walking.

How to treat sore feet due to calluses can be done by soaking the feet in warm water to soften the skin.

Don’t forget to always wear shoes with the right size to avoid calluses from occurring.

4. Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia is one of the causes of sore feet. Metatarsalgia is pain and inflammation of the ball of the foot. This is the area between the arch and the base of the toes.

This condition usually results from activities that put pressure on the bottom of the foot, such as running and jumping. In addition, wearing the wrong size shoes and a different foot shape can also be a trigger.

Symptoms of metatarsalgia are pain and burning sensation in the feet. This condition, which causes the sole of the right foot to hurt, can worsen when walking, standing or flexing the foot.

You may also feel the sensation of a small stone when wearing shoes.

Metatarsalgia can be treated by applying ice packs and resting the foot. In addition, you can wear shoe pads to prevent the symptoms from returning.

5. Peripheral neuropathy

Another reason why the soles of the feet hurt is peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy is a disease that occurs due to damage to the peripheral system or peripheral nervous system.

Some conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathy are diabetes, severe alcohol abuse, Lyme disease, or lupus.

Centre foot pain due to peripheral neuropathy is often described as a tingling, burning or stabbing sensation in the foot that can spread to the thigh.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. However, you can try to reduce the pain in the soles of the feet with painkillers.

6. Morton’s neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is a thickening of the tissue present in the nerves around the balls of the feet leading to the fingers. This condition usually occurs in the third and fourth toes due to irritation, pressure, or trauma to the nerve.

The most common symptom is a sensation like stepping on marbles. In addition, the pain in the balls of the feet may spread to the toes. When walking, the pain may become more intense.

Treatment for this cause of foot pain can include changing to more comfortable shoes and taking painkillers.

The doctor may also give corticosteroid injections to relieve the inflammation. This is a remedy for sore feet when walking due to more severe cases of Morton’s neuroma.

7. Sesamoiditis

The sesamoids are two small bones under the pad of the big toe. These bones help support the tendons that flex the toes.

However, they can become overloaded, triggering inflammation. Sesamoiditis causes pain at the base of the big toe. If the overload is severe, you may develop a stress fracture.

Factors that may increase your risk of developing sesamoiditis are frequently wearing high heels or playing sports that put a lot of pressure on the ball of the foot; such as running, tennis or ballet.

To treat this foot pain, rest your feet, place an ice pack on the painful area, wear shoes with low heels, and consult your doctor about steroid injections.

8. Tendinitis

Tendinitis is the condition of inflamed tendons. For those of you who are not familiar, tendons are muscles that connect bones to muscles.

Symptoms depend on which tendon is affected, usually characterised by pain and stiffness. When used for constant movement, the discomfort will worsen.

There are several types of tendinitis that can occur, such as in the Achilles (heel), extensor (instep) and peroneal (back of the foot) tendons.

Treatment for this cause of foot pain can be done by resting, applying ice packs, and taking painkillers.

If the condition is severe, your doctor may recommend physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or surgery.

9. Turf toe

Turf toe is an injury to the main joint in the big toe. It is caused by bending the big toe upwards too much.

That’s why this condition is prone to athletes who play on artificial turf.

The most common symptoms are foot pain when walking, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint.

The condition of the sole of the right foot or the sole of the left foot hurts slowly, then can worsen when performing repetitive movements.

Generally, the way to treat turf toe pain is the RICE method, which is rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

10. Tarsal tunnel syndrome

Next, the cause of sore feet is tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS).

TTS occurs when the posterior tibial nerve gets pinched inside the tarsal cavity. This is a cavity in the ankle surrounded by bones and connecting ligaments.

Symptoms can include pain, burning sensation, and numbness along the nerve from the ankle to the calf.

The pain often worsens during exertion, but can also occur at rest.

To treat it, you can take painkillers and use splints.

Your doctor may also recommend corticosteroid injections or surgery if other treatments do not work.

11. Flat feet

Flat feet can also cause foot pain when walking. You may feel pain in the hollow of the sole or heel. This condition is commonly present from birth, as well as due to injury or other illnesses.

Doctors usually recommend foot supports, specialised shoes and muscle stretching exercises to treat this foot pain.

12. Cuboid Syndrome

Cuboid syndrome occurs when the ligaments and joints near the cuboid bone are torn or injured. A shift of one of the bones from its original position can also be the cause.

The most common symptom is pain on the outside of the foot, close to the pinky. When standing, the pain may spread to other parts of the foot.

Sometimes, the pain on the sole of the foot is accompanied by swelling and redness. To treat this, you can use the RICE method.

13. Heel spurs

Heel spurs are also among the causes of back pain in the soles of the feet. It is an abnormal bony growth at the bottom of the heel formed from calcium deposits.

This condition can result from wearing the wrong shoes, abnormal walking or posture, and activities such as running.

The bony lump that appears can cause pain when walking or standing. Owners of flat feet are even more likely to have painful heel spurs.

To treat this heel pain, you can take painkillers, rest your feet, or try physical therapy.

14. Gout

Gout can cause your feet to hurt when you wake up. This disease occurs when crystals build up in the toe joints, causing pain and swelling.

To treat pain in the soles of the feet due to gout, you can try resting your feet, compressing the painful area with ice, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and avoiding foods that can aggravate gout; such as offal, red meat, or beans.

15. Rheumatoid arthritis

Do you feel pain in the front of your feet near your fingers? The cause could be rheumatoid arthritis.

This is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in joints throughout the body.

This condition can affect the heel area, top of the foot, ball of the foot, and toes. To treat it, try resting your feet, applying ice packs, or taking painkillers such as ibuprofen.

Note:

Now that you understand what causes the soles of your feet to hurt when you walk, you need to be vigilant.

Visit a doctor immediately if the pain interferes with your activities. Also, pay attention if you have open wounds, diabetes, or signs of infection; such as fever and pus discharge.

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