Causes of foot pain include injuries, disorders of the toes, and underlying health conditions.
The pinky is the most prone to breaking.
Plantar Fasciitis
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis.
Illustration by Alexandra Gordon for Verywell Health
Experts suspect there are certain factors that raise the risk of developing plantar fasciitis.
It usually feels better once you get moving, although a dull pain often persists.
The treatment of plantar fasciitis is based on simple self-care strategies you might practice at home.
vidka / Getty Images
Shock wave therapy also can help.
If surgery is performed,large heel spursmay also be removed at this time.
Due to pressure from a shoe, it usually is found at the edge of the big toe.
Joe_Potato / Getty Images
Even the smallest amount of ingrowing can hurt.
Besides pain, other signs of an ingrown toenail include red or swollen skin near the nail.
The ingrown part of the nail is often unseen because it is buried beneath the skin.
Evgen_Prozhyrko / Getty Images
If an infection develops, you may need anantibiotic.
You also may need to have the ingrown part of the nail removed.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
eldemir / Getty Images
This makes the toe bent like a hammer.
Joe_Potato / Getty Images
Achilles Tendonitis
Tendons are cord-like structures that anchor muscles to bone.
When they are overstretched or overused,tendonitiscan occur.
Achilles tendonitis refers to irritation or inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
This tendon connects the calf and lower leg muscles to the heel bone of the foot.
This condition causes an aching or burning foot pain with activity or stretching.
The affected tendon is usually painful to the touch.
Mild swelling, warmth, and stiffness may also occur over the tendon.
This issue is also known astendinosis.
Achilles tendonitis is rarely because of an injury.
TheAlfredson protocol, a specialized exercise program, may be recommended.
Surgical repair may be needed for an Achilles tendon rupture.
Cornsoccur on the toes where they rub against the shoe.
Unlike calluses, corns have a central core or spot in the middle that is surrounded by dead skin.
Common causes of corns and calluses include:
Calluses are larger than corns.
They are typically not painful unless they fissure, or split open.
On the other hand, the central core of a corn is usually painful and tender to the touch.
Both corns and calluses also look similar towarts, which may cause discomfort too.
They mayremove the cornwith a scalpel and apply a salicylic acid plaster to help dissolve the corn or callus.
They may also recommend a custom foot orthotic.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome refers to compression of the posterior tibial nerve.
This nerve passes through a space inside your ankle that’s called the tarsal tunnel.
With this syndrome, you may feel foot pain described as burning, tingling, andnumbness.
A range of non-surgical therapies are used to treat tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Ankle sprains are the most common cause.
Symptoms include pain near the ankle, especially with the foot turned in or turned out.
The foot may feel unstable, and it’s difficult to walk on uneven surfaces.
Your provider may order images, including X-rays and MRI, to diagnose the syndrome.
Ankle arthroscopy may be needed to assess tissue damage.
Tests also may be needed to rule out other possible conditions.
Surgical treatment may be required in some cases of sinus tarsi syndrome.
With metatarsalgia, you may feel a sharp pain in the ball of the foot.
Sometimes the pain is near where the toes connect to the foot.
This foot pain is compared to stepping on a stone.
It’s usually eased by sitting down but gets worse when you walk barefoot.
Issues that put you at risk for metatarsalgia include:
Wearing metatarsal pads is the primary treatment.
Surgery may be an option if other treatments don’t provide relief.
Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuromais another common cause of foot pain.
It causes shooting orburning painin the ball of the foot.
Pain may spread between two toes (most often between the third and fourth toes).
Your foot may be numb, or pain may get worse with activity or when wearing shoes.
Many people say it feels like walking on a marble.
Technically, a neuroma is a benign (noncancerous) tumor of a nerve.
These are called interdigital nerves.
This causes injury to the tissue surrounding an interdigital nerve increases your risk.
Treatment options include:
Underlying Medical Conditions
Several common medical conditions can affect your feet.
Bone spurs can contribute to osteoarthritis pain and may lead to a bump.
They can cause foot pain on the top of the foot if they impact the toes.
The midfoot and heel may also get bone spurs that are painful.
The first step in treating diabetes-related foot problems is to check that your blood sugar is controlled.
These crystals can cause inflammation and pain in the affected joints.
Gout can be triggered by certain foods, alcohol consumption, illness, or injury.
Symptoms of gout can come on suddenly.
The goals of treatment are to reduce pain and prevent flares.
Some of these treatments include:
Pregnancy
Your body experiences many changes during pregnancy.
Any sign that an ingrown toenail or foot sore is infected requires antibiotic medical treatment.
This includes oozing pus or discharge, redness, and inflammation around a wound.
If this happens, seek immediate medical care.
Maduka GC, Maduka DC, Yusuf N.Lisfranc sports injuries: what do we know so far?.Cureus.
2023;15(11):e48713.
doi:10.7759/cureus.48713
Bica D, Sprouse RA, Armen J.Diagnosis and management of common foot fractures.Am Fam Physician.
2016;93(3):183-191.
National Health Service.Pain in the top of the foot.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Plantar fasciitis.
Schwartz EN, Su J.Plantar fasciitis: a concise review.Perm J.
2014;18(1):e105-107.
doi:10.7812/TPP/13-113
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Plantar fasciitis and bone spurs.
Saint Luke’s.Foot surgery: bone spurs.
Park CH, Chang MC.Forefoot disorders and conservative treatment.Yeungnam Univ J Med.
2019;36(2):92-98. doi:10.12701/yujm.2019.00185
American Academy of Family Physicians.Ingrown toenails.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hammer toe.
Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.What do you mean by RICE for tendonitis treatment.
Cedars Sinai.Achilles tendon injuries.
2018;11(1):43. doi:10.1186/s13047-018-0284-z
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Bunions.
2021;27(8):839-850. doi:10.1016/j.fas.2020.11.011
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Bunions: overview.
Aebischer AS, Duff S.Bunions: a review of management.Aust J Gen Pract.
2021;10(14):3065. doi:10.3390/jcm10143065
American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.Sinus tarsi syndrome.
Charen DA, Markowitz JS, Cheung ZB, Matijakovich DJ, Chan JJ, Vulcano E.Overview of metatarsalgia.Orthopedics.
2019;42(1):e138-e143.
2022;17(1):81-89.
Published 2022 Jan 1. doi:10.26603/001c.30021
Roddy E, Menz HB.Foot osteoarthritis: latest evidence and developments.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis.
2018;10(4):91-103. doi:10.1177/1759720X17753337
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the foot and ankle.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis - Osteoarthritis (OA).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.
American Podiatric Medical Association.What is high blood pressure?.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Coronary heart disease: diagnosis.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.
South Texas Podiatrist.Foot pain during pregnancy.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Corns.
American Podiatric Medical Association.Hammer Toes.
