Common Causes of Foot Pain

Feet are your body’s foundation, and keeping them healthy and strong is important. After all, your feet carry you here and there. But you may not think much about them until they hurt, and when they do, you want relief. To get the right treatment, you need to know where and what is the problem. If left untreated, the problem with your feet might affect your daily routine and lead to serious health problems. The first thing to consider is where is your pain located? Here are the common causes of foot pain and how to treat them.

Heel Pain

If the pain in your feet is on your heel, you may have plantar fasciitis. It is an inflammation of the band of thick tissues running from the heel to the bottom of your foot. You can feel it in your heel or arch when you’re getting out of bed in the morning.

Heel spurs are another cause of foot pain. You can get them from wearing the wrong size of shoes or from abnormal walking or posture and even activities like running or marathons. People with flat feet or high arches are more likely to have painful heel spurs.

Joint Pain

Many conditions affect the joints of the foot, skin and toenails. Pain in the joints may warn of many forms of arthritis. Arthritis refers to a group of illnesses that affect the joints. The most common type is osteoarthritis, which happens when the cartilage that cushions the joints deteriorates.

Osteoarthritis is a serious and painful form of arthritis. It is known as “wear and tear” arthritis, caused by the breakdown of cartilage. This breakdown causes the bones to rub together, causing stiffness, pain and loss of joint movement.

Big Toe Pain

Many of the same conditions generally affect the toes, such as sprains, arthritis, and broken bones, which can cause big toe pain. However, if the pain is only in the big toe, the problem may be an ingrown toenail.

Ingrown is a common condition in which the corner of the toenail grows into soft flesh; it may be tender, swollen, infected, and sore. An ingrown toenail may also happen if you wear shoes that are too tight or too short.

Ball-off-foot

Muscle strain, sprains, minor overuse injuries, and tense muscles can cause pain in the ball of the foot. Metatarsalgia is a common overuse injury. Unfitted shoes are also the usual cause because of the pressure.

Foot arch pain

Injuries to the muscle and tendons of the foot overuse and unsupported shoes may cause pain in the foot's arch. A person with flat feet commonly experiences pain in the arches, for they have a very low arch or no arch, meaning that one or both feet may be flat on the ground and might develop pain in the hips, knees and ankles.

How To Treat Pain?

Treatment for your foot pain depends on the cause. For some, something simple as a shoe insert or an ice pack can provide great relief. Here are some treatments you may want to remember if you experience the following foot pain.

Heel Pain Treatment

• Rest your feet.
• Do heel and foot muscle stretches.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers.
• Wear shoes with good arch support and a cushioned sole.

Big Toe Pain Treatment

• Soak the foot in warm water 3-4 times daily. Keep the foot dry during the rest of the day.
• Wear comfortable shoes with adequate room for the toes. Consider wearing sandals until the condition clears up.
• You may take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.
• If there is no improvement in 2-3 days, or if the condition worsens, call your doctor.

Ball-off-foot pain Treatment

• Take pain relievers.
• Ice and rest your feet.
• Wear comfortable footwear.
• Try shoe inserts to relieve pressure on the ball of your foot.

Foot arch pain Treatment

• Rest and ice to relieve pain and reduce swelling
• Stretching exercises
• Pain relief medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
• Physical therapy
• Orthotic devices, shoe modifications, braces, or casts

Joint Pain treatment

There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but medication with assistive devices and other therapies that don’t involve drugs can help ease the pain. Anti-inflammatory medicines for osteoarthritis are available as pills, syrups, patches, gels, creams or injectables. But sometimes, surgery to replace damaged joints.

How to Prevent Chronic Foot Pain

Here are some helpful tips to prevent ongoing foot pain:

• Choose comfortable, roomy, and well-cushioned shoes.
• Avoid shoes with high heels and narrow toe areas.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Stretch your toes before engaging in vigorous exercise.
• Practice good foot hygiene.
• Always wear footwear when you’re outdoors to protect your feet.
• Always wear footwear when you’re outdoors to protect your feet.

Foot pain can be difficult to manage; even if it’s common, it is not regular to be part of your daily life. It can prevent you from walking normally and may limit your ability to enjoy normal work and recreational activities. However, caring for the skin on your feet is also important. After all, your heels are not meant to feel rough and dry.

A regular pedicure with a good foot massage can enhance blood circulation in the lower legs and feet. It helps reduce the pain and swelling in your working feet from standing and walking all day. To show more love and care for your feet, read about the pedicure treatments that help you improve the health of your nails.

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For more informational blog posts covering nail health and well-being, visit our Tips & Advice at The Nail Bar Beauty & Co.