What Are the Common Causes of Foot Pain?

When your feet are in pain it can have a pretty nasty effect on your everyday life. This is because a majority of your weight falls on these appendages and your feet help you walk and get around from place to place. Foot pain can affect a number of different parts on your feet and can come and go, last for hours, radiate up and down, etc.

Regardless of your type of foot pain, chances are Rehab services (Physiotherapy, Osteopathy) can help with this issue significantly. In the meantime, you may be wondering why you’re experiencing this foot pain. There can be a multitude of causes, and we here at York Rehab Clinic would like to explain some of them so you can get an idea of how you may have gotten it.

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is named after Dr. Morton who first described this condition in 1876. It is a Painful condition with burning feeling on the ball of foot or the areas between toes.

This issue will likely develop within the third and fourth toes, and will commonly occur in those who stand for long periods of time. This type of nerve injury can cause tingling, numbness, pain and swelling. The best treatment for this problem is rest and proper footwear. In more serious cases, cortisone injections may be required.

Heel Spurs

In simplest terms, a heel spur is an abnormal growth under the heel that runs along the underside of the foot. When this tissue ends up getting stretched by being used too much it can become swollen and pull on the bone. Heel spurs can also take place due to improper shoe fittings & excess weight. Treatment for this type of issue includes:

• Rest & cold presses
• Properly fitted shoes
• Stretching
• In some cases, surgery or steroid injections

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is essentially an inflammation of the fibrous tissue located at the bottom of your feet. This area connects your heel to the base of your toes, and causes heel pain. Standing up, lying down or sitting down for long periods of time can make this pain more severe and long lasting. This type of cause is due to overuse — if you do not properly stretch before going for your daily walk/run, you are at a higher risk of sustaining this foot injury.

Metatarsalgia

You know that spot of your foot that lies beneath the toes? It may feel as though there is a stone stuck in your shoe, and pain may become worsened when moving, flexing or standing on your feet. If you are facing any of these issues, chances are you may have metatarsalgia. People who are constantly moving/jumping (those who participate in sports, daily exercise etc.) are more prone to this condition, but it can also be put on by improper footwear. The best way to solve this foot pain is by icing the area and resting it for an ample amount of time.

Achilles Tendonitis

Tendonitis may sound familiar, but what is your achilles? Your achilles is a tendon that connects your heel to your calf and tends to be the tendon that is most commonly injured. Together, the term achilles tendonitis means this tendon in specific is inflamed (most typically from overuse). Some of the symptoms associated with this type of foot pain include:

• Post-exercise pain
• Stiffness in the tendon
• Swelling in the area

This foot injury usually improves with periodic ice, stretching and most importantly, rest. You can also use over the counter pain medication in the meantime to deal with the pain this type of ailment will inevitably cause. If this problem does not solve itself within a few months, talk to your doctor so physiotherapy can possibly be recommended.

Bunions

Have you ever felt or seen a hard bump on the bottom side joint of your big toe? Does it hurt and is it sore to the touch? If so, chances are this is what is known as a bunion. Bunions most commonly happen due to improper footwear, so icing this area and choosing different shoes will likely help this problem.

Corns

The small yellow bumps that develop on the tops of toes are what’s known as corns. These round lumps can be extremely painful and like bunions, are often caused by improper footwear/abnormal pressure to the feet. One thing you must never do is to try removing a corn on its own. A qualified podiatrist (foot doctor) can get rid of this issue professionally, as well as recommend you footwear that prevents this sort of problem from happening again

Hammer Toes

Toes that stay bent at the joints tie to a condition known as hammer toes. This ailment can be caused by a number of things including injury, an imbalance in the feet muscles or tight shoes. If hammer toes are left untreated, your feet can develop other problems such as corns and calluses. In severe cases of this condition, surgery can be done to fix it. Otherwise, the treatment for this problem includes wearing loose footwear and padding/orthotics.

Diabetic Foot Pain

Did you know that high blood sugar doesn’t just increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, but also your risk of foot problems as well? Diabetes can lead to neuropathy in the feet, which is often felt as nerve pains and numbness. Other symptoms include weakness and a stinging or burning sensation in the feet. Foot ulcers are also common in those who suffer from high blood sugar, so if you’re worried about how your feet have been feeling/working and you suffer from diabetes it is important you talk to your doctor about solutions and treatments.

Foot Sprains/Fractures

Over the span of your life, your feet are going to deal with a lot of wear and tear. This is normal, as your feet often feel the brunt of your everyday activities, especially those that involve moving around a lot. In total there are 28 foot bones all with a complicated function, group of nerves, muscles, tendons, etc. When you injure your feet, the chances of you damaging these parts of your foot is always a possibility. Breaks and sprains are often considered the cause when you have pain walking or putting pressure on/moving said feet. The best and most effective way to find out how to treat a sprain/fracture is by talking to your doctor.

Try Our Osteopathy & Physiotherapy Services Today

Suffering with bodily pain & discomfort can be not just physically exhausting, but mentally exhausting as well. This type of pain should not be endured, but rather treated and cured. Here at York Rehab Clinic, we help bring you and your injuries to recovery and deal with all types of bodily pain & discomfort. To learn more about our Osteopathy & physiotherapy in Richmond Hill, be sure to contact our front desk at (416) 350-1940 today. We look forward to hearing from you and helping in any way we possibly can!

When your feet are in pain it can have a pretty nasty effect on your everyday life. This is because a majority of your weight falls on these appendages and your feet help you walk and get around from place to place. Foot pain can affect a number of different parts on your feet and can come and go, last for hours, radiate up and down, etc.

Regardless of your type of foot pain, chances are Rehab services (Physiotherapy, Osteopathy) can help with this issue significantly. In the meantime, you may be wondering why you’re experiencing this foot pain. There can be a multitude of causes, and we here at York Rehab Clinic would like to explain some of them so you can get an idea of how you may have gotten it.