Foot Pain

Pain in the foot is common. There are many causes of foot pain. The most common causes of foot pain are overuse activities and injury to the foot.

Common causes of foot pain include overuse injuries (from running or other activities) and direct injuries to the foot. Foot pain can be caused by plantar warts, blisters, bursitis, bunions, peripheral neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, tendinitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, osteomyelitis, cellulitis, corns, gout, calluses, pes planus, Achilles tendinitis, osteoarthritis, hammertoe, and broken bones or stress fracture.

Risk factors for foot pain include injury and family history of foot pain.

Foot pain can be associated with swelling, redness, warmth, and tenderness of the involved foot. Foot pain can lead to difficulty with sleeping and poor function in daily activities. There can be limping and disability.

Foot pain is evaluated by carefully hearing the history of the symptoms related to the foot pain (when it began, how it is aggravated, when it is relieved, etc.). It is also diagnosed by examination of the foot to evaluate swelling, warmth, redness, and tenderness. Close examination of the toes, toenails, underside of the foot, and the ankle will usually be part of the evaluation. Sometimes X-ray testing or other imaging tests, such as MRI scanning, are used to make a diagnosis of foot pain.

The treatment of foot pain depends on the precise cause. For example, gout can require medication or cortisone injection, while a fracture can require immobilization with casting.

Home remedies for common foot pain include cold application, resting, Band-Aid, Vaseline gel, and orthotics.

The prognosis of foot pain depends on the cause of the pain. Fractures heal after four to six weeks with immobilization and resting.

Foot pain can be prevented by avoiding injury or trauma to the foot.