Foot Pain Relief, Causes, Locations, Treatments, and Recovery Time

Picture of a man holding his foot.

• The foot is a complex skeletal (anatomical) structure that may be affected by diseases within the body or the foot itself.
• About 17% to 42% of people have/had foot pain from other conditions.
• The most common causes of foot pain are overuse activities and injury to the foot.
• There are other causes of foot pain from medical problems that include:
  • Arthritis
  • Fractures
  • Calluses, corns, and bunions
  • morton neuroma
  • Planter Faciitis
  • Sprains 
  • Nerve problems

Foot pain can be associated with:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Warmth
• Tenderness
• Bruising
• Insomnia
• Has difficulty sleeping
• Poor function in daily activities
• There can be limping and disability

Common causes of foot pain include:

1. Overuse injuries (from running or other activities) and direct injuries to the foot
2. Plantar warts
3. Blisters
4. Bursitis
5. Bunions
6. Peripheral neuropathy
7. Rheumatoid arthritis
8. Peripheral vascular disease
9.  tendinitis
10. Tarsal tunnel syndrome
11. Plantar fasciitis
12. Osteomyelitis
13. Cellulitis
14. Corns
15. Gout
16. Calluses
17. Pes planus
18. Achilles tendinitis
19. Osteoarthritis
20. Hammertoes
21. Broken bones
22. Stress fractures

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

• 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-Aids 
• Vaseline gel
• 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.