Your feet shouldn’t hurt. When painful feet prevent you from walking, running or wearing shoes there is a reason. There are many causes of foot pain and determining the reason for pain is the first step to treating the pain.
SOME COMMON CAUSES
- Gout: This is very common in the big toe and causes redness, swelling, and tenderness.
- Bunions: A firm swelling at the base of the toes, sometimes due to the use of narrow-toed shoes.
- Calluses and corns: Thickened skin formed from increased rubbing or pressure. Calluses form on the balls of the feet or heels and are sometimes confused with bunions while corns appear on the top of your toes.
- Hammer toes: Toes that curl downward into a claw-like position and cause both pain and difficulty with walking.
- Morton’s neuroma: A thickening of nerve tissue between the toes that feels like a painful burning or sharp pain usually between the third and fourth toes. This pain may worsen when you walk.
- Plantar fasciitis: The fascia is a thick, fibrous band of tissue extending from heel to toes. It supports the muscles and arch of the foot. When overly stretched, small tears occur, causing pain and inflammation
- Calcaneal spurs: A heel spur is a calcium deposit that causes a bony protrusion on the underside of the heel bone. This causes pain with heel pain with walking
WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR FEET
- Wear properly fitting, comfortable shoes, with good arch support and cushioning.
- Wear shoes with plenty of room around the ball of your foot and toe.
- Avoid narrow-toed shoes and high heels.
- Wear sneakers as often as possible, especially when walking.
- Replace running shoes frequently every three to six months or 300-500 miles of use.
- Increase your amount of exercise slowly over time to avoid putting excessive strain on your feet.
This column is sponsored by Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center.
BIO: Dr. Trishanna Sookdeo is a board-certified physician who has a Master’s in Public Health. She cares for the whole family, ages three days and up at Heart of Florida Physician Group. Should you have any questions or wish to schedule an appointment, call 863-419-2420, ext. 2, and ask for Dr. Sookdeo.