6 Common Causes of Foot Pain You Shouldn’t Neglect

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Foot pain can be caused by a serious issue that may require timely and proper treatment. The point is that feet are complicated and when one ligament, muscle, or bone fails, you may experience unpleasant symptoms. In this article, we have gathered six common causes of foot pain you shouldn’t neglect. 

1. Blisters, corns, and calluses

Corns and calluses are thickened patches of the skin that occur when the skin rubs against shoes or is exposed to extra pressure. Blisters form in the same way but blisters are sacs filled with fluid that accumulates in the top layers of your skin. Fortunately, blisters are harmless and can heal on their own. But you shouldn’t open a blister on your own. If you have painful blisters, corns, and calluses, it is better to make an appointment with a foot doctor. You can prevent the development of blisters, corns, and calluses by wearing comfortable shoes and suitable socks as well as keeping your feet moisturized.

2. Poor-fitting shoes

People who tend to wear improper shoes often experience foot pain. In many cases, these are too tight shoes that cause pain in the muscles of the foot. You can also wear shoes that are bad for your feet and back, such as high heels. If you want to have healthy feet, you need to wear shoes that fit perfectly and don’t interfere with normal gait and posture.

3. Ingrown toenails.

Ingrown toenails usually occur when the tip of the nail scratches the skin of the toe. In the initial stage, you can notice that skin near the ingrown toenail looks red and swollen. But when the condition becomes advanced, pus may appear near the infected area. You should know that ingrown toenails can cause severe pain. However, you can easily treat ingrown toenails at home if there is no serious inflammation. You need to make a foot bath regularly to prevent an infection. But if you have an inflammation caused by ingrown toenails, you need to visit a doctor for treatment. If left untreated the infection can increase.

4. Acute injury.

Even though injuries can be quite painful, they usually don’t require complicated treatment. Some injuries can even be treated at home. One of the most common acute injuries is Achilles tendonitis that occurs because of overuse and overstretching of the tendons. Achilles tendonitis can be treated at home by resting the feet, compressing the tendons, and keeping the ankle elevated. However, severe conditions (like a ruptured Achilles tendon) may require surgical treatment and physical therapy.

5. Plantar fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is a thick ligament of connective tissue in the sole of the foot. When this tissue becomes irritated and inflamed, plantar fasciitis occurs. There are a lot of factors that can contribute to the development of this condition. For example, prolonged standing, walking, and running can cause inflammation of the plantar fascia. Obesity, flat feet, high arched feet, and inappropriate footwear can also cause plantar fasciitis.

In most cases, plantar fasciitis can be treated without surgery. With this condition, you need to reduce walking and running activity and wear special shoes or insoles. But if you experience severe pain, you can visit a podiatry clinic to get a steroid injection.

6. Bunions

A bunion is a bony bulge that develops on a big toe joint. It occurs when some of the bones in the forefoot are displaced. As a result, the tip of the big toe becomes attracted to the smaller toes and forces the joint at the base of the big toe to protrude. There are a lot of factors that can contribute to bunions. the most common of them are:

- Wearing tight shoes

- A deformity of the foot

- Arthritis

-High heels

However, bunions can be hereditary. Treatment options for bunions include conservative treatment and surgery.