What Causes Foot Pain?
Foot pain is second only to tooth ache when it comes to pain intensity and reasons for taking a pain reliever. With foot pain, activities are halted, movements are slower and there may be underlying conditions that may lead to something much more worse.
Foot pain may vary in intensity, severity and frequency. The pain may be described as chromic or acute or may be stabbing or numbing pain. Regardless of the quality of the pain, foot pain must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
Causes of foot pain may vary and the treatment for each may also vary as well. Here is a list of the most common foot pain causes:
1. Trauma – trauma to the bones and muscles of the foot is an obvious reason for pain. Trauma to the bones may include direct pressure or may be caused by an accident. Fractures of the bones of the feet are common especially during sporting activities and the most common treatment is to immobilize the bones of the feet to allow them to heal. After a direct trauma to the feet, it is very important to seek emergency help at once. An orthopedic doctor can assist in diagnosing and treating fractures of the bones of the feet and legs if any.
2. Footwear – shoes that are either too tight or too loose may cause foot pain. Wearing high heels for women can shift the body weight to the toes of the feet causing severe pain as well. It is therefore important to select the ideal shoe size for you. Refrain from wearing high heeled shoes or platform shoes; if you must wear them for work, have a spare flat pair to replace your shoes after work. Have time to care for your feet during weekends, massage your tired feet and wear flat comfortable footwear after office hours or during weekends to give your feet a much needed rest.
3. Diseases of the bones and joints – certain diseases and illnesses that affect the bones of the feet and the underlying tendons and muscles can also cause severe foot pain. People with diabetes, gout, arthritis and Hansen’s disease may suffer from foot pain. It is important to wear comfortable footwear and to consult for an ideal pain reliever medication or anti inflammatory drug to relive pain and other discomforts of the foot.
4. Ingrown nails – ingrown nails are nails of the toes that grow inwards. This can cause severe pain and sometimes may get infected when treated by an inexperienced person. It is advisable to consult a foot doctor or a podiatrist to take care of ingrown nails. Wear sandals or open toed footwear to prevent foot pain.
5. Bunions and corns – these are often caused by chronic use of shoes that are too tight. It is again important to consult a foot doctor to remove bunions and corns before they grow bigger and become more painful. Wear open- toed shoes rather than close fitting ones to prevent the redevelopment of corns and bunions.