As anyone with foot pain or a foot injury knows, feet are a very important part of your body. In fact, a quarter of the bones in your body are found in your feet. Each foot and ankle has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Your feet are responsible for many different functions, providing you with balance, flexibility, and mobility to navigate throughout your day. Sometimes it’s easy to take your feet for granted, until you experience some kind of foot pain or injury.
There are many different things that can cause foot pain, including something as simple as the shoes you choose to wear. Here is an overview of 5 medical conditions that can cause foot pain.
1. Taste: This type of arthritis tends to cause sudden attacks of pain and discomfort, usually around the base of the big toe. Often times, a gout attack is accompanied by swelling, warmth, and redness. Generally, this condition is caused by uric crystals that accumulate in the blood. If you think you may have gout in the foot, you should seek qualified medical care for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.
two. BunionsWhile this painful condition is often associated with wearing too tight shoes, it can also be inherited and associated with genetics. After a long period of pressure between the first and second toes, bunions can begin to develop. Bunions are bony bumps made of soft tissue and bone. They are often accompanied by swelling and pain. And if they persist, they can lead to other types of foot and toe pain.
3. Morton’s neuroma: When you suffer from Morton’s neuroma, it may feel like a shooting pain in your foot or as if you are standing on a small pebble. This uncomfortable nervous condition causes a buildup of tissues and nerves around the toes and sometimes on the balls of the feet. The pain can make your foot burn or even make you feel numb. Over time, if left untreated, walking can become difficult as it becomes increasingly painful to apply pressure to the foot.
Four. Plantar fasciitis: This common condition is generally described as severe pain in the heel. Pain tends to be most noticeable first thing in the morning and can also manifest itself after sitting or inactive for a long period of time. The thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, swells and causes uncomfortable pain along the heel and midfoot. Fortunately, plantar fasciitis can usually be treated with regular stretching, proper footwear, and other medical remedies if necessary.
5. Bursitis: This is a condition that can occur throughout the body, including places like the hips and toes. Bursitis is an overuse condition that occurs in and around the joints. Fluid-filled sacs called bursae tend to become inflamed after repetitive movements and are known to cause severe pain around the big toe. Treatment for bursitis generally requires adequate rest and a switch to different types of activities that provide relief to the affected body part.
Practicing good foot health and caring for them is something that benefits people of all ages. It is always important to choose a good shoe that provides sufficient support and comfort for your feet. If you suffer from foot pain that does not go away, you should seek medical help. A qualified doctor will examine you and be able to identify the cause of your foot pain along with treatment options. Ignoring chronic foot pain will likely only intensify the condition and may even lead to other foot problems.