Foot Pain: Arch and Heel Pain and More

By: admin | Tags: | Comments: 0 | January 1st, 2015

Feet are complicated. There are many different systems and tissues that make up the foot that can cause pain. Anything untoward; from the skin, nail, vascular supply, connective tissue or bones can cause minor to severe pain that will require professional curative assistance. Isolating the origin of the pain is instrumental in determining diagnosis and treatment.

In looking through divisions of pain according to the area of origin, three things stand out.

• First: footwear that fits properly is key to avoiding several types of foot pain in all areas of the foot.
• Second: Resting or taking weight off the affected area is common therapy in most all treatments of foot pain.
• Third: Because of the complexity of systems in the foot, professional diagnosis and treatment are ultimately the key to curing foot pain. At Advanced Foot Care, we take pride in treating our patients as we would like to be treated ourselves and use the most advanced diagnostics, therapies and surgical techniques that are available to treat your specific condition.

Here are but a few of the most common ailments that cause foot pain:

Heel Pain

Plantar Fasciitis: If you get out of bed in the morning with pain in your heel that may or may not extend into your arch, you most likely have Plantar Fasciitis. Inflammation of the band of tissue that runs from the heel bone to the toes (Plantar Fascia) is the reason for the pain. Professional guidance is useful in prescribing stretching exercises and various forms of orthotics that will relieve the condition.

Heel Spurs: Heel spurs are relatively common condition that may or may not cause pain. Causative factors for this abnormal growth on the heel bone can range from ill-fitting shoes to ambulatory irregularities. Although surgical intervention is rare, relief using custom heel pads, inserts or other orthotics can only be obtained through your foot care professional.

Stone Bruise: If you’ve ever jumped off ledge and landed on a small rock, you’ve experienced a stone bruise. This temporary condition is a bruise of the fat pad on the heel or ball of your foot. Rest and alleviating weight on the affected area will cause the bruising to heal over time.

Fractured Heel Bone: Of course, if you’ve jumped off the ledge onto the rock and the pain is severe, you’ve probably fracture this bone. Fractures range in severity; “minor” perhaps caused by a change in exercise routine to “severe” that can be seen after major trauma. Treatment is dependent upon the diagnosis and severity of the fracture which can only be determined by a thorough examination by your foot care professional.

II. Ball of Foot Pain

Metatarsalgia: If you enjoy running, you stand a chance of getting pain in the ball of your foot. Ill fitting shoes can also be a culprit in this painful condition. As with most all painful foot conditions, resting the affected area is helpful along with any pressure relieving pads that may be suggested or prescribed by your foot care specialist.

Morton’s Neuroma: Thickening of tissue (usually located at the base between the third and fourth toes) causes nerve pressure that causes a variety of symptoms that range from numbness to pain. Women bent having petite feet by wearing shoes that are a size too small are often victims of this condition. Better fitting shoes certainly helps as may steroid injections. Professional diagnosis is the key to receiving proper remedy or treatment.

Sesamoiditis: Pain associated with this condition comes from injury and/or inflammation of the tendons surrounding the big toe. Treatment is varied; from ice pack to steroid injections, so a correct diagnosis is critical to receiving proper treatment.

Arch Pain

Plantar Faciitis, as discussed previously, is the most common cause of arch pain. Fallen arches (flat feet) is another causative factor of arch pain. Treatments range from a variety of custom supports to surgery.

Toe Pain

Gout: A condition that can be caused by poor diet, crystals are deposited in the joints causing swelling and pain. Dietary changes, anti-inflammatories, and resting the affected joint(s) is the prescribed norm for this condition.

Bunion: Caused by poorly fitting shoes (especially in women), a bunion is a bony growth on the outside edge of the foot next to the base of the big toe. While surgery can be indicated, pain relief is obtained by wearing comfortable shoes that fit properly.

Hammer Toe: Again, tight shoes can often cause this condition; a toe that is reshaped because the constricted muscle is causing the toe to bend into a hammer shape. Comfortable shoes will ease the pain, but surgery may be required to correct the condition.

Claw Toe: Nerve damage associated with diabetes or alcoholism may lead to muscle weakness causing the end of the toe to bend either up or down. Eliminating or controlling the systemic cause is a beginning treatment. Special shoes, inserts,
orthotics or surgery may be prescribed by your foot care specialist.

Turf Toe: Most often found in athletes, this pain at the base of the big toe is caused by hyperextension leading to strained ligaments. Rest is a common therapy for this condition.

Fractured Toes: All toes are subject to fracture. Minor breaks are treated by rest and ice. More serious fractures may require surgery and stabilization, which is why a good radiographic diagnosis is necessary for proper treatment.

Stiff Big Toe: We most often think of osteoarthritis as being in the hands, but it can affect the big toe as well. Professional diagnosis is necessary for exercise therapy, anti-inflammatories and possible surgery to relieve the condition.

Calluses and Corns: A corn is basically a smaller, more concentrated version of a callus. Both are an accumulation of tough, rough tissue most likely caused over time by poorly fitting footwear. Softening of the skin with soaks and removal of the dead skin with a pumice stone can relieve the pressure cause by this condition. Again, purchasing comfortable, well fitting footwear is a key to prevention.

Other Causes of Foot Pain

Fractured Foot Bones: Excluding toes, the bone on the outside edge of the foot is the most susceptible to fracture simply because of its location. Fractured foot bones are treated much the same as any other fracture beginning with proper professional radiographic diagnosis.

Diabetes: Stinging, tingling or getting the feeling of an electric stimulation in the foot can be signs of a nerve inflammation caused by diabetes. Again, a professional consultation is necessary to arrive at correct diagnosis and treatment.

While this list seems long, it doesn’t begin to cover all the possible external and/or physiologic causes of foot pain. At Advanced Foot Care, we are specialists providing the best possible foot care which begins with determining the cause of your pain. Please call for an appointment today.