Causes Of and Treatment for Foot Pain

Feet do a lot of work. They bear our entire body weight in many cases and for most of us, they help us get around. This extraordinary level of service that we ask of them can sometimes lead to them being in pain. But the foot is a complex system with a lot of moving parts so pain can seem similarly located but be from very different sources. Knowing what to look for in the type and intensity of pain we have in our feet can be a good first step to feeling better.

Primary Causes of Foot Pain

Lifestyle choices may play role in foot pain. And it's often the easiest thing to tackle first. Many people wear shoes that don’t fit them correctly but are unaware that this is the case. Ill-fitting footwear may push feet out of alignment and force them to operate under more stress than is required. Shoes that are too loose or too tight might be the culprit, but so too may be high heels because of the level of pressure placed on the toes and the ball of the foot. Injury from exercise is another common cause of foot pain.

Medical conditions may also cause foot pain. Some of these issues can include:

• Diabetes
• Hardened or clogged arteries
• Sores or ulcers
• Nerve damage
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Overuse such as from standing all day
• Buinions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Corns
• Morton's Neuroma
• Flat Feet

No matter what’s causing foot pain, given how much we need to use our feet, the pain can seem inescapable. Getting the right treatment depends on identifying the cause of the pain, of course. What works for nerve pain, for example, isn’t going to work for a bunion or athlete’s foot. But let's look at some treatments because we said, feet are complex.

Common At-Home Foot Pain Treatments

Unless the condition is severe, such as broken bones or a significant injury to the tissue, most people try home remedies or options first and that may take a number of forms from hot water soaks for tired and overused feet, to massage, ice packs, anti-fungal treatment or even shoe inserts. But in many cases, primarily because foot pain is so complicated, it may be wise to move on to medical intervention sooner rather than later. 

When to See a Doctor for Foot Pain

When foot pain is severe, unrelenting, and doesn't lessen with at-home care, or increases over time or if there are additional problems such as increasing back pain due to limping or a rash or some other comorbidity, seeing your healthcare professional is an important move. An injury or sudden and severe pain often means an immediate trip to the doctor is in order, too. Make an appointment if you can’t put any weight on your foot, have an open wound, or you develop a fever alongside the foot pain. When in doubt, have it checked out.

Our feet are incredibly important but often overlooked until they start to complain. Taking good care of our feet allows us long-term mobility and greatly increases quality of life. Experiencing foot pain from an unidentified source or getting no relief from over-the-counter or home remedy options are signs it’s time to see a medical professional for a diagnosis and proper treatment—but don't ut it off. Losing mobility due to foot pain can have a cascading effect on the body from back pain to decreasing viable exercise options. Taking care of the feet is taking care of our foundation for wellbeing—even if they are kind of funny looking little appendages—we need them to be well so we can be well, too.

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