Foot Pain

About

Pain or discomfort can be felt anywhere in the foot. You may have pain in the heel, toes, arch, instep, or bottom of foot (sole).

Causes

Foot pain may be due to:

• Aging
• Being on your feet for long periods of time
• Being overweight
• A foot deformity that you were born with or develops later
• Injury
• Shoes that fit poorly or do not have much cushioning
• Too much walking or other sports activity
• Trauma

The following can cause foot pain:

• Arthritis and gout common in the big toe, which becomes red, swollen, and very tender.
• Broken bones.
• Bunions A bump at the base of the big toe from wearing narrow-toed shoes or from abnormal bone alignment.
• Calluses and corns Thickened skin from rubbing or pressure. Calluses are on the balls of the feet or heels. Corns appear on the top of your toes.
• Hammertoes Toes that curl downward into a claw-like position.
• Fallen arches Also called flat feet.
• Morton neuroma A thickening of nerve tissue between the toes.
• Nerve damage from diabetes.
• Plantar fasciitis.
• Plantar warts Sores on the soles of your feet due to pressure.
• Sprains.
• Stress fracture.
• Nerve problems.
• Heel spurs or Achilles tendinitis.