The feet endure the weight of the whole body. Because of this, problems in the feet are not uncommon. They may become sore and painful if you’ve been walking for a longer time than usual or if you’ve been running too much. This soreness may come and go, but there are times when the soreness may become a symptom of an underlying disease. This is why you should always try to determine the cause of the pain if it has started abruptly, without an apparent cause.
New mothers tend to ignore the pain because it seems expected, but you must get it looked at by the doctor if it is prolonged over a long period. Your feet have many constituents. Most commonly, patients complain that the pain or discomfort is in the toes, heels, arches, or soles of their feet. Your pain may be mild to severe, and it may be a fleeting issue or a chronic problem, depending on the cause.
Causes of Foot pain
There can be many causes of foot pain. Some of them are related to your daily life, while the others are medical and need assistance. They are listed below.
Non-medical causes
Several non-medical causes can cause you pain in the feet. Some of them are:
Uncomfortable Shoes: If you wear uncomfortable and not very breathable shoes, you are more prone to foot pain because of the discomfort caused by your shoes. Even in heels, you may place a lot of pressure on your toes, which leads to the development of pain.
Running too much: If you’ve been running too much, or indulging in intense weight training, then you may experience soreness in your feet.
Medical Causes
If the pain in your feet is persistent or recurring, it is a good chance that you may have an underlying condition.
Feet Injury: Feet injury such as a sprain, tendinitis, or fracture may cause prolonged pain. In case of tendinitis, fracture, or a severe sprain, you must go see a doctor. Depending on your diagnosis, you will be treated.
Arthritis: There are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis and 33 joints in your foot. Arthritis can affect any one of those joints and cause pain. The type of pain will differ depending on the type of arthritis you have.
Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes is a common cause of pains in the extremities of the body, including the feet. Diabetes can cause nerve damage and lead to neuropathy. It can also harden the arteries in your legs and feet or clog them. Both of these are known to cause pain and have their respective treatments. You may also develop foot ulcers or sores, which you can identify easily because of their physical form.
Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fascia is located between your heel and the front of your foot. It is the ligament that connects them. Due to the wear and tear of daily life or because of too much pressure on this ligament, you may experience pain in the bottom of your heel. It can be diagnosed via a doctor who will order an MRI or an X-ray. It can be treated at home with icing and anti-inflammatory drugs. If this doesn’t help, the doctor will use other treatment options like corticosteroids.
Gout: The accumulation of uric acid causes a number of conditions, the collective term for which is gout. It can manifest itself in swelling and pain in the joints of the foot. It can cause sudden and intense pain, called gout attacks. You need to visit a podiatrist right away if you have the symptoms. If you do not, then there are high chances of gout becoming chronic.
Morton’s Neuroma: Also called intermetatarsal neuroma, Morton’s neuroma is a benign condition that is known to cause pain in the ball of your foot. It refers to a thickening of the tissue around a nerve that leads to a toe.
Haglund’s deformity: Haglund’s deformity is triggered by the enlargement of the bony section of your heel. It is located near the Achilles tendon. Haglund’s deformity refers to the abnormality of the foot bone and soft tissue that arises from this. It can be caused by wearing stiff and closed-heel shoes. This can also cause pain in your feet.
Others: Other conditions can cause foot pain, such as corns, bunions, hammertoes, fallen arches, calluses, ingrown toenails, athletes’ feet, peripheral arterial disease, etc. You must consult a doctor if you think you have any of these conditions.
Should You Go to A Doctor?
If your pain is triggered by an unknown cause that you cannot decipher, you must go to a doctor because they can prevent any damage that may be caused. You must go see the doctor if
- You experienced a foot injury recently.
- You cannot seem to put any pressure on the foot, or you cannot place any weight on it.
- You have a fever with the pain.
- The painful area has an open wound.
- Your pain is sudden and intense.
- You have a pre-existing condition that interferes with the blood flow along with foot pain.
- If the painful area has some symptoms of inflammation such as swelling or redness.
Treatments
If you have a medical condition, you must visit a podiatrist to get the right foot pain management. Not going to the doctor at the right time can exacerbate your problems. Depending on your diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe the right line of treatment. Some examples of these treatments are wart removal, surgery, therapy, drugs, or a cast. Even dynamic and professional chiropractors can offer you pain relief using various chiropractic treatments. You can also click for more here to know the procedure chiropractors use for treating acute or chronic pain and leg pain.
However, you can do a number of things by yourself to take better care of your feet. These suggestions may help you relieve pain and discomfort.
- You should try to avoid high heels and narrow-toed shoes. They can cause quite a lot of discomfort, which causes pain.
- You can also choose to practice good foot hygiene, which will prevent a lot of problems.
- You should always try and wear well-cushioned shoes with a lot of room in them so that your feet are more comfortable.
- You should stretch before exercising. Not doing so can damage various muscles and ligaments in your foot.
Conclusion
In pregnancy, your feet tend to carry more pressure than usual; that is why foot hygiene is especially important for mothers. However common foot pain may be, you should always get it looked at by a podiatrist if it is sudden and intense or prolonged over a long time. This may prevent you from developing serious conditions such as chronic gout. Since it is one of the most crucial parts of your body, it is always good to maintain good hygiene for the feet, especially if you’re a new mother.
The feet are always enclosed within shoes, which can become sweaty on a warm day. Therefore, caring for them can help you feel fresh and prevent many illnesses from developing.
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