It can be quite a painful experience to suffer foot pains while waking. Often the pen is so unbearable that your frustrations know no limits. Finding the underlying reason of the pain is the first step towards getting it treated. With proper care being taken, foot pains can be cured very fast or may take some time depending on the cause of the pain.
Causes
Foot pain may be the outcome from a variety of conditions. A proper diagnosis may be needed to be more specific about the root cause of the pain. It is only with the identification of these root causes that effective treatment can be devised for the condition. Some of the most common causes of foot pain include:
- Morton’s Neuroma
It is a disease that is mainly benign by nature. It causes the nerves to get inflamed along the dorsal section of the foot. If left untreated, the condition can bring in far adverse effects in coming time.
- Tendonitis
This is one of the foot pain causes that are most common on date. Swelling and inflammation tend to be the prime characteristics of this condition – especially while bearing weights. It can be caused due to an infection or injury and can be treated with ice packs.
- Metatarsal Stress
The long bones can suffer over exertion due to severe workouts. This can bring in a similar kind of pain for most of the sports injuries. Wearing shoes in these conditions can further result in swelling or inflammation of the region.
- Stress Fractures
This is caused due to impacts of repetitive strains or trauma on the bones, causing them to suffer cracks. Though these cracks may not ask for cast placement, some support provision can obviously help in faster recovery.
- Abnormal growth of tissues
Tumor growths can be either malignant or benign. No matter whatever the case may be, the growth of the tissues can result in the compression of the nerves, resulting in huge pain sensations on the top part of the foot.
- Heel Bursitis
The small sacs in the lower region of the heel filled with liquid to ensure lubrication among the joints are known as bursa. Bursitis can be caused due to awkward landing on the heels or when the footwear exerts pressure. The pain only gets worsened as days pass by.
- Other factors
Other factors that contribute to foot pain include sever long term diseases, chronic inflammation of the heel pad, Plantar Fasciitis, Baxter’s nerve entrapment, calcaneal cysts, gout, bone cyst, osteomyelitis, systemic arthritis and circulation problems among many other causes.
Symptoms
A pain in the foot will gradually start to become more and more severe as time passes by. There is no mandate to suffer an injury for bringing up the symptoms of foot pain. Wearing a flat shoe may be enough to trigger the pain as it stretches the plantar fascia till the region gets inflamed and swells up. In cases of tears, the pain is even harsher. Popping sounds often accompany the injury and the pain can be triggered immediately.
The pain of the heel is generally felt on the area below the foot, more specifically near the front side of the foot heel. The signs and indications can become more pertinent in the morning after you get out of your bed or after a session of long rest during the activities of the day. The pain can then get subsidized with more activity being done and may again rise as the day is about to end and you strike for rest.
You should seriously consider consulting a doctor if you are:
- Suffering from excessive pain accompanied by swelling in the region of the heel.
- Having fever accompanied by tingling or numbness and pain in the heel area.
- Having problem to walk normally.
- Facing issues while trying to stand on tiptoe or trying to bend the foot downward.
- Suffering from foot pain persisting over a week.
- Suffering from pain even if you are not applying any pressure on your feet – i.e. not walking or standing.
Diagnosis
When someone decides to go for visiting a doctor for foot pain, the doctor will be inquiring of the conditions of the pain, average walking that the person does or stands on a normal basis. The questions for collecting the history of the patient may also include information on footwear, accidents and other medical conditions.
After collecting all the required data, the medical practitioner will start with the testing of the muscles. They may start straight from the knee and make a search for any out of the ordinary shape or changes in the skin. This study can help the physician to differentiate between the various conditions such as psoriasis and growth among others. Nerve problems can be detected by squeezing the region of the heel. Squeezing can also help to detect the presence of stress fracture or cysts, if any. While these physical examinations may be enough to deduce thorough understanding of the condition, some conditions may demand for more specific diagnostic procedures such as imaging scans and blood tests.
Treatment
The success rate for treating foot pains is nearly 100%. It is possible to make full recovery if one undergoes the proper conservative treatments for long terms. Some of the common options to treat foot pain include:
- NSAID
Multiple over the counter drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used for immediate results in cases of swells and inflammation but should be used only as per prescribed dosage to prevent side effects.
- Injections
If NSAID fails to provide result, corticosteroid injections can be a good option to try. But too much dependency on these injections can instigate serious effects in the long run.
- Therapies
There are a lot of physical therapies that can be used to teach various exercises for stretching the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. These exercises can help to make the muscles of the lower leg more strong and bring in more stability for the heel and the ankle.
- Artificial supports
Assistive devices known as orthotics and insoles can be good options to take care of foot faults. The arch can be supported by cushions to make the healing process work faster.
- ECSW
A new technique of modern science, a therapy given by extracorporeal shock waves can be used to speed up the healing process. In this process, sound waves are directly focused on the affected regions. It is only advised to patients suffering from long terms and is known to make no response to the regular conservative therapy treatments.
- Surgical intervention
Surgery can be the ultimate option that can be used in case no other treatment can benefit the patient. The operation includes a risk of weakening the foot arch as it involves detaching the heel bone from the plantar fascia.
- Night splints
Night splints can be used to hold the Achilles tendon and the plantar fascia in s stretched and lengthened position during the time of sleep. Splints can be fitted to the adjoining region of the foot and the calf to hold them in specified position throughout the night.
- Heel Bursitis treatment
The conditions of heel bursitis being different from plantar fasciitis calls for insole cushions for more effective treatment. Heel cups can be used to restrict the problem causing movements.
- Heel Bumps treatment
Ice packs and compression wraps can be some of the best ways to get rid of inflammation. Changing the footwear can also be a great option. Objects such as heel grip and tortoise pads in addition to Achilles pads can be used to get some temporary relief.
- Exercises
Exercises can be one of the best options to strengthen and stretch the calf muscles. With increased strength and better balance, dealing foot pains will be far easier.
- Rest
Adequate rest can contribute to curing any pain. If you can provide enough rest to the injured area, you can instigate faster healing. It is one of the most effective treatments no matter whatsoever may the cause for the pain is.