5 Common Causes of Foot Pain and When To Take Action

Pain anywhere in your body is tough, but when it strikes one or both of your feet, the impact extends far beyond the discomfort. From larger injuries like stress fractures to smaller issues like blisters, when moving around is uncomfortable, it’s a major problem.

Since April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, the team of musculoskeletal specialists at SOAR Spine and Orthopedics reviews some of the more common foot issues we see at our practice. We also cover next steps to help you move around more comfortably.

1. Stress fractures

Did you know that about one quarter of the bones in your body are in your feet? Each of your feet contains 26 bones, and some of them can succumb to overuse injuries called stress fractures. These fractures can develop in your toes, midfoot, and heel, and typically affect weight-bearing bones.

Signs of stress fractures often include pain and tenderness in the immediate area that flares with activity.

2. Nerve damage 

If you experience pain in your feet with no obvious injuries, it may be a case of peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage. This issue is common among those with diabetes; peripheral neuropathy develops in 60 to 70% of people with diabetes.

One of the areas where this type of nerve damage often strikes is the feet, which leaves people with pain, tingling, and numbness in their lower extremities.

3. Plantar fasciitis

Along the bottom of your foot is a tough band of tissues called the plantar fascia that supports your arches. If these soft tissues become damaged and inflamed, it can make moving around very painful, especially after periods of inactivity (stabbing pain in your foot and heel when you take your first steps in the morning is one of the hallmarks of plantar fasciitis).

Named plantar fasciitis, this common foot problem happens to 10% of the general population.

4. Arthritis

Several different types of arthritis can cause problems in your feet, including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout

Each of these types is varied and requires targeted treatment, despite being grouped as arthritis.

5. Structural issues 

Another common foot pain is having structural issues in your feet — either inherited ones or ones that develop over time. Examples of these structural issues include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Flatfeet

As you might imagine, your feet rely on balance to function, with each part of the foot pitching in to support and facilitate movement. So, when a structural issue like any of the ones we mention above develops, it throws off the balance in your feet, which can overload certain areas and lead to pain.

Finding relief from foot pain

If you’re struggling with foot pain that shows no signs of letting up, your next step is a simple one — get the correct diagnosis so that you can get on the right road to relief. And there’s no better way to do that than to come in and see one of our foot pain experts. 

Contact us today at one of our offices in Santa Clara or Redwood City, California, to schedule an appointment or use our online booking feature.