Alternate Names: Pain - foot

Considerations: Wearing improper shoes or extensive use of the feet can cause foot pain. Common causes of foot pain associated with improper or tight-fitting shoes included bunions, calluses, warts, corns, ingrown toenails, fallen arches, and sprains. Morton's neuroma (characterized by sharp or burning pain in the ball of the foot, which may go into the toes) is less common but is also often caused by wearing tight-fitting shoes.

Stress fracture of the metatarsal bones can be caused by strenuous foot use. Also, plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the connective tissue on the sole of the foot) occurs commonly in long distance runners. Sometimes (if pain is associated with plantar fasciitis) the pain is made worse by wearing very stiff soled-shoes (like ski boots) or by suddenly going from high heels to flats.

Gout commonly occurs in the big toe (which becomes red, swollen, and very tender).

Bony spur is usually characterized by a sharp pain in the heel and is generally caused by activities that involve strenuous foot-pounding.

Common Causes:

• bunions
• calluses
• warts
• corns
• ingrown toenails
• fallen arches
• sprains
• stress fracture of the metatarsal bones
• Morton's neuroma (characterized by sharp or burning pain in the ball of the foot, which may go into the toes) is often caused by wearing tight-fitting shoes
• gout
• bony spur
• obesity
• inflammatory arthritis

Home Care: Wear comfortable shoes. Wear shoes with adequate room around the ball of the foot. Try wearing sneakers to work, and change into "dress" shoes at the office.

Over-the-counter pain medications for 2 to 3 weeks may help relieve the pain.

For foot pain caused by a bunion, moleskin or padding around the bunion may help relieve the pressure.

For foot pain caused by a stress fracture, rest is recommended. Crutches may be used for a week or so to take pressure off the foot if it is particularly painful.

For foot pain due to bony spurs, shoe inserts (one-fourth pads) may help, but rest is the most important ingredient to healing.

Call If:

• the foot pain remains unexplained and is seemingly unrelated to either injury or shoes. A podiatrist may be helpful when dealing with foot pain.

What To Expect: The medical history will be obtained and the foot will be examined. Once a diagnosis has been established, the doctor will treat the underlying cause.

Medical history questions documenting foot pain in detail may include:

• location
  • Are both feet affected?
  • Exactly what part of the foot is affected?
  • Is there pain over the small joints of the foot?
  • Is the pain in the joint where the toes and foot meet (MTP joint)?
  • Is the pain in the joints in the middle of the toes (PIP joint)
  • Is there pain in the bones of the foot (tarsal pain)
• distribution
  • Does the pain move from joint to joint (migrating)?
  • Does it always occur in the same location?
  • Is the pain the same on both feet?
• time pattern
  • began suddenly and severely
  • began slowly and mildly and then got worse
  • lasting for === months
  • worse at night
  • resolving spontaneously in less than 6 weeks
• other
  • What other symptoms are present?