Why feet hurt

It causes the ligaments around the joint to stretch and sometimes break. It is very painful. Turf toe can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness at the base of the big toe.

Cunha says. Icing it and compressing the injury any wrap will do can help tamp down on swelling and ease your pain, he says. Finally, you want to elevate your foot say, on top of a pillow to ease the pressure.

The result is tendonitis, and runners are particularly susceptible, she says, as are those who regularly wear high heels. Other potential, though not as common, causes include inflammatory illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.

The sooner you nip this problem in the bud, the better, Dr. Fuchs says, which is why she recommends avoiding any activity that aggravates your pain for a week to a month. When you feel even a little twinge, ice the area ASAP.

Your doctor may also suggest you take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory like Motrin or Advil to ease your discomfort and quiet the inflammation. Most metatarsal issues happen when something changes in the way your foot normally works, impacting how your weight is distributed, Dr.

This can put extra pressure on the ball of our foot, leading to inflammation and pain. Sometimes one thing can cause metatarsalgia, but usually several factors play a role, like doing intense training.

Other than that, resting, icing, and using oral and topical anti-inflammatories can help, Dr. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is actually similar to carpal tunnel syndrome—just in your feet. This can result in pain, numbness, and tingling , often due to a previous ankle injury or having flatfeet.

RICE is a good solution, Dr. This condition causes pain in the ball of your foot that commonly radiates toward your third and fourth toes, says Dr. The repetitive pounding on hard surfaces can cause trauma to the nerves that lead to your toes. One thing you can do for quick relief is to massage the space between the metatarsals, Dr. Make an appointment with your doc to do an X-ray to rule out other problems, and follow up with an ultrasound or MRI, which are better diagnostic tools for revealing soft tissue abnormalities.

Then, you may be in for a new-shoe shopping spree, as ill-fitting shoes contribute to your problem and make the pain worse, says Dr.

Sutera also recommends wearing a variety of shoes and tossing out shoes with uneven or damaged soles. Arthritis happens when the cartilage in your joints begins to wear down and cause inflammation. When it comes to feet, it usually impacts the big toe joint, but it can also crop up in other joints, Dr. Do you have aching feet? Here are 9 possible explanations, broken down between non-threatening and serious conditions.

If your feet are aching, take a look at these possible causes first. Calluses are thickened areas of the skin when lots of pressure forms. Blisters form similarly , except blisters are pockets of fluid that build up in the upper layers of your skin. Never try and pop a blister without the aid of a doctor. The best course of action is preventing a blister and callus.

Always wear comfortable shoes and socks that fit. Keep your feet moisturized. An ingrown toenail usually occurs when the edge of a toenail rubs against the skin of the toe. Severe cases will cause pus to appear near the infected site. Ingrown toenails are gross and painful.

Just regularly soak your foot to prevent an infection. Serious ingrown toenail infections need to be monitored and treated by the doctor. If you let the infection persist, it can spread to your bones and other severe areas.

Improper footwear is a common cause of foot pain. This usually includes shoes that are too tight and cause your foot muscles to ache. You can also wear shoes that are harmful to your feet, such as high heels. Always wear shoes that fit perfectly. Avoid high heels. While acute injuries are painful, they usually require minor treatment. Some injuries can even be treated at home. A common acute injury is Achilles tendonitis.

This is the overuse and over-stretching of the tendons in your feet. Acute Achilles tendonitis can be treated at home by resting your feet and legs, compressing the tendons and keeping your ankle propped up.

Morton's neuroma causes a sharp, stabbing pain when you walk or put pressure on your foot. It's caused by thickening of a nerve between your toes, usually between the third and fourth toes, possibly due to injury. At first, symptoms may only be occasional, but they may become more common or even constant as the condition develops.

Morton's neuroma is treated with NSAIDs, cortisone injections , resting the foot, wearing wide-toed shoes and metatarsal pads, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery.

You can help prevent it from developing by staying away from high-heeled or pointy-toed shoes. Physical therapy is often one of the main ways to treat the symptoms of foot pain from many different causes. Gentle stretching of the foot often helps to alleviate the discomfort felt due to the above disorders. Your physical therapist can also offer strategies to help treat your pain and improve your foot function. For example, an ice bottle massage may help control pain and inflammation.

A PT may also be able to help you correct walking and running mechanics that can alleviate and prevent foot problems. Foot pain can be a difficult thing to manage. It can prevent you from walking normally and may limit your ability to enjoy normal work and recreational activities. If you regularly have foot pain or it seems to be getting worse or more frequent, and especially if you notice changes to the size and appearance of joints, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.

Ask whether a physical therapist could help you overcome foot pain and return to your normal active lifestyle. Cold temperatures can aggravate foot pain caused by certain conditions. Plantar fasciitis and arch and heel pain are some conditions that may be exacerbated by colder temperatures, and additional foot problems such as frostbite can occur with extreme cold.

The short answer is yes. Arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including those joints in the foot and ankle, causing inflammation and pain. While there is no cure for arthritis, there are treatment options to help manage discomfort, including physical therapy, medications, and some surgical options.

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