Why do my feet hurt? The most common reasons for foot pain we see every day

The hard work our feet do every day is enormous. With a complex structure that includes over 26 bones and hundreds of muscles and ligaments, occasional pain in your feet is not uncommon. Sometimes a good soak and foot rub at home will alleviate the pain.

However if your feet hurt persistently, you need to take a closer look. Here are the most common reasons for foot pain we see in our clinic daily. These are all treatable conditions with the help of a qualified podiatrist and additional self-care at home.

Achilles Tendinitis

Achilles tendinitis is strain on the Achilles tendon due to overuse. It’s common in sport people especially regular runners or people who might only play vigorous sports on weekends.

Symptoms of Achilles tendinitis are pain above the heel or an ache, stiffness and tenderness in your calf. Care needs to be taken so that ongoing strain does not lead to a Achilles tendon rupture which is a full or partial tear in the tendon.

Bone spurs

Bone spurs are bony projections that occur often where the bones meet, at your joints. Heel spurs are the most common bone spurs in feet which are caused by aggravation of the muscles and tendon against the heel bone.

They usually don’t cause pain on their own but can be painful when wearing shoes that rub against your heel.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are when the nail grows into the surrounding soft tissue causing pain and swelling. It most commonly occurs in the big toe and is caused by badly fitting shoes, not cutting the nails properly or trauma to the nail bed that hasn’t quite recovered.  

Podiatrists will treat ingrown toenails and advise on the best way to ensure they don’t reoccur.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain especially for active people in their 40’s. The tissue under the foot that connects your heel to your toes becomes overstretched and strained.

If your feet hurt when you stand up after long periods of sitting, if there is a stabbing pain, or a dull ache in the morning when you first get up out of bed, then it’s likely the problem is Plantar Fasciitis.

Plantar Warts

Plantar Warts develop under the foot and are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which the majority of the population carries. Sometimes they develop undetected without causing pain but they can also be extremely painful.

Treatment is usually fairly simple with salicylic acid, cryotherapy, laser or surgery.

Stress Fractures

Stress fractures in the feet are surprisingly common and occur with repeated stress on the feet from running, walking and over-training. If the foot is not supported properly during vigorous exercise with the right footwear or proper training methods, biomechanical misalignment can create small fractures and therefore pain.

Podiatry is necessary to prevent a full bone break.

Plantar Plate Strain

The plantar plate is the ligament which connects the ball of the foot to the toes. The plantar plate can deteriorate with wear and tear over time causing pain in the ball of your foot.

Strapping, padding and gentle pressure relief will help alleviate pain.

Neuroma

A neuroma is a cyst that develops on the nerves in the ball of the foot, in most cases between the 3^rd and 4^th toes. High heel shoes are the main offender. They can be very painful and cause a stabbing, tingling or numbing sensation.

Bunions

Bunions form as a bony structure on the joint of your big toe. Genetics and/or badly fitting footwear cause the bones in the front of your foot to push the big toe toward the little toes, leaving a bump on the big toe joint.

This misalignment makes your feet hurt, affects your gait and creates further problems with ankles and knees, creating significant discomfort.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves most commonly seen in the feet of people with diabetes. It feels like stabbing or tingling pain that can be very uncomfortable. It can also create numbness which leads to further complications as people with peripheral neuropathy might injure their foot without realising.

Are your feet hurting and you’re not sure why? Call Sanders Podiatry in Adelaide, Stirling and Mount Barker

Our knowledgeable and experienced team of podiatrists will help alleviate the pain in your feet with professional treatment. Don’t sit with the pain when you don’t need to – call into one of our clinics and get some relief!

Sander Podiatry Adelaide – 08 8379 1456  (Greenhill Podiatry)

Sander Podiatry Stirling – 08 8339 3344

Sander Podiatry Mount Barker –  08 8370 1590