Causes of Foot Pain

• Muscle Overuse (strained muscles). Foot pain is often from hard muscle work or sports. Examples are too much walking, running or jumping. This type of pain can last from hours up to 7 days.
• Shoes that don't fit or don't offer good support can cause painful feet. Areas where shoes rub or pinch can cause corns and calluses. If blisters occur, they can become infected. Wear shoes that fit well and are right for the activity you are doing.
• Muscle Cramps. Brief pains that last 1 to 15 minutes are often due to muscle cramps. These often happen in the calf or feet at night.
• Trapped Nerves. The nerves in the lower leg can become trapped or squeezed where they pass through narrow spaces as they leave the spine. Sciatica is from pressure on a nerve in the back. It causes tingling, weakness or pain in the leg which may go right down to the foot and toes. If symptoms do not go away with rest or treatment, surgery may be needed to release the nerve.
• Tendinitis is inflammation of tendons where they attach to the bone, caused by overuse. An example is Achilles tendinitis which causes pain at the back of the heel when the foot is moved or used. Often needs a long period of rest from the activity that caused it. Physical therapy (PT) and/or a steroid shot may be needed to reduce the pain.
• Inflammation of Soft Tissues. Soft tissues in the feet may become inflamed. Under the heel (plantar fasciitis) is a common place. This often affects runners and walkers. It also happens if you don't wear footwear with good support.
• Bone Spurs are small, harmless growths on bones. They often happen on the heel bone. The spurs cause inflammation of the heel and pain when walking or running.
• Joint Inflammation. Examples are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. Some, like gout, may affect just one joint. Others affect multiple joints at the same time. Early treatment may help prevent long-term damage to the joints.
• Bunions are swellings of the joint where the big toe joins the foot. The bone gets enlarged and the big toe turns outwards and points towards the other toes. The skin over the joint can become red and painful. Shoes may be hard to fit and walking is painful. Wearing shoes that are too tight could cause bunions or make them worse.
• Flat Feet is where the arch of your foot is flattened. You might have inherited this or it could be from injury or wear and tear. It is often painless, but can cause aching feet.
• More Serious Causes:
  • Bone Cancer or bone infection (osteomyelitis).
  • Peripheral Neuropathy is damage to the nerves in the feet or legs (or hands). The feeling in the feet and toes can be affected. It can cause loss of feeling, tingling or stabbing/burning pain in some areas. The most common cause is diabetes. Wounds or injuries of the feet and toes may go unnoticed. This can lead to serious infection, if not treated.
  • Fractures can happen from normal activity without a known injury. Do not ignore ongoing foot pain.
  • Blockage of an Artery. Arteries carry oxygen from your heart to the foot tissues. Symptoms of blockage are cold, pale numb and/or painful foot. The blockage will need to be cleared as an emergency when this happens.

Pain Scale

• Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from any normal activities. Work, activities and sleep are not changed.
• Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
• Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Foot Pain

Care Advice

What You Should Know about Mild Foot Pain:

• Strained muscles, tendons and ligaments are common after using them too much during sports or other activities. They can also happen from a fall.
• Examples are running, walking or jumping too much. Stress fractures can occur in the bones in the feet with activity.
• Pain can also be caused by bunions, corns, heel spurs or flat feet.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Pain Medicine:

• To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
• Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
• Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
• If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.

Cold Pack for Pain:

• For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
• Put it on the sore area for 20 minutes.
• Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
• Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice pack. Do not put ice directly onto the skin.

Use Heat after 48 Hours:

• If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the sore area.
• Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
• Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
• Reason: increases blood flow and improves healing.
• Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Do not put it directly onto the skin.

Rest the Foot:

• Rest the painful area as much as you can for 48 hours. Keep the toes moving gently if you can.
• Keep the foot raised above the level of your heart, if you can, to help limit swelling. Lying down with your leg raised on pillows or a rolled blanket can help.

What to Expect:

• A strained muscle hurts for 2 or 3 days.
• The pain often peaks on day 2.
• After severe overuse, the pain may last a week or more.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Fever or a swollen joint occurs
• Pain lasts more than 7 days
• Pain gets worse over several days
• You get swelling and redness over a joint
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.




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