The Common Causes of Foot Pain
There are a range of conditions, injuries and diseases that can lead to foot pain. Feet bear the brunt of our weight and activity every day and as a result they are particularly prone to painful pathologies.
Below are some of the most common and some key information about each.
Achilles Tendonitis: This is essentially an injury of the Achilles tendon when it is used more than it should be. The Achilles is a band of tissues that act as a connection between the calf muscles and the heel bone. The calf muscle is located at the back of your lower leg. This injury is common among runners who have rapidly increased the duration and intensity of their runs. It is also pretty common in middle-aged people who regularly take part in sports, such as basketball and tennis.
Achilles tendon rupture: This is an injury that affects the hind or posterior part of your lower leg. It occurs mainly in people who take part in sports on a recreational basis. The Achilles tendon is a fibrous cord that is really strong. If you stretch this tendon excessively it may be torn or ruptured. This may be a partial or complete tear or rupture and patients often hear a pop at the time. It would be followed by an immediate sharp pain in the affected area.
Bone spurs: Bone spurs are basically bony projections that develop along the edges of your bones. In medical parlance they are also referred to as osteophytes. They often form at places where the bones meet each other, also known as the joints. The main cause is damage resulting from osteoarthritis. In most cases these do not cause immediate pain and thus go without detection for years.
Broken foot: This is one of the most intuitive causes of foot pain. As the name would suggest, this is an injury to the bone and there could be a wide range of causes. It could be a simple misstep, fall, or a car crash. The cause also determines how serious your injury is. It could be a tiny crack in your bones. It could also be a break that pierces through your skin. The treatment depends on how severe the injury is and the precise location in the foot.
Broken toe: Broken toes are common and normally are due to dropping something heavy on the foot or stubbing the toe. Such injuries are normally treated by taping the broken toe to an adjacent toe. However, if the fracture is severe, taping may not work. This is especially true for breaks of the big toe.
