What is Foot Pain?
Due to the complexity of the feet and the plethora of possible conditions that may be causing discomfort, there is no specific reason as to why individuals experience foot pain; every patient is different. While it is entirely reasonable for the feet to feel slightly achy after sports activities or walking for extended periods of time, if the pain continues and begins to interfere with daily life, individuals should most definitely contact a podiatrist. Other reasons as to why people should seek medical advice are if the pain continues on most days over a two to found-week period or if you have tried “over the counter” remedies which prove unsuccessful. Opting to visit a podiatrist sooner rather than later will help towards minimising damage and the risk of reoccurrence in the future.
It is imperative also to highlight that there are several risk factors that largely contribute to the likelihood of an individual experiencing foot pain. Those diagnosed with Diabetes, vascular problems or obesity may encounter pain, along with elements as simple as poor foot posture, age and intense sports.
Types Of Foot Pain
To gain a better understanding of the cause of foot pain, it is vitally important to spend time determining which area of the foot hurts the most. Many common conditions are interlinked meaning that they impact several areas of the foot; knowing this will help to gain a quicker diagnosis. For instance, Achilles tendonitis and bursitis both cause pain in the ankle and heel. The heel may also experience pain when suffering from plantar fasciitis, along with the bottom of the foot. If the bottom of the foot alone hurts, it could be flat feet, but if the ball of the foot also hurts, it’s likely to be Morton’s neuroma. When dealing with the toes, on the other hand, it is unlikely that a condition on here will affect any other area of the foot. Common problems such as an ingrown toenail, bunions or even chilblains all cause pain on just the toe alone.
Common Causes Of Foot Pain
The world of foot pain continues to be ever-growing meaning that if symptoms are not visible, it may take meticulous testing to determine a diagnosis. However, while individuals may feel a little overwhelmed by the array of possible conditions, a podiatrist is guaranteed to be able to construct a bespoke treatment and care plan to minimise, or even remove, the pain that is causing ongoing discomfort. There are several foot conditions that continue to arise during podiatric consultations, which prove to be the cause of pain; these include:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Tendinitis
- Gout
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ingrown Nails
Treatments
Suffering from constant foot pain can begin to interfere with daily life. Through an in-depth assessment of your condition, our podiatrists can create a bespoke treatment plan to relieve pain and ensure that you can begin feeling yourself again.
Assessment Of The Cause Of The Pain
The cause may be neurological, mechanical, vascular, arthritic, viral etc or a combination of these.
Treatments For Conditions
Debridement of corns and callouses, correction of foot deformities with orthotics or surgery, routine care or surgery for ingrown or thickened or fungal toenails.
Advanced Treatments
Ultrasound scans, X rays, MRI’s and DXA bone density scans (currently only M.Wardlaw), if required.
Treatment of Verrucae
Swift microwave treatment of verrucae.
Steroid Injections
Steroid injections available if required by M.Wardlaw.
Foot Surgery
Foot surgery available if required by M.Wardlaw.