Learning About Podiatry Treatments

Foot Pain? 2 Types And Treatment Options

20 December 2018

Raul Wheeler

If your foot is hurting this can be difficult to handle. This is especially true if you have to walk a lot for your job. To help you, below are five types of foot pain so you can determine what problem you are having. There is also information about treatment options available to you.

Ball of Your Foot

If the ball of your foot is painful, also known as metatarsalgia, then this pain is coming from the metatarsal bones. When you walk, it will feel like you are stepping on a rock and your pain will feel better if you sit down. There are different things that can cause this type of foot pain. 

This can be caused by wearing shoes that do not fit you well. It can also be caused by wearing high heels too often, especially if the heel is very high, such as approximately three inches or more. If you have recently gained a lot of wait this extra weight puts pressure on the metatarsal bones.

There are many bone and joint problems that can cause this pain. This may be gout, arthritis, bursitis, bunions, stress fracture, and more.

To help with this, soak your feet in warm water at night before you go to bed for about 20 minutes. This warm water allows the blood to circulate better in your feet, which can help with the pain. Stay off your sore feet as much as you can while you are healing.

Make sure the shoes you wear fit properly. You can also add arch support or padding inside the shoe to relive pressure on the ball of your foot. If you exercise a lot, such as running or high impact workouts stop for a few days to give your foot a break.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis can be anywhere there is a joint include the ball of your foot. Tendons support muscles and over time they can become stretched, which results in pain. Overuse of your foot can also cause the tendons to stretch, such as if you run too much and too fast. If your pain goes away and frequently comes back the tendon may be weak, or the tendon may have torn. This is known as tendonitis. 

Your doctor may suggest you wear a walking boot to give the tendon time to rest and heal. How long you will wear this boot depends on the severity of your problem. Along with this, you may need physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles of your feet. This can help prevent the tendons from weakening. Wearing shoes with a built-up heel can also relieve pressure on this tendon.  You may need ongoing treatment for tendonitis as it can easily come back if you do not make changes to your lifestyle. If you continue having this problem, you may need surgery to repair the tendon if it becomes torn.

Visit a podiatrist, such as at East Village Foot & Ankle Surgeons, to learn much more about these two types of foot pain. They can also go over other causes and treatment options with you. 

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