Our feet support us as we walk and run. But they can also hurt from shoes that don’t fit or conditions such as arthritis and gout. How your foot feels and where it hurts can explain the cause. Painkillers sold over-the-counter and ice packs might be beneficial.

Pain in the Toes

When you have toe pain, your doctor will ask you how the injury happened and whether it improves or worsens with certain activities. They will also want to know if you have other symptoms, like numbness or weakness. Toe sprains often happen when you jam, stub, or overextend one of your toes. It can damage tendons and other soft tissue. It can also cause bone fractures if the impact is severe enough. If you have a toe sprain, your primary care doctor may treat it with rest, ice, and pain relievers. Arthritis can affect the big toe joint, which causes pain and stiffness that worsen over time. This type of arthritis is called hallux rigidus. It can develop from an old injury that damaged articular cartilage, or it can be caused by the shape of your foot and by wearing shoes that don’t fit well. It can also lead to a hammertoe when the toe bends at the middle joint and sticks out like a claw. You can stand, walk, and run comfortably with custom foot orthotics. It can lessen foot discomfort brought on by ailments like arthritis.

Pain in the Arch

Problems with several tissues, muscles and bones can cause foot pain in the arch. Getting a proper diagnosis and treatment is important as it could lead to pain in other areas of the body, such as the ankle, knee or back. Most often, the cause of pain in the arch is plantar fasciitis which is irritation and inflammation of a band of tough tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. Symptoms are usually the worst early morning or after long walks or prolonged standing. Other symptoms include stiffness, swelling and tenderness when pressed on. Treatment for arch pain may consist of ice and gentle stretching to loosen the tight muscles of the foot. It is also important to ensure that shoes fit properly and use inserts or support shoes if necessary. Exercises that assist the foot and arch in becoming stronger and more flexible are also highly beneficial.

Pain in the Ball of the Foot

This discomfort, which is felt at the base of your foot behind your toes, worsens with prolonged standing or walking. You may also feel shooting pains or numbness when you flex your toes. It is called metatarsalgia and can be caused by ill-fitting shoes, high-impact sports or repetitive movements like running. Morton neuroma and sesamoiditis are two more conditions that can produce discomfort in the ball of the foot. Morton neuroma is a condition where extra tissue builds up around one of the nerves leading to your toes, usually between the third and fourth toes. Prolonged compression leads to irritation and inflammation. Sesamoiditis is a similar condition irritating your feet’ small, pulley-like bones. It’s common in people who participate in high-impact activities and athletes. It can also occur due to certain foot shapes, such as when the second toe is longer than the big toe or small curled-up toes, known as hammertoes.

Pain in the Heel

Heel pain can be a chronic problem in people who often walk, run or jump. It’s often the result of a heel bone injury like a stress fracture or sprain, or it can be caused by wearing poorly constructed shoes. It can also result from abnormal foot mechanics that put too much strain on the arch and soft tissues of the feet; this is called overpronation. Plantar fasciitis, which develops when the soft tissue along the bottom of the foot strains or rips, is the most typical cause of pain at the back of the heel. It’s most common in people who run or jump often, have flat feet or high arches, or wear poor-fitting shoes with little or no arch support. You can treat this by icing the area and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. It’s also helpful to stretch heel and foot muscles and use shoe inserts with good arch support and cushioning.