Pain in the bottom of your foot can be a very debilitating thing; it can leave you feeling very low and unable to work or continue with daily activities and hobbies. There are many reasons that you might get pain in the bottom of your foot, below we are going to explore five of these conditions and the symptoms to help you if you think you have any of the conditions.
5 possible causes of pain in the bottom of the foot
1. Ill-fitting footwear
Yes, foot pain can be caused by something as simple as wearing poorly-fitting shoes. The shoes can press on areas of your feet and rub, causing the skin to become irritated. Ill-fitting footwear can cause blisters and other conditions, or they might not cause any noticeable signs at all. If you think that your shoes are the cause of your pain, try wearing other shoes for a few days, if you are still in pain, seek medical advice.
2. Trench Foot
Exposing your feet to damp conditions over long periods of time can result in getting Trench Foot. This condition typically affects hikers, builders and festival goers nowadays, but it is more commonly associated with World War One. You may develop pins and needles, numbness and notice that your feet are a whitish colour if you have the condition.
3. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
TTS is very similar to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It develops due to a compression of the tibial nerve when it passes through the tarsal tunnel. This is located on the inside of your ankle. If you are feeling pain and pins and needles in your foot, this might be the cause.
4. Athlete’s Foot
A fungal infection which is caused by your feet being exposed to damp conditions or poor hygiene. If you have itchy, flaky and dry skin then you may have Athlete’s foot, the condition can usually be taken care of by going barefoot for a few days and ensuring you have good hygiene.
5. Stress Fractures
Typically, stress fractures occur as a result of a repeated stress put on one of the foot bones. Stress fractures are very common in people who play a lot of sports or run for exercise. If you’ve suddenly increased the amount of sport you play or exercise that you do and are experiencing pain, you may have a stress fracture.
What to do next
If you think that you may have one of the conditions mentioned above, you should seek advice from your GP or a podiatrist. Don’t attempt to treat the condition yourself, doing so can result in further damage being done and a longer recovery time as a result. If you are unsure what your condition is, seek medical advice, the quicker you do, the quicker treatment can begin.
Hopefully, the information here has given you some insight into some of the conditions that cause bottom of the foot pain. If you don’t think that you have found the answer to your pain here, please take a look at Monday’s article in which we discussed another five possible causes of arch pain. Or feel free to make an appointment with one of our podiatrists to get the condition examined and treated.