Why Is Your Foot Hurting?

Stabbing or shooting pain. Numbness, burning, or tingling. Constant pain. Regardless of the form your foot pain takes, it hurts. Because this is Pain Awareness Month, in today’s post,  Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA, shares some conditions that are associated with the location of the pain.

Why does your toe hurt?

Bunions: Bunions grow on the outside edge of the big toe and appear as a bony bump at the bottom of your toe joint. The earliest signs of a bunion are typically tenderness, swelling, irritation, or pain around the joint of your big toe.

Ingrown toenails: This common condition is a toenail that has grown into the surrounding skin. They typically develop on the big toe, but others can also be affected.

Gout: Gout is inflammation caused by a joint's buildup of acid crystals. Certain lifestyle factors can contribute to the condition.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, typically develops in the ankle and foot when the cartilage that supports bones at their joints breaks down.

Hammertoes: This is a toe bent down at the middle joint, making that joint rise, resulting in pain. They are most common in second toes, and in many cases, they develop alongside a bunion.

Why does the ball of your foot hurt?

Morton’s neuroma: This condition is a thickening of a nerve that runs between your toes. It can be caused by your toes often being squeezed together for too long. It can cause a sharp pain or burning sensation in the ball of your foot and numbness or discomfort in your toes.

What causes pain in the heel of your foot?

Achilles tendonitis: This condition is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects your calf muscles to your heel. This injury is often connected to increased activity, intensity, or frequency.

Plantar fasciitis: This is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It is a ligament inflammation that connects your toes to your heels.

What causes general foot or ankle pain?

Fractures or sprains: If you’re feeling pain after an injury, a fracture or sprain of the foot and ankle may be the cause. More severe fractures or sprains come with higher swelling, bruising, and pain levels.

Diabetic neuropathy: If you have diabetes, high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, known as diabetic neuropathy. It often affects the nerves in the legs and feet first. Symptoms can include pain and decreased sensitivity to temperature.

If you’re experiencing increased or intense ankle or foot pain, your symptoms are affecting your daily activities, or you’re just concerned that something may be wrong, contact Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling us at 425-455-0936.