Causes of Foot Pain

Inflammation and degeneration of the achilles tendon in the lower calf or back of the heel

Causes: Repetitive stress through the tendon, bone spurs, muscle imbalance

Symptoms: Pain, worse in the morning, thickened lump in tendon, stiffness

Full Article: Achilles Tendonitis

Irritation of a small extra bone found in 10% of the population

Causes: Genetics, injury, overuse

Symptoms: hard lump, pain and inflammation inner foot arch

Full Article: Accessory Navicular Syndrome

Reduction in blood flow to the feet causing reduced in oxygen and glucose levels

Causes: Blockages in small blood vessels from cholesterol crystals or plaque deposits

Symptoms: Sudden, intense pain, blue or red skin discoloration

Full Article: Blue Toe Syndrome

Small, outgrowths of bone that can irritate the surrounding structures

Causes: Friction on the bone from overuse, muscle tightness or tight footwear

Symptoms: Hard lump, localised pain, stiffness, secondary problems e.g. callus formation & nerve irritation

Full Article: Bone Spurs

Deformity of the foot bones causing a hard lump and toe deviation

Causes: Genetics, tight footwear, flat feet

Symptoms: Gradual and progressive toe deviation and pain, hard lump, redness & inflammation

Full Article: Bunions & Bunionettes

A progressive neurological condition affecting the transmission of nerve signals

Causes: Genetic disease affecting protein production leading to nerve degeneration

Symptoms: Weakness and decreased sensation, altered foot position, curled toes

Full Article: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Areas of thickened, hard, raised skin. Typically develop on the toes and heels

Causes: Friction, tight-fitting shoes, altered foot shape e.g. bunions, aging

Symptoms: Thickened, hardened patches. Calluses can be large but usually painless, corns tend to be small, circular and painful

Full Article: Foot Corns & Calluses

Partial dislocation of the cuboid bone on the outer side of the foot. Rare cause of foot pain

Causes: Ankle sprain (inversion injury), repetitive jumping or running, flat feet

Symptoms: Pain on outside of foot, worse on initial movement and during push-off phase of walking/running

Full Article: Cuboid Syndrome

Inflammation and damage due to the skin being unable to retain moisture. Many different types e.g. atopic dermatitis

Causes: Hyper-sensitivity to allergens and irritants, lack of protein in the skin, genetics, stress, hot weather

Symptoms: Dry, itchy, red patches of skin, spots and blistering

Full Article: Foot Eczema

A break in the long bone connecting the midfoot to the toes

Causes: Twisting injuries, landing awkwardly, direct blow to outer foot

Symptoms: difficulty walking, outer foot pain, swelling and bruising

Full Article: Fifth Metatarsal Fractures

Inflammation and degeneration in tendons, connective tissues linking muscle to bone

Causes: Overloading, over-stretching, flat feet, injury, inflammatory conditions

Symptoms: Sharp, burning pain, stiffness, swelling, hard lump

Full Article: Foot Tendonitis

Joint inflammation from build-up of uric acid crystals - common causes of foot pain

Causes: Diet, medication, genetics, medical conditions, obesity

Symptoms: Intense pain, swelling and redness. Lasts 5-10 days and often recurs

Full Article: Foot Gout

Bony growth on back of the heel which irritates surrounding structures aka Pump Bump 

Causes: Rigid-backed shoes, high foot arches, calf tightness, genetics

Symptoms: Hard lump on back of heel, swelling, redness and pain around the achilles

Full Article: Haglund's Deformity

Stiffness and pain in the big toe from arthritis

Causes: wear and tear, footwear, genetics, injury, biomechanics

Symptoms: Stiff big toe, pain, difficulty walking

Full Article: Hallux Rigidus

Edges of toenail curl in, pushing into the surrounding skin aka ungius incarnatus

Causes: Tight-fitting shoes, injury, incorrect toenail cutting technique, injury, genetics

Symptoms: Progressive redness, pain and inflammation, extra skin growth

Full Article: Ingrown Toenails

Partial or full tear of one or more of the ankle ligaments. Most common ankle injury

Causes: Ligament is overstretched, typically from ankle twisting inwards when stumbling

Symptoms: Immediate pain and swelling, bruising, instability, popping noise

Full Article: Sprained Ankle

Combinations of hyperflexion and hyperextension of the various toe joints

Causes: tight, narrow, high-heeled shoes, muscle tightness, nerve damage, genetics, poor blood supply

Symptoms: Abnormal toe position, pain, stiffness, skin damage e.g. calluses

Full Articles: Hammer Toe, Mallet Toe, Claw Toe

A benign growth or thickening which places pressure on a nerve

Causes: Pressure through ball of foot, tight fitting shoes, running, climbing

Symptoms: Sharp, stabbing pain in ball of foot, tingling and numbness in foot, feels like walking on a stone

Full Article: Morton's Neuroma

An extra piece of bone that gets stuck in the ankle when walking or pointing the foot

Causes: Bone fails to fuse in childhood and becomes symptomatic due to repetitive toe pointing movements or ankle injuries

Symptoms: Pain, swelling, tenderness and hard lump by achilles tendon

Full Article: Os Trigonum Syndrome

Inflammation and damage to the thick band underneath the foot, the plantar fascia

Causes: Muscle tightness, flat feet, overuse, sudden increase in activity, poor foot wear

Symptoms: Pain on bottom of foot and around heel, worse when on tiptoes or when you start walking

Full Article: Plantar Fasciitis

Small, benign growth in the plantar fascia, underneath the arch of the foot

Causes: Genetics, diabetes, liver disease, alcoholism, epilepsy

Symptoms: Small nodule on the sole of the foot, painful when touched, toe stiffness

Full Article: Plantar Fibromatosis

Inflammation and degeneration of the posterior tibial tendon on the inner ankle 

Causes: Ankle injury, repetitive strain, high-impact sports, unsupportive footwear

Symptoms: Pain inner ankle and under foot, unable to stand on tiptoes, foot arch collapses

Full Article: Posterior Tibial Tendonitis

Inflammation of the small fluid-filled sac at the back of the heel by achilles tendon

Causes: Over-training, footwear, bone spurs, muscle tightness, injury

Symptoms: Heel pain and tenderness, swelling, ankle stiffness

Full Article: Retrocalcaneal Bursitis

Inflammation of the small bones that sit underneath the big toe

Causes: Over-use, foot injury, footwear, altered biomechanics, tightness

Symptoms: Pain underneath the big toe, swelling, bruising and stiffness

Full Article: Sesamoiditis

Irritation & inflammation along the inner lower shin region from overuse

Causes: Sudden increase in activity, running, jumping, footwear, biomechanics

Symptoms: Aching and tenderness along lower half of shin, worse with exercise

Full Article: Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Inflammation in the sinus tarsi canal, a small tunnel between the heel bone and ankle bone

Causes: Ankle sprain, scar tissue, subtalar instability, flat feet

Symptoms: Deep pain, instability, stiffness, pain with ankle movements

Full Article: Sinus Tarsi Syndrome

Small hair-line breaks in the bones, typically metatarsals, heel, shin & navicular

Causes: Repetitive over-loading e.g. from jumping or running, sudden increase in activity

Symptoms: Common causes of foot pain, worse with activity, swelling

Full Article: Stress Fractures

Excess bone and cartilage forms a bridge between two of the tarsal bones

Causes: Genetic abnormality, injury, arthritis, infection

Symptoms: Stiffness and pain at back of foot, flat foot arches, difficulty walking

Full Article: Tarsal Coalition

Compression of the posterior tibial nerve where it passes through the outer ankle

Causes: Reduced space in the tarsal tunnel e.g. bone spurs or cysts, oedema

Symptoms: Shooting/burning pain, tingling & numbness on inner ankle and under foot

Full Article: Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Damage to the toe causes bleeding underneath the nail. AKA subungual hematoma 

Causes: Toe being forced against front of shoe e.g. runner suddenly stopping or changing direction, tight footwear

Symptoms: Throbbing pain, nail appears red/black. Usually affects big toe or second toe

Full Article: Tennis Toe

Painful foot condition dating back to the WW1 trenches now common at festivals

Causes: Prolonged exposure to damp, cold conditions reduces blood flow to feet

Symptoms: Feet turn grey, cold, heavy, prickly & numb

Full Article: Trench Foot

Sprain of the big toe. Ligaments and joint capsule damaged when toe bends back too far

Causes: Artificial surfaces, push-off phase of sprinting, falling forwards, tackle, jumping

Symptoms: Toe pain, swelling and bruising which gets gradually worse

Full Article: Turf Toe

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