Common Foot Problems: Causes, Risks, and Treatment

People grow old every day, and so do the parts of the body. Although the feet are an important part of everyone’s body, we tend not to look at them and fail to give them the proper care. A common problem that many people experience after the age of forty is foot pain.    

Foot problems can occur in different types, including the top, bottom, sides, heels, toes, nerves, and more. Understanding the various forms through which foot pain occurs is important to determining the causes and risk factors. Let’s get to know them in this blog.

Causes of Foot Pain

1. Injury

Injuries are a common cause of foot pain. These injuries may happen due to sudden accidents or excessive strain on the foot muscles and ligaments. Athletes are at a higher risk for this situation.

2. Inflammation

Many foot conditions, such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, bursitis, and others, can cause pain and swelling. These conditions occur due to repetitive stress, improper footwear, or prolonged standing. 

3. Nerve Damage

Neurological conditions can affect the nerves in the foot, leading to symptoms like burning, tingling, numbness, or shooting pain. Diabetes-related neuropathy is a common cause that can make even minor injuries go unnoticed and lead to severe complications.

4. Structural Issues

Some individuals are born with or develop foot problems due to the foot’s structure, such as flat feet, bunions, or hammertoes. These may cause improper foot alignment and accidents, leading to pain, discomfort, and difficulty in walking without proper foot structure.

5. Arthritis

Conditions like arthritis and its types can result in joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. These are caused by the tear in the tissues of the joints or occur due to a sediment deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints, particularly in the toes.

6. Infections

Fungal infections like athlete’s foot, warts, ulcers, and bacterial infections can cause foot pain. These infections can come from poor hygiene, excessive sweating, or diabetes, leading to open wounds.

7. Poor Footwear

Wrong shoes, high heels, or shoes without arch support can cause foot pain. Shoes that are too tight can cause blisters, corns, and calluses, while footwear that is not supportive can lead to misalignment, arch pain, and joint stress.

Risk Factors for Foot Pain

1. Age

As people age, there will be a natural disturbance in the tissue on the joints, muscles, and ligaments, which is a risk factor. It is important to have a regular check-up once every 3 to 6 months if you cross the age of 35.

2. Gender

Compared to men, women get more foot problems due to the frequent use of high heels and tight shoes, which causes foot problems. Additionally, hormonal changes can be an add-on fact for women that affects joint and ligament flexibility, increasing the risk of injuries.

3. Pregnancy

During pregnancy, hormonal changes, weight gain, and fluid retention can cause swollen feet and increased foot pain. Many pregnant women experience this.

4. Weight

Being overweight puts extra pressure on the feet, leading to pain, swelling, and an increased risk of foot conditions. 

5. Sports and Physical Activity

Athletes are at a greater risk of foot injuries. Proper warm-ups, stretching, and wearing the right shoes while doing physical activities can help prevent these injuries.

6. Occupation

Jobs requiring long standing or walking hours, such as teaching, retail work, healthcare, and construction, can contribute to foot pain. When you stand for a long time, the pressure could cause leg pain.

Types of Foot Problems:

1. Foot Ulcer

A foot ulcer is a type of wound, or it can also be sore, that occurs due to 5 causes:

• Diabetes
• Nerve damage
• Poor blood circulation
• Foot pressure
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Foot ulcers worsen if you don’t give them proper care and treatment. Most people don’t even recognize that they have a foot ulcer unless or until the condition goes terrible. If a foot ulcer gets worse, it may leave you with gangrene and amputation by causing tissue death. 

2. Tropic Ulcer

A tropic ulcer is also called a neurotrophic ulcer. It is a long-term wound that is caused by: 

• Nerve damage
• Poor blood circulation
• Immobility
• Foot pressure
• Non-healing wounds

Tropic ulcers frequently occur in people with leprosy, venous insufficiency, or paralysis. They are similar to foot ulcers, but they have clear borders and are sometimes painless. If you delay treatment, the risk increases, which may lead to amputation.

3. Ingrown Toenail

When a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, it is called an ingrown toenail. This causes pain, redness, and swelling. This affects the big toe, which is due to: 

• Improper nail trimming
• Wrong and tight footwear
• Foot injuries

This will lead to a strong infection, the formation of pus, sharp pain, and swelling, which may require removing a nail or cutting off the infected area.

4. Charcot Foot

A deformity that changes the foot’s shape is called a Charcot Foot. This may occur due to:

• Nerve damage
• Injuries
• Accidents
• Genetic
• By birth

When you have Charcot’s foot, there won’t be any pain; over time, your feet will become swollen and deformed. Even this will call for amputation or make you unable to walk if you don’t take proper care.

5. Neuropathy (Nerve Damage in Feet)

Neuropathy is damage to nerves, which is caused due to: 

• Diabetes
• Poor blood flow
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Alcoholism

Effects: 

• Foot burning problems
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Sharp pain in the feet

These are a few effects you will have while you have nerve damage. When this condition continues, you will lose the ability to feel the pain, injuries, or infections. 

This condition also leads to:

• Muscle weakness
• Balance issues
• Risk of foot ulcers 
• Deformities in foot

It is important to visit a diabetes doctor and take proper treatment if you have diabetes for a longer time.

6. Foot Burning (Burning Feet Syndrome)

Foot burning problem is when you feel discomfort in your feet due to a constant tingling effect or rising temperature, especially at night. This is caused by:

• Neuropathy
• Poor blood circulation
• Vitamin deficiencies
• High alcohol consumption
• Diabetes
• Thyroid
• Nerve compression

When you ignore the foot-burning sensation, your foot function may collapse and you might lose your ability to walk.

7. Gangrene Foot

Foot tissues die and become Gangrene. This happens due to:

• Severe infections
• Lack of blood supply
• Foot pressure 
• Ulcer 

This is an emergency since the dead tissue cannot regenerate and will spread. 

Gangrene typically starts with:

• Discoloration
• Turning the skin colour (blue, purple, or black) 

And develops severe into:

• Foul-smelling 
• Pus formation
• Severe pain 
• Numbness

In some cases, gangrene is accompanied by fever and sepsis. It needs immediate medical attention or it might make you lose your foot.

8. Fungal Infections (Athlete’s Foot & Toenail Fungus)

Fungal infections are very common foot problems that affect people irrespective of their age and gender. It usually affects skin and nails, and easily develops due to the following:

• Improper hygiene
• Wetness in foot
• Excessive moisturizer
• Wearing footwear for a long time while sweating

Athlete’s foot causes itchy, red, scaly skin, often especially between the toes.

Toenail fungus, leads to thickened, yellow, or brittle nails that may become painful over time.

If left untreated, fungal infections might spread to other parts of the foot, causing extreme discomfort and secondary bacterial infection.

Conclusion

Foot problems can arise from various causes and affect different parts of the foot. Identifying the source of the pain is important for getting the right treatment. Whether it’s a condition like a foot ulcer, fungal infection, corns, calluses, or neuropathy, understanding the type of foot problem can help in handling it effectively.

Routine checkups with a diabetes doctor and good foot care can greatly help your foot condition. Do not ignore any symptoms. Treatment for foot problems and foot burning is necessary to prevent the problem from becoming severe, sometimes leading to amputation. Book your consultation with Dr. Durai Diabetes and Foot Care Clinic.