If you’re anything like how I used to be, then you will be familiar with experiencing the occasional “shooting” type of foot pain after putting your feet through a long and stressful day. It is important for you to be able to have your foot pain diagnosed properly. With that in mind, I have prepared this post to hopefully help you do this.
The first type of foot pain that I want to discuss is Heel Spurs.
Foot Pain Known as Heel Spurs
The symptoms of heel spurs are very similar to those of plantar fasciitis, in-fact heel spurs are often wrongly diagnosed as plantar fasciitis. The pain is very similar and is also found in the same parts of the foot. Like plantar fasciitis, the foot pain is usually at its worst in the mornings after sleeping or after prolonged periods of inactivity. If you find that the sorest point of the foot is where the heel and the arch meet, then it probably means that it’s a heel spur.
A heel spur is a growth of bone on the underside of the heel at the point where the muscles and ligaments attach. The aforementioned heel spur growths occur when the heel bone loses some of its fascia, resulting in little droplets of blood being left behind on the heel bone. After a while, these droplets solidify and become a bone-like growth on the heel bone causing an unpleasant foot pain sensation.
If you have foot pain caused by heel spurs then see your doctor to gain permanent relief from it. You will definitely benefit from wearing orthotics and if the symptoms warrant it, then surgery may be the answer.
The Next Type of Foot Pain is a Metatarsal Stress Fracture
This type of foot pain would be located along the top of your foot, on the long bone which joins your toes with the top of your foot. The symptoms are a stabbing pain along the top of your foot. The affected area is often swolen and / or red. A common cause of a metatarsal stress fracture is long distance running or playing sports in which you use your feet such as soccer. It usually takes around 6 weeks to completely recover from this type of foot pain.
Plantar Fasciitis Foot Pain
Plantar fasciitis is probably the most common of foot pain injuries. The pain is often at its most excruciating after prolonged periods of inactivity such as sleep or rest. Where as with heel spurs, the pain is at the front of the heel, with plantar fasciitis the foot pain is located in the center of the heel. This is caused when the plantar fascia (the connecting tissue between your toes and your heel which forms your foot’s arch) becomes damaged by overstretching and overuse.
If you want to treat this type of foot pain then it is imperative that you ensure that your calves and hamstrings are warmed up first by performing some stretching exercises as outlined in this plantar fasciitis stretches post.
Finally, the foot pain condition that I would like to discuss is flat feet.
Flat Feet
People with flat feet (fallen arches) experience a myriad of symptoms including sore arches, aches and pains in their feet, legs and lower back. Providing additional support by strapping the arch often helps to aleviate the foot pain. If you suffer with foot pain caused by flat feet then I would recommend that you visit your local podiatrist.