For jobs that require long hours on your feet, bottom-of-the-foot pain is an occupational hazard.
The pain may arise from problems with the bones, nerves, cartilage,tendons, orligamentsof your foot.
Depending on the condition, you may feel shooting pain or a constant ache.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Here are some of the more common causes ofbottom-of-the-foot pain.
Plantar Fasciitis
One of the most common causes of foot pain isplantar fasciitis.
Pain with plantar fasciitis may be dull or sharp.
The metatarsals help form the arch of the foot, which are essential for walking and weight-bearing activities.
Metatarsalgia pain is often described as being sharp, aching, or burning.
It can worsen when you stand, run, walk, or flex your feet.
Metatarsalgia is common in people who do high-impact activities, like running or jumping.
Older adults are more likely to develop metatarsalgia due to long-term repetitive stress.
This condition can cause pain and other abnormal sensations in the hands and feet.
Neuropathy pain is often described as tingling, burning, shocking, or stabbing.
The pain often gets worse with walking or standing.
Symptoms may include:
The neuroma can feel like a pebble in your shoe.
It is most common between the third and fourth toes.
People who are assigned female at birth are more likely to be affected.
Symptoms of sesamoiditis include a dull, longstanding pain beneath the big toe joint.
The pain comes and goes, usually occurring with certain shoes or certain activities.
This causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the foot.
It is often triggered by a respiratory or digestive infection and occasionally by certain vaccines.
In rare cases, GBS can cause permanent nerve damage, paralysis, or death.
Anyone can get GBS, but it is more common in adults over 50.
Your risk is also higher if you’ve had a recent surgery or have a preexisting autoimmune disease.
At other times, it becomes a chronic condition that impacts your quality of life.
This is important to make a definitive diagnosis of your bottom-of-the-foot pain.
Healthcare providers usually recommend starting with conservative options and moving to other treatments as needed.
That’s simply not true.
There are many effective strategies that can help.
Diet
Starting ananti-inflammatory dietis ideal for anyone experiencing pain.
Foods with turmeric, lemon water, and antioxidants may help reduce foot inflammation.
Losing weight, if needed, can reduce the stress on your feet.
Posture
Many people find thatimproving their posturelessens the stress on their feet and improves their pain.
You might also find it helpful to set a frequent alarm to remind you to correct your posture.
Last but not least, stretches and strength-building exercises are a must for correcting posture.
Stretching will release tension in your back, hips, and glutes and help you stand more evenly.
Exercises that strengthen your core, back, and shoulders will help you stand taller and align your spine.
Peripheral neuropathy can be harder to treat.
It is generally managed with medications such asanti-seizure drugsandantidepressants.
These drugs change how your nervous system functions.
Use ice for only 20 minutes at a time up to three times a day.
Don’t place ice packs directly against your skin.
Physical therapy can help you manage your plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, neuroma, or sesamoiditis.
In some cases, it may help with peripheral neuropathy.
This surgery involves removing the sesamoid bone.
The surgery involves cutting part of the plantar fascia to release tension and ease swelling.
Severe neuromasthat don’t get better with therapy can be treated with a minimally invasive procedure called a neurectomy.
A small incision is made in the foot and the affected nerve is removed.
Several possible surgeries can be done for severe metatarsalgia,depending on what has caused it.
If a deformity is to blame, ametatarsal osteotomycan be done to realign the metatarsal bone(s).
Surgery may be done for peripheral neuropathy, also depending on the cause.
The minimally-invasive procedure involves dividing the affected nerve to relieve pressure.
It can be done in an outpatient setting.
In addition to eating ahealthy dietand exercising regularly, carefully managing any chronic conditions is key.
If you smoke cigarettes,do all you’ve got the option to to quit.
Cigarette smoking promotes chronic inflammation.
Similarly, if you think you may bedependent on alcohol, consult with your healthcare provider.
Resolving an alcohol dependence can reduce your risk of peripheral neuropathy along with many other health conditions.
Summary
There are several possible causes of bottom-of-the-foot pain.
Symptoms can vary depending on the cause.
Diagnosing why the bottom of your foot hurts may include a physical exam and X-rays or other imaging.
Treatment may involve pain relief, lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and in severe cases, surgery.
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