A pain in foot often indicates that there is something wrong with the interaction of internal structures of the foot as the foot is the foundation of athletic movements of the lower human body. Pain is an unpleasant feeling that tells us there is something wrong in our body system and pain in foot can signify how the foot is interacting with its internal influences. The time, location, and how the pain in foot occurs primarily give clues to what may be causing the pain.
Different conditions or injuries may cause foot pain and the most common are acute or repeated trauma, disease, or a combination of both. Poor biomechanical alignment resulting from trauma may lead to pain in foot. Wearing high-heeled shoes can cause pain around the ball of the foot including the bones in that area. Meanwhile, too tight shoes may also cause pain and bruises on the top of the foot. Some acute typical injuries such as ligament sprains, muscle sprains, bruises or fractures, may be the result of a single or variety of stresses on the foot. A sprain occurs when the ligaments that hold the bones in place are overstretched and their fibers tear; as the ligaments in the foot become loose, pain in foot will be experienced.
Various things cause foot problems, such as toe pain and painful toenails, forefoot pain, heel pain and arch pain. Toe pain is often caused by a corn, a type of callus formed of a protective layer of dead skin cells resulting from repeated friction. The intense pain in foot suffered by patients having a corn is due to exerted pressure on the core of the affected area on the nerves of the toe. Ill-fitting shoes or tight socks, especially on toe area, often end up in corn related pain. In order to protect toes from corns, one should wear proper fitting shoes and small pads to absorb friction. Other common causes of toe pain also include ingrown nails, Onychomycosis (fungal toenail infection), and bunion pain.
A bunion shows as a bone enlargement, a bulge on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe. In more extreme and painful cases, the big toe even grows forcedly beneath the second toe. This can push the remaining toes of the foot out of place and cause further discomfort, anxiety and pain in the foot. In bunion pain cases, surgery becomes the last resort to correct disfigurement caused by the disorder.
On the other hand, fungal toenail infection, often caused by peripheral vascular disease, traumatic nail abnormalities, and poor foot hygiene, can lead to disfigured, physical foot pain and painful toenails, or worse, hamper the persons ability to work. The infection on the toe can make the toenails turn yellow, gray, brown, or black. The discoloration often depends on the type of fungus causing the disease.
All of the diseases and conditions that cause pain in the foot can be prevented or treated using proper care, and by carefully following the advice given by medical professionals.