Chronic Pain In Feet: [Causes, Symptoms & Best Treatment]
Chronic Pain in Feet is very TREATABLE! The most common cause is over-pronation and flat feet. We go over the best chronic 100% best treatment options!
Table of Contents
Heel Pain Causes: Picture & Photo Gallery
Look:
- One of the top causes of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. This is damage to a ligament that holds your heel to your toes.
- Another root cause of heel pain has flat feet.
- There are also photos of heel spurs that can occur to the bottom of your heel (plantar fascia insertion) and the back of your heel (Achilles tendon insertion).
- Baxter’s nerve entrapment can also happen at the bottom of the heel.
- An underlying cause is an overpronated flatfoot or an over a supinated high arched foot.
- A plantar fibroma is a thick nodule that can occur within your plantar fascia ligament and contribute to plantar fasciitis.
- This can lead to the formation of a heel stress fracture( AKA calcaneus stress fracture.)
Please click on the gallery for a guided tour through heel pain conditions!
Causes:
- Many factors and conditions can cause chronic pain in your feet localized to your toenails and surrounding areas.
- Scan the list below for a list of common and uncommon causes of toenail pain.
Toenail Problems:
- Toenail Fungus
- Very Long Toenails
- Ingrown Toenail
- Bruised Toenails
- Toenail Falling Off
- Permanent Ingrown Toenail Removal Surgery
- Black Streaks Under The Nails
- White Patches On Toenails
- Black Spot Under The Toenail
- Red Spot Under The Toenail
- Green Spot Under The Toenail
- Toenail Coming Off The Nail Bed
- Toenail Psoriasis
- Black Toenail
Uncommon Toenail Pain Causes:
- Psoriasis under the toenails
- Lichen planus
- Eczema
- Bacterial infection
- Foot Wart
- Subungual melanoma
- Swollen Nail Bed
- Toe Osteochondroma
- Keratin Granulations Treatment
Big Toe Joint Problems:
The following conditions and problems can be the cause of your Chronic pain in feet that is localized to the big toe area:
- Bunion
- Gout
- Hallux limitus
- Hallux rigidus
- Sesamoiditis
- Sprained Big Toe
- Turf toe
- Broken Toe
- Swollen Toe
- Dislocated Toe
- Hallux Varus
- Flexor Hallucis Tendinitis
- Foot Arthritis
- Big Toe Tendon Pain.
- Pinched Nerve in Big Toe.
- Pain to the Knuckle.
- Broken Big Toe.
- Foot Joint Arthritis.
Skin Problems:
Skin can be the culprit when it comes to chronic feet pain. Scan the list for the following causes of Chronic pain in the feet due to skin problems.
Toe Pain:
Ball of the Foot Pain:
Chronic pain in the feet can frequently be due to the ball of the foot, and these are the most common causes of foot pain.
- Bent Big Toe.
- Straight Big Toe.
- Pain in Small Toes (2-4th Toes).
- Sprained Big Toe (Turf Toe).
- The Ball of Your Foot.
- Ball of the Foot-Second Toe.
- Little toe (5th toe.
- The Outside of the Foot.
- Top of the Foot Pain.
- Foot Arthritis.
- Toe Cramps Or Spasms.
- Long Second Toe.
Arch & Bottom of the Foot Pain:
- While many conditions and problems cause chronic pain localized in the heels of feet, the most common condition is Plantar Fasciitis.
- Visit the page below to learn more about Plantar Fasciitis and other conditions that are probable causes of heel pain.
- This is the most common source of heel and arch pain.
- It is worse in the morning & better with a massage.
- This Includes heel spur treatment.
- If it feels like you do not have any fat pad cushion in your heel
- This gradually onsets in high activity people starting a new activity, and it presents over days and weeks as aching deep heel pain.
Posterior Tibial Nerve Entrapment:
- The posterior tibial nerve runs along the back and inside of the ankle.
- You will feel numbness, burning, and tingling.
- This happens after a long-running or a big fall.
- This is a deep contusion after stepping on a stone.
Heel Pain:
- This is the most common source of heel and arch pain, and it is worse in the morning & better with a massage.
- This is a bump anywhere along your arch, and it could be one or multiple.
- This feels like a pebble under your skin.
- This can happen when you fall violently.
- There may be swelling and bruising in the midfoot.
Posterior Tibial Nerve Entrapment:
- The posterior tibial nerve runs along the back and inside of the ankle.
- You will feel numbness, burning, and tingling.
- If you have severe pain in your arch after a fall or injury.
- Foot cramps are the most common muscle spasm in our body.
- If it feels like you do not have any fat pad cushion in the ball of your foot.
- This can happen when you fall violently.
- There may be swelling and bruising big toe joint.
- Foot cramps are the most common muscle spasm in our body.
- This is a deep contusion after stepping on a stone.
Back of the Heel:
This has four very common causes:
2) Back Of The Heel Spur.
4) Hagland’s Bump.
Ankle Pain:
Most Likely:
- Outside of the Ankle
- Front of the Ankle
- Inside of the Ankle
- Pain above the wheel in the back of the foot
Less Likely:
- Heel Pain or Bottom of the Foot Pain
- Back of the heel or Bottom of the HheelCalf Pain
- Shin Pain
- Top of the Foot Pain
Chronic Foot Pain Home Treatment:
- There are usually two phases to the bottom of the foot pain treatment.
- The two phases of treatment include controlling the acute inflammation and correcting the biomechanics, which led to the problem in the first place.
- If the tendons and ligaments are inflamed, they are almost frozen in place and cannot function properly.
- Once the inflammation is decreased, we need to correct the biomechanical causes to ensure that they can never become overworked and inflamed again!
- This doesn’t matter whether it’s plantar fasciitis, plantar fibroma, the sore bottom of the foot, or even Achilles tendon pain. Treatment is all roughly very similar.
Best Heel Pain Products:
- There are usually two phases to treating plantar fasciitis pain.
- The two phases of treatment include controlling the acute inflammation, and correcting the biomechanics which led to the problem in the first place.
- If the tendons and ligaments are inflamed, they are almost frozen in place and cannot function properly.
- Once the inflammation is decreased, we need to correct the bio-mechanical causes to ensure that they can never become over worked and inflamed again!
- This doesn’t matter whether it’s plantar fasciitis, plantar fibroma, sore bottom of foot, or even Achilles tendon pain. Treatment is all roughly very similar.
Plantar Fasciitis or Achilles Tendonitis Inflammation:
Massage & Ice Products:
- Ice is the an excellent option that can be safe for almost everyone.
- There is some debate whether icing is worth doing, but for chronic pain this can help limit the need for medications and keep your options open.
- This works great for your arch, less for the ball of the foot.
- The more muscle and ligament tissue there is, the better ice will work there.
Menthol Based Gels:
- Biofreeze is one of our favorites.
- These gels have been studied to work 2x as long as ice.
- This works great for the ball of the foot.
- This can be very effective for bottom of the heel and Achilles tendon sore regions.
Massage Sticks:
- These can work great for loosening your muscles.
- This allows less tightness and pressure on the ball of your foot.
- This is very effective for the arch, the gastrocnemius or calf muscle and for the hamstring and thigh muscles.
- This also works very well for the gluteus muscles if you are having butt cheek or hip pain.
Remove the Plantar Fascia or Achilles Tendon Stress:
- The key is to prevent future pain.
- This means keeping you active while keeping stress off of your plantar fascia tendon. This will prevent future re-injury and development of plantar fasciitis.
- If you can get rid of the pain and swelling, this will let you start walking normally.
- If you can walk normally, the vast majority of your pain should gradually start to go away.
- The best way to ensure that your plantar fascia, foot and ankle ligaments are not overworked is to support them.
- The best way to support them is to use great orthotics and great shoes.
- Some people may also need to rely on supportive ankle braces and other supportive modalities.
The Best Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis Shoes:
- Getting a great supportive pair of shoes will make sure that there is pressure removed from the heel and plantar fascia region.
- This is especially important if you have plantar fasciitis, heel spur pain or Achilles tendonitis.
- Consider shoes combined with a good supportive orthotic for best pain relief!
- The following link will show you what our favorites are.
Best Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis Orthotics:
- These are our recommended orthotics for plantar fasciitis.
- Custom orthotics can work very well, but they should not be a first line of treatment.
- There are different types for different shoes.
- Women’s shoes usually need a less bulky orthotic, but allow for less correction.
- A full length orthotic requires a running shoe, boot or comfortable walking/dress shoe.
- We recommend doing everything you can to get a good supportive shoe that can fit a full length orthotic.
- This is the best way to maximize your orthotics for great results.
Best Full Length Orthotics:
- These will only work in wider shoes or a good supportive running shoe.
- This will not work in sandals, flats or most women’s dress shoes.
Best Dress Shoe Orthotics:
- These are a great choice for dress orthotics.
Best 3/4 Length Orthotics:
- These are great options for women’s dress shoes and thinner shoes.
- These are not the most supportive pair of orthotics.
Get A Great Dynamic Stretch:
- It is possible to stretch on your own, but these products can also really help!
- This will take pressure off of the ball of your foot.
- We personally prefer this method of stretching.
Get A Great Static Stretch:
- These devices are great for stretching while you are resting.
- This will also help take pressure off of the ball of your foot.
- This works great for plantar fasciitis.
- It can be used while watching TV or at night time.
Best Heel Compression Brace:
- A good compression brace can stabilize your foot from turning outward.
- This prevents your foot from pronated.
- Pronated foot will turn your foot outward in your foot will rub on the outside of the shoe.
- For many of her patients this has solved their pain and is very comfortable to wear inside your shoe.
- This solves both pain and outward pronation for a relatively low cost.
Best Heel Stability Brace:
- Stability brace goes little bit further than the compression brace to stop your foot from turning out.
- This takes pressure off of your heel and plantar fascia.
- At the same time this is a little bit bulkier and does not affect every shoe.
- We find people are little bit happier trying the compression brace before the stability brace.
Heel Injury:
- If you think you might have a broken heel, a calcaneal stress fracture or something of similar severity, these products might help!
- Always remember to see a foot and ankle specialist like a podiatrist if you are having plantar fasciitis or more severe pain!
Plantar Fascia Tear, Broken Heel Bone, Achilles Tendon Tear:
- If you have a traumatic injury such as a torn plantar fascia ligament, calcaneus stress fracture, heel fracture or insertional Achilles tendon injury: consider protecting your foot!
- The best way to do this is of course to see your podiatrist and get evaluated with an x-ray, ultrasound and potentially even an MRI or CT scan.
- If you are unable to do so it may benefit you to be in a cast, fractured boot, or even keep the weight off of it with a rolling knee scooter or other protective devices.
- We as podiatrists frequently take patients off work for very long period of time when they suffer a traumatic injury, unfortunately there is no other way around us in labor jobs.
- If you have a sit down job there are ways to get people back to work quicker, but this can be very difficult otherwise.
Heel Injury Boot Treatment:
- There are pros and cons to using a boot to treat your heel injury. If you are immobilized too long the cons are that you will gradually become stiff and overworked to your other leg. The Pros are that you injured heel will hopefully have a chance to gradually heal!
- Our favorite fracture boots and their supplies:
Offloading and Scooter treatment:
- These are favorite knee scooters and walking devices: