Foot Pain

What Causes Foot Pain?

Foot pain may arise due to advanced age, being overweight, excessive sports activities or walking, foot injury or trauma, inborn foot deformities, poorly fitted shoes, and from standing on your feet for a long duration. Certain disorders and conditions that may also induce foot pain include:

Diagnosis of Foot Pain

The diagnosis of Foot Pain can often include:

Medical History

Your doctor will ask questions about:

• Current symptoms and their severity
• If an injury was sustained
• Your medical history including family or genetic links
• Your current and past medications
• The impact of the problem on your occupation and lifestyle

Physical Examination

Your doctor perform comprehensive physical evaluation that will include:

• Examining the affected area for swelling, pain, bruising or other features
• Assessing your range of motion, walking pattern and other relevant features

Diagnostic Testing

Once your doctor has completed the physical examination further tests maybe required. These tests can help your doctor determine or eliminate possible causes. These can include:

• X-Ray
• Ultrasound (US)
• Computerised Tomography (CT)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Once a final diagnosis has been completed your doctor can discuss with you and recommend any treatment options.

Treatments for Foot Pain

The treatment for Foot Pain depends entirely on the type and the cause. Common treatments can include:

• Rest: Resting the affected area or pausing athletic activity until the symptoms have improved.
• Pain medication: Paracetamol or Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can relieve some pain or discomfort
• Acute injuries may require R.I.C.E.
• Rest: Rest the affected area as more damage could result from putting pressure on the injury.
• Ice: Ice should be applied over a towel to the affected area for 15-20 minutes every two to three hours during the day.
• Compression: Wrapping with an elastic bandage or an elasticated tubular bandage can help to minimize the swelling and provide support to the injured area.
• Elevation: Elevating the injured area above heart level will also help with swelling and pain.
• Physiotherapy: A physical therapist / physiotherapist may recommend exercise training and bracing to strengthen the area of pain and reduce the symptoms. This process commonly involves having a patient engage in a series of helpful exercises.
• Shoewear modification: You may require accomodative or custom shoewear to help support your foot.
• Orthotics: Special shoe inserts may be prescribed that may help relieve the pain.
• Injection Therapies: Certain foot conditions may benefit from an injection (typically corticosteroids) to reduce inflammation.
• Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatment: This procedure, also known as ECSW, involves sending electrical impulses into the muscle tissue surrounding the affected area to deliver force to damaged tissues. It can reduce inflammation and promote healing of damaged tissues.
• Aspiration: Sometimes a bursa or ganglion may be aspirated with a thin needle to remove fluid and reduce swelling or corticosteroids may be injected at the region to relieve pain.

Surgery for Foot Pain

Surgery is sometimes needed to treat Foot Pain. Surgery is performed only when conservative treatment is ineffective.