Your feet play a key role in every aspect of the movement. They’re supporting your whole body and help absorb shock from every step you take. The importance of our feet cannot be overestimated. Hence, taking good care of your feet is crucial to prevent common problems and disorders. Certain foot problems are more widespread than others. These are either injuries or disorders that most people have once or multiple times.
To help you gain more knowledge about major causes of pain in your feet, below are the five most common ones and ways they can be treated.
1. Bunions
Bunions are probably the most known foot condition. They’re the painful bumps that protrude from your big toe joints. These bumps can be bony outgrowths or shifts in your toe. Usually, the base of your first metatarsal bone shifts outward (meaning your metatarsophalangeal joint points inwards), and bunions occur due to this misalignment.
Your bunions can result from any of the following culprits:
Foot type that makes you susceptible to bunions
Ill-fitting shoes
Inherited abnormal structure of the feet
Feet that roll inward when you walk
Luckily, stretching, exercises, OTC pain relievers, arch supports, and comfortable shoes are enough to manage bunion symptoms without undergoing surgical treatment.
2. Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the long and thick ligament that runs along the sole of your foot becomes inflamed. This condition is characterized by acute heel pain that worsens with movement and after long periods of rest.
If you’re a runner, you may be prone to develop this type of heel pain due to repeated pressure you put on your feet. Conservative treatment for plantar fasciitis involves massage, anti-inflammatory medicines, and custom orthotics. If your pain is too severe and persistent, undergoing fasciitis surgery may be necessary.
3. Athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot results from an inflammatory skin infection that typically affects the areas between your toes and the soles of your feet. The fungus that often triggers this condition is mostly present in public showers and locker rooms.
Athlete’s foot can be characterized by discolored, peeling skin between the toes and on the soles of feet. Sometimes these skin patches can be itching, cracking, stinging, or burning. Over-the-counter topical ointments, powders, creams, and sprays are typically used to treat these symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend soaking your feet in diluted vinegar or saltwater.
4. Ingrown toenails
Ingrown toenails typically develop when the edges of your nails curve and start growing into the surrounding skin. This condition can often be treated at home. However, severe cases require professional medical care.
Narrow shoes, improper trimming of the toenails, and foot injuries are the most common culprits of this condition. Home treatment includes warm water soaks, wearing comfortable shoes, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and applying topical antibiotics.
If your ingrown toenail becomes infected, surgical treatment is necessary. It involves the use of local anesthesia to numb the affected toe, removing the ingrown part of the toenail, and soaking the toe in a chemical to prevent a recurrence.
5. Nail fungus
Your toenails are highly susceptible to a fungus that is commonly found in dark, damp places. Because most people wear shoes for a larger portion of the day, they put their feet at the risk of infection and allow the fungus to thrive.
Typical symptoms of nail fungus include changes in color or shape of your nails, nail thickening, brittleness, and foul odor. This condition is very hard to treat, but you can use topical fungus medicines and oral antifungal drugs to stop early symptoms. Keeping your feet clean and dry, not sharing nail clippers, and wearing shoes in public places are great ways to prevent this problem from recurring. In case of severe infection, your doctor may cure the affected nail with surgery or chemical treatment.
