Foot Joint Pain
What Causes Foot Joint Pain? – Symptoms and Treatments
Any number of things can cause joint pain, but it’s most often an indication that something isn’t quite right with your health or lifestyle. This can include anything from a lack of exercise to developing an inflammatory disease like gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
However, if you experience joint pain, it’s crucial to determine the cause and ensure you’re treating it properly to prevent further pain or discomfort that could make simple tasks difficult or painful.
In this guide, we’ll explain what causes foot joint pain, how you can treat it, and how to prevent it in the future.
What Causes Foot Pain on the Joint of the Big Toe?
Pain on the joint of the big toe is called hallux limitus, or big toe arthritis. The joint disease typically affects middle-aged people who are overweight or have other risk factors for foot problems.
Further, if you experience a lot of joint pain in your feet after walking or running, you may have plantar fasciitis. This condition affects over 3 million Americans every year.
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue on your bottom foot called the plantar fascia. It can cause pain in the heel bone, arch, or toes. The pain may worsen when you get up in the morning or after sitting for long periods. It also could hurt during exercise.
Joint health and recovery from joint surgery can be improved by weight loss. The Arthritis Foundation says that losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight may help relieve pain associated with knee arthritis.
How to Treat the Foot and Ankle Pain?
What causes foot joint pain can be difficult to determine without consulting a podiatrist. However, specific symptoms tend to point toward common conditions that cause pain in a person’s feet. Some of these include:
- Neuroma or (nerve tumors)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Bunions or hammertoes
- Infections from fungi or bacteria
- Flat feet
- Poor blood circulation
The recommended treatments for these conditions vary depending on factors such as age, general health status, and activity level. For example, younger people with active lifestyles may benefit from surgery to correct joint disorders.
On the other hand, older individuals who have limited mobility due to other illnesses might benefit more from physical therapy or non-invasive treatments such as corticosteroids or shockwave therapy. Below are some methods to treat foot joint pain.
The Use of Pain Medication
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen effectively treat foot joint pain caused by inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe these medications; follow their instructions carefully.
NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation if taken in high doses or for long periods. Take them regularly during flare-ups of symptoms for best results instead of just when you feel a twinge.
Invest in Proper Footwear
If your foot pain is caused by a condition that can be corrected with surgery or non-invasive treatments, it’s important to start wearing shoes that fit properly. Wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause bunions to worsen or hammertoes to become even more pronounced.
In addition, flat feet can become more deformed if you don’t wear supportive shoes. Instead, talk to a podiatrist about choosing a pair of comfortable athletic shoes or dress shoes that are right for your feet.
Set a Weight Loss Goal
If your foot pain is caused by obesity or another condition that can be managed with diet and exercise, setting an achievable weight-loss goal can help motivate you to stick to your treatment plan.
For example, if you’re overweight because of poor eating habits, try planning meals in advance and keeping healthy snacks prepared so you don’t crave unhealthy foods.
Foot Joint Pain When Walking
If you feel a sharp pain at the front of your foot near your big toe when you walk or run (or if walking causes a dull ache in your foot), it could be plantar fasciitis.
Gait or running problems can also contribute to plantar fasciitis, as can obesity. The Mayo Clinic also recommends wearing shoes with good arch support and avoiding high heels, narrow shoes, and excessive pronation (rolling inward) or supination (rolling outward).
Orthotics may help, too. Cortisone injections may temporarily relieve some people with plantar fasciitis; joint replacement surgery is rarely needed.
What Causes Pain on the Top of My Foot Where it Bends?
Several things can cause this. However, it is critical to rule out any major problems or things that could be serious by visiting your foot and ankle surgeon.
This type of pain could also be due to arthritis or a traumatic injury where there is nerve damage causing discomfort.
To determine what is causing your pain, it is best to consult a podiatrist in Santo Domingo as soon as possible. This will allow us to effectively diagnose and treat your condition.
Can You Get Arthritis in One Foot?
Yes, you can. When the cartilage wears down over time, it results in stiffness and pain in the joint. Osteoarthritis (OA) may affect a specific joint or area, such as one foot. OA is a type of joint disease affecting your hips, knees, and fingers.
Arthritis may affect one foot but can cause in other areas such as your toes. In addition, arthritis can affect a specific body part, like the ankle joints. For further diagnosis and treatment, you may wish to consult a podiatrist if you experience any of these symptoms.
What Part of the Foot Hurts Due to Arthritis?
The most common joint to feel pain from arthritis is around your big toe. If you have foot pain, toe joint pain, or feel discomfort walking or standing for long periods, contact a podiatrist to see your treatment options.
Most treatments include custom orthotics that help support the arch in the foot, which takes the pressure off the plantar fascia ligament.
A Stitch in Time Will Always Save Nine
It’s essential to consult a podiatrist when you experience foot pain so they can carry out diagnostic tests.
Dr. Ivan Silva provides biomechanical assessment services, general health checks, electrotherapy treatments for plantar fasciitis, ultrasound scans for hallux valgus deformities (bunions), orthotics, podiatry surgeries like foot reconstruction and metatarsal osteotomy, as well as physiotherapy exercises for bunions, flat feet or swollen arches.
Contact a podiatrist now to book a free consultation on any of our services! In your consultation, we will assess your foot and answer any questions you may have about treating your foot pain.
