Sole Injury Causes and Treatment With Dr. Ivan Silva
Why Is the Sole of My Foot Hurting?
Did you know that the sole of your feet carries all your weight? So what are the repercussions of this? Foot pain may be a result of several things.
- You may have overused your feet. This is the common cause of foot pain and happens when your plantar fascia, which connects your heel bone to your toes, become overstressed when you walk or run too much. As a result, it can lead to foot and ankle pain.
- Your feet are prone to injury every time you walk. For example, you could hit your feet on a rock or accidentally walk on hazardous material or items like sharp objects. You could also step awkwardly on your feet and get injured. For example, if you don’t know how to walk in high heels.
- Wearing narrow-toed shoes could also result in foot pain.
- The sole of your foot hurting could result from an underlying medical condition like plantar fasciitis, fallen arches, and sesamoids.
In order to make an accurate diagnosis, Dr. Ivan Silva, a podiatrist in Santo Domingo, will perform basic tests and ask you when the pain started.
Pain in the Sole of Foot
To better understand foot pain in the sole of your feet, you will need to know the physiology of the foot. This is because different medical conditions or ailments affect different parts of the foot and sole.
So to pinpoint the exact condition, you need to pay close attention to the part of your foot that is in pain.
Parts of the Foot Sole
The sole can be divided into four regions. They include:
- The toe region consists of the under part of the big toe, second, third, and fourth toes, and the pinky toe.
- The metatarsal region, where the metatarsal bones rest upon.
- The arch region consists of 28 bones that are supported by the muscles and ligaments.
- The heel region where the heel bone rests upon.
For people with this foot layout, their arch region rarely touches the ground when they stand. However, for people with flat feet, their entire foot touches the ground when they stand, leading to poor foot mechanics. This condition is referred to as planus and is normal among infants up to 2 years. It tends to disappear with age as the tendons tighten in the foot.
Foot Sole Anatomy
Due to the continuous placing of body weight on the sole, it has the thickest layers of skin than any other body part.
A thick connective tissue also supports the sole. It is called the plantar fascia. It supports the arch that you find on the bottom of the foot. It also connects the heel bone to the base of the toes.
It is also important to note that the sole has a high concentration of nerve tissue and endings, as many as 200,000. This makes the sole very sensitive to touch and also pain. As a result, humans began wearing shoes in order to protect their feet from potentially dangerous items on the ground.
What Are the Symptoms of Sole Pain?
- Sole pain presents itself as stabbing pain on the sole of your foot. If the pain is in the heel or bottom mid-foot area, it could be a symptom of Plantar fasciitis. Heel pain can prevent your normal day-to-day functioning, especially when severe.
- Some people also report feeling a burning ache or shooting pain on the sole.
- In some cases, you will feel tenderness in the region of the foot that is in pain.
- If the region where the pain is presenting itself is stiff, it might result from corns and calluses.
- Difficulty in walking, especially on hard surfaces, may also be a sign of sole pain that needs to be addressed by a qualified and experienced podiatrist.
Sole Injury Treatment
If you experience an injury on the soles of your feet, you could try a few first aid techniques to treat the injury before going to see a podiatrist. For example:
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Icing the affected area
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Elevating the painful foot to ease blood flow and avoid putting excessive strain on the injured sole
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Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce foot pain
If the injury is extreme such that it causes severe pain, seek the services of a foot specialist.
Sole Injury Treatment Plan
An effective treatment plan will help you resume your normal daily activities of walking, running, and climbing, free from pain or discomfort on the sole area.
Our services for treating sole injuries include:
- Physical therapy
- Surgery of the sole from the best foot and ankle surgeons in Santo Domingo.
- The podiatrist may recommend the removal of the top layer if the pain results from a plantar wart.
Sole Injuries: Tips for Preventing Them
To prevent an injury from happening to the sole and all related foot problems, you might want to consider these health tips:
- Avoiding tight shoes: Shoes that are too tight can hinder blood flow. Narrow-toed shoes in particular should be avoided. Opt for shoes that will be comfortable for long periods of time and will remain comfortable during vigorous physical activities, such as sneakers and espadrilles.
- Weight loss: Foot problems such as pain and inflammation are associated with overweight or obesity. Losing weight will reduce strain and foot pain on your soles if you are overweight.
- Shoe inserts: For conditions such as plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and neuromas, supportive shoes or inserts such as soft insoles and foot pads can provide relief. In addition, the sole of your shoe should be hard but comfortable to not let foreign objects into the sole area of your foot.
- Moderately intense exercises: Exercising slowly can help you strengthen your plantar fascia, which supports your arch.
Get Treated Today for a Sole Injury
You may experience foot pain or discomfort when walking, after walking or doing a vigorous activity, or even after you wake up and take the first few steps. It might be mild pain. However, if symptoms persist and you feel severe foot pain, seek medical advice immediately from a podiatrist. If foot pain is ignored for extended periods of time, it may worsen an underlying medical condition.
Dr. Ivan Silva will get back to you within 48 hours after you leave a note on this website explaining your foot pain or asking a question.
