Many people experience foot pain while walking. The reasons for this phenomenon are quite diverse. Sometimes discomfort manifests itself only with increased loads or stress. But there are times when pain occurs and at rest. The discomfort experienced by a person can not only cause discomfort, but actually immobilize him. What can cause foot pain when walking? The causes are most often hidden in diseases. Consider the most common pathologies and methods for their treatment.
Why does discomfort appear?
This question arises for every person who experiences pain in the foot while walking. The reasons are often hidden in violations of the body.
Sources of discomfort may include:
- joint problems
- diseases of the vertebral part of the skeleton;
- diseases of the blood vessels;
- previous injuries;
- pathology of the peripheral nervous system.
Thus, hidden and overt diseases can be a source of pain.
Consider the most common diseases.
Plantar fasciitis
This disease is more commonly known as heel spur. Pathology is characterized by proliferation of bone tissue.
Plantar fasciitis is manifested by the following symptoms:
- acute pain in the foot when walking, especially in the heel area, when you click on it;
- swelling at the site of bone growth;
- manifestation of pain in the morning.
The basic causes of the development of this disease are: flat feet, rheumatism, as well as the consequences of injuries and infections. If you find the first signs of the disease, you must consult a doctor who will recommend a course of treatment.
At the initial stages of the development of the disease, the following measures can bring significant relief:
- transition to more comfortable shoes;
- the use of orthopedic insoles;
- massage course;
- performance of special exercises that ensure stretching of the fascia and muscles of the leg.
At a late stage, treatment involves the administration of corticosteroid injections. And in some cases, resort to surgical intervention. During the operation, altered tissues and bone growth are removed.
Bursitis of the foot
This disease is an inflammatory process in the periarticular bag of the Achilles tendon.
The main symptoms of bursitis are:
- severe pain in the foot when walking;
- swelling of the affected area;
- redness of the damaged area;
- discomfort is felt under the fingers, in the pads.
Such symptoms indicate the development of an inflammatory process.
The occurrence of bursitis is dictated by:
- excessive physical exertion;
- infection of various origins;
- the development of arthrosis.
Treatment depends on the origin of the disease:
- If an arthritic process occurs, it is first necessary to exclude the traumatic factor. It is recommended to limit physical activity. If the pain persists, NSAIDs are prescribed.
- In the case of infectious bursitis, corticosteroid injections are recommended. In addition, non-steroidal type anti-inflammatory drugs are included in the therapy. The compresses with Dimexidum medicine will bring benefit.
Arthritis development
Pain in the foot when walking, after sleep, in the morning, can be caused by arthritis. With this disease, cartilage tissue in the articular joints is destroyed. There are several varieties of this ailment:
- osteoarthritis;
- gout;
- rheumatoid arthritis.
For pathology, such signs are characteristic:
- in the morning, after sleep, stiffness appears in small joints;
- the affected area thickens and swells;
- while walking, the sore joint quickly gets tired;
- redness is observed in the affected area.
For arthritis, the patient is recommended pain medication, NSAIDs. Injections into the joint cavity may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and eliminate severe pain. If infectious arthritis is at the heart of discomfort, then antibiotics are included in the treatment.
Morton's neuroma
It is this disease that is most often the reason that women experience pain in the foot when walking in heels. The foot is in the wrong position for a long time. As a result, the sock is overloaded.
Pathology is characterized by a thickening of the interdigital nerves. Tumors, called neuromas, begin to develop. This is a benign growth that forms from the nerve myelin sheaths.
Most often, in women with a diagnosis of Morton's neuroma, the foot is deformed, swelling is present. Pain arises as a result of compression of the nerve, which in this state does not receive the necessary nutrition. This usually occurs while walking.
Discomfort with flat feet
Such a pathology is faced by many people. After all, flat feet is one of the most common and well-known forms of foot deformation. The disease can be congenital and acquired. Therefore, you should contact an orthopedist if suddenly pain in the foot begins to appear when walking. The causes of the disease are hidden in the weakness of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus.
The main symptoms of flat feet include:
- increased leg fatigue and possible cramps;
- visual defect of the foot, which leads to accelerated wear of shoes;
- pains in the outer sides of the feet, provoked by improper weight distribution.
Effective treatment is possible only in childhood. In adulthood, pathology is incurable. However, there are a number of techniques aimed at reducing pain.
Recommended:
- use special shoes or orthopedic insoles;
- daily do gymnastics, strengthening the arches of the feet.
Marching foot
Accurately determine this disease is possible only with the help of x-ray examination.
But there are a number of symptoms that indicate this pathology:
- pain in the foot and in the rise;
- swelling of the back of the foot.
Traumatic tenosynovitis or midfoot is a deformation resulting in uncomfortable shoes. The disease can be caused by increased loads. As a rule, the pathology is diagnosed in the military, mainly at the initial stages of service. Be sure to consult a doctor if you are concerned about foot pain while walking. Reasons, treatment can be correctly explained only by a specialist.
The course of therapy depends on the stage of development of the disease. During periods of acute pain, bed rest is recommended. Sometimes gypsum is applied to the foot and rise. When the pain subsides, massage and warming procedures are prescribed.
Foot injuries
No one is safe from such pathologies. In injuries, the main complaint is a sharp pain in the foot when walking, and sometimes at rest. In addition, discomfort can spread to adjacent areas. It depends on the type of injury.
Pathology arises as a result of:
- sharp single blow;
- permanent minor microtraumas.
There are two main types of injuries:
- Sprain. The appearance of this injury is due to living conditions. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the damage. In case of slight stretching, the damaged area swells. In this area there is a pulling pain. Treatment in this case includes rest and restraint of movement for 5 days. In case of more serious damage, the discomfort is strong enough, leading to dizziness.
- Calcaneus fracture . In most cases, an injury provokes an unsuccessful jump or fall.
An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor by conducting an X-ray examination. Treatment may vary, depending on the type of injury. Surgical intervention is not excluded.
In case of unpleasant sensations, you should immediately consult a doctor in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.
The main methods of treatment
Of course, you need to see a doctor if there is pain in the foot when walking. Causes and treatment are closely related. And only a specialist after diagnosis can choose adequate therapy.
However, there are several recommendations on how to reduce foot discomfort before a visit to the doctor:
- Rest and reduce physical activity. If you feel unwell, it is recommended to reduce the number of walks, give your feet more rest.
- Women are better off refraining from wearing heels.
- Wear orthopedic shoes. It significantly reduces muscle fatigue. In childhood, such shoes can cure flat feet.
- Use orthopedic insoles.
There are a number of traditional medicine methods that have proven effective. Consider them.
Contrast douche
The principle of this method is very simple. For several minutes, it is necessary to pour water over your feet, alternating cold and hot jets for a minute.
But before use, you must consult your doctor. Since there are a number of diseases in which such procedures are contraindicated.
Essence of relaxation
Benefits: eucalyptus, rosemary and juniper oils. Baths with these herbs provide relaxation to the legs and reduce pain.
It is necessary to pour hot water into a basin. Add there 6 drops of the above oils. Dip your feet in the bath. The procedure continues until the water cools down.
Massage treatments
The simplest and most famous form of getting rid of unpleasant pain in the legs is massage.
The main advantage of the method is that it does not require any additional devices. Such a procedure can be done independently.
Take a little cream and rub in a circular motion into the feet. Massage your toes separately.
Salt foot bath
One of the oldest remedies for pain in the feet is Epsom salt. It is necessary to draw hot water, add a few spoons of this product there and lower your legs. After the bath, rinse your feet with cool water.
Ice use
Do not forget that you should first find out if there is pain in the foot when walking, the reasons. Treatment with folk remedies includes many effective techniques and old recipes. But they can be used only after diagnosis, so as not to provoke unpleasant consequences.
In case of unbearable pain, you can turn to ice. Wrap it in a towel and attach it to the inflamed area. After the procedure, it is better to lubricate this place with an alcohol solution.
Special gymnastics
Exercise will help to cope with discomfort in the feet.
Use these movements:
- Foot rotation. This exercise is best done in several approaches. 10 rotational movements in one direction, then in the other.
- Barefoot roll a small ball. This stimulates blood circulation in the foot and softens the tissues.
- Use your toes to lift small objects from the floor, such as pens and pencils.
- Organize a light foot massage by placing some dry legumes in your house shoes.
Despite the large number of recommendations, do not rush to resort to using folk remedies on your own. Consult a doctor initially.