Reasons for Foot Pain While Walking

Foot pain in one form or another is something that millions of people living with daily. Sometimes pain is mild and other times severe, pain can be caused by something simple or associated with a more serious underlying illness, and some people experience pain first thing in the morning while others have foot pain while walking. Regardless of the intensity, cause, or time of day, pain felt in the foot can be difficult to deal with. After all, a tremendous amount of demand is placed on the feet. Fastest way to get rid of such pains is using voltaren gel extra strength regulary. Rubbing it in the effected area twice a day will provide relief.

Obviously, when pain is felt while walking, this becomes a real problem. Keep in mind that there are times when pain could be eliminated with a few days of rest, ice compresses, and changing to a pair of shoes with a better arch. However, if an individual has pain for more than a few days, notices swelling, or experiences additional symptoms, it would be important to seek medical attention. Some over the counter medication that can provide relief is robax platinum.

Causes of Pain

The following list is a good representation of reasons most people have pain in one or both feet while walking but of course, there are others that could be considered.

• Arthritis – This inflammatory disease affects joints such as hips, fingers, and knees but it can also impact the foot. Although there is no actual cure for arthritis, doctors can recommend a number of treatments that would reduce or eliminate pain. It would be essential for a podiatrist to determine a person’s gait, which when coupled with the type and severity of the arthritis a proper treatment plan could be devised.

• Blisters – Everyone develops a blister at some point in life, which is usually caused from shoes that rub on the skin. Once treated, blisters heal quickly but if left untreated they can actually become infected. In fact, there are times when blisters become so large that in order for a person to walk, a doctor would need to use a sterile needle to drain the fluid, followed by applying antibiotic cream and dressing.

• Bone Spurs – When the heel bone is subjected to recurring stress, a condition known as osteoarthritis forms. With this, small pieces of bone growths or spurs begin to develop on the underside of this bone so when walking, pressure causes impact pain. In addition, bone spurs will often press on nerves. As a result, walking can become excruciating. Typically, minor surgery would be performed so the spurs could be shaved or clipped down.

• Bunions – Even small bunions can be painful, as well as unsightly but as they grow, wearing shoes and walking becomes near impossible. Because women are notorious for wearing ill-fitting and pointed shoes that force all the toes together, women develop bunions more often men do. This growth appears on the outside of the big toe but over time, it grows to the point of being a deformity. Again, a change of shoes or bunion aids would be essential but in the majority of cases, surgery is necessary.

• Corns / Calluses – This is another simple problem but even so, foot pain while walking could be quite severe depending on the size, location, and number of corns and calluses. These hardened areas of skin are formed when bones or skin rubs against shoes or even socks that do not fit properly. Therefore, the first course of action would be making an investment in new footwear. However, when corns and calluses are really bad, a podiatrist might need to consider minor surgery to remove them.

• Improper Footwear – One of the most common reasons and easiest to correct problems has to do with ill-fitting or improper footwear. Shoes of all types need to provide good arch support so if someone were walking in shoes without support it would be expected for pain to develop. The most important thing is to choose shoes according to activity and once shoes start to wear out, they should be tossed.

• Metatarsalgia – When a person walks, climbs, or stands on hard surfaces for an extended period, inflammation can develop in the tissue around the metatarsal joints/bones. The good news is that Metatarsalgia is easily corrected although it can take up to six weeks for complete healing but on the negative aspect of this condition is that pain can be intense, especially first thing in the morning and while walking.

• Peripheral Arterial Disease – Also known as PAD, this type of foot pain felt when walking is probably the worst. In this case, plaque builds up on arteries in the leg. Keep in mind that PAD is most often seen in people 65 years of age and older although it can develop earlier. For most people, walking is so painful that a walker or even wheelchair is eventually required. While exercise and diet helps, surgery is often the appropriate treatment.

• Stress Fracture – Most people have no idea a stress fracture even exists. This very small crack in the bone is caused from overuse, which is why athletes are most prone to developing one.