Foot pain
Sprains and strains are very common injuries that affect muscles and ligaments (strong bands of tissue around joints that connect one bone to another). They often occur if you change direction or speed suddenly, fall and land awkwardly, or collide with an object or person, such as when playing sports.
A sprainmeans one or more of your ligaments have stretched, twisted or torn. A strain means muscle fibres have stretched or torn.
As well as pain, a sprain or strain can cause swelling, bruising and tenderness, and may result in you being unable to put weight on your foot.
Most sprains and strains can be managed at home using PRICE therapy (protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation) and painkillers.
It causes suddenbouts ofseverepain, redness, swelling and warmthin affected joints, even when you'reresting.
These attacks usually last a few days at a time and most oftenaffect the big toe joint. It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between gout and a severely inflamed bunion (see below).
The pain caused by gout can usually be treated using ice packs and by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) painkillers. You may also need additional treatment to prevent further episodes.
They canbe painful if you put weight on them when you stand up or walk.
Verrucas are fairly easy to identify. They look like small, flatwhite circles of skin that often haveblack dots in the centre.
Most verrucas will often eventually clear up by themselves, but this can take a long time. There are over-the-counter verruca creams, gels and plasters that may help.
Wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes can help stop them returning. The big toe points towards the other toes and the big toe joint sticks out, forminga bony lump.
Bunions can get worse if they're left untreated, so it's best to see a GP for advice. Non-surgical treatments are usually tried first, including wearing comfortable and wide shoes, orthotics (insoles), painkillers and bunion pads. Corrective surgery may sometimes be necessary.
It can also be painfulif pressure is placed on the toe or the toebecomes infected.
Cutting your toenails straight across and gently pushing the skin away from the nail using a cotton bud may help improve an ingrowing toenail. In some cases, a procedure to remove part or all of the affected nail may be necessary.
Foot pain is a common problem with a wide range of possible causes.
Common causes of foot pain include: sprains and strains gout verrucas blisters, corns and calluses bunions ingrowing toenails plantar fasciitis (heel pain) Morton's neuroma
Sprains and strains are very common injuries that affect muscles and ligaments (strong bands of tissue around joints that connect one bone to another). They often occur if you change direction or spee
Plantar fasciitis is the result of damage to the tough band of tissue (fascia) that runs under the sole of the foot, which causes pain in the heel. It most commonly affects people aged 40 to 60 who ar
Metatarsalgia isthe term for pain that occurs in the front section of the foot. It's is often described as a burning or aching pain that ranges from mild to severe and gets worse when walking. It ca
Foot pain can sometimes be caused by an object embedded in the foot. It may therefore be worth considering whether you havestepped on something sharp with bare feet and examining your foot for a wound
People with diabetes can experience a number of potentially serious problems affecting their feet,some of which can be very painful. This is because the condition can damage nerves and blood vessels i