7 Surprising Reasons Your Feet Hurt

Foot pain can keep you inactive and prevent you from enjoying the amazing benefits of walking.

Even though foot pain affects up to 77 percent of the population, most people don’t take it seriously. According to this report, only a third of the people interviewed would seek treatment for foot pain.

Ignoring foot pain can turn out to be a costly mistake. It could be a sign of a serious condition, such as osteoarthritis. Other times, however, your feet hurt due to wearing the wrong shoes or other minor causes that you can fix instantly.

Let’s look into the common reasons why your feet hurt, so you can get some relief.

1. PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Have you been experiencing pain across the bottom of your foot? You may have plantar fasciitis. 

This is one of the most common causes of foot pain. It occurs when there’s irritation of the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes.

People with plantar fasciitis usually experience pain in the morning or when doing a strenuous exercise, like running. Note that sometimes you may experience pain while walking.

2. BUNIONS

A bunion is a bump at the base of the big toe. Contrary to popular belief, tight shoes don’t cause bunions, but they can worsen them.

Bunions can develop due to a medical condition like arthritis, stress, or genetics.

Most times bunions don’t require treatment, but you may want to see a doctor if you’re experiencing severe foot pain.

3. THE WRONG SHOES

Wearing tight shoes, pointy toed shoes or shoes with heels that are too high can make your feet hurt.

Heels that are too high put excess pressure on the ball of your foot and may cause fractures and sprained ankles. Wear three-inch heels or lower.

Tight shoes, on the other hand, rub against your foot causing pain and irritation. Buy shoes that don’t put pressure on your foot.

4. METATARSALGIA

This common overuse injury causes foot pain in the ball of your foot or the area before your toes.

You’re more likely to experience this type of foot pain if you perform high impact exercises such as running or jumping.

5. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect your entire body, including your feet. It causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and redness in joints.

This condition tends to misalign and damage the joints. Unfortunately, the cause is still unknown. Don’t hesitate to see a doctor if you suspect you have this condition.

6. WEIGHT GAIN

Gaining weight puts more pressure on your feet. The excess pressure can lead to foot pain and even prevent you from doing exercises such as running and walking.

However, don’t let foot pain stop you from exercising. Do these non-weightbearing exercises to stay in shape.

7. TARSAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a painful foot condition that occurs when the main nerve that goes to the foot is compressed by tissue or bone.

People with this condition experience burning and tingling pain in the inside region of the foot.

Understanding what’s causing your foot pain makes it easier to fix the problem. The last thing you should do is ignore the pain. Use some of the solutions I’ve suggested above or see a physician.