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Health

Pain in the foot

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Causes of foot pain

Many of the conditions discussed below may be accompanied by pain in the foot. The following are other causes of pain in the foot.

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Stiff thumb

This condition is based on arthritis of the metatarsophalangeal joint. The movements in this joint are limited and painful. On the dorsal side of the joint can develop a ring of osteophytes. Treatment is carried out using arthrodesis or Keller surgery.

 Why does the foot ache?

Pain in the feet of children

Children rarely complain of pain in the foot. If they talk about pain in the sole, then you should think first of all about the splinter. Shoe pressure on the protuberance of the scaphoid bone (or on the extra bone) or on the posterior ridge of the calcaneus may require surgical bone alignment. The cause of pain in the foot can be osteochondritis of the foot bones - the diagnosis is established radiological.

With Köhler's disease, the scaphoid bone suffers; with Freiberg disease - head of metatarsal bones; Severe disease occurs epiphysitis of the heel. Pain can decrease with the use of inserts in shoes (in some cases - gypsum forms).

Examination and examination of the ankle

The normal amplitude of movements in the ankle is considered if the extension (dorsal inflexion) is 25 °, and the flexion is 30 °. Movements inside (inversion) and outward eversion (eversion) occur due to movements in the subtalar and mediastinal joints. Extension of the toes should be performed within the range of 60-90 °. Pay attention to all the calluses that you find on the foot. Track the arches of the foot. Notice how the toes come off the floor and in what position they are when the patient is standing on tiptoe. Observe the gait of the patient and inspect his shoes (normally, the arch of the foot is medially located, and the impression from the heel is posterolateral).

trusted-source[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13]

Flat foot (pes planus)

The arch of the foot is low. At the same time, valgus deformation of the foot and some of its outward deformations can also be observed. More often the condition is asymptomatic, but pain in the foot can also be noted. This happens with the so-called peroneal spastic flat foot, in which the heel is slightly turned outward, and the medial edge of the foot flat against the floor. Trying to turn the inside of the back of the foot causes a painful spasm of the fibula muscles. In such cases, special exercises, stimulation of the foot with a Faradic current and medial insteps that are inserted closer to the heel of the shoe can help. With a spastic type of flatfoot to eliminate pain, you may need arthrodesis of the back of the foot.

trusted-source[14], [15], [16], [17], [18]

Concave foot (pes cavus)

Stressed longitudinal arches of the foot may be idiopathic in nature, be associated with spina bifida or with the transmitted polio. In this case, the toes of the foot can become clawlike, since the mass of the body during walking mainly falls on the heads of metatarsal bones. Conservative treatment consists in laying soft pads under the heads of metatarsal bones to reduce pressure on them. In surgical treatment, the dissection of soft tissues is used to eliminate tension (some ligaments from the calcaneus are severed, the arch of the foot is formed and it fits into the cast) or an arthrodesis is performed to straighten the toes of the foot. If the cause of pain in the foot is osteoarthritis of the metatarsal bones, then arthrodesis of the corresponding joints can be undertaken.

trusted-source[19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27]

Hammer-shaped fingers

At the same time, the fingers are unbent in the metatarsophalangeal joints, are super-bent in the interphalangeal and are bent in the distal interphalangeal joints. The second finger is most affected. The arthrodesis in the interphalangeal joint usually straightens such a finger, and the dissection of the tendon of the extensor muscle allows it to lie flat on the surface.

Claw fingers

Such fingers are unbent in the metatarsophalangeal joints and are strongly bent in the middle and distal interphalangeal joints; such deformation is due to a disbalance between the flexors and extensors of the fingers (for example, after full-body disease). If the fingers still retain mobility, then a Girdleston operation is necessary, in which the flexor tendons and extensor tend to cross.

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Valgus deformity of the toe (hallus valgus)

This happens lateral deviation of the thumb in the metatarsophalangeal joint. Apparently, such a deformation of the finger is facilitated by the wearing of sharp-pointed shoes with heels. In this case, the increased pressure of shoes on the metatarsophalangeal joint of the thumb, which contributes to the formation of bursitis in this area. Arthritis in the named joint develops again.

Pain can ease soft pads in the bursitis area and plastic pegs inserted between the first and second toes of the foot, but a pronounced deformation requires surgical intervention. Various types of operations are applied. Thus, the medial part of the metatarsal head may be trimmed or Keller surgery performed, in which the proximal half of the proximal phalanx (excisional arthroplasty) is removed, the finger is formed in the form of a chain. Other surgical procedures are also used: osteotomy with metatarsal bone displacement, Mayo operation (arthroplasty with excision of distal metatarsal head) and arthrodesis of metatarsophalangeal joint.

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