Pain in the sole

The most common complaint in the office of an orthopedic doctor is pain in the sole. Painful sensations are of a general, diffuse nature, embrace the foot entirely or its specific part. Diffuse pains are associated with severe overloads or prolonged stress, but they also occur at rest.

The sole (foot) is the lowest part of the foot, touching the surface during walking, having 26 bones and fulfilling the most important role - the spring. The foot reduces the force of the load, which falls on the lower limbs, pelvic bones, spine.

By the foot you can determine the health of the whole organism. The first symptoms of serious internal disorders (arthritis, spinal problems, diabetes, etc.) manifest themselves first of all on the foot. Therefore, pain in the foot should not remain without due attention.

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Causes of pain in the sole

The pains arising from the stresses often indicate the first manifestations of such diseases as rickets, osteoporosis in the elderly, osteomalacia. Any pressing of the finger responds with soreness in all the bones of the foot.

Prolonged immobility due to a severe illness can lead to diffuse pain, related to the deficiency of the muscles of the ligament apparatus. Increasing the load, weight gain are a frequent cause of discomfort.

Severe pain in the immobile state, loss of support capacity with inflammatory-trophic changes occur in osteoporosis of joints, developing against the background of bone disease, injuries. Paroxysmal or prolonged diffuse pain appears as a result of functional and organic vascular lesions.

Local soreness is manifested due to various factors: 

• Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory process of a wide band of tissue (fascia) that connects the heel bone with the metatarsal bones of the anterior part of the sole. Pain appears due to stretching of the fascia under load. Discomfortable sensations are concentrated in the heel zone, in the arch of the foot. Most often appear after waking up in the morning. A prolonged overload of the fascia in the area of its connection with the heel leads to the appearance of a bone neoplasm - the calcaneal spur; 
• developing arthritis, blood supply disorders, deformation of metatarsal bones, compression of the nerve interdigital ends - common causes of pain in the sole; 
• metatarsalgia - age changes, characterized by a decrease in the protective fatty layer of the sole, which leads to excessive pressure on the zone of metatarsal bones, as well as inflammatory reaction (bursitis); 
• neuroma - a benign process of proliferation of nervous tissue. Soreness extends to the sole of one foot, can be concentrated at the base of the finger. The disease is inherent more to the female. At an early stage, the disease manifests itself by the periodic discomfort of the third or fourth finger, often described by burning, tingling. Tight shoes, especially the uzkonosaya strengthens the described symptomatology. As the disease develops, the sensations become permanent.

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Pain in the foot of the foot

Metatarsalgia causes pain in the sole of the foot, namely in the area of attachment of the toes to the foot. Soreness is observed in all the fingers, except the first and fifth. The causes of the appearance of the disease lie in excessive loads, wearing a narrow shoe, thinning fatty tissue of the foot.

Arthritis of the joints is accompanied by pain, swelling and stiffness of movements. Redness of the skin is observed. Inflammation can be a consequence of genetic predisposition, hypothermia, trauma, taking medications, etc.

Pain can occur due to corns, hardening of the feet, during pregnancy. Corns and various sole seals appear due to increased friction, excessive pressure on the support zones. Rough growths of dead cells deliver a lot of discomfort. Inconvenient, tight, high-heeled shoes increase the risk of the appearance of cornwall and calluses. The period of pregnancy is often accompanied by pain in the sole due to the growing body weight, displacement of the center of gravity, overload of the foot.

Pain on the sole of the foot

Warts often hurt the sole of the foot. They arise because of strong sweating of feet, diseases of internal organs, wearing tight shoes.

Erythromelalgia is a common disease in middle-aged men. It manifests itself with a burning pain in the soles, which often turns red. Relief brings the cooling of the limb. This disease occurs independently or along with thrombocytosis, polycythemia, hypertension, reaction to the medication used.

The formation of the heel spur causes pain on the sole of the foot, localized in the heel zone. The disease develops against the background of physical overloads, as a result of plantar fasciitis. The process of stretching the fascia affects the deposition of calcium salts in the zone of increased pressure, which leads to the appearance of firm formation on the heel hill.

Tendonitis of the posterior tibial muscle is an inflammatory disease of the muscle that holds the arch of the foot. The disease develops when the ligaments and muscles of the foot are stretched, often proceeds together with a flatfoot.

Neuroma and Morton's syndrome are diseases of the feet due to their compression by surrounding ligaments and bones. They show themselves burning, shooting pain, numbness of fingers.

Pain in the sole of walking

Flat feet inflict pain in the soles of walking, running, standing. Disease is most often acquired, rather than innate. Factors affecting the development of flatfoot: 

• chronic fatigue; 
• increased load; 
• Standing position of the body due to working specifics (sellers, teachers); 
• overweight; 
• prolonged wearing of weights; 
• a sedentary lifestyle leading to muscle atrophy; 
• uncomfortable, narrow shoes, deforming the foot; 
• pregnancy; 
• diabetes mellitus, rickets, poliomyelitis; 
• trauma, fractures of the lower extremities.

Corns, horny neoplasm of the sole, and also warts cause a lot of inconvenience or impede the freedom of movement. Keratosis is a hard-to-cure problem in the form of solidification on the soles with a deep stem that extends deep into the tissue and causes savage tenderness in the process of movement.

Diseases of the toes are accompanied by pain when walking and when in contact with shoes. Known are the following deformities of the toes: crossed, clawlike (fold in several joints), hammer-shaped (fold in the first joint), hook-shaped (fold at the tip of the finger). The valgus deviation of the thumb differs in the characteristic bulging of the joint into the foot, and a similar disease of the little finger tends it towards the other fingers. Such modifications deprive the ability to move normally.

Ingrown nails cause pain not only during movement. In the process of growth, the nail causes swelling, reddening of the finger, soreness at the slightest touch.

The long second finger is the cause of the pain in the sole when walking. More often it is a congenital defect, which leads to an incorrect load distribution on the foot.

Symptoms of pain in the sole

Symptoms of pain in the sole are accompanied, as a rule, by pain syndrome, stiffness of movements, changes in gait, discomfort when putting on and wearing shoes. The pain is constant and aching, acute and shooting, occurring only in a certain period. Symptomatology is detected by visual examination - redness, swelling, deformity, etc.

The main symptoms of pain in the sole: 

• local soreness; 
• fast fatiguability; 
• sensation of burning, tingling; 
• joint changes; 
• pain during rest; 
• strong soreness with support on the foot; 
• the need "diverge" after awakening to move normally; 
• increase or appearance of new bones; 
• inflammation of the skin, joints; 
• feeling of numbness, the appearance of seizures.

If you find yourself in similar conditions, you need to seek advice from an orthopedist.

Diagnosis of pain in the sole

Experienced specialists diagnose pain in the sole carried out according to patient descriptions or visual examination with palpation. Some cases require the collection of information on the history of the disease, the resulting injuries, the habitual way of life, the diseases that have been transferred and the medications taken.

X-ray examination, testing (flexion, load, etc.), ultrasound of adjacent tissues, MRI is a necessary diagnostic for determining internal disorders (eg, blood circulation).

X-rays and MRI are used to detect or confirm dislocations, fractures, cracks, and the like. Detailed diagnostic methods are used to exclude serious diseases (arthritis, gout).

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Treatment of pain in the sole

Treatment of pain in the sole is carried out according to the established diagnosis under the supervision of an orthopedist or traumatologist. First, you need to get rid of the cause of the pain syndrome - to reduce weight, change shoes, etc.

Fertility is completely eliminated in children and at the first stage of the disease in adults it is possible by selecting the right footwear, as well as performing a complex of therapeutic physical training. At the second stage of flatfoot it is important to use orthopedic insoles, on the third - surgical intervention is recommended.

A special, with rocker soles shoes, which helps a slight roll of the foot, softens the load of the blow in motion, relieves pain in arthritis. From a variety of arthritis, a doctor prescribes medication.

Corns, various curing soles, warts, too, is not desirable to treat yourself. Cuttings, cauterizations lead to deep, long healing wounds, cause suppuration, infection.

The provision of complete rest, the imposition of a tight bandage and the placement of the diseased limb on the elevation is applicable for the treatment of traumas of the soft tissues of the foot. The doctor can prescribe medications that relieve inflammation.

Tire or gypsum is applied to treat bruises, sprains, fractures.

How can I prevent pain in the sole?

To avoid the appearance of lower limb diseases, one should follow the recommendations of specialists.

• any uncomfortable condition in the foot is an occasion for consultation with a doctor, which will help diagnose a developing disease, eliminate severe consequences; 
• people with diabetes should seek advice once a year, even without complaints; 
• athletic walking, slow running in orthopedic shoes; 
• warm up the muscles, knead the foot before starting the workout; 
• Do not overload children under 10 years of physical exercise per muscle group; 
• if you feel tired stop, ensure that they have a rest; 
• go barefoot on the ground, grass, pebbles - this is an excellent massage (you can buy a special rug with pebbles, needles); 
• always try on shoes before buying, choose it by the foot; 
• give up tight, uncomfortable, traumatic shoes and high-heeled shoes; 
• Avoid excessively worn shoes with crumpled backs, deformed insole; 
• pick up orthopedic insoles; 
• gently trim your toenails, avoiding rounding corners. Do this after the bath and sharp scissors.

Prevention is also provided by the use of applicators or insoles Lyapko, massage tools in the form of wooden wheels, bars. Such funds do not require you much effort, time and money costs. You can use them by browsing your favorite program or reading a book.

Do not run the disease, do not expect pain in the sole to go away by itself. Timely treatment in the hospital will help to get rid of possible complications and to stop the developing disease in an easy stage.