You spend a lot of time on your feet, so when something is wrong with them, it’s a good idea to pay attention. Despite what every old-school coach will tell you, the best solution isn’t always to just walk it off.
Here are 20 common problems that your feet could alert you to.
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the tissue in your feet stretching from your heel to your toes. You’ll notice pretty quickly in the morning when stepping out of bed and putting pressure on your foot for the first time in hours. A deep pain in your heel and across your foot will be a quick sign that something’s not right.
Despite being named after a heroic Greek warrior, Achilles tendinitis won’t feel so heroic to those suffering from it. An ache in your Achilles tendon, just above your back heel will be the first sign of this muscle injury occurring. It’s most common among runners who put a lot of stress on their heels, showing that even being active can have its downsides. If you’re suffering from Achilles tendinitis, it’s a sure sign you’ve been pushing your body too hard and need to schedule a few more rest days.
Another foot injury with a somewhat sporty name does not take away from the severity of it. Turf toe is usually caused by a strain underneath your big toe or even a fracture. A pain directly underneath the toe will be the quickest sign that something is wrong, and it’ll make those sneaky steps on tiptoes extra painful. Good, cushioning shoes and avoiding over-indulging on high-impact exercises can keep you safe from this one.
While being told that doctors have found a tumor is an absolute nightmare, the good news is that most tumors in the feet are completely benign. Most of them exist as cysts or non-cancerous growths of tendons and tissues. If you notice a bump in your foot that is causing some pain, it may be time for surgery to get it removed. Seek medical advice before doing so.
A common condition, but still a completely unpleasant one, ingrown toenails occur when part of the nail grows into the skin. While it can often be taken care of at home, if it gets particularly painful it’s a good idea to visit a doctor as ingrown toenails are extremely susceptible to being infected due to how dirty feet can get.
Diabetes can cause a number of problems from too much sugar in your blood, especially in your feet. A numbness and the lack of feeling anything from pain to heat or cold in your feet could be a sign that not enough blood is flowing through them. If you feel tingling more often than usual, it could be a good idea to go for a check-up to catch any problems before they worsen. Recognizing signs of diabetes is a huge indicator to modify your diet and start paying attention to what’s put into your body.
Caused by too much uric acid in your body, gout can be extremely painful. It can come and go depending on a number of conditions from menopause to eating certain foods. The most common symptom is feeling like your foot is on fire, which can be unpleasant when you weren’t expecting to be walking on hot coals all day. This is another condition that can be prevented, and treated by paying attention to what you’re eating.
Also known as a stone bruise, metatarsalgia is a condition that is often caused by poorly-fitting shoes or high-impact movements that affect the ball of your foot. Symptoms can range from numbness to sharp pain or even having the feeling of a pebble stuck in your shoe. While it can often be treated with rest and new shoes, a severe pain can require a doctor’s visit.
This is another condition that can cause some severe pain, but this time through bone inflammation. It occurs when the sesamoids of your feet are injured, the bones that help bend your big toe with the help of connected tendons. If you’ve been putting a lot of weight on your toes through ballet, or squatting like a baseball catcher, you may be at risk of inflaming that joint.
Being an athlete is more than just fitness and moments of glory—it also comes with some pretty unsavoury moments. Dealing with athlete’s foot is a major one. Caused by a dampness-loving fungus, athlete’s foot can cause peeling, itching, and even a horrific smell. Keeping your shoes and socks clean will help prevent athlete’s foot from ruining your day. Next time you use a public shower, consider wearing some flip flops to avoid athlete’s foot spreading from others.
Having bunions is a trope used by elderly characters in television shows, but the condition is no joke. A bunion is a bump in the big toe as it turns inwards to the rest of the foot. It can be caused by trauma, arthritis, or even hereditary issues. The pain it causes can be lessened with more comfortable shoes but extreme cases often require surgery to fix.
Despite being named after a beloved vegetable, corns can become very hated if not treated properly. Be aware of patches of thickened skin on your feet as a sign of the early stages of corns and calluses forming to prevent blisters. Should they be left to worsen, corns will become more than just a cosmetic change and could become extremely painful and irritating.
A heel spur can have no symptoms at all, which is part of what can make it so dangerous. Calcium developing between the foot’s arch and the heel bone can lead to inflammation and incredible pain for even the lightest amount of walking. Since it’s an internal problem, a trip to the doctor is necessary to diagnose.
Blood clots have spent a lot of time in the news lately, and it’s important to know what to look out for. Swelling, soreness, pain, and a localized warm spot are all symptoms that a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) could be occurring in your foot or leg. Good exercise and the elevation of your feet to help blood flow are excellent ways to prevent blood clots but if you think one is forming, seeing a doctor should be an immediate priority.
When the human body needs to store extra fat, it means more weight and pressure is being put on many joints and muscles, especially those in the feet. Ankle pain, widening feet, and fallen arches are just a few of the signs that obesity may be causing too much strain on your body. While there are sure to be other signs of rapid weight gain, the pain felt in the feet will be one of the most frustrating for those who walk a lot.
Your feet may actually be the first sign that you’re drinking too much. A tingling numbness in your feet or a weakness and loss of strength could be signs that excess alcohol in the bloodstream is affecting your muscles. A number of unexplained bruises and injuries in the feet can also indicate injuries sustained while drunk and should be treated with care.
Having cold feet could be more than just nerves getting the best of you—it’s also one of the most common signs of Raynaud’s disease. The condition is brought on by narrowing arteries causing your feet, or other parts of your body, to feel cold or even numb. While many people live with the disease without too many problems, it can be extremely uncomfortable to deal with.
Stress fractures are another one of those tricky problems that could go unnoticed until it worsens to the point of extreme pain. These tiny cracks in the bone are caused by repetitive stress from heavy lifting or extended time on your feet. Pain from a stress fracture often starts small but worsens over time. If that is the case, it could be time to go for an X-ray. If you think you may be suffering from a stress fracture, it’s important to cease any heavy lifting or high-impact exercise before visiting a doctor.
A number of bone diseases could make themselves known through your feet. As an example, Paget’s disease of bone causes your body to regenerate new bone faster than normal. This can lead to deformation or weaker bone structures. If you’re feeling a numbing pain, or are noticing you’re hurting your foot a lot more than usual, it could be the result of a bone disease making your feet extra fragile.
Sometimes the simplest solution is the most obvious one. If you’re experiencing pain, numbness, or other problems in your feet, it doesn’t necessarily mean some major health problem: you could just have terrible shoes! Since most people spend several hours per day on their feet, investing in good shoes is a purchase worth making. It can very quickly prevent you from suffering a number of injuries and other foot-related problems.
