Experiencing foot pain and soreness after overuse or an injury is pretty normal and understandable. But foot aches, whether shooting or stabbing, without any obvious cause like injury or overuse, isn’t normal and can be frustrating.
There could be many possible reasons for your foot pain. In this article, we’ll talk about common reasons for foot pain without injury and where you can go for a thorough evaluation and treatment of your foot pain.
Common Causes of Foot Pain
Possible causes of foot pain without an injury include:
Peripheral Neuropathy
Millions of people in America experience foot pain due to peripheral neuropathy – a chronic disorder of the peripheral nervous system in which your peripheral nerves (nerves outside of your central nervous system) become damaged. The damaged nerves fail to properly communicate with each other and the brain, resulting in symptoms like hand and foot pain, numbness, tingling, etc.
Besides foot pain, peripheral neuropathy can also cause foot swelling, loss of muscle tone in the feet, problems sensing your movements and body position, and extreme sensitivity to touch, pressure, and temperature.
Osteoarthritis
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of the cartilage within joints throughout the body – including the foot and ankle. A lack of cartilage causes joint stiffness, swelling, and pain. In addition to foot pain that worsens with physical activity, osteoarthritis can also cause restricted movement and disability.
Plantar Fasciitis
As the name suggests, this condition is inflammation of plantar fascia – a thick band of connective tissue that runs from your toes to your heel just under the skin on the sole of your foot. Plantar fasciitis can also result in debilitating heel pain.
Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is thickened tissue surrounding a nerve in the ball of your foot. The nerve pain, in this condition, may be felt as a burning, numbness, or tingling.
Flat Feet or a High Arch
Having flat feet or high arches also makes you susceptible to foot pain. This is because flat feet or high arches involves improper alignment of foot structure, resulting in unequal weight distribution when upright and, thus, foot pain when in motion.
Foot Pain Treatment at NIVA Health
Foot pain, tingling, and numbness related to peripheral neuropathy can make any type of upright movement very painful, and sometimes even impossible.
At NIVA Health, our highly qualified healthcare providers have helped countless patients get rid of their foot pain related to peripheral neuropathy by utilizing several different therapeutic options, including red-light therapy and nerve stimulation therapy. These therapies work by repairing and regenerating your damaged peripheral nerves and provide lasting relief from foot pain and other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, a leading cause of foot pain.
If you would like to get yourself evaluated for peripheral neuropathy treatment, call the NIVA Health location nearest you or fill out our appointment request form here.
