If you’re suffering from foot pain, you’re in good company. The American Podiatric Medical Association reports over three-quarters of Americans have experienced foot pain. But while knowing you have foot pain is easy, figuring out the source of your foot pain can be confusing.
From the wrong kind of shoes to nerve damage, the possible causes of foot pain are numerous. At Neuropathy Treatment Clinics of Texas, serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area, we want to help you get to the bottom of your foot pain.
Our skilled practitioner Eric Ray, MD and our entire care team have experience treating foot pain caused by many different underlying conditions. We’ve put together this guide to explain the top-5 common causes of foot pain and the treatment options available.
1. Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue across the bottom of your foot, called the plantar fascia, becomes irritated. As the inflamed tissue is stressed from daily activities like walking and standing, the tissue develops microtears, which can lead to other conditions, like heel spurs. Pain from plantar fasciitis typically happens on the bottom of your heel and is worse first thing in the morning and with activity.
2. Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is similar to the wrist condition called carpal tunnel syndrome. TTS occurs when the main nerve to the foot is compressed by bone or tissue. If you have TTS, you typically experience a burning, tingling, or shooting pain sensation on the inside area of your foot.
3. Diabetic neuropathy
Almost 10% of American adults are living with diabetes, and over 84 million more have prediabetes. People with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic neuropathy, which causes nerve damage leading to numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet. Diabetic neuropathy results when high blood sugar levels damage the nerves. A history of smoking, alcoholism, or family history can make nerve damage worse.
4. Athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot, a fungal infection usually found between the toes, can spread and cause pain in the rest of your foot. You’re likely to pick up the fungus in warm, damp areas, like locker room showers or pool areas. Wearing shoes that keep your feet warm and damp causes the fungus to spread. If you have foot pain due to athlete’s foot, you’ll likely experience painful itching, cracking, peeling, or blistering on your feet.
5. Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia results when the area just under your toes — the ball of your foot — becomes painfully swollen. It’s named for the bones in this area of your foot called metatarsals, which press against each and catch the small nerves between them, resulting in nerve inflammation. Causes of metatarsalgia include prolonged high-impact activities, wearing shoes that don’t fit properly, wearing high heels, and underlying foot deformities.
Treatment options for foot pain
What type of treatment you need depends on the cause of your foot pain. Our skilled care team first conducts a thorough diagnostic exam to provide your practitioner with data that helps us create your customized treatment plan.
For foot pain due to nerve inflammation or damage, many treatment centers use medication, device implantation, or light therapies as the first line of offense. At Neuropathy Treatment Clinics of Texas, we take a different approach.
By utilizing electric cell signaling treatment (ECST) with the state-of-the-art neoGEN-SeriesⓇ system, we’re able to deliver a treatment method that sends an electric frequency to the site of your foot pain. ECST succeeds in treating many types of nerve pain, including conditions that have not been successfully treated with other methods.
ECST benefits you at the cellular level, encouraging the regeneration of healthy tissue and altering pain signaling by retraining your neuromuscular interactions. Treatments with the neoGEN-Series system also improve circulation, a must for anyone dealing with nerve pain due to diabetes.
With ECST, there’s no need for general anesthesia, no downtime, and none of the risks associated with surgery or prescription medications. If you’re a good candidate for the therapy, it’s possible we can begin treatment immediately.
Ready to end your foot pain?
Our practice creates customized treatment plans for patients in and around the DFW Metroplex to address all types of foot pain. If you’re tired of putting up with foot pain, call our office in Addison, Texas, or make an appointment using the online booking tool.