Foot pain

Category: Muscles, Bones & Joints · All muscles & joints symptoms

What it can feel like

Foot pain covers a large territory: the ball of the foot (aching or burning after standing), the arch, the toes (bunions, hammer toes, gout in the big toe), and pain between the toes with an electric, pebble-in-shoe feeling from an irritated nerve (Morton's neuroma).

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Foot pain can be associated with footwear that squeezes the toes, long standing, increased walking or running, bunions and toe deformities, plantar warts and calluses, and nerve irritation between the metatarsal bones.

Other possible causes

Foot pain can also be associated with stress fractures, gout (sudden, exquisitely painful big-toe joint), arthritis, diabetes-related nerve damage (with numbness and burning), and circulation problems — feet need extra care in diabetes.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

Foot pain in someone with diabetes, with any skin break, ulcer or redness — prompt assessment
Sudden, red-hot, swollen big toe joint (gout versus infection)
Foot pain after injury with inability to bear weight
Burning foot pain with numbness that is progressing
A foot that becomes cold, pale or develops a non-healing sore

What a clinician may do

A clinician will examine the foot's shape, tender points and pulses, watch walking, and review footwear. X-rays clarify bony problems; diabetes care includes regular professional foot checks because pain sensation may be blunted.

Watch: related videos

Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchFoot arch and heel pain explainedWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchBunion surgery relief from foot painWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchHow do i make the pain in my foot go away strive physiotherapy amp performanceWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Related guides on MedicalVideos.com

Frequently asked questions

What does 'a pebble in my shoe' feeling mean?

That sensation, with burning or shooting pain between the third and fourth toes and relief on squeezing or removing the shoe, is classic for Morton's neuroma — a thickened, irritated nerve between the metatarsals. Wider footwear is the first treatment.

Why do feet matter so much in diabetes?

Diabetes can blunt the foot's protective pain sensation and narrow its blood vessels, so minor injuries go unnoticed and heal poorly. Daily foot inspection and early attention to any break in the skin prevent the ulcers and infections that lead to amputation.

Related symptoms — Muscles, Bones & Joints

A joint that locks or gives way Aching and stiffness in the shoulders and hips Aching muscles Ankle pain Back pain Elbow pain

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Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.