Find out what could be causing your foot pain.

Whether you noticed pain while playing tennis with a friend, going on your morning run, or first thing after getting out of bed, once that pain is there you want to figure out what to do to make it go away fast. Luckily, your Naperville, IL, foot doctor, Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski, is ready to help you find the source so you can walk easier and without pain.

What causes foot pain?

There are so many disorders and conditions that can lead to foot pain that it’s impossible to determine the exact cause through online research alone. You need to schedule a checkup with our Naperville, IL, foot doctor to get a diagnosis for your foot symptoms. What could be causing your foot pain? Well, it depends on the location of the pain.

Heel pain

If you are dealing with heel pain then you may have plantar fasciitis, an inflammatory condition that affects the thick band of tissue, known as the plantar fascia, that runs the length of your foot. This is often due to overuse, so rest is key. Other causes of heel pain include:

• Heel spurs
• Achilles tendinitis
• Stone bruise
• Bursitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Fractured heel

Arch pain

If the arches are feeling achy this could actually still be the cause of plantar fasciitis. While pain from this condition is usually concentrated around the heel, the pain can still radiate to the arches since the plantar fascia tissue also provides support for the arches of your feet.

Other causes of arch pain include:

• Fallen arches (also referred to as flat feet)
• Stress fractures
• Sprains and bruises
• Arthritis

Pain in the ball of the foot

If you are dealing with pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot, then you could be dealing with a common overuse injury known as metatarsalgia. This is common in runners and other athletes, especially if they don’t wear properly fitted footwear. Other causes of pain in the ball of the foot include Morton’s neuroma and sesamoiditis.

Toe pain

There are quite a few conditions that can lead to toe pain. Gout, a type of arthritis, can flare up and lead to severe pain and inflammation of the toe (usually the big toe). Other causes of toe pain include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Claw toe
• An ingrown toenail

If you are dealing with severe foot pain, or if the pain doesn’t get better with at-home care and rest, then it’s time to turn to your Naperville, IL, foot doctor, Dr. Jagodzinski at Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley, to figure out what might be going on. Call us at (630) 778-7670 to schedule an evaluation.