Pain in the foot between the heel and the toe: causes and treatment

Unpleasant sensations on the plantar part of the foot periodically occur in everyone. Some people worry about them very rarely, for example after a long walk in uncomfortable shoes. In others, the pain in the foot between the heel and toe is observed frequently or permanently. In any case, you should know that discomfort does not just appear, but for some reason. To find out why there is pain in the foot between the heel and toe when walking or at rest, you need to see a doctor and undergo diagnostic procedures. In some cases, to remove discomfort, it is enough to just change shoes, others will require surgical intervention. Therefore, it is very important to know the cause of the appearance of unpleasant sensations.

What if there is pain in the foot?

The foot is the part of the foot that touches the surface when walking. It consists of many bones, joints and ligaments. Plantar fascia and muscles are also provided to ensure motor function and maintain vaults. In addition, this body part contains fatty tissue. It is needed to help the bones and ligament apparatus withstand the weight of the trunk. If there is pain in the foot between the heel and toe, then the cause of its appearance can be any of the anatomical formations. Unpleasant sensations appear when the bones, ligaments, muscles or fascia are damaged. Also, pain occurs due to external factors affecting the foot (incorrect leg position, compressing shoes). To discomfort cease, enough will get rid of such irritants. If the pain in the foot does not pass after this, it is necessary to look for other reasons for its appearance. In this case, you should seek medical help.

Pain in the foot between heel and toe: causes

There are many etiological factors that can lead to soreness in the foot. Among them: traumas of the bone system, stretching of muscle tissue, inflammatory lesions, infringement of nerves, etc. Also, the pain in the foot between the heel and the toe can cause joint pathologies. In addition, discomfort is often associated with impaired blood circulation. It can have both a temporary (in the compression of the foot), and a permanent character. The most common are the following causes of development of unpleasant sensations:

1. Plantar fasciitis. This disease develops due to incorrect walking - excessive turning of the foot inside (pronation). The fascia of the sole consists of connective tissue, it starts from the heel and ends in the region of metatarsal bones. Wrong gait (pronation) is formed if the plantar ligaments are stretched. People who are exposed to fasciitis often have excess weight or suffer great physical exertion (running, long walking for long distances). Also, the disease can be inflammatory.
2. Appearance of calcaneal spur. The pain in the foot between the heel and toe in this pathology has a strong intensity. This disease is a consequence of plantar fasciitis.
3. Metatargalgia is pain caused by age-related changes in the foot.
4. Inflammation of the soles of the soles is arthritis.
5. Flat feet. This disorder usually occurs in early childhood. The cause of incorrect formation of the foot is often rickets - a lack of calcium in the child's body.
6. Injuries. These include fractures and cracks in bones, dislocation of joints.
7. Obesity. Overweight often leads to the development of abnormal gait, flat feet.
8. Excessive load on the foot.
9. Wearing tight and stiff shoes. Also unpleasant sensations can provoke a long stay on high heels.
10. Vascular and nerve pathologies.

Pain in the foot with a calcaneal spur

The heel spur is a solid formation that appears on the tendons of the foot. It consists of bone tissue. Appearing, the spur begins to grow gradually. This disease is one of the most common causes of pain in the foot. The calcaneal spur develops due to a strong extension of the plantar fascia. In addition, the cause of its appearance is considered overweight. With a small amount of education the patient is concerned about the pain in the foot between the heel and the toe in the mornings - after the person gets out of bed. Also, unpleasant sensations occur after a long sitting. In the case when the calcaneal spur has reached a large size, the pain worries constantly. It is present not only when getting up and resting on the foot, but also when walking.

Flat feet and pain in the foot

Another cause of soreness is a flat foot. This pathology often occurs asymptomatically, but sometimes accompanied by unpleasant sensations. The mechanism of development of this disease consists in lowering the arch of the foot downwards - towards the sole. Most often, this pathology occurs in childhood, when the leg is just forming. Nevertheless, the pain in the foot between the heel and the toe with flatfoot may appear in the adult. The provoking factors are obesity and physical activity. Also, the development of pathology contributes to calcium deficiency in osteoporosis.

The association of pain in the feet with physical exertion

Often unpleasant sensations in the sole can be caused by physical stress. For example, after running or long walking there is a certain discomfort. The cause may be plantar fasciitis. That is, the pain in the foot between the heel and the toe after running is due to the stretching of the ligaments. Sometimes it passes by itself. But with constant physical activity, the ligaments do not have time to recover. In this case, the fasciitis of the sole develops. In addition, the pain after exercise may be due to dislocations of the small joints of the foot. Another reason is inflammatory diseases of ligaments and muscles. Also, unpleasant sensations often occur with disturbed circulation in the foot. Vascular lesions are often associated with varicose veins of the lower extremities and pathologies of the hematopoietic system.

Clinical picture in diseases of feet

In addition to pain in the feet, each of the above diseases is accompanied by a number of other symptoms. Inflammatory processes in muscles are manifested by reddening and edema of the foot. If the pain is caused by a pinched nerve of the foot, the patient may be bothered by unpleasant sensations in the form of "sweeping" the arch of the foot or sole. Trauma to bones is always accompanied by a restriction of movement. When a calcaneal spur appears, pain accompanies each contact of the sole with the surface. You can also find a firm education if you press on the foot. When dislocation of the joints appears protrusion on the back side. Arthritis of large and small joints of the foot is characterized by signs of inflammation. Among them: swelling, hyperemia and an increase in temperature at the site of the lesion.

Diagnosis for pain in feet

Diagnosis of foot pathologies begins with a patient's questioning. The doctor asks how often the patient is disturbed by unpleasant sensations, after which they appear, with which he connects the onset of pain. If in the course of the survey it turned out that there was a leg injury, fractures and dislocations should be ruled out. For this, the radiography of the foot bones is performed. If you have excess weight or indicate frequent physical activity, you should pay attention to the gait of the patient. In this case, plantar fasciitis is often diagnosed. The heel spur is determined on the x-ray. Vascular diseases are diagnosed with ultrasound of the arteries and veins of the lower extremities. Pathologies of nerves are manifested when pressing on certain areas of the foot. Corns and ulcerative defects on the legs indicate the wearing of tight shoes.

Pain in the foot between the heel and the toe: how to treat the pathology?

The choice of method of treatment depends on what causes the pain in the foot. In those cases when discomforts are only occasionally disturbed or associated with physical exercises, it is necessary to observe the correct regimen. First of all, it is important to pay attention to shoes. If she delivers discomfort, then you need to change it. With flat feet, you need to purchase special orthopedic insoles. It is also important to organize rest for the feet. To do this, it is recommended to reduce physical activity, to exclude running for a while. If these measures do not lead to a positive result, you need to seek the help of a specialist. In case of injuries and calcaneal spurs, a surgeon should be visited. After examining and identifying the cause, he will prescribe medication, and in some cases will recommend surgical intervention. Sometimes you need help from a neurologist. To remove discomfort, prescribe painkillers: Ketonal, Naiz. With inflammation of the joints, medicines "Artoxan", "Diclofenac" are shown. Treatment of neurological pathologies is carried out with preparations "Melbek", "Neurobeks". Also in some cases, massage procedures are necessary.

Traditional medicine against pain in the feet

In addition, you should use folk methods to ease the pain in the foot between the heel and toe. Treatment with infusions and broths will not relieve the cause of the pathology, but it will help relieve unpleasant symptoms. In addition to taking medicines inside, it is recommended to make various lotions, as well as foot baths. They are made from leaves of lime-colored and mint (in equal proportions), nettle, plantain. After insisting, the broth is poured into a basin of water, where the feet should be kept for about 15 minutes. These procedures help to remove inflammation and relieve pain. Also, compresses made of honey and raw potatoes are used.

Prevention of foot pathologies

To prevent the occurrence of pain in the foot, you must follow the following rules:

1. Wear comfortable and soft shoes.
2. Give the feet "rest" after a long walk. To do this, take foot baths with water at room temperature, massage the soles.
3. Avoid excessive physical exertion.
4. To prevent obesity.
5. If you suspect a pathology of the foot, do not delay, and immediately seek medical help.