Bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles make up the foot. The foot is strong enough to bear body weight and move the body. But the foot can be painful when injured or affected by illness.

Foot pain can affect any part of the foot, from the toes to the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel.

Mild foot pain often responds well to home treatments. But it can take time for the pain to ease. See a health care provider for severe foot pain, especially if it comes after an injury.

Causes

Any part of the foot can be injured or overused. Some illnesses cause foot pain, as well. For example, arthritis is a common cause of foot pain.

Common causes of foot pain include:

Achilles tendinitis
Achilles tendon rupture
Avulsion fracture
Bone spurs
Broken ankle
Broken foot
Broken toe
Bunions
Bursitis (A condition in which small sacs that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near joints become inflamed.)
Corns and calluses
Diabetic neuropathy (Nerve damage caused by diabetes.)
Flatfeet
Gout
Haglund’s deformity
Hammertoe and mallet toe
Ingrown toenails
Metatarsalgia
Morton’s neuroma
Osteoarthritis (the most common type of arthritis)
Osteomyelitis
Peripheral neuropathy
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar warts
Psoriatic arthritis
Retrocalcaneal bursitis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Stress fractures (Tiny cracks in a bone.)
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tendinitis (A condition that happens when swelling called inflammation affects a tendon

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