Different locations of foot pain may be manifestations of different diseases and should be treated promptly

A friend told Huazi that his foot hurts. What is the problem and what should he do? Huazi told his friend that it is impossible to determine the specific disease based on the symptom of "foot pain". Pain in different parts of the foot may be symptoms caused by different diseases.

The feet we use every day for walking are the farthest part of the human body from the heart. When certain diseases occur in the body, the initial symptoms may occur in the feet, causing foot pain.

1. Big toe joint pain If the pain occurs in the big toe joint, the common disease is gouty arthritis. Because of abnormal purine metabolism, uric acid production increases or excretion decreases, blood uric acid levels increase, and uric acid crystals are easily precipitated in the big toe joint to form tophi, causing local inflammatory irritation and symptoms of redness, swelling, heat and pain.

If the big toe deviates to the side, it will cause hallux valgus deformity and cause pain in the big toe joint. If the big toe joint pain occurs in the elderly, it may be osteoarthritis, because there is bone hyperplasia in the bone joint, causing local tenderness.

2. Heel pain If the pain occurs in the heel, the common cause is plantar fasciitis. The typical symptom is that after getting up in the morning, when the foot begins to bear the weight of the body for the first time, there will be severe pain in the heel. The cause is long-term excessive strain, or intense exercise in a short period of time, which causes damage to the plantar fascia and ligaments.

If there is no problem of strain, heel pain in teenagers may be caused by calcaneal epiphysisitis; heel pain in adults may be caused by calcaneal inflammation or rheumatoid arthritis; heel pain in the elderly may be caused by calcaneal hyperplasia, calcaneal tuberosity bursitis or degeneration of the heel fat pad.

3. Pain in the soles of the feet Pain in the soles of the feet is not in the toes and heels, but in the soles of the feet, and swelling appears on the dorsum of the feet. If this happens after playing basketball, football, long-distance running, skipping rope and other sports, it may be a stress fracture, also known as a fatigue fracture, which is a tiny bone crack in the foot bone.

It should be noted that women who wear high heels for a long time cannot get rest and relaxation for their feet, which can easily lead to stress fractures. For the elderly and women entering menopause, pain may also be caused by the loss of bone calcium, osteoporosis and decreased bone strength.

4. Foot swelling causes pain Standing for a long time can also cause foot swelling. There is no need to worry about short-term foot swelling. If it is persistent, it may be caused by lower limb venous thrombosis, lymphatic system problems, or renal failure, heart failure, hypothyroidism and other health problems.

It should be noted that people with high blood pressure may also experience adverse reactions such as swelling of the feet (mainly in the ankles) when taking diazepam drugs for a long time. However, adverse reactions caused by drugs have no impact on health and can be eliminated by raising the feet or adjusting the medication.

5. "Burning" and "tingling" in the feet If the feet experience "burning" and "tingling" sensations, and the sensitivity gradually decreases from the proximal end to the distal end, peripheral neuropathy may have occurred. This is a common complication of diabetic patients with poor long-term blood sugar control. At this time, the disease needs to be actively controlled, otherwise further development may lead to diabetic foot.

If there are long-lasting ulcers on the feet, or the skin and toes of the feet change color, the temperature drops, and the dorsalis pedis artery pulse weakens or disappears, it may be lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans, which requires prompt medical examination and treatment.

6. Leg cramps Most people have experienced leg cramps, but most are temporary and will gradually ease after a few minutes. The causes of leg cramps are mainly related to excessive muscle fatigue and cold, which lead to uncontrolled abnormal muscle contraction and spasm.

However, if cramps occur frequently, you should be wary of pathological causes, such as lower limb circulatory disorders, high fever, dehydration, calcium or vitamin D deficiency, sodium and potassium ion disorders, and diseases such as tetanus and rabies may all cause cramps, so you need to see a doctor promptly to find out the cause.

To sum up, when our bodies have various health problems, it may cause pain in different parts of the feet. Different manifestations of foot pain symptoms may be related to different diseases. We need to be vigilant and seek medical treatment in time to avoid more serious problems. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health issues.