Foot Pain Symptoms

Changes to the normal sensation in part or all of one or both feet are very common foot pain symptoms. There may be tingling, pins and needles, numbness, hot/cold, hypersensitivity.

In most cases, altered sensation in the feet is due to nerve damage from an injury, wear and tear, abnormal growth, medical condition.

You can find out all about the different causes of altered foot sensation and how to treat them in the nerve foot pain symptoms section.

One of the most common foot pain symptoms is swelling in the feet and ankles. There are many things that can cause a build-up of fluid in one or both feet resulting in swelling which may be localized or widespread.

The most common causes of foot swelling are injuries e.g ankle sprains, inflammation medical conditions e.g. gout, infections, heart problems and pregnancy

Swelling will present differently depending on the cause - there may be sudden or gradual swelling, the amount may fluctuate and pressure on foot may or may not leave an indentation.

Find out all about the different causes of foot and ankle swelling and how to treat and prevent swelling in the Foot & Ankle Swelling section.

One of the more alarming foot pain symptoms is burning sensations in the foot, ankle and calf. usually indicate a nerve problem anywhere from lower back to the foot.

Burning foot pain may indicate nerve compression, reduced blood supply, inflammation or medical condition such as metatarsalgia.

Burning pain in one or both feet may also be accompanied by tingling, numbness or weakness, depending on the underlying cause.

You can find out all about the common causes and treatment options in the Burning Foot Pain symptoms section.

Foot or calf cramps can be particularly unpleasant foot pain symptoms with strong, involuntary muscle spasms in the calf, toes or feet.

Cramp may be caused by another of things such as chemical or hormonal imbalance, fatigue, medical conditions or reduced circulation.

Foot cramps vary in severity, intensity and frequency from uncontrollable muscle tightening with sharp, intense pain to occasional twinges.

You can find out all about the common causes, treatment options and how to avoid cramp in the Foot & Calf Cramps section.

If you are a keen runner, chances are you have developed foot pain symptoms at some point either during or after runs.

Runners may get foot and ankle pain during or after a run. There may be pain, weakness, instability or swelling which tend to get worse with increased activity.

Foot pain in runners is often the result of over-training, previous injuries, flat feet, muscle imbalance or poor footwear. Foot pain symptoms often get progressively worse in runners if not treated promptly. 

Find out the best ways to treat and prevent the different causes running foot pain symptoms in the Foot Pain When Running section.

Blisters are another common foot pain symptoms. Blisters are fluid-filled pockets that develop in the upper layers of the skin, typically from friction, tight footwear, infection, burns, chemical exposure or medical conditions.

Blisters vary depending on the cause and there may be painful bubble-like pockets filled with clear fluid, pus or blood, vary in size and number

Find out all about the different types and causes of blisters and how to treat and avoid them in the Foot Blisters section.

Foot rashes can cover a small or large area, affect one or both feet or spread up the leg and can be really unpleasant foot pain symptoms.

Foot rashes usually develop in response to allergic reactions, irritation or viral, bacterial or fungal infections.

Common foot rash symptoms include red or white rash, blisters, dryness, inflammation and scaly patches depending on the underlying cause, and may or may not be itchy & painful.

You can find out about the common causes of foot rashes and how to treat and prevent them in the Foot & Ankle Rashes section.

Another common foot pain symptom is numbness in the foot where there is reduced sensation in part or all of the foot e.g. you can't feel your foot touching the ground when standing or can't detect hot or cold sensations.

Foot numbness tends to occur when the sensory signals travelling along the leg nerves get blocked between the foot and the brain, reducing sensation in foot/feet

Numbness in the foot is usually caused by reduced blood supply, pressure on a nerve or certain medical conditions e.g. MS.

You can find out about the common foot pain symptoms associated with numbness and how to treat them in the Numb Feet section.

When of the less common, but still unpleasant foot pain symptoms is a sharp stabbing pain in, on top of or under the big toe when sitting, walking or running.

Sharp pain in the big toe usually develops due to overuse, hyperextension injuries, excessive sprinting, tight footwear or from gout. Sharp pain in and around big toe is often accompanied by inflammation and redness.

You can find out all about the common causes and how to treat them in the Sharp Pain In Big Toe diagnosis section.

A common cause of foot pain symptoms in the elderly is thickening of the toenails. As we age, toenails may gradually thicken, harden, become more brittle and prone to breakage and may discolour. This typically starts at the edges of the nail and spreads inwards. 

Thickened toe nails normally develop in response to fungal infections, psoriasis, bacterial infection, aging or foot injuries. Whilst they don't usually cause any major problems, thick toenails can be unpleasant, particularly if they get infected.

Find out all about the common causes and treatment options in the Thick Toenails section.

One of the rare foot pain symptoms is yellow toenails. Gradual yellowy discolouration of the toenails often spreads from the edge inwards in response to fungal infection, staining or medical conditions

When toenails start to turn yellow, they may also become thick & brittle and there may be some discomfort with any pressure over the nail e.g. from tight footwear.

There are lots of things you can do for yellow toenails and you can find out all about the common causes and treatment options in the Yellow Toenails section.