The foot is a complex structure of 26 bones and 33 joints, layered with an intertwining web of more than 120 muscles, ligaments and nerves. Because the feet are very small compared with the rest of the body, the impact of each step exerts tremendous force upon them. This force is about 50% greater than the person's body weight.

During a typical day, people spend about 4 hours on their feet and take 8,000 to 10,000 steps. This means that the feet support a combined force equivalent to several hundred tons every day. This makes foot pain very common, affecting about 75% of Americans at some time in their lives.

Causes:

Injury, overuse or conditions causing inflammation involving any of the bones, ligaments or tendons in the foot can cause foot pain. Arthritis is a common cause of foot pain. Injury to the nerves of the feet may result in intense burning pain, numbness or tingling (peripheral neuropathy).

Some common causes of foot pain include:

• Heel Pain: Plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, stone bruise, heel fracture
• Ball of Foot Pain: Metatarsalgia, Morton's neuroma, Sesamoiditis
• Arch Pain: Plantar fasciitis, fallen arches (flat feet)
• Toe Pain: Gout, bunions, hammertoe, claw toe, ingrown toenail, turf toe, toe sprain/fracture, hallux rigidus, corns and calluses, sesamoid fracture
• Pain on the Foot's Outer Edge: The outer edge of your foot, the fifth metatarsal bone, is a commonly broken bone in the foot. Pain, swelling and bruising along the outer foot edge after an injury are typical symptoms. If you think you may have broken a bone, see a doctor and have an X-ray.

Risk Factors:

Although foot pain can be result of many different causes, there are several risk factors that can contribute to the development of foot pain and the conditions that cause them.

Elderly people are at very high risk for foot problems, since feet widen and flatten over time. The pain experienced can be a sign of age-related conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes and circulatory disease, and can impair balance and function in this age group. Severe foot pain appears to be a major cause of general disability in older women.

Women are at higher risk than men for severe foot pain, probably because of high-heeled shoes. Some people have turned to cosmetic surgery as a drastic way to fit into these shoes, which may increase your risk for future foot pain. Pregnant women have an increased risk of foot problems due to weight gain, swelling in their feet and ankles and the release of certain hormones that cause ligaments to relax. These hormones help when bearing the child, but they can weaken the feet.

An estimated 120,000 work-related foot injuries occur every year, about a third of them involving the toes. Many foot problems -- including arthritis of the foot and ankle, toe deformities, pinched nerves between the toes, plantar fasciitis, adult-acquired flat foot, and tarsal tunnel syndrome -- have been attributed to repetitive use at work (for example, walking long distances or standing for many hours).

Active people who engage in regular high-impact aerobic exercise are at risk for plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, sesamoiditis, Achilles tendinitis and stress fractures. Weight gain also puts added stress on the feet and can lead to foot or ankle injuries.

Treatment:

Even relatively mild foot pain can be quite debilitating, at least at first. It is usually safe to try simple home remedies for a while. If your foot pain is due to an injury or overuse, it will often respond well to rest and cold therapy. Avoid activities that can worsen your foot pain and put ice on your foot for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day.

If you are unsure of the cause of your foot pain, or if it is widespread or involving both feet, and particularly if you have diabetes, see your doctor before trying home remedies. Ask them what your pain treatment options are and whether topical prescription pain medications are right for you.

Here’s a commonly prescribed formulation for foot pain:

For more information:

1 - University of Maryland Medical Center page on Foot Pain:
http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/foot-pain

2 - Mayo Clinic article on Foot Pain:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/foot-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050792

3 - WebMD.com article on Foot Pain:
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/foot-pain-causes-and-treatments