A detailed foot pain diagnosis is required if you are experiencing regular pain in the feet. This article provides information regarding the same.

The complete structure of the foot is composed of 24 bones forming a double-crossing arch in the foot. There are multiple joints, ligaments, and tissues intertwined around each other contributing to the anatomy of the foot. One of the most important muscles of the foot is the plantar fascia that provides secondary support to the foot. Weight absorbing pads are also essential structures of the foot that protects it from getting hurt while walking or running. Foot pain is an indication of some problems affecting the interaction of internal muscles and its contact with the external surrounding. If such is the condition, then one should go in for a diagnosis to detect the underlying reasons.

Diagnosis of Foot Pain: An Overview

Foot pain, more commonly known as arch pain, takes place when an injury is caused to the structures that establish contact with the external environment. There are many reasons behind the occurrence of such type of pain. Inadequate biochemical alignment, muscle sprain, ligament stretch, and joint fractures are the common reasons behind aching feet. This requires immediate diagnosis. Top of foot usually pains due to excessive use while running or walking over uneven landscapes. Overuse induces fatigue in the muscles of foot. The clinical conditions that give rise to foot pain during activities are flat feet, bursitis, bunions, or calluses on feet. Wearing ill-fitting shoes often causes sudden appearance of arch pain.

Bone diseases are often diagnosed by doctors when a person experiences intermittent foot pain. It can also happen from bone injuries, improper blood circulation, and lack of exercise. Formation of heel spurs and gout cause terrible pain in foot. A painful condition also arises due to formation of clots in the blood. People experiencing pain due to such reasons must seek medical assistance. A sharp and thumping pain in the foot is experienced after waking up in the morning. People affected by plantar fasciitis or tarsal tunnel syndrome experience arch pain in the morning. Persistent and sharp arch pain is also a symptom of arthritis and osteoporosis. The heels of the foot more often ache while maintaining a standing posture for a long time. Excessive consumption of protein causes formation of uric acid crystals in the body. High levels of uric acid causes severe and sudden foot pain (like a fracture) affecting the ankles and the heels. Achilles Tendinitis is also a condition, wherein inflammation of the feet tendons takes place, restricting the foot movement for time being. Aching feet is one of the side effects of edema and obesity.

Parts of the foot such as heels, ankles, top, sole, etc., are examined to know the exact reasons behind the pain. The problem is easily diagnosed with an X-ray. The arches are touched and pressed by doctors to identify the possible reason behind the pain. This process is often adopted to diagnose a fracture or a sprain. The person is asked to move his feet in the directions shown by the medical practitioner. It's also carried out by sensing the nerves in case any damage has been caused. Bone scan or MRI are done on the foot to know the abnormalities of the bone tissues. Furthermore, one has to undergo urine analysis and blood tests for detecting the levels of uric acid and gout like symptoms. All these techniques meant for diagnosing foot pain help the doctors identify disorders in the foot and provide appropriate treatment.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.