Morton’s neuroma is a common foot problem that causes pain in the ball of the foot, usually between the third and fourth toes. Symptoms include a burning, sharp, or shooting pain in the ball of the foot that can spread to the toes, a feeling of a pebble or marble under the foot, numbness or tingling in the toes, pain that worsens when wearing tight shoes or high heels, pain that increases with weight-bearing activities like walking or running, pain that gets worse over time, and finding that removing shoes and rubbing the foot can help relieve pain.

Nerve entrapment, also known as nerve compression syndrome, is a medical condition that occurs when a nerve is compressed or trapped between two other structures in the body. This can happen due to a number of causes, including trauma or injury, repetitive or overuse activity, prior fractures or dislocations, scar tissue, bone spurs or arthritis, swelling or edema, cysts, and systemic conditions, such as diabetes. Nerve entrapment can lead to inflammation, nerve pain, and nerve damage. If the pressure on the nerve is only short-term, nerve function usually returns once the pressure is relieved. However, if the pressure continues, chronic pain and permanent nerve damage can occur.

Nerve pain, also known as neuropathic pain, is a type of chronic pain that can feel like a sharp, stabbing, or burning sensation. It’s caused by damage or disease to the nervous system, which can be due to a number of factors, including injuries (nerve pain can be caused by injuries to the nerves that signal pain to the brain, or to the brain itself), medications (some medications, such as chemotherapies and certain HIV drugs, can cause nerve pain), toxic substances (lead, arsenic, and mercury can all damage nerves), alcohol, and other conditions (diabetes, shingles, cancer, and vitamin B-12 deficiency). Other symptoms of nerve pain include tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, loss of balance, extreme sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness, and a heavy feeling in the arms and legs.

Neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy, is a nerve damage condition that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, or muscle weakness. It can affect the hands or feet and worsen over time. Neuropathy can be caused by a number of things, including cancer or cancer treatment, physical injury, infection, toxic substances, diabetes, kidney failure, malnutrition, shingles, and autoimmune disease. There are more than 100 types of neuropathy, each with its own symptoms and prognosis. Some types of neuropathy include sensory neuropathy (damage to nerves that carry sensations like touch, temperature, and pain), motor neuropathy (damage to nerves that control movement), autonomic neuropathy (damage to nerves that control bodily functions like digestion, bladder function, and blood pressure), and mononeuropathy (damage to a single nerve outside the central nervous system). While there is no known cure for neuropathy, your Madisonhealth provider can help you manage the condition to improve your symptoms.

Children can experience many foot conditions, including clubfoot, flatfoot (also known as “fallen arches”, this condition occurs when the arch of the foot collapses or isn’t formed properly. It can lead to pain and difficulty walking), cavus foot (also known as a high arch, this condition occurs when the arch of the foot is more arched than normal), ingrown toenails, plantar warts, athlete’s foot, and tarsal coalition (an abnormal connection of two or more bones in the foot, which can result in a severe, rigid flatfoot). Early detection and treatment are important for children’s healthy foot development. Children’s feet are still malleable and growing, so they can be molded into shape during growth to avoid potential problems later on.

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes and supports the arch of the foot. The main symptom is heel pain, which is usually worst in the morning or after resting. Other symptoms include pain on the bottom of the foot, stiffness or tightness in the arch or Achilles tendon, and mild foot swelling or redness. Plantar fasciitis can be caused by a number of factors, including foot structure, type of shoes, overuse, walking surfaces, being overweight, having a job that requires a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces, having tight calf muscles, or having very flat feet or very high arches.

Shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, is a condition that causes pain and tenderness in the front or inside of the shin. It’s usually caused by repetitive or intense exercise, such as running, dancing, or gymnasts. Symptoms of shin splints include a dull or aching pain in the front of one or both shins, pain that worsens during or after exercise, pain that improves with rest, and pain when you push on your shins.

There are many skin disorders, including acne, alopecia areata (a condition that causes hair loss in small patches), atopic dermatitis or eczema (a condition that causes dry, itchy skin that can lead to swelling, cracking, or scaliness), psoriasis (a condition that causes scaly, itchy, and dry plaques), Raynaud’s phenomenon (a condition that causes periodic reduced blood flow to the fingers, toes, or other body parts, causing numbness or skin color change), rosacea (a condition that causes flushed, thick skin and pimples, usually on the face), vitiligo (a condition that causes patches of skin to become white), melanoma (a type of skin cancer that forms in the cells that produce skin color), Merkel cell carcinoma (a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer that usually affects sun-exposed areas of the body), and lupus( an autoimmune condition that can affect many parts of the body, including the skin). Skin conditions can be caused by allergies, irritants, genetic makeup, certain diseases, and immune system problems.

Common sports injuries include sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, bruises, and muscle injuries. Ankle sprain and Achilles tendinitis are particularly frequent.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is a foot condition that occurs when the tibial nerve in the ankle is compressed, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the foot. The tarsal tunnel is a passageway in the ankle formed by the ankle bones and ligaments. Symptoms of TTS can include shooting pain, numbness, tingling or burning sensation in the foot, and weakness or muscle damage in the bottom of the foot. TTS can be caused by a number of things, including flat feet or fallen arches, swelling from an ankle sprain, diseases like arthritis or diabetes, a varicose vein, ganglion cyst, swollen tendon, or bone spur, and repetitive stress activities like running or excessive walking or standing.

Tendonitis is a condition that occurs when a tendon, the tissue that connects muscles to bones, becomes inflamed and swollen. It can cause pain, stiffness, and discomfort in the joint, and affect how the tendon moves. Tendonitis can occur in any tendon in the body, but it’s commonly seen in the Achilles tendon, among other areas. It’s often caused by repetitive activities. Achilles tendonitis causes pain at the back of the heel or 2 to 4 inches above the heel, when the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed, swollen, and irritated. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the morning, pain when walking or running, and difficulty standing on your toes. Tendonitis from overuse is common in younger people, while tendonitis from arthritis is more common in older adults.

There are many common toenail problems, including fungal infections (Also known as onychomycosis, this is a common condition that can be caused by wearing heavy socks, walking barefoot on wet surfaces, or having diabetes. Toenails may appear yellow or have a black hue.); ingrown toenails (This is one of the most common and painful toenail problems, and can be caused by improper trimming, tight shoes, or heredity.); trauma (Injuries to the toenail can cause pain, swelling, and a red or purple bruise under the nail. The nail may split, tear, thicken, or lift off the nail bed.); discoloration (White marks, known as leukonychia, can appear after minor injuries. Yellowing can also be a side effect of diabetes, liver disease, or smoking.); thickened toenails (Also known as onychauxis, this can be caused by age, trauma, and fungus.); nail shedding (Also known as onychoptosis or onychomadesis.); and, nail lifting (Also known as onycholysis.). Toenail irritation can also be caused by wearing shoes that are too tight, cutting your toenails too short, or being exposed to high heat and moisture.

Foot tumors can be benign or malignant, and can include a variety of types, such as enchondroma (A benign tumor that arises from cartilage and is most common in the small bones of the foot, such as the phalanges and metatarsals. Enchondromas are often asymptomatic and are usually found incidentally on X-rays.); plantar fibroma (A tumor that causes pain on the bottom of the foot, usually in the arch. Pain is often first noticed when wearing shoes that put pressure on the tumor.); lipoma (A noncancerous soft tissue growth that is usually found just below the skin, often on the bottom of the foot. Lipomas are usually small and feel rubbery.); and, ganglion cyst (A soft, gel-like mass that is the most common type of swelling in the foot. Ganglion cysts are smooth and round, and are usually harmless.). Although foot tumors tend to produce symptoms early, many are initially misdiagnosed. Malignant foot tumors are rare, but pose a serious health risk if left untreated. It’s important to investigate any foot mass, even if it seems indolent.

Foot ulcers and wounds can be open sores or lesions that don’t heal or keep coming back. They can be caused by a number of things, including diabetes (Foot ulcers can be a complication of diabetes, particularly neuropathy, which can cause loss of feeling in the feet. About 15% of people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer.); poor circulation (Arterial ulcers can affect people with poor circulation, high blood pressure, diabetes, or who smoke.); and, varicose veins (Venous ulcers are the most common type of foot ulcer and usually affect people with varicose veins or deep vein clots.). Symptoms of foot ulcers include swelling, burning, pain, drainage, unusual redness or irritation, odor, and black tissue around the wound.

Foot warts, also known as plantar warts, are skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that appear on the bottom of the foot or toes. Plantar warts are usually the same color as the skin, but may have small black dots on the surface. They can appear as a small, round area of rough or thickened skin, but can grow to larger areas. Plantar warts can be painful when pressure is applied, such as when walking. The virus enters the skin through small cuts, breaks, or weak spots on the bottom of the foot. Plantar warts can spread to other parts of the body by touching them, or by sharing towels, razors, or other personal items. The strain of HPV that causes plantar warts is not highly contagious, but the virus thrives in warm, wet environments. In children, warts often go away on their own, but in adults they tend to stay.