Causes of Foot Pain After Running

Foot pain can bring your life to a screeching halt. If you experience foot pain after running, it may be caused by a variety of reasons. It is almost impossible to self-diagnose yourself correctly. The best thing to do if you experience foot pain is to see a podiatrist for a diagnosis and treatment.

Conditions That Cause Foot Pain

Stress Fractures 

Most people assume that fractures happen suddenly when you injure yourself in an accident. However, a lot of fractures happen due to continuous stress on a bone. One of the most common places you can get a stress fracture is in the foot. If you stress your feet out by exercising, running, or playing sports too often or improperly, you have a high risk of developing a stress fracture. Typically, the most common symptom of a stress fracture in the foot is pain. It could be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on its location. The only way to figure out if you have a stress fracture is through an x-ray. Therefore, if you feel pain in your foot, see a doctor as soon as possible to find out if it is a fracture that needs treatment.

Arthritis

One of the most common causes of foot pain, especially after running, is arthritis. This condition affects the health of your joints, and your foot has many joints within it. Typically, arthritic symptoms, such as pain, inflammation, and swelling, are exasperated by movement. This is why you are likely to feel worse pain symptoms after running or exercising. Arthritis needs to be managed. Therefore, if you have pain caused by arthritis, your podiatrist will help you manage your symptoms and slow the progression of the condition as much as possible.

Plantar Fasciitis 

A common foot-related issue is plantar fasciitis. It causes stabbing, burning, or throbbing pain in the heel of the foot. This condition develops when the plantar fascia muscle that runs from the heel to the toes becomes inflamed. Plantar fasciitis pain is often worse with the morning, right after you get out of bed. It can also be worse after you stand, walk, or run for a long period of time. There are many treatments for plantar fasciitis, including stretches, pain medication, resting, and orthotics.

Tendonitis 

Tendonitis can occur in any tendon in the body. In the foot, the posterior tibial tendon supports the foot at the arch. Overworking this tendon can cause it to become inflamed, which leads to pain. Running can cause and exasperate symptoms if you do it too often or too rigorously without training your feet to build endurance first. Treatments for tendonitis in the foot include resting, pain medications, orthotics, and physical therapy.

Foot Pain Treatment in St. Peters & O’Fallon, MO

If you have foot pain, see the experts at Advanced Bone & Joint get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. We treat all types of orthopedic injuries and conditions, including those affecting the feet.

To make an appointment, please call us at (636) 229-4222. You can also request an appointment online.