There are so many reasons to develop feet pain. Some of the causes are as follows:
If you are diabetic, and your feet are numb, cold, with no cutaneous hair, the blood supply of your feet may be inadequate. Check the pulses of your feet and consult a doctor. You are having occlusive vascular disease.
If you are a male alcoholic, and suddenly experienced excruciating pain, reddening and warmth of the big toe, you're having acute gout. Stop drinking alcoholic beverages and start low purine diet. Take note of your urinary habits, because gout is associated with kidney problems.
If the plantar arch of your feet is shallow, it is known as pes planus or flat foot. The weight bearing on your feet then becomes improper, alignment of your ankle is affected and you may feel pain. Shoe modification is needed.
If the plantar arch of one foot is too deep, measure your leg length. The high arch foot may be a compensatory mechanism of the shorter leg.
Above all, the most common cause of feet pain is wearing a pair of ill-fitting shoes. E.g. heels that are too high, sizes that are a little bit smaller, sole that are too flat/thin such as ballet shoes, pointed shoes, innersole that are too firm/hard.
Consult your doctor, our feet are as important as any part of our body. Love your feet; do not buy shoes that are nice looking but ill-fitting.
Q2. Is weight reduction needed?
A patient with arthritis should undergo weight reduction since the bones and joints support our body weight. Overloading increases its burden and may lead into further damage.
Dr. Perry P. Tan is a rheumatologist, founder and head of the Rayuma Klinik of Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) and consultant at St. Luke's Medical Center.