Could Your Foot Pain be Caused by a Problem in Your Spine?

by Health Geek Content Writer

We have all experienced pain in our foot, under most circumstances, this pain is caused due to some complication with the foot itself, but in some situations, the pain might be caused due to some condition in the spine. According to Best Neurosurgeon in India - Dr Anil Kansal,it is very rare that a pinched nerve in the spine would lead to isolated pain in the foot. Usually, a foot pain is accompanied with considerable pain in the entire leg. Foot pain without any pain in the leg could be due to a problem in the foot like a bad shoe, foot injury, arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, neuroma, etc. Some signs that can differentiate a normal foot pain from a pain caused due to complications in the spine are difficulty raising the foot, heavy foot, numbness, difficulty walking tiptoe, and leg pain. If you experience any of these, then you must visit a Top Neurologist in India for a proper diagnostic.

Spinal Dysfunction that can Cause Foot Pain

The pain in the different region of your leg can be caused by different spinal dysfunction. The problem in the L3-L4 spinal area could lead to pain in the front thigh, knee, shin, and foot. In the case that you suspect that the pain in your foot is caused by a problem in the spine, then you should consult a spine surgeon for any of the following spinal dysfunction.

Herniated discs

Herniated disk is referred to the several spinal disk problems like slipped disk, torn disk, collapsed disk or disc protrusion. With this problem, it is rare that the disk itself causes pain but the inner disk fluid that leaks on to the nerve causing irritation and pain.

Sciatica

These are nerve joints that connect the spine to several of the foot and leg muscles. The five sciatic nerves are located at the base of the spine and connect the spine to the toes. When these nerves become irritated they cause pain in the foot or the leg known as sciatica.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis

This is a lower back condition found mainly in the age group above 65 years of age. It usually occurs at the L4-L5 level of the spine, it can also be found at the L3-L4 level. This is a condition that occurs due to old age; when the ligaments, spinal bones, joints become weak and are unable to hold the spine aligned together.

Facet Joint Arthritis

Arthritis is the stiffness or inflammation of joints leading to symptoms like tenderness, pain, swelling, and finally heading towards soft tissue damage. It is often perceived that this is a disease that occurs at old age but this is not true as millions of children worldwide are suffering from arthritis. The most common form of arthritis that has crippled a large number of people is osteoarthritis.

Spine Surgeon’s Recommendations

There are numerous reasons that could lead to a sore foot or pain in the foot. The first thing you need to do is identify the source of the problem. The primary indicator to look for is if your foot pain is accompanied with a pain in the leg too, this could indicate that the pain might be a cause of some problem with the spine. It is also likely with a spinal problem that the pain might be only in one part of the body. It is always best to consult a reputed doctor for a diagnostic; Dr. Rajesh Kumar Verma is one of the Top 10 Spine Surgeons in India, visit him for the best treatment at Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon.