Causes
The causes for pain when it occurs are very diverse. As mentioned above, different diagnoses can be considered depending on the localization of the pain. If the pain on onset occurs in connection with an accident, injury to bones or ligament structures is possible.An existing swelling or bruise is a sign of an injury such as a fracture or torn ligament.
If there is pain when the injury occurs after an accident, a doctor should be consulted so that appropriate treatment can be initiated through appropriate diagnostics. In most cases, an x-ray is taken in this case so that the bones can be examined. More sensitive diagnostics will follow depending on the findings. If the pain is present without any previous trauma, this is more likely to indicate that overstrain reactions, signs of wear or malpositioning are the cause. In this case, painful strain should be avoided and if the pain persists, a doctor should be consulted for clarification.
Associated symptoms
Pain on onset can be accompanied by accompanying symptoms. Especially after accidents such as twisting or trauma from a collision, swelling or bruising in the foot or ankle can indicate a ligament injury or bone fracture. This could also be of interest to you: Foot twisted – What to do?
Pain when occurring due to osteoarthritis can also be accompanied by swelling and redness of a joint. Similar symptoms can occur with bacterial arthritis. In contrast to osteoarthritis, which is a chronic disease, bacterial arthritis, where bacteria in the joint cause inflammation, must be treated immediately to prevent permanent damage to the joint.
Bacterial arthritis often has additional general symptoms such as fever and general weakness. If pain occurs with joint swelling and reddening, it should also be clarified by a doctor whether gout (swelling usually in the big toe) or a rheumatic disease is present. If the foot is swollen and there is also pain when it occurs, this can be an indication of a fracture of a metatarsal bone.
This usually occurs after an accident, but there are also fatigue fractures of the metatarsus, the so-called marching fracture. This can occur if the foot has been repeatedly overstrained. A swelling in the foot and pain when it occurs can also be an indication of a foreign body that has entered the foot and around which an inflammatory reaction has already formed. It is advisable to inspect the sole of the foot and the spaces between the toes to see if there is a wound.
