Foot Pain Fallout From Staying at Home

It’s been just about a year now since the start of the COVID pandemic and at Texas Foot Specialists we’re seeing some unintended consequences from the extended time at home. A number of foot disorders are on the rise due to one simple action common among people working and going to school from home and that is not wearing shoes. Walking around barefoot or in socks or slippers has become standard dress code in our lockdown world. Thankfully, restrictions are loosening, but patients may find themselves left with pain from these foot disorders:

Plantar Fasciitis—characterized by severe heel pain, particularly when taking your first steps of the day, this podiatric problem develops when the arches of the feet are unsupported. In addition, if you’ve put on the “quarantine 15” due to boredom or stress eating, plantar fasciitis can be further exacerbated because extra pounds increase the strain on the arch.

Stubbed/Sprained toes—without shoes, your feet are exposed and vulnerable to table legs, bed frames, door jams and other hard objects. A stubbed toe is not only excruciatingly painful, it can become swollen and tender for several days after the injury. In severe cases, it’s possible to break a bone in the toe. Patients with diabetes or other conditions associated with neuropathy are also at risk for getting a cut or puncture wound that can lead to a serious infection, especially if undetected initially.

Metatarsalgia—do you have a sharp or burning pain in the ball of your foot? Does it feel achy and sore, especially when you stand, walk, or flex your foot? Inflammation of this part of your foot—known as metatarsalgia—is more likely to occur when there is no insole or padding between the ball of your foot and the floor protecting it from repetitive pounding.

Achilles Tendonitis—the band of tissue that runs along the back of your lower leg, connecting your calf muscle to your heel, is the strongest and one of the most injury-prone tendons in your body. If you’ve been largely inactive over the past year, you may notice pain and soreness in your Achilles as you begin to become more active.

A good pair of athletic shoes will keep your foot properly aligned and supported and help prevent many common foot and ankle problems. If you find that your feet are hurting or exhibiting other uncomfortable symptoms, contact our Sugar Land 281-242-4448, Pasadena 281-991-0600, or Houston 713-664-6677 offices so our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum can examine your feet, diagnose, and treat any foot problems you may have.