Foot bursitis typically occurs near a joint, such as the ball of the foot, behind the big toe, or on the bottom of the heel. Bursitis can occur as a result of an injury or overuse. The foot contains many tiny, fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints.

Inflammation of one of the bursae in the heel causes retrocalcaneal bursitis. This type of foot bursitis is most common at the back of the heel. Inflammation of other bursae in the heel may also cause pain in this part of the foot.

Inflammation of one of the bursae near the base of your big toe causes intermetatarsal bursitis. The swelling from this type of foot bursitis may extend onto the top surface (dorsum) of your big toe joint.

Inflammation of one or more bursae at the bottom (plantar) surface of your foot causes plantar calcaneal and intermetatarsal bursitis. Inflammation may spread to a nearby tendon or joint.

Bursitis typically causes a dull ache, tenderness, and stiffness near the affected part of the foot. When the bursa swell, the skin around it becomes red and warm to the touch, the inflammation may also feel like a small bag of fluid when you touch it.

Other symptoms of bursitis in the foot include the following:

• Redness and swelling over the back of the heel
• Pain or tenderness at the back of the heel that is worse with walking and better when at rest
• Discomfort that may extend into your ankle or toes.
• Pain in the arch of the foot, especially when walking or running
• Warmth in your arch when you touch it

There are many possible causes of foot bursitis. The most common cause is trauma of the foot from wearing poorly fitting shoes. Shoes that are too tight or have thin soles aggravate the bony prominences, or bony spurs, in the foot and can cause the areas of the foot to rub against shoes, irritating the bursae and causing discomfort. Other causes of foot bursitis include:

Infection: Septic bursitis is a severe infection of the fluid in the bursa. It requires immediate treatment.

Overuse: Too much walking or standing can aggravate the foot’s bursae, especially if you wear hard-soled shoes that don’t provide cushioning. People who play high-impact sports such as basketball, track and field, and football are particularly susceptible to foot bursitis.

Untreated foot bursitis can develop into more severe issues, such as tendonitis or arthritis. Foot bursitis that results from an infection may spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.

If you suspect that you have foot bursitis, seek the help of a qualified podiatrist for treatment. Suppose you have found yourself in a situation where you have problems with your feet or think that you may be suffering from foot bursitis. In that case, you should contact New York Foot Experts to get the help you need. Our board-certified podiatrists will evaluate your situation to see if there is an area that can be treated with conservative therapy. If this does not work, they will recommend surgical intervention to help relieve your pain. For more information, call us today or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you. We serve patients from Wall Street Financial District NY, Harlem NY, Midtown NY, Lower Manhattan NY, Brooklyn NY, and Yorkville NY.