Does Fibromyalgia Cause Foot Pain?

In spite of all the medical advancements in recent years, fibromyalgia remains a mystery. Ask someone with a little bit of knowledge of the condition to explain it, and they’ll tell you about tender points and chronic fatigue. But if you have fibromyalgia, you already know that this explanation leaves out a lot.

There are so many strange and confusing symptoms that people with fibromyalgia experience. It seems like every day you notice that one of the conditions you’re suffering from is actually linked to fibromyalgia, like frequent urination or muscle spasms.

And while we all know that fibromyalgia causes pain, there’s a huge range of places that fibromyalgia pain can appear, like the feet. Many people with fibromyalgia have foot pain that’s so severe it makes it hard to walk. But this is something you’d almost never hear a doctor talk about when it comes to fibromyalgia symptoms.

So, just what is the link between foot pain and fibromyalgia? And what can you do about it?

Foot Pain and Fibromyalgia

We know that fibromyalgia causes pain, obviously. But usually, we think of that pain as being located near specific tender points around the body. The feet are not one of these tender points. But many people with fibromyalgia tend to feel pain there anyway.

The truth is that people with fibromyalgia tend to experience pain in a lot of different places, not just the tender points, and their pain is usually severe. And that’s true in the feet as well.

People with fibromyalgia who experience foot pain also report it in different places as well. Many experience pain on the bottom of their feet. And usually, this pain is worse when pressure is placed on it. So, standing can be very difficult when you have this type of pain.

Others have said that they feel pain on the top of their feet, or near the ankles. So, it’s easy to see why foot pain for fibromyalgia would make life difficult. Not only are you trapped at home because of the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia, but the foot pain makes it hard to even put on shoes.

So, what’s the link between the two conditions? The answer may be something called myofascial pain syndrome. Myofascial pain syndrome is a condition where the fascia, or connective tissues of the muscles, becomes inflamed. This results in significant pain in small trigger points in the fascia, especially when pressure is applied, and is actually quite common among people with fibromyalgia.

The feet have a dense line of fascia running under the soles. And the answer might be that people with foot pain are experiencing inflammation of the fascia. This would explain many of their symptoms. But until we know more about the condition, we can’t say for sure that it’s behind the foot pain of people with fibromyalgia.

The good news is that there are still things you can do to treat the pain.

Treatment Options

Researchers have found that putting pressure on the fascia of the feet in people with fibromyalgia can cause pain. So, treating that pain means finding a way to take the pressure off the feet. Many people have found that wearing well-cushioned shoes can help ease the pain. And there are a number of different companies that make cushioned inserts you can use.

In addition, soaking the feet in warm water after a long day on your feet can help reduce the amount of pain you feel the next day. And doing some light stretching can help reduce the amount of pain in the fascia. There are also a number of braces for the feet developed for people with plantar fasciitis, a similar condition where the fascia becomes inflamed. These braces can also help with the pain.

Finally, there are a number of different medications that you can use for the pain, ranging from basic over-the-counter painkillers to corticosteroids that can tackle inflammation.

Ultimately, you should consult your doctor if you’re experiencing pain in your feet for a long time. They can rule out the possibility that you’re suffering from other conditions like plantar fasciitis. And they can prescribe a treatment program that works for you.

So, let us know. Do you experience foot pain? Do you think it’s related to fibromyalgia? What do you do to treat it? Tell us in the comments.