When to see a doctor

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Even mild foot pain can be bothersome, but usually it is safe to try simple home remedies for a short period of time.

Seek immediate medical attention if you:

  • Have serious pain or swelling, especially after an injury.
  • Have an open foot wound or a wound that is oozing pus or discharge.
  • Have signs of infection, such as a change in skin color, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or you have a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius).
  • Are not able to walk or put weight on the foot.
  • Have diabetes and have any wound to the foot that isn't healing or is deep, a shade or red, purple or brown depending on your skin color, swollen, or warm to the touch.

Schedule an office visit if you:

  • Have swelling that doesn't improve after 2 to 5 days of home treatment.
  • Have pain that doesn't improve after several weeks.
  • Have burning pain, numbness or tingling, particularly if it involves most or all of the bottom of the foot.

Self-care

Foot pain caused by an injury or overuse will often respond well to self-care measures including rest and cold therapy. Try the following:

  • Don't do any activity that makes the pain worse.
  • Put ice on your foot for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day.
  • Take pain medicines you can get without a prescription. Medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can help ease pain.
  • Consider using a foot brace to support your foot. You can get without a prescription.

Even with the best of care, and depending on the injury, your foot might be stiff or hurt for several weeks. This is most likely to happen first thing in the morning or after activity.

If you don't know the cause of your foot pain or if the pain is in both feet, see a healthcare professional before trying home remedies. This is especially true for people who have diabetes.

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Feb. 21, 2025

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  4. Broken foot
  5. Broken toe
  6. Buerger disease
  7. Claudication
  8. Coping with the emotional ups and downs of psoriatic arthritis
  9. Diabetic neuropathy
  10. Diabetic neuropathy and dietary supplements
  11. Types of diabetic neuropathy
  12. Psoriatic arthritis and diet
  13. Fibromuscular dysplasia
  14. Flatfeet
  15. How can I manage health risks related to psoriatic arthritis?
  16. How to determine your psoriatic arthritis triggers
  17. Living better with psoriatic arthritis
  18. Maintain a healthy weight with psoriatic arthritis
  19. Managing psoriatic arthritis at work
  20. Manage stress to improve psoriatic arthritis symptoms
  21. Managing psoriatic arthritis pain
  22. Metatarsalgia
  23. Psoriatic arthritis
  24. Psoriatic arthritis: Cold weather skin care
  25. Sacroiliitis
  26. Sleep and psoriatic arthritis