Are Back and Foot Pain Related?

Our bodies are made up of all kinds of interconnected tendons, muscles, and joints that are woven together to allow us to move around and do the things we need to do. 

But sometimes, we end up in pain due to an injury, an accident, or simply because we overworked a certain part of our body. If you have pain in one area and begin to feel pain in other areas, it may be due to the interconnected nature of your body.

Below, we’ll explore foot and back pain, which are commonly connected areas of discomfort. 

How Does Back Pain Affect the Feet?

Foot pain is often assumed to be caused by running, walking, or standing too much, putting pressure on the bottoms of the feet. But, back and foot pain are often interlinked. 

That can come as a surprise to a lot of people because the connection between pain in the feet and pain in the back generally isn’t an obvious one, but there’s more correlation than you might think.

Our spines are connected to our feet through the hips and knees. When there are issues in the spine, such as pressure on the nerves, that pain can radiate down through the hips, past the knees, and into the feet. 

But it’s not just pain in the back that can travel to your feet. If there are problems with your feet, such as an improper gait, your spine may have issues with proper alignment. The adjustments required by the body to accommodate foot pain place more tension on the tendons and muscles, which can cause back pain as well. 

Spinal Issues That Can Cause Common Foot Pain

There are a number of significant spinal issues that can cause common foot pain. Some of these can even lead to severe foot pain and become debilitating over time. The most common issues include:

• Sciatic neuropathy.
  
• Lumbar disc bulging, herniation, or degeneration.
  
• Lumbar spinal stenosis.
  
• Spondylolisthesis.
  
• Facet joint issues.
  

If you’re facing any of these specific types of issues while also dealing with foot pain, it may be time to evaluate where the pain is really coming from. Issues with the back can move to other areas — and the effect it can have on your body is often more widespread than expected.

Signals From Your Body That a Deeper Problem Is Afoot

While your body may be effective at covering up issues for a while, eventually it’s going to let you know there’s a problem that needs to be addressed. 

Your body may be trying to tell you that there are foot and back pain related issues. For example, some signs may include:

• Difficulty walking, such as limping or heel walking.
  
• Foot drop.
  
• Foot pain that starts after you’ve had a recent lower back trauma.
  

Many people end up with foot pain after they’ve been in a car accident, for example. They may think they’ve damaged their feet from the force of the crash. But more often than not, the problem is really with their back, and the pain they’re feeling in their feet is discomfort traveling downward. Examining your feet and back in these circumstances can help rule out some issues and discover the actual problems you’re facing.

Foot and Ankle Group is Here to Help

You don’t have to deal with foot pain, back pain, or a combination of the two when you have the right people on your side. At Foot and Ankle Group, we’re here to help you get the support you need so you can get back on your feet without pain. 

Whether the pain is holding you back at work or keeping you from exploring your hobbies, there’s no reason to struggle with it anymore. Come see us today, and let us help you move comfortably again.