Warts, caused by a viral infection, are a common foot condition. While warts may occur on any part of the foot, warts that grow on the soles of the feet, a result of the viral infection taking hold in an often-unnoticeable cut or abrasion on the bottom of the foot, are called plantar warts. These warts can cause a powerful, burning pain when weight is put on them.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
The most common musculoskeletal condition affecting feet is a condition called plantar fasciitis. This condition occurs when the tissue - called the plantar fascia - that connects the heel bone to the toes becomes irritated and inflamed. The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is an intense pain when weight is put on the foot, typically early in the morning.
Neurological Conditions
With so many nerves in the feet, neurological conditions are common. Conditions like small fiber neuropathy are increasingly recognized as major causes of painful, burning sensations in the feet, and can result from diseases like diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance and HIV, among other conditions. Morton’s neuroma, another neurological disorder, is a non-cancerous growth or thickening of nerve tissue in the foot. This growth occurs most typically between the third and fourth toes and can cause a sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot.
The counterpart of carpal tunnel syndrome is another common form of neurological foot pain. Focal entrapment, a condition that occurs when a nerve is chronically compressed or mechanically injured at a specific location, can cause chronic foot pain. This condition is also called tarsal tunnel syndrome.