Our feet are the foundation of our entire body, and they serve us well. According to some estimates, our feet transport us through roughly 110,000 miles throughout our lifetimes. With 26 bones, 33 joints, and a network of more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments, these incredibly complex systems can go wrong in a variety of ways. Here's the main causes of foot discomfort, whether it's in your heels or your toes.

1. Plantar Fasciitis 
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), heel pain is the most prevalent condition affecting the foot, and plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. You definitely have plantar fasciitis, or inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that connects the heel to the front of your foot and supports your arch, if the first step you take when you get out of bed in the morning causes severe pain under your heel.

Plantar fasciitis, which is caused by repeated stress to the foot stretching the fascia beyond its normal range of motion, is often exacerbated after long periods of inactivity and subsides as you begin to walk around. When you sleep, the fascia relaxes and the edema increases. When you get up, you place your entire body weight on the inflamed tissue.

Tight muscles in your feet and calves irritate plantar fasciitis, so stretch your Achilles tendon multiple times throughout the day. Rest (avoid activities that aggravate the pain), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), ice, and massage are all effective ways to relieve inflammation.

2. Heel Spur
A heel spur is a protrusion of additional bone from the base or back of the heel. It frequently coexists with plantar fasciitis, has similar symptoms (sharp pain at the back of the bottom of the foot), and responds to the same therapies, but the two disorders are not the same, despite popular belief. Heel spurs, on the other hand, aren't always a problem: According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, while one out of every ten persons has them, only one out of every twenty people with heel spurs has foot pain.

3. Plantar Warts 
Plantar warts are produced by a skin infection caused by one of the many different types of human papillomaviruses. The plantar kind, however, does not grow outward like other types of warts; instead, the pressure from walking and standing causes them to develop into the skin, causing pain and tenderness on the bottom of your feet.

4. Calluses 
These thick, hard patches of skin accumulate over time as part of your body's natural defense against rubbing or pressure; the buildup protects the underlying skin. (Calluses are not to be confused with blisters, which contain a watery liquid and develop more quickly.) Calluses form on the underside (sole) of the feet, usually on the ball or heel, and they can cause foot pain when standing or walking. The excess pressure from ill-fitting shoes is a common cause of skin thickening, but gait disorders can also cause it.

5. Bunions 
Bunions are produced by incorrect foot mechanics that impact the way you walk: Years of irregular motion and pressure on the big-toe joint cause the big toe to lean in toward the second toe, causing bunions. The telltale hump forms as the bones are increasingly forced out of position. Bunions are more likely to develop in those who have flat feet, low arches, or feet that fold inward.

6. Corns 
Corns and calluses are nearly identical, with the exception that corns develop on regions of your feet that do not bear weight, such as the sides or tips of your toes. They're often small and spherical, with a well-defined, hard, or soft center.

7. Gout 
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes a flare-up of burning pain, stiffness, and swelling in a joint, most commonly the big toe joint. Gout is caused by an overabundance of uric acid, a naturally occurring chemical in the body. While your body is normally quite good at managing the amount of uric acid in your blood, too much can cause crystals to form in your joints.