why do I experience very sharp pains on the soles of my feet?

Question

it seems as though someone is sticking a sharp needle into the soles and the toes too (middle and big toes especially). the phenomenon occurs mainly at night, but also during day, making walking a bit of a chore. I am 57 y.o., I don't smoke, I don't drink, I have a healthy diet and a walk/bike every day.

Answer 1

It sounds like Plantar Fasciitis. You can google it and get more information.

Answer 2

There could be many reasons why you have foot pain. Simple reason is that you need better support. If you are as active as you say you are then you might need to add an arched pad to your shoes. You may also be experiencing low blood circulation which usually affects the extremities first hands and feet. You might want to make sure that you are not diabetic, because most diabetics experience foot pain.

You could have also damaged your plantar fascia, which is a band of tissue, like a tendon. This tissue starts at your heel and then goes along the bottom of your foot.

It attaches to each one of the bones that form the ball of your foot. The plantar fascia works like a rubber band between the heel and the ball of your foot to form the arch of your foot. If the band is short, you'll have a high arch, and if it's long, you'll have a low arch, what some people call flatfeet. A pad of fat in your heel covers the plantar fascia to help absorb the shock of walking. Damage to the plantar fascia can be a cause of heel pain.

As a person gets older, the plantar fascia becomes less like a rubber band and more like a rope that doesn't stretch very well. The fat pad on the heel becomes thinner and can't absorb as much of the shock caused by walking. The extra shock damages the plantar fascia and may cause it to swell, tear or bruise. You may notice a bruise or swelling on your heel.

Answer 3

With the pain happening in the foot, mainly at night, there's a good chance it is caused by gout.