in the bottom of my right foot, when I am on my feet for a long period of time, the ball of the foot feels as if it is swelling, and causing some numbness, and modest pain. I am not diabetic, I where good orthotics that were made for me. please advise how to reduce the uncomfortable feeling. it is not in my left foot. Will steroids help this in any way?
Several features of pain can be helpful in clarifying what is going on and the next steps for diagnosis and treatment. Type of pain. Burning mostly means a nerve is having problems. This can be either a sick nerve or a nerve that has had an injury. Electrical, shooting, numbness would be others implying nerve source for pain.Location of pain. There is a lot to this. First, if something goes in the pathway of a nerve, then that is the nerve involved. Nerves are long and the pain is in a belt-like long pathway. Smaller areas are smaller nerves. This also tends to say what might  be going on. Obviously if there was an injury to the area and then there was pain outward from it "hit a nerve" would be a possibility. Sick nerves are MULTIPLE areas and tends to be the TIPS of the nerve not the whole nerveWhat hurts. Moving a particular way that triggers the pain tells what is hurting. Specifically it can distinguish outward structures like skin, muscles, tendons, joints from deep structures like organs and nerves.``     Having a diagnosis leads to choice of medicine for the pain. Inflamed outer structures respond to treating inflammation. Inner structures need diagnostic tests because something internal is broken. MRI's.And, structures that cannot be fixed need adaptations. Physical therapy, pillows, supportive structures internal and external.Pressure on a nerve makes it numb. Taking the pressure off is the first step. Lowering weight does 10%. Maybe. better shoes AND SOFTER WALKING SURFACE with a carpet pad does much more.