Many problems that occur in the feet are the result of abnormal pressure or rubbing. A simple way of understanding what happens in the foot due to abnormal pressure is to view the foot simply. Our simple model of a foot is made up of hard bone, covered by soft tissue, that we then put a shoe on top of. Most of the symptoms that develop over time are because the skin and soft tissue are caught between the hard bone on the inside and the hard shoe on the outside. Any prominence, or bump, in the bone will make the situation even worse over the bump.
Skin responds to constant rubbing and pressure and rubbing by forming a callous.
The soft tissues underneath the skin respond to the constant pressure and rubbing by growing thicker. Both the thick callous and the thick soft tissues under the callous are irritated and painful. The answer to decreasing the pain is to remove the pressure. The pressure can be reduced from the outside by changing the pressure from the shoes. The pressure can be reduced from the inside by surgically removing any bony prominence.