Pain on Top of Your Foot? 4 Possible Culprits

If you stub your toe or twist your ankle you’ll know it immediately, but sometimes pain on the top of your foot appears without an obvious explanation. No one likes mystery pains that interfere with your daily activities and raise troubling questions (a bit of good news: pain that comes on gradually is probably not a broken bone or serious tear).

If the pain lasts for more than a couple of days make an appointment with your podiatrist at Triad Foot & Ankle Center to get some answers.

Here are some possible reasons for that pesky pain:

Tendonitis: Your muscles and bones work together with the help of the rope-like tendons that connect them. The tibialis anterior tendon that runs from above your ankle to the middle of your foot is susceptible to inflammation, especially if you are a runner or are otherwise putting your foot to hard use.  Treated early, tendonitis generally responds well to rest and icing, plus a course of anti-inflammatory medication.

Stress Fracture: The five bones in the upper part of your foot (the metatarsals) take a lot of the impact of your everyday walking and running. One of those bones can develop a hairline crack, or stress fracture, particularly if you have pushed yourself—and therefore your hardworking feet—too hard and too long after a period of relative inactivity. The doctor might put you in a medical walking boot to give the bone a chance to knit back together.

Neuroma: The messages that tell your foot to flex or point or extend travel through the nerves that lie between the metatarsal bones. Sometimes, especially when they are repeatedly stretched or compressed those nerves can develop a non-cancerous growth that feels like having a pebble in your shoe and causes shooting pains. Depending on the severity of the neuroma you may be able to control it with something as simple as a change in footwear or if that doesn’t work, cortisone injections; severe and persistent cases may require surgery.

Your shoes: Yes, the source of your pain may be no further away than your bedroom closet—in fact, doctors sometimes call this condition “vamp disease” because it occurs under the vamp, or the part of the shoe between the toe and the laces. It might be that your shoes don’t fit properly, or you might be lacing them too tightly (you should be able to put a finger under the top laces), but in any case, shoe problems can lead to long-term foot problems.

The podiatrists at the Triad Foot & Ankle Center can help you identify the source of your foot pain and help you find the treatment that is right for your feet. Call 336-375-6990 to schedule your appointment or visit our website www.triadfoot.com to request an appointment.

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