What the heck could be wrong with my foot? Should I worry?

[firebirdgold]

Ok, this is just weird. Ever since Christmas eve, the bottom of my foot has hurt. I'd assumed I'd bruised it since we hiked and then went on a long walk at night. But it's been more than a month and I'm starting to wonder if I should see a doctor?

It's my left foot, and it hurts on the 'ball' of the foot below the middle toe. It's not 100% uniform pain, but I'm not sure what makes it better. I do know one thing that makes it worse... having my legs out in front of me with my toes pointing at the ceiling. Weird, I know. So if I sleep on my back or spend time on our t.v. recliner couch (I love that thing), I'm practically hobbling when I get up. Although I should mention that I always have at least one cat draped over my legs too.

Um, sitting crosslegged hurts, walking in shoes with good arch support... walking... poking it hurts... wiggling my toes and flexing my foot hurts. It doesn't look weird or anything, no visible sign of bruising.


Wouldn't a bruise have gone away by now?? And a cracked bone would surely hurt a heck of a lot more and also have gotten better, right?



Um, I have had one thought. It's on my left side and my weird hand issues that I've assumed are arthritis are in my left hand. That's improved a great deal since I've moved to the NW, with both knuckles being totally better, but the spot on the outside of my hand just above my wrist joint still hurts and there's a bump.
Now that I have health care, maybe I should see someone?

 

[Skippy123]

You might have plantar fascitis (sp?) I had that and it takes a month or more to heal. I would see a podiatrist soon. My podiatrist gave me exercises and had me stay off it and wear insoles for my arch and it helped. Does it hurt 1st thing when you wake up and sort of piercing pain?

 

[door knob solitaire]

I thought the same as skippy...but I am not a doctor, I just play one on TV!

There are little wrap things you can get at your local drugstore...you know when you sprain your ankle etc? They are near the bandages....anyway I have seen them with a toe support and you may get some relief before you see a doctor.

I had a softball injury in 6th grade...they call it a stone bruise...it rears its ugly little head often and the pain goes on to my toe just as you are describing. It goes away in about a month if I wear sensible shoes...but if I throw in some heals and stillettos I loose ground on the repair and have to start all over. That may be a clue for you too...watch what shoe you wear until you get relief.

Sorry about your Owie!

 

[Sparkalicious]

I too was thinking plantar fasciitis. It can be incredibly painful especially when walking. It may also be a broken toe? I have never had one so can't describe how it might feel, however, people I have seen with broken toes still seem to be functional but just experiencing some discomfort.

It would probably be a good idea to see your doc. No point living with pain unnecessarily, right?

eta - this link on pf ... it might not be it since it says stuff more about pain in the heel. Hmmm.

 

[mellyjm]

My mother had the exact symptoms you just explained. She finally went to the dr. and they made her get x-rays. It ended up being that she has 3 extra foot bones in that area!! Very odd, but somehow that happened. She wears this "boot" which takes the pressure off of the ball of her foot when she walks. She doesn''t wear it all of the time, just when its bothering her the most. I am not sure what the treatment is, maybe surgery to remove the extra bones.... I would probably go to the dr if I were you. It definetly could be plantar fascitis also, but of course only the dr. can discern that. Goodluck and I hope all goes well!!!

 

[diamondsrock]

plantar fascitis I think usually invovles heel pain. The ball of your foot is another issue. I had extreme pain in the ball of my foot a year or so ago after I broke my big toe and walked on the ball of my foot for a while. It''s called sesamoiditis. There are little bones in the ball of your foot called sesamoids and sometimes they get irritated. It eventually went away on it''s own but was quite painful.

Also, the general term for the pain you describe is Metatarsalgia. Google this and you''ll see if it fits what you are saying. There is another thing called Morton''s neuroma which is nerve pain in a very specific area. Could be that. Good luck and if it continues, a trip to your podiatrist would be a good idea.

 

[sumbride]

Stress fracture? I had a hairline crack in a metatarsal bone. It hurt for a while but wasn''t obviously feeling broken to me. It just didn''t get better. I had to have an MRI to determine it was a stress fracture, and the treatment was to wear an immobilizing boot for about 6 weeks. I traced the beginning of the pain to wearing a new pair of boots. It was probably a month before I gave up on it going away on its own and went to the doctor.

Go see a doctor!

 

[lyra]

Could be metatarsalgia (sp?) as someone else already noted. I have that mostly in just my left foot. Layman's terms: arthritis.

I saw a rheumatologist to find out. Sometimes it flares for a month or so, other times it's fine. Mine really restricts the shoes I can wear--the pain will get and stay bad if I'm not careful. I am not able to hike/walk for really long distances or for hours anymore, but I can cycle just fine. See a doc, definitely. Could be a number of things.

 

[gongjoo143]

I just met someone with a similar pain like you described. She had a Morton''s Neuroma. Not sure if that''s what you have, but it''s a possibility.

"Morton''s neuroma is an enlarged nerve that usually occurs in the third interspace, which is between the third and fourth toes. The most common symptom of Morton''s neuroma is localized pain in the interspace between the third and fourth toes. It can be sharp or dull, and is worsened by wearing shoes and by walking."

 

[Linda W]

I agree with Skippy, as I have it too. It does affect the ball of your foot.

In summer if I wear sandals too much, it flares it right up. It is very painful to say the least.

My Dr. told me to wear a good pair of tennis shoes for support. I also have inserts to put in my tennies.

Who wants to wear tennis shoes in summer though. In the house I will, but I will still wear sandals outside.

If left untreated, it can get worse and cause you to limp. That is what happened to me.

Linda

 

[firebirdgold]

Wow! I''ve never even heard of Metatarsalgi or Morton''s neuroma. Both of them sound like it could be what''s up with my foot, and I''m very reassured that there''s something real that could be behind the pain.
I''m always reluctant to go to a doctor if I don''t really have to. Lingering childhood trauma from my projective-hypochondriac mother. (let''s put it this way, she once thought I had the plague and took me to the emergency room, twice... then there was the endoscopy... the woman needs therapy) I''m always worried that they''ll tell me it''s all in my head or I''m being a wimp or something.

So I really needed your advice and opinions!

Ok, I''m inspired to make a doctor''s appointment asap. Thank you so much!

 

[joflier]

Definately make an appointment! they will probably just take a few quick xrays, and go from there. If you didn''t have an inury, there probably aren''t any broken bones, although its not unheard of to get stress fractures from lots of walking, but thats more common around your lower leg. Some slight fractures surprisingly don''t hurt as bad as you would imagine. I had a broken 4th toe last summer and I was walking on it with just some mild discomfort for over 2 weeks before i found out! Hope it feels better quick!!!

 

[lumpkin]

I''d definitely go to the doctor. I get plantar fasciatis but got some good shoes with proper arch support and I don''t have nearly the trouble I used to. But last week I got a new pair of shoes with good arch support and the arch support is in the wrong place and too high, so my ankle is swolen and sore. I''m hoping since I got them at The Walking Company they will take them back....So that prompts my question: Have you recently gotten new shoes?

 

[firebirdgold]

Thank you all for the advice to see a doctor!

Turns out I fractured a little bone in my foot. Gee, no wonder it hurt!

I''ve got a big boot on and it feels better already.

 

[firebirdgold]

Oh, and while I still don''t know what the weird knuckle thing was about, the pain and bump on my wrist is apparently Tendonitis so I''m wearing a brace for that as well. The combo of the two braces makes me look like I was in a car wreck! Very embarrassing!

 

[diamondfan]

you can bruise a bone and not see anything on the surface.

It could be a tendon that is sprained.

I would have it looked at since it has persisted for a while.

 

[Sparkalicious]

It''s all good Indie ... you''ll be better before you know it!
Glad you were able to figure out what was wrong and to have it taken care of! Thanks for the update.

 

[sumbride]

Date: 2/8/2008 10:44:40 PM
Author: IndieJones
Thank you all for the advice to see a doctor!


Turns out I fractured a little bone in my foot. Gee, no wonder it hurt!

I''ve got a big boot on and it feels better already.

I KNEW it!!! Having been there, the pain sounded familiar. I hope you''re better soon! How long do you have to wear it?