Current Pedorthics | January-February 2013 | Vol.45, Issue 1 | Page 29

Why Does The Top of My
Foot Hurt?
BY DR. ADAM TEICHMAN, DPM
Pain on the top of your foot can be excruciating, making it
difficult or impossible to walk even a few steps. Assuming there
is no visible injury, and you can attribute the pain to falling,
twisting your ankle, barefoot running, or dropping furniture on
your foot, the cause could be anything from an ingrown toenail
to gout. A podiatrist would have to do a thorough examination
to determine the specific cause, but here are the most common
reasons you might have pain in the top of your foot:
Nerve Entrapment – Your shoes have quite an effect on the
health of your foot. Shoes that are too tight, including athletic
footwear, can cause Nerve Entrapment – also known as a
“pinched nerve”. Repeated pressure on one area irritates the
nerve and can cause a surprising amount of pain. Ice, rest, and a
change to less constricting footwear should resolve the pain.
Midtarsal Fault – The arches in your feet are meant to absorb
the shock of running, walking, and standing. When the arches
fall and you suffer with flat feet, the tarsal bones can become
compressed, which leads to damaged joints, bone spurs, and
irritation. The top of your foot may be slightly swollen, have red
spots, and pain will increase with activity. Improper footwear is
one of the main causes of this condition.
Metatarsal Stress Fracture – Stress on the metatarsal bones (the
five long bones in the front of the foot) can cause tiny cracks in
the bones. This is a very common injury for athletes, dancers,
and those who return to exercising after a long layoff.
Extensor Tendonitis – The Extensor Tendons lie just under the
skin on the top of the foot. Their job is to pull the toes up away
from the ground, and when they become irritated, the pain can
be excruciating and often confused with a fracture. The most
frequent cause of this complaint is once again, footwear that’s
too tight.
Other reasons for pain in the top of the foot may include bone
spurs, sprain, a Ganglion Cyst, aging (arthritis), hammertoes, or
gout.
Pain on the top of the foot could indicate a mild irritation to
your nerves or tendons from tight shoes, or a more serious
condition. If rest, ice, and over the counter anti-inflammatory
medications do not relieve the symptoms, call call your
podiatrist for an immediate examination. They can help
determine the cause of your pain and create a customized
treatment plan for you.
© Originally Published June 27, 2012•East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates, Allentown PA•www.eastpennfoot.com
Current Pedorthics
January/February 2013
27