My left foot.
July 5, 2012 11:43 AM Subscribe
YANAD/YANMD. My foot is bothering me - is it something that I should be concerned about?
It's hard to describe specifically how this feels but "cracked" comes to mind, like how your knuckles feel before you crack them or like a bone is cracked. The pain is mild but if I walk a lot, it will start to bother me. I don't wear high heels that often (once or twice a week for a few hours). My arches are really low. I have very flat feet (I don't know if that's relevant but there you are).
It feels like it's the top of my foot a few inches before my toes. It's only my left foot. It doesn't feel like muscle pain, more like joint pain. Sometimes it hurts when I wake up in the morning, usually if I did a lot of walking the night before.
My theories: I run occasionally (not so much lately) and do yoga so I'm wondering if I need new running shoes. Perhaps it is a repetitive stress injury? My other idea is that it's summer so I've been wearing my Birkenstocks a lot as well as silly flats that don't have much padding.
I'm a little concerned because this doesn't seem to be healing or going away. Should I see my GP or podiatrist?
It's hard to describe specifically how this feels but "cracked" comes to mind, like how your knuckles feel before you crack them or like a bone is cracked. The pain is mild but if I walk a lot, it will start to bother me. I don't wear high heels that often (once or twice a week for a few hours). My arches are really low. I have very flat feet (I don't know if that's relevant but there you are).
It feels like it's the top of my foot a few inches before my toes. It's only my left foot. It doesn't feel like muscle pain, more like joint pain. Sometimes it hurts when I wake up in the morning, usually if I did a lot of walking the night before.
My theories: I run occasionally (not so much lately) and do yoga so I'm wondering if I need new running shoes. Perhaps it is a repetitive stress injury? My other idea is that it's summer so I've been wearing my Birkenstocks a lot as well as silly flats that don't have much padding.
I'm a little concerned because this doesn't seem to be healing or going away. Should I see my GP or podiatrist?
Are you overweight or a diabetic? It's common for diabetics to have foot pain due to poor circulation.
There may be a problem with your shoes if you have been wearing the same shoes for a long time. I have worn shoes after they have worn out and they would cause me some foot discomfort. Once I acquired new shoes, the pain stopped occurring.
posted by Jurbano at 12:02 PM on July 5, 2012
There may be a problem with your shoes if you have been wearing the same shoes for a long time. I have worn shoes after they have worn out and they would cause me some foot discomfort. Once I acquired new shoes, the pain stopped occurring.
posted by Jurbano at 12:02 PM on July 5, 2012
It may be arthritis. I get that pain sometimes too. But I'm old.
If it doesn't cost you anything to have it checked out, and since you run, I'd have it looked at. Podiatrist beats GP for this, if you don't need a referral.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:10 PM on July 5, 2012
If it doesn't cost you anything to have it checked out, and since you run, I'd have it looked at. Podiatrist beats GP for this, if you don't need a referral.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:10 PM on July 5, 2012
Yes, definitely have it checked out. One possibility might be a neuroma: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mortons-neuroma/DS00468
I have this lovely condition and once it gets aggravated it doesn't really go away on its own. Mine flares up if I do a lot of walking or running--that's when it starts to hurt. Otherwise, it just feels like a mild "weirdness" in the ball of my foot.
Women who wear high heels are prone to neuromas (though I got mine by being a dork about running too much too soon in minimalist running shoes).
posted by indognito at 12:12 PM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have this lovely condition and once it gets aggravated it doesn't really go away on its own. Mine flares up if I do a lot of walking or running--that's when it starts to hurt. Otherwise, it just feels like a mild "weirdness" in the ball of my foot.
Women who wear high heels are prone to neuromas (though I got mine by being a dork about running too much too soon in minimalist running shoes).
posted by indognito at 12:12 PM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Plantar Fascitis is usually at its worst in the morning. I got it when I was wearing flip flops more than I should have. What you have doesn't sound exactly right, but a few things match up.
posted by backwards guitar at 12:43 PM on July 5, 2012
posted by backwards guitar at 12:43 PM on July 5, 2012
Sounds like it could be a metarsal stress fracture. Get it x-rayed, like, yesterday.
posted by floweredfish at 1:15 PM on July 5, 2012
posted by floweredfish at 1:15 PM on July 5, 2012
Yeah, feet are one of those things you don't want to mess around with. Get it checked out, and start with your GP. Podiatrists can be great, but only for a certain sphere of foot problems; this really could be anything, and your GP will send you to an appropriate specialist.
posted by Specklet at 1:31 PM on July 5, 2012
posted by Specklet at 1:31 PM on July 5, 2012
I have high arches which are falling, and I occasionally get the kind of pain you describe if I bend a foot the wrong way. I saw a podiatrist about this and other foot pain, and got insoles which changed my life.
Definitely see someon. Even if it's just the kind of "you're ok but your feet suck" situation I have, the sooner you deal with it the better. It will only get worse if you just leave it alone.
posted by snorkmaiden at 3:22 PM on July 5, 2012
Definitely see someon. Even if it's just the kind of "you're ok but your feet suck" situation I have, the sooner you deal with it the better. It will only get worse if you just leave it alone.
posted by snorkmaiden at 3:22 PM on July 5, 2012
Go with the GP. I saw a podiatrist for issues that he minimized, but eventually snowballed into major foot surgery when it could have been a much minor fix.
When your feet are miserable, you're miserable along with them.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:32 PM on July 5, 2012
When your feet are miserable, you're miserable along with them.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:32 PM on July 5, 2012
I would put my money on a Morton's neuroma but only a visit to the doctor will answer this. A podiatrist or foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon is the one to see.
posted by karlos at 6:14 PM on July 5, 2012
posted by karlos at 6:14 PM on July 5, 2012
A physiotherapist is another option for dealing with foot problems. I find podiatrists a bit over-focused on feet and orthotics. The physio can also consider the problems with your gait and leg that might contribute to the foot problems, and they usually have lots more options for dealing with them than just orthotics.
posted by JeanDupont at 1:38 AM on July 6, 2012
posted by JeanDupont at 1:38 AM on July 6, 2012
I had a problem a few years back where I had pain when I walked (it was in the joints just above my toes, and a little bit higher). I suffered with it for about a month, and I started compensating by walking lighter on that foot and heavier on the other foot. Eventually walking weird caused me to throw my back out. So off to my chiropractor I went. During the course of the appointment I mentioned the foot issue, and she ended up adjusting my foot as well as my back. I had no idea that your foot could need an adjustment. But just like that, the pain was gone.
posted by vignettist at 11:53 AM on July 6, 2012
posted by vignettist at 11:53 AM on July 6, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Now that the scare-mongering is over, if it turns out to be nothing (and it probably is), get yourself some comfortable insoles. I swear by Dr. Scholl's.
posted by nickhb at 12:02 PM on July 5, 2012