Weird foot issue

Magus` · August 2017

After getting home from an hour long drive I noticed the bottom of my foot was "burning" at the "ball" area. I've looked at it and there's no visual sign of irritation.

I am hoping it's something super common someone can point out because I can't go to the doctor anytime soon.

Shogun · August 2017

plantar fasciitis would be my initial cursory guess

zepherin · August 2017

Shogun wrote: »

plantar fasciitis would be my initial cursory guess

I had that for a while, and it's pretty terrible.

Magus` · August 2017

That says bottom/heel. It's only the ball of my foot that hurts.

I was thinking this, but I'm hoping not:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metatarsalgia/home/ovc-20262199

Xaquin · August 2017

Regardless of what it is, the best advice if you can't get to a doctor is to ice on for 20 minutes then 20 minutes ice off. Repeat. Take a dose of ibuprofen with a lot of water. Keep the foot elevated (even just a pillow width) and try to keep off it for a while.

If need be, crutches are good too for letting your foot heel (hahahaha little foot humor there)

Magus` · August 2017

I'll see what I can do. I'll put ice on it. It doesn't actually hurt at all when I'm not on it.

Fiendishrabbit · August 2017

Could be metatarsal periostitis (which I've had myself. For 2 weeks I could only limp along). Hurts as fuck if you put any weight on it.

My recommendation. Go to a doctor. Get it diagnosed. The worst case scenario for deep pain is that you have something which will eat your leg if left untended.

joshofalltrades · August 2017

If you can't see a podiatrist, go to one of your local cash pay clinics. They may not be specialists in foot problems but seeing a GP is better than asking the Internet to diagnose you.

JebusUD · August 2017

My wife had the metatarsal thing. A small pad in her shoe was enough to fix it. It wasn't expensive. Check out a doctor.

ceres · August 2017

Sometimes if it's been a while since I took a meaningfully long drive, the next time I do so for more than a half hour to an hour straight the muscle in my right foot starts to ache a bit. But after resting it a while it goes away because it's just a muscle ache.

If it persists, see a doctor.. if not and you don't usually drive that much it could just be the drive itself, or the shoes you're wearing when you do.

Windburn · August 2017

Can you describe the symptoms a little more? Which foot is it? If it was your left foot, do you drive a manual transmission? You described a burning sensation; does it feel like it's on the skin or deeper? Do you have any pins-and-needles or numbness-and-tingling type feelings? Did it start while you were driving or after you got out of the car? How long did it take to go away? Did it hurt to push on it with your fingers? Have you ever had symptoms like this before? Are you currently taking any medications? Are you overweight? Do you use nicotine?

I know that's a lot of questions, but the answers will help me narrow the differential for you.

Magus` · August 2017

Left foot, automatic drive. Feeling is definitely more on the skin like I had a rash or burn there. Started right after I got out of the car but persisted once I got back in the car. No change in sensation if I put more pressure on my foot with my hand.

Right now I am not noticing anything but I've been off my foot almost all day. Normally I'd go for an evening jog but I haven't yet. Oddly rubbing my foot on the carpet causes an uncomfortable sensation but not on like tile.

I am overweight but less so than I've been in years (245 at 6' 7" versus 280 at the start of the year). Anti-anxiety/depression meds and no nicotine.

I've had some soreness in my foot on and off for a few weeks now. On a side note I've ramped up my exercise a lot though the only thing I really do that puts pressure on my feet is running and I only run a small bit currently.

As for the doctor is a question of when. I travel to a different town to work so seeing my doctor is kind of an all day affair.

I miss anything?

Edit: I do notice tenderness in my foot after wearing my work shoes for awhile. They do have padding in them, though not in the ball of the foot.

Edit 2: The ball of my left foot is waaaay more callused than my right.

Windburn · August 2017

Ok, your symptoms match more of a peripheral nerve type pattern, as opposed to a central (brain\spinal cord) or large nerve (sciatic). The most likely nerve in question is the medial plantar cutaneous nerve. This nerve has a predictable path (image one, image two). Direct injury to that nerve will likely cause a temporary neuropraxia and resolve on its own in a few hours to a few weeks. The nerve can also be made unhappy by compression anywhere along its length. The most likely sources are the abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, and flexor retinaculum. The last is part of the so-called tarsal tunnel. Inflammation there is analogous to carpal tunnel syndrome.

So what to do about it. Fortunately, regardless of the (above) site of compression or the cause, the treatment is largely the same.

Rest - limit weight-bearing activities as much as possible.
NSAIDs - if you can tolerate them and don't have a history of bleeding from either end of your digestive tract. Note: this class does not include Tylenol. You should take these every 8-12 hours, depending on the drug you are taking, for at least two weeks. This is not for pain control (like you would take for, say, a headache), but rather inflammation control.
Physical Therapy - You can look for exercises online, but it's better to get a referral from your doctor and go work with someone qualified.

Other things on the differential:

Unlikely:
Sesamoiditis
Bone bruise
Stress fracture

Very Unlikely:
Atypical morton's neuroma
Referred symptoms from pathology somewhere else, such as knee or hip arthritis (see reasons to go see a doctor below)

Possible, but on the order of being struck by lightning...twice:
Cancer
Vascular malformation or aneurysm pushing on the nerve
Nutritional deficiency, such as Vitamin B12
Metabolic syndrome, such as diabetes, with a very early presentation of neuropathy

Reasons to go see a doctor (F&A orthopaedic surgeon or podiatrist are both fine) are to get a physical exam and imaging. There are certain provocative maneuvers that can be done to further narrow the differential. Also, an X-ray of your foot can further rule-out unlikely (but not impossible) things like stress fractures or sesamoid fractures. If your symptoms fail to resolve, more advanced imaging can also be done, like an MRI, to look for more occult things.

Hope this helped. Best of luck to you.

Magus` · August 2017

Goddamn. Thanks a ton, that was extremely helpful.

Penny Arcade

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