Dropped arch

[BiscuitsBrown]

For the last few days I've been suffering really badly with foot pain. Sharp pain across the top of my foot, and the arch area. Reduced mobility, as in I can't raise my foot upwards. I think it's a dropped arch but not sure. I haven't fallen over of knocked it. I've tried resting it, and freeze gel but to no avail. What else can I do to alleviate the pain? Cheers.

[Robbie1964]

Do you have any swelling around the top of your foot / around your ankles? Can you rotate your foot or is there swelling and pain? Is it one foot or both? If there is swelling then the best thing to do in the short run is to try and keep off the foot / feet and elevate your foot / feet for about 5 or 10 minutes every hour. I sometimes get this (I used to get it a lot worse) and simply drape one leg over the back of the settee while lying down. It helps reduce swelling. A cold compress (a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel can help) for a couple of minutes can also help.

If you do have a dropped arch then you should speak to your GP who may refer you to a podiatrist for an examination. You can also refer yourself to a private practice though it may cost about £50 for an assessment. I wear shoes / trainers with arch support which helps immensely. I did used to buy insoles from Boots which worked OK and reduced the foot pain / swelling.

[BiscuitsBrown in reply to Robbie1964]

Hi, thanks for the reply. The pain is in the right foot only(Thankfully!) The top of the foot is painful(Sharp constant pain) and there is some swelling, yes. I cannot rotate the foot all without experiencing acute pain. Over the weekend I had the leg raised and applied cold freeze gel and it did relieve the pain somewhat, but this morning I'm back to square one I feel. I will contact the surgery tomorrow and see where I go from there. Many thanks.

[MikeBB in reply to BiscuitsBrown]

You certainly need to talk to the GP about the possibility of this being gout.

[BiscuitsBrown in reply to MikeBB]

Could be, but have had gout before and it wasn't quite like this. However, that is something I haven't considered, thank you.

[Sixtychick]

I had similar pain in the top of my right foot. I have flat feet, so I got some arch supports from Pavers shoes, you can get then in your shoe size. They worked very well and stopped the pain in the top of my foot.Might be worth trying that.

[BiscuitsBrown in reply to Sixtychick]

Hi, thanks. I've got really good insoles in my walking boots. I've been wearing these to help alleviate things. Sadly, it hasn't helped much. Rang the surgery yesterday, sent them photos of my foot and they agreed there was an issue and would refer me to the Dr. I then receive a text message saying they will ring me back next Monday. Tried ringing them today and can't get through. Honestly, what's the point.....

[Sixtychick in reply to BiscuitsBrown]

It’s the same at most medical practises, in the UK, from what I’ve heard. They just don’t seem to want to see you, at the moment. Telephone appointments are all you can get, if you're lucky, I don’t know how you can diagnose people without seeing and examining them. It’s not what most of us want.I don’t understand why they won’t see you at the surgery, when you can get your eyes tested, go to the dentist and I’ve just had a hearing aid fitted, so why can’t Drs see you ? On Monday everything else will be opened, so GP practises ought be open properly again. Just hope this doesn’t continue after things get back to some sort of normality. We would all have to make a stand against it. They must be missing some serious cases. G.P.’s are not like they once were. Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, no weekends and bank holidays. No wonder A and E units are so busy, where else can people go.!! Once upon a time, GP’s were there for their patients. It was a vocation. I feel these days, GP’s are just not interested in their patients any more.I do not have the respect any more that I once had for GP’s. You never see the same one twice either. Rant over.!!Hope you get your foot sorted.

[BiscuitsBrown in reply to Sixtychick]

Rant away! Totally agree with all you have said. I shall quietly await the phonemail, if it comes. As you say though, how anything can be resolved via a phonemail is beyond me too.