Sudden Onset Foot Pain

[Kendrew]

A week ago today, I went to bed with both my feet feeling normal.

I'd sustained no injury to my feet and had done nothing obvious to have hurt them.

Monday morning I awoke, got out of bed and as soon as I tried to walk on my right foot, I experienced pain along the side/outer edge of my foot, underneath my foot on outer edge and across the top of my foot roughly where the metatarsal bones are.

It's progressively got worse making it very difficult to walk on it, with some minor swelling now evident across the top of my foot.

There's no pain when my foot is immobile, it's the actual walking action as I step forward and lift my heel up to take the next step that really hurts.

'Urgent Care' diagnosed soft tissue damage after an x-ray revealed "nothing of concern" and told me to take paracetamol.

As I imagine something has to occur to cause soft tissue damage, and I knew nothing of this nature had occurred, I haven't felt particularly confident with this diagnosis.

Paracetamol has done little to ease matters.

My sports physio neighbour took a look and diagnosed Cuboid Syndrome and told me to give my foot frequent ice baths and roll my foot over a golf ball!

Having googled this Syndrome on legitimate websites, I now know my pain is not in the correct area or near the Cuboid bone where pain would be felt.

Having said that, when he examined my foot and pressed above & below at same time, I almost hit the roof with the pain, so I know he located the 'sore' parts.

Following his advice has also done nothing to ease matters.

Tomorrow I go to see a podiatrist.... third time lucky maybe????

If anyone can shed any light on what may be going on, I'd be most grateful.

I can't believe that yet another curved ball has been thrown my way before I've even recovered from the last one! Hey ho!!

[Koalajane]

I am not sure if I can help. I get the occasional pain on my foot and I believe mine is neuropathy so I wear some special socks which seem to help.

I hope yours starts to feel better soon and you find out what it is

[Kendrew in reply to Koalajane]

Thankyou.

I'll definitely explore that possibility.

[VeeWat in reply to Koalajane]

Hi

Can you please tell me what type of socks you wear?

[Koalajane in reply to VeeWat]

They are called neuropathy socks and I bought them from our friends Ama**n

[VeeWat in reply to Koalajane]

Thank you

[123-go]

Poor you! This is a horrible setback and frustrating to say the least! I have to say that I, too, looked up Cuboid Syndrome and it does seem to fit with your symptoms. I think you’re wise to seek the help of a podiatrist and I hope you get some relief very soon.

[Kendrew in reply to 123-go]

Thankyou. 👍

I really hope it gets sorted as I rely on walking as my main form of exercise....and of course I really enjoy it.

It's just all a bit of a mystery so far.

(I'll still be at next support group meeting so hope to see you there)

[123-go]

I hope to be there. Yes, a mystery that needs solving asap. Take care x.

[Soozydoo2]

Hi Kendrew, I am ten years down the line with PMR and steroids and I have had exactly this happen to me, I went to a&e and they said the same it was soft tissue damage and to take paracetamol. It didn’t help ! I then went to a physio who said they thought I had fractured my fifth metatarsal, so I went to an urgent care centre who x rayed it and said it was broken and put a boot on it, I then went to see osteo consultant at the hospital and he said it wasn’t broken and it was just inflammation from my PMR/osteoathritis ! What a palaver ! I still get it from time to time especially when I change shoes so I tend to wear sketchers slip in trainers in winter and sketchers sandals in summer ! I find rubbing some ibuprofen gel down the side of my foot helps when it’s bad. If you find out anything different and a solution I’d be grateful if you would let us know.

[Kendrew in reply to Soozydoo2]

Thankyou for taking the time to share that information. I'll definitely post anything of significance should I get some answers.

Thanks again Soozydoo2.

[Decsgran]

Hi Kendrew, I have pain across top of my foot too,and sometimes along outer side, only when walking. According to my chiropractor and physio it is coming from the calf muscles! Not been offered any treatment though.

[Kendrew in reply to Decsgran]

Oh, that's interesting 🤔 I'll explore that avenue too when I get to see someone. Thankyou.

[EnyaBlue]

The foot and ankle are complex joints I am told. I got pain on outside edge about a year ago. Rheumy diagnosed Peroneal tendonitis. Took to wearing a shoe with small heal and orthotics, but walking was still uncomfortable. The pain then preceeded across top of my foot to inner ankle. Started private physio in Jan, but pain was awful. In April I got referral to NHS physio who did ultrasound. Although he saw some old injuries, basically nothing obvious to cause the debilitating pain i was experiencing eg each step sent shooting pain through ankle but the pain could sort of moved around tge area and shoot up the calf. He did say that he believed it was connected to PMR which predominantly affects proximal joints, ie hips and shoulders, but can affect dorsal ie ankles and wrists. Also, a weak left glute was not helping and was causing my knee to roll in and put more pressure down to ankle and flatten my foot. The physio gave me 3 exercises to do which initially i thought impossible, but after months of gradual practice I can now walk up to 2 miles. It has taken time, but with the correct diagnosis and exercise you will improve. The fact that the pain was not predominantly in one spot in the ankle was an important pointer to PMR being involved I seem to remember. Ultrasound is being used a lot nowadays by physios & osteos and was very helpful in my case. Good luck.

[Kendrew in reply to EnyaBlue]

Thankyou for all that information. Really useful and helps me compile appropriate questions to ask the specialist.

[Hightower62]

Hi, I am in exactly the same situation currently with my right foot. I have pain and swelling on the outside which makes it very difficult to walk and becomes more swollen and painful after walking for a short time. I also get a burning sensation. In my case, I have a small bony lump around half way between my heel and the base of my small toe on both feet and this is the area which I am having trouble with.

Like you, there was no trauma or any obvious reason for the onset which came on literally overnight. Have had this for around ten weeks with no sign of improvement. Very frustrating to say the least! Currently waiting for an X-ray and keeping my fingers crossed for an answer.

Hope you get some answers soon also. 😊

[Kendrew in reply to Hightower62]

Thankyou for sharing your experience. I'll post anything significant that emerges from any scans or tests I have.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kendrew]

👍

[suzy1959]

what a lot of us have foot trouble!

For the last 3-4 years I have had pan across the top of my foot. It has felt like someone has stamped on it. Initially it only hurt when I actually walked in exactly the same way you describe.

After a few false diagnoses, I saw a foot surgeon who did an MRI scan and the conclusion was it was OA of the metatarsals. The usual treatment is steroid injections under x ray and they are 90% successful. They didn’t work on me- twice! So now the only option is an operation that the surgeon is loath to do for various reasons.

Not sure if this is your problem but just offering another possibility.

[Kendrew in reply to suzy1959]

Thankyou. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. It all helps me build up a picture of the potential problem.

[Ligaamisgefok in reply to suzy1959]

I underwent the same steroid procedure. Within a week all pain was gone and I thought that I had resolved the issue. Unfortunately, this respite only lasted 3 months, and then the same pain returned.

The pain is only apparent when I walk and the foot rotates, but this prevents me from walking long distances and doing the exercise that I have always loved.

When the pain gets really bad, I find that the only way to control the pain is to up my Prednisone for a few days.

[Broseley]

Hi Kendrew, I had a similar issue a few years ago. It was so painful to walk. But I Googled it and took Green lipped mussel and Devil's Claw. I went to a podiatrist at my local hospital and she couldn't really offer any suggestions but said I was doing the right thing with the supplements. It did help wearing good trainers with arch supports. It eventually just stopped, and like when you stop coughing, I didn't notice straight away!

Good luck!

[Kendrew in reply to Broseley]

Thankyou. I have actually bought arch supports today following the osteopaths advice.

[Missus835]

I had problems with my metatarsal arch, under the toes. Was working at a standing job and couldn't stand on it. Changing shoes didn't help. Nothing did and eventually I had to find another job. It's long resolved now, but I will never forget the excrutiating pain. All the best Kendrew.

[Kendrew in reply to Missus835]

Thankyou.

[Lonsdalelass in reply to Kendrew]

I have developed a sore lump on the top of my left foot....been to have an ultrasound and told it's arthritis (wear and tear he said!). Have had to wear open top sandals, okay in the warm dry weather but have to keep laces very loose in the colder/wetter weather. Now developed pain in the heel of same foot.....think its plantar fascitis after reading about it, bought new insoles and they seem to be working.....such a flippin nuisance though this foot pain, and getting older 😬. Hope you get yours sorted soon.

[Kendrew in reply to Lonsdalelass]

Thankyou ❤

[pegpowell]

I had a pain on the bottom of my foot after walking half a block a few years ago. At first I thought it was caused by PMR. I was taking 3 mgs pred at the time. Leg Ultrasounds ordered by a vascular surgeon revealed that I had Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), clogged arteries. I was put on a statin and a blood dialator which got rid of the pain. Have been taking these meds for three years now.

[Kendrew in reply to pegpowell]

Thankyou for responding.