Top of the Foot Pain: Causes and Treatments
Have you ever experienced a sharp, burning pain at the top of your foot? Did the pain make it difficult to walk or even stand?
Pain across the top of the foot is a common complaint that podiatrists treat. This should come as no surprise when you consider that our feet support the whole weight of our bodies as well as being comprised of a complex series of bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and tendons.
With a team of experienced podiatrists and physiotherapists at our disposal, Optimise Health is committed to helping our patients live life as pain-free as possible. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to treating issues like foot pain, so book an appointment today and be back on your feet in no time.
What Causes Pain on the Top of the Foot?
There are many potential causes of pain on the top of the foot, from improper footwear to muscle imbalance. Even something as simple as over-tightening your shoelaces can lead to pain. Causes generally fall into one of three categories:
1. Environment
- Improper Footwear: Believe it or not, wearing shoes that are ill-fitting or too tight is a leading cause of pain on the top of the foot. Your shoes should always be wide enough for your toes to move freely and you should avoid wearing high heels when possible.
- Poor Running Technique
2. Injuries
- Stress Fractures: This is when there’s a small crack or even severe bruising in one of the bones of your foot. Stress fractures occur most commonly in the metatarsal bones, but they’re also common in the heel, fibula, talus, and navicular.
- Extensor Tendinopathy: This is inflammation of the tendons near the middle top of the foot. It can be caused by tight calf muscles but is also common among people who spend long periods of time on their feet, who tie their shoes too tightly, and who walk or run on uneven surfaces.
- Nerve Entrapment: A relatively rare condition also known as common peroneal nerve dysfunction. It’s a dysfunction of a branch of the sciatic nerve that can cause strange symptoms besides pain at the top of the foot (such as tingling and weakness).
- Lisfranc’s Injury: This occurs when your metatarsals become misplaced, fractured, or sprained as a result of your foot being placed under excessive pressure or force. This injury can occur directly (something heavy being dropped on it) or indirectly (tripping and twisting).
- Bone Spurs: These are bony outgrowths that can form on the various bones within the foot. They can occur as a result of a degenerative disease (such as arthritis) or due to overuse (when excessive strain is placed on one area of the foot).
- Joint Sprains
3. Health Conditions
- Gout: Pain on the top of the foot near your big toe could be a sign of gout, which is a form of inflammatory arthritis that is caused by high amounts of uric acid. As the acid crystallises, deposits form in the joints and tendons, leading to pain and swelling.
- Midfoot Arthritis: Pain caused by arthritis typically occurs in the middle of the foot and is most common in older people. It could be caused by a sprain or serious injury, or it could be due to cartilage degeneration from extreme wear and tear.
- Diabetes: If you suffer from diabetes, it’s important that you check your feet daily for signs of irritation or infection. This is because diabetic peripheral neuropathy can cause acute pain in the feet.
- Tarsal Coalition: A condition that usually affects children and young adults, it’s when two or more of the middle bones in the foot have abnormally fused together. This is a congenital condition that usually begins between the ages of 10 and 14.
Treatment for Pain on the Top of the Foot
Although there are varying treatments available for pain on the top of the foot, the preferred method will depend on the cause and it’s important that you see a podiatrist for careful assessment. Some of the treatment methods they may recommend include:
- Pain Relief and Anti-Inflammatory Medications
- Foot Mobilisation Therapy: This utilises a range of special techniques that are designed to reduce stiffness and increase range of motion in the foot and ankle joints.
- Dry Needling: Similar to acupuncture, this therapy involves very thin, sterile needles being inserted into myofascial trigger points to relieve tension, reduce pain, and improve function.
- Strapping and Padding: This treatment is most commonly recommended for sprains and strains to help manage the swelling and give the injury time to heal.
- Footwear Advice: If your shoes are determined to be the cause, a podiatrist can provide recommendations on footwear that suits your feet (along with shoelace pattern modification if necessary).
- Shoe Inserts (such as heel raisers or orthotics)
- Running Retraining
- Surgery: In severe cases, surgery is required to correct the issue and return proper function to your feet. Most podiatrists use surgery as a last resort when other treatment methods have failed.
Get Back on Your Feet With Optimise Health
If you are experiencing any sort of pain across the top of your foot, it’s important that you don’t ignore it and seek help from a qualified podiatrist quickly. There are a number of causes for this pain, many of which can be easily rectified while others require more intensive treatment. Failing to seek treatment in a timely manner can lead to even more severe problems and leave you in pain for longer.
The teamm of knowledgable podiatrists at Optimise Health have ample experience in treating all types of foot pain, including the sharp, burning sensation that occurs on the top of the foot. Book your appointment today and start walking pain-free again.
