Pain at the top of your foot can range from a mild annoyance to a major discomfort, and it’s something that should be actively treated in order to prevent it from getting worse. But in order to correctly treat the problem, you have to know exactly what you’re dealing with. So today, we’re going to take a closer look at three common causes of pain at the top of your foot, and how the problems are treated.
Top Of My Foot Pain
Here’s a look at three common causes of pain at the top of your foot:
Bone Spurs – A bone spur is a bony protrusion that develops along part of a normal bone. Bone injury, improper footwear and inflammation can all lead to the onset of a bone spur, which can rub against soft tissues on the top of your foot and cause pain. Depending on where the spur develops, it can rub against your foot tendons, ligaments or nerves and cause pain, numbness and swelling.
Caught early enough, you may be able to treat the problem with conservative treatment options like changing your footwear, wearing an orthotic insert that cushions the top of your foot or by taking anti-inflammatory medications. For more developed bone spurs, a minimally invasive surgical operation can remove the spur and prevent it from causing problems.
Extensor Tendinitis – As we documented in a recent blog, another common cause of pain on the top of your foot is extensor tendinitis. Your extensor tendons sit on the top of your foot and help control the movement of your toes, but if they become irritated, inflammation or damaged, they can cause plenty of discomfort on the top of your foot. Treating inflamed or irritated extensor tendons may be as simple as getting better fitting shoes, loosening how tightly you tie your shoes and performing calf stretches, which will take some stress off of these tendons.
Ruptured extensor tendons require surgery to restrengthen, and it’s a procedure Dr. Silverman has years of experience performing. For acute trauma the leads to tendon rupture, reach out to Dr. Silverman to have the tendons surgically repaired.
Stress Fractures – Stress fractures in one of your metatarsals – the five long bones in your foot – can also cause pain at the top of your foot. These are generally caused by actions that cause pressure and stress to the bones in your foot, like repetitive movements from running and jumping, or simply overworking these areas. These injuries are more common in athletes who do a lot of running or single-sport training.
Stress fractures typically resolve on their own with rest, ice, compression and elevation, which is easier said than done for many active athletes. If you don’t give your feet enough time to heal, pain will persist, so talk to your foot specialist if you have questions about treating a stress fracture or staying active while also allowing the injury to heal.
If you want to get to the bottom of your pain on the top of your foot, reach out to Dr. Silverman today!