Foot, Heel and Ankle Pain

A few weeks ago, a can of beans fell on the top of my right foot (metatarsal area). Where the can hit, the area hurt but really didn't give me much problems. There wasn't any swelling or discoloration.

A few days ago, when I stood up for 5 minutes or so, my foot started to feel like I was standing on it for hours, even though I was sitting most of the day at my desk. I also noticed a small hard bump on the top of my foot metatarsal area halfway between my ankle and the base of the toe next to my big toe. It didn't really hurt. What hurt was the arch of my foot and my ankle (both sides of the ankle). I can stand on the foot and walk with some slight discomfort, but it's not really painful.

When I first get up from sitting, I can walk about 20 yards with no discomfort. Then if I continue walking, I feel a slight discomfort when flexing my right foot to walk.

Now for the left foot. I think I have either a heel spur or plantar fac. I never had it checked, but the bottom of my foot at the heel was very sore to stand on -- this was about a year ago. I did plantar fac. exercises and stretches and it seems to have got better until a couple weeks ago when I injured my right foot with the can of beans.

Now my left heel area (bottom of the foot) has some slight heel pain and sometimes I get a stabbing or shooting pain in the heel, which lasts for about a second, then goes away. This happens generally when I'm sitting or laying, but not when I'm walking. Sometimes I also feel a "tingling" feeling in the bottom of my heel. The other thing I notice is that sometimes the skin on the inside of my heel feels almost like a "brush burn". The skin is sensitive to the touch and slightly painful but not unbearable.

I have flat feet and am overweight (currently trying to lose weight). I don't have any history of diabetes, neuropathy, etc. and the only medication I take is over the counter allergy medicine. I didn't do anything to injure either foot, ankle or heel other than dropping the can of beans on the right foot a few weeks back.

I'm a big coward and have EXTREME white coat syndrome so I avoid doctors at any cost and try to self-medicate if possible. Any ideas or suggestions?

ANSWER

Hi,

My first concern is your complaint about the hard spot that you have on the top of your left foot. Is it in the same area as where the can of beans hit your foot? If so, that could signify the possibility of a fracture. When there is a broken bone as the bone begins the healing process a "bridging" begins on either side of the fracture line and in a superficial bone like the metatarsal, you could feel a hard spot. I would suggest you get an x-ray just to make sure, because if there is a fracture and it does not heal properly you could end up with issues later on.
You mention you are overweight and have flat feet. For most people that is a recipe for foot pain. Your body weight is putting excessive pressure on your feet and that fact that the feet are flat makes it difficult for the feet to adequately absorb the stress placed upon them and you end up with varying degrees of pain, such as plantar fasciitis and probably arthritic break down of the feet.
A simple thing that you could try would be an arch support of some sort to better help your feet support the excess body weight, allowing the foot to function in a more proper alignment which should reduce your symptoms, other than the possible left foot fracture.
You certainly can try a store bought arch support but what you will probably find is that most if not all of them are not supportive enough and for that reason will probably offer no relief.
You might consider our Superstep orthotic which is made out of prescription grade orthotic material but is pre-made so it is a lot less expensive than prescription orthotics.
You do not mention your age but as you get older these foot issues are going to become more of a problem because as your feet continue to "breakdown", the more they are going to hurt.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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