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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

Foot/ankle pain and burning

(Kentucky)

It all started about 3 years ago. I would come home at night after walking the hospital floors all day and I would be ridden to the couch d/t extreme pain and swelling in my left ankle. The pain is located on the outside of my ankle and radiates to the top of my foot.you can see a vertical indentation of a line at all times. It looks completely different than my right ankle! If I stay off my ankle for a day or so the pain goes away. However, if i am on it for more than 30 minutes, the pain flares right back up! I have seen many doctors, had x-rays, and even an EEG! everything is negative. I know this isn't in my head and the pain keeps me from doing the things I love to do!

Please help!

ANSWER

Hi,

I would actually need to examine you to give you an accurate diagnosis, but the first thing that comes to mind based on your history is that of irritation to the peroneus longus tendon as it passes on the outside of the ankle.
In most cases that I see it is usually due to excessive pronation or flattening out of the foot during gait. This of course will be exacerbated by walking hard hospital floors where there is virtually no shock absorption available to the foot and ankle.
When a foot pronates or overly flattens out during gait, there is a stretching occurring on the medial side of the ankle and a jamming effect on the lateral side of the ankle. The peroneus longus tendon gets caught up in this jamming effect.
This is really all due to poor alignment of the ankle joint from the pronation and that is why the swelling will occur on the lateral side and not all around the ankle such as might be the case in an arthritic ankle.
The easiest thing to try would be an orthotic, but it has to be a decent orthotic which is hard to find in drug stores and supermarkets as they typically do not support the foot enough so they do not reduce pronation nor do they create better ankle alignment.
You could take a look at our Superstep orthotics as an affordable alternative.
In any event I would suggest you try an orthotic first; if for some reason that does not solve your problem than an MRI would be in order.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

MY PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS(items I prescribe in the office)

Orthotics for multiple types of foot pain best buy in a pre-made orthotic click link below

Orthotics for heel and arch pain for those who must wear dress shoes click link below

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(location unknown)

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Redondo Beach, CA

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(location unknown)

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(location unknown)

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Mansfield Ctr, CT

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Placentia, California

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Unknown location

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New Zealand

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Sincerely

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Arizona

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Poland

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South Carolina

Hello! I want to thank you for such an informative website! I found you based on my ankle pain search and am happy to realize that there may be a relatively simple cause and solution....

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unknown location

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Arlington, VA

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San Clemente, CA

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location unknown

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location unknown

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Bre

location unknown

Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so much for your reply. I did let my physician know and they took an x-ray - all is well! Also, thank you for providing this wonderful site, it is very helpful with lots of useful information! I appreciate your gift of time! God bless.

anonymous

Dr. Mitnick, Thank you, you were 100% correct. The pain finally brought me to the ER. I spent 8 days in the hospital. The Doppler you spoke of was able to show that there was no pulse in that foot. This was an arterial clot that split and traveled throughout my leg. My leg was almost amputated. I am in rough shape but have all my parts intact!! You certainly know what you are talking about. Thank you for taking the time to answer. Yours Truly!

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Seattle, WA

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New Jersey

Thanks so much for answering my question. You've been more help to me than my own Dr. has been lately. Thanks again....I hope to be able to walk without pain someday.

Debbie

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Thanks so much for this website Dr. Marc! It is so nice that you have this ask the doctor feature..I'm sure I'ts been helpful for alot of people. I will try what you suggested and see if it helps...thanks again!

Tracy

Evansville, IA

Dear Marc

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Jackie

San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

Rivi,

Albany, NY

Thank you so much for all of your advice. In searching the web for people dealing with this same issue i can tell you that you are a Knight In shining Armor! If I lived in Jersey I would gladly be your Spokesperson. Hopefully next time you hear from me it will be good news. God Bless,

Jill S.

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Jackie

Whichita, KS

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Boston, MA

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Colorado

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Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

Thank you for this information. This description fits my pain and inflammation behind my 2nd toe perfectly.

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location unknown

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Canada

I just wanted to say that I am very greatful for this website!! I have had a fusion in my rt foot and am finally getting a little bit better......

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location unknown

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Wisconsin

Thank you for your response. You have provided some great insight (to my question)....

Julie

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Renae

North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

Thanks again doc for having this website and we STILL need qualified Podiatrists in beautiful sunny Tampa Bay (Bradenton) Florida.

Bessie Mae

Florida

Dear Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,

Lynne T.

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Robert

New Jersey

Thank you. you were more detailed than what others have told me they finally called from the last xrays and my son is now in a cast for 2 weeks he did have a fracture that was not noticeable.

a mom

location unknown

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Lenoir, NC

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Rustam

Bellevue, WA

I cannot thank you enough for your response, opinion, and suggestions! I want you to know how much it means to me, and I'm sure everyone else who has ever asked you a question! I feel like you're a lifesaver and have empowered me to take a stronger role and stand up for myself and my feet!

Jodi

location unknown

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