Pain on Top of Foot

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Pain on Top of Foot

by Steve
(Redondo Beach, CA)

I have a big concern. I’m really worried that I am wearing out my feet and will have to stop playing basketball, which is a great passion of mine. I'm 50 years old and in good physical shape. I exercise twice a week and play full court basketball twice a week. I wear well fitted court shoes and take all of the recommended soft tissue supplements.

I have injured the top interior area of my left foot where the big toe bends to jump or to do an exercise such as a pushup. This is the same injury that I have had twice on the right foot in the past few months. As with those injuries, there was no specific event that precipitated it. I felt a slight twinge after working out on Friday, felt it getting a little sore while walking that night and then woke up Saturday morning unable to walk.

I have it wrapped, am icing regularly and am now taking ibuprofen. It is still killing me five days later!

I previously went to a podiatrist for the previous right foot injury and he misdiagnosed it as gout (after blood tests tec). I have kept the low uric acid diet in mind. I keep a strict record of my intakes and exercise and it doesn’t seem to be diet-based. Is this tendinitis?

I'm really concerned and would appreciate your comments.

Thanks

Hi Steve,
I would be very curious as to the condition of the big toe joint as seen on x-ray. In your age range there is a very good chance that you either have a fair amount of arthritis in the joint which is aggravated when your athletic or there is a ligament problem in the joint from over-stretching of the joint.
My best advice, go see a different podiatrist.
Marc Mitnick DPM

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Pain on Top of Foot

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Mar 02, 2009
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Thanks for the response
by: Steve

You hit it on the head. I did have both feet x-rayed and I do have arthritis in both big toe joints. The podiatrist is still sticking with the gout diagnosis despite the fact that my uric acid levels have been at 6 or lower every time he has tested me. He refuses to accept that this is anything else but gout and that is what worries me. He has given me cortisone injections in both feet now, and the pain has subsided quite a bit. But he has not given me any recommendations for supplements, exercises or anything that might help me stay in the game/gym. I am going to look for another podiatrist.

Hi Steve,
Good idea looking for another podiatrist. Gout is a self limiting condition meaning it will last for a few days up to a week and then ends, only to erupt later on down the road. Additionally, most uric levels are normal during a gout attack so that is not a good indicator. You may want to look at the acidity in your urine for some clues.

Hopefully your next podiatrist will be able to help you.

Marc Mitnick DPM

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Pain on Top of Foot

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Pain on Top of Foot