Right Middle Toes Stabbing & Burning Pain, worsens when shoeless...
by Doug Murray
Hello, I am a 49 year old Caucasian male. For several months now, if not a year, I have experienced frequent sharp burning and stabbing pain in my right foot, only in the two toes beside the big toe. If I go barefoot, it accelerates and exacerbates the condition. My foot is more comfortable in a shoe. It feels like there are loose bones or the toes are slightly disconnected at times and the shoe ?holds it together?. But even in a shoe, the pain is still pronounced when walking and I have to limp to minimize the pain. Sometimes it spasms so sharply that I almost fall over. After a long day on my feet (my 2nd job requires me to be on my feet all day) it burns so badly I have to ice it and stay off it. I saw a family doctor for it several months ago. They x-rayed it and supposedly found nothing ?remarkable? and said it was just arthritis. The doctor really didn?t listen to my complaint in detail. They prescribed anti-inflammatories and pain relievers. But it has gotten worse. Some pain outbreaks last for hours and don?t subside unless I take strong pain killers and stay off the foot. Even then, the toes feel numb and tingly, like I?ve been out in the cold. Often it feels as if there is a loose piece of bone under the middle toe, where it meets the foot, a spur, that seems to shift around and cause more discomfort and pain. Is this possible? I can?t recall any traumatic injury to this area, but it could have been a result of some rough jet ski riding two summers ago. I am afraid it may result in surgery, but I want to be as informed as possible before going to a podiatrist because I have no insurance and don?t want to waste time at a regular MD again. The pain is quite disruptive for two little toes and I can?t stand it anymore. I hope you can advise. Thank you! Hi Doug, Three things come to mind, Morton's neuroma , capsulitis , and synovitis or inflammation of the lining around the joints. Your family doctor is not the person to see; a podiatrist would be a much better option. If I was a gambling man I would bet on a neuroma, but you would be better served to have someone actually examine your foot. Marc Mitnick DPM
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