TOENAIL CUTICLE SWELLING /FLUID COLLECTION

Left 3rd toenail cuticle area is slightly red/swollen/slightly painful. Once when pain was particularly bad I squeezed my toe and one

drop of clear,thick,serous fluid literally broke thru my cuticle with a slight popping or tearing sound. The redness,swelling, and discomfort were relieved but then builds up every few weeks,and I 'POP' it again...it always breaks thru my cuticle. In addition,my whole foot is larger than the right foot- actually difficult to put my shoe on. Right foot is not painful. It doesn't seem like true edema because of the fluid under my cuticle-- possibly cellulitis ? Thank you

Hi,
It may be cellulitis and if it is you should be treated by a doctor, not performing bathroom surgery on yourself.
I am not sure why your whole foot is swollen but I am sure if a doctor examines you, he or she will be able to provide you with answers and solutions.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Recent burning and pain in top of foot years after surgery

by Tina
(Gainesville, GA, USA)

12 years ago I had surgery on my left foot. I had broken eight bones and dislocated several joints in a fall. I was in a cast, eventually had surgery to put screws in (3)...wore another cast, and then a boot. Later, I had more surgery to remove the screws because I broke my little toe "overcompensating??" for the screws/stiffness. Regardless, I was in and out of surgery twice and in a cast or boot for 13 months. I haven't had problems with my foot (other than some swelling) since. In the past few weeks my foot has begun to hurt when I walk (shooting AND burning pain). It also just throbs constantly (even off of it). Any ideas? I can't afford to go to the doc as I lost my job and thus my insurance. I'll go if necessary though. Thanks! P.S. I'm a 45 year old female.

Hi Tina,
It is difficult to tell if this is an acute new problem or a result of your problems 12 years ago. It could be either. In an ideal world you should see a doctor and at the very least have an xray.
If you cannot afford that, you might try immobilizing your foot with a walking cast that you could buy at a surgical supply store or online and wear it for a minimum of four weeks to see if your foot "quiets" down. If that affords you no relief then your foot is going to require medical attention.
My first choice would be for you to consult with a doctor.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Severe Pain after Tailor's Bunionectomy and Osteomeylitis

by Dustin
(Stevenson, Alabama)

I had a Tailor's Bunion removed on right foot, It was healing fine and 3 weeks post-op I woke up and my foot was swollen and had busted at the incision and was leaking yellow-clear fluid, went to my surgeon and she did a bone scan and was positive staph aureus osteomeylitis, She put me on oral antibiotics for a week and did an excision to remove the fifth metatarsal head which was damaged from the osteo. I was placed in the hospital for 1 week in IV antibiotics and then sent home. This is 3 weeks later and I am having severe pain in my foot still. Is affecting the way I walk and my lifestyle. My foot has dark coloration where it was infected. How long will this deep pain last. My surgeon acts like I should not be hurting anymore. I guess she thinks Im just making this up. Please Help me find my problem...

Hi Dustin,
My best advice would be to get a second opinion from another foot surgeon in your area who can fully examine you.
I would think at this point, three weeks after the second surgery you would have noticed improvement and I am concerned that you have not.
Having the fifth metatarsal head removed will create some problems for you because in an ideal situation we never remove the metatarsal head unless absolutely necessary as it can adversely affect your gait.
So, that is why I am recommending you get a second opinion because something does not seem right to me (from this far away)
Marc Mitnick DPM

pain on the top of my foot when I walk

by Vickie
(St. Charles MO)

I have always walked for aorbic exercise but now have a problem where the joints are wearing away on the top of my foot. I try to avoid going up and down hills, but would like to continue to walk for exercise stopping when I start to limp from the pain. I need to know whether continuing to walk for exercise will cause more wear and tear on my joints and if, in fact, I am damaging my foot more by walking. I am 64 years old and otherwise in excellent health. Thank you so much. I am one of many people who pay over $600 a month for insurance and have an extremely high deductible so I have been putting off going to a specialist for this answer.

Hi Vickie,
Here is the paradox of exercise and osteoarthritis (the wear and tear arthritis that we all experience). Exercising over the years certainly speeds up the arthritic problem, but once you have arthritis, exercise keeps the joints from further stiffening and worsening. So exercise is part culprit and part healer.
If the joints on the top of your foot is where you are experiencing pain, then I would first try a good arch support (one that really supports) in an effort to better align the joints and hopefully diminish the pain.
If that does not work then you might have to bite the bullet and see a doctor.
Marc Mitnick DPM

swollen and severly bruised foot

Last Saturday evening I stepped off the bus and started to walk forward as normal when I did that I believe I stepped on an uneven side walk or a crack in the cement (it was dark) ad my foot rolled to the side off my my sandal when had about a 2 inch wedge on it. I could hardly walk. The foot swolle up big time and it is severly bruised all over the foot area (toes, bottom and side of foot). On Monday evening I went to an after care center. They took 6 x-rays, gave me a boot & prescription for pain and sent me on my way. I called yesterday for the x-ray results and they said I had a small fracture on the bone that runs on side of my foot. Follow up with an orthepedic but they stated there was really nothing that could be done for it. Ok it is Thursday 5 days after the accident and my foot really hurts, still swollen and bruised. I have been putting the ice packs on it but it is hard to take proper care of it when I have to come to work. My ? is how long will it take for the swelling to go down with proper rest and ice packing.

Hi,
Do yourself a favor and see a foot specialist, so often doctors who do not routinely treat foot problems tell the patient "there is nothing else that can be done" and invariably the patient ends up with chronic pain.
Marc Mitnick DPM

osteonecrosis

by sasha
(ky)

I was recently diagnosed with osteonecrosis in my 2nd metatarsal bone. Im 22 and the mother of 2 young kids well u can imagine how hard it is to chance after a 3 and 1 year old while trying to keep pressure off my foot. The doctor that found it referred me to a orthopedist and he had a special insole made for my shoe. It didn't help at all so he is sending me to a podiatrist that i haven't seen yet. I feel like im being sent around in circles no one has actually told me what this is or how i got it. I hurt my foot in a fall last year could this have caused it and what can i do to take the pain away it used to just hurt when i walked or put pressure on it. My doctor told me to take Tylenol but its just not working anymore it hurts constantly and the top of my foot stays swelled up but the toe looks like it sinking in. there is so much swelling that my 3rd toe is starting to move.
thank u
Sasha

Hi Sasha,

Osteonecrosis means death of bone which in the case of a young women is usually the result of lack of blood supply to the head of the metatarsal.
Treatment is generally related to immobilization and keeping pressure off the bone until it runs its course. You may need more than just an innersole.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Broken toe?

by Shelby
(Minnesota)

Yesterday I stubbed the third toe on my right foot. I was barefoot when it occurred. It hurt quite badly and stung. I went out to do errands and had trouble walking normally. When I came home and removed my sock there was a small blackish-red blob on the tip of my toe close to the nail. It was bleeding a bit so I applied an antiobiotic cream. My toe is swollen and painful. I have elevated and iced the area. You know how you spread your fingers, I did that with my toes to see what the movement is like. On my left foot the toes spread easily. On my right foot all of them do with the exception of the third and second toe. Both toes remain together. No matter how hard I try using the muscles, strength in my foot and toes, they will not spread. Last week I gave myself a pedicure and had no trouble spreading the affected toe on my right foot when I placed toe separators in between. I was wondering if this is a sign of a broken toe if the injured toe and the one next to it won’t spread apart, stay together? I haven’t seen a doctor yet. Thanks for your help.

Hi Shelby,
There is only ONE way to know if it is broken; get an xray.
Contrary to the popular myth that there is nothing you can do for a broken toe, a broken bone is a broken bone regardless of where it occurs and a broken toe needs to be treated otherwise it may continue to hurt you indefinately.

Marc Mitnick DPM

Top foot pain near the bend of the foot/lower leg...where the foot and leg meet

by Raymond Ellison
(Rochester,MN)

I've been an avid runner running namely on a treadmill and once in a while outside in the street...at first i had pain running from the top of my foot up the lower part of my leg...almost like my shoes were too tight...that's gone away now but now i have pain in the top of my foot in the bend of my foot/lower leg...this pain does go away after resting a week without running. Biking doesn't really bother it at all...I've iced the area after working out as well...recently i rested alittle over a week and felt good...towards the end of my 2 mile run the pain came back...do i need to rest much longer for this to go away like 2 weeks or more? I've studied the foot anatomy and all I can come up with is likely repetitive overuse of the ligaments/tendons. I have tried stretching more than i used to...i do have well developed calves that i was thinking were pulling on the front causing the pain. Thank you for your expertise answer...

Hi Raymond,
My first thought would also be tendonitis. I think you should see a local footspecialist for an evaluation of your foot and your gait. An xray may also be required as sometimes bony overgrowth on the bones can irritate the tendons and cause a tendonitis.
If this problem has been going on for more than two months then I think you may require some expert advice.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Sharp pain on inside ankle bone

I had surgery to repair osteochondrosis dessicans in September of 2008. The doctor drilled 4 holes in my tibia bone to regenerate bone growth. Post op appointments showed success and I was pain free for almost one year. About a week ago, I developed a sharp pain on the inside of the same ankle. I saw my orthopedic surgeon and he took x-rays of the foot and ankle . . . no fractures or OCD were present. I had an MRI of the ankle yesterday and the radiologists findings were all normal. Doctor is talking about scoping the ankle . . . what could be wrong with my ankle? I get the sharp pain almost every stop I take. I have minimal swelling but swelling at night is worse after I have been walking around all day.

Hi,
Since the MRI and xrays are normal, there is a good chance the problem is occurring within the ankle joint.
An arthroscope of the ankle should be able to clean out any abnormal bone growth.
Sounds like a plausible solution to your problem.
Marc Mitnick DPM

side of foot sensitive to touch

Recently, the side of my foot is sensitive to touch. I can walk easily with no shoes on, but if I put anything on my feet that touches that area, it hurts. I don't remember doing anything to cause this problem, other than walking alot. Could you give me some insite into this?

Hi,
This may represent a nerve entrapment (pinched nerve) any where from your foot up to your lower back.
How it happened I cannot say, but perhaps you should mention it to your doctor to see if it requires further attention.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Severe pain to top of feet

Hi,

I have a history of stretched ligaments in my left foot from sports activity. For the past week, I've had severe pain to the top of my foot, especially if i turn my foot inward during rotation to the point where I'm unable to turn it inward period. The pain is closer to the part of the foot that connects to the leg, not near my toes, and it also hurts at the base of my ankle. I've brought this to the attention of my doctor, but he blew me off and suggested it was plantar fascitis because I'm five months pregnant at the moment, but this pain isn't like that kind of pain at all. Any idea on what this is? I've also had negative xrays in the past of my left foot and seen a podiatrist who did nothing at all for me except say "elevate it & take ibuprofen"

Hi,
You mention you are pregnant and right off the bat that could be part of the problem, due to the possibility of weight gain and certainly hormonal changes.
Read my section on "midtarsal fault" and "tendonitis" as that is the two things that come to mind.
I would suggest you dump your doctor, as plantar fasciitis does not occur on the top of the foot and find a podiatrist who is willing to do more than suggest Motrin and elevation.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Pain 10 months after 5 screw lisfrancs foot fusion and tendon repair 7 months ago

by Deb DiMarino
(Myetrsville, Md)

Had above procedure 2nd to severe arthritis caused by exceptionally high arches. Tendon ruptured due to antibiotic. Now pain to top of foot with swelling. Foot surgeon suggested orthodics- hesistant for $400 charge not covered by insurance. Did not help in past. Can not walk on uneven ground or for prolonged periods without extreme pain. How long can I expect pain to last? Surgeon stated it could be as long as 15 months.

Hi Deb,
At ten months post surgery I would think the pain you are experiencing would be markedly less, although not totally gone.
Anytime you have a joint fused, it tends to put added pressure on the adjacent joints. That along with other factors such as your age, weight, average daily activity, shoe selection, overall general health and the quality of the procedure performed all go into how long it should take to stop hurting or at least stop hurting as much.
You are at ten months now and if your pain level is not slowly diminishing there is a chance you will still be having pain at 15 months
I agree you probably need an orthotic of some sort, if a custom orthotic is out of reach financially, ask your doctor to recommend an off the shelf type orthotic (like the Superstep orthotic we sell on this website) as an alternative. By supporting the arch you will take some of the stress off the surgical fusion and hopefully that will give you some relief.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Pain at the base of the small (fifth) toe

by Pauline W
(Arizona)

I have had pain at the joint (or base) of my small toe for the past two weeks and can't remember doing anything specific to damage it. This joint feels larger than the one on my other foot, but other than that there is no outside evidence of an injury. It is most noticeable when I am wearing shoes that put pressure on that point and when I am walking or putting weight on my foot. If I wear shoes that are open (like flip flops) or no shoes at all the pain seems to be less . I do play volleyball about once a week and haven't been regularly exercising for about 6 months now. I work in a professional environment and do wear heels most of the time. I'm hoping this is something that can be fixed without going to see a doctor as I have terrible insurance. I don't want to pay for a doctor's visit only to find out it was nothing. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Hi Pauline,
The two most common causes of pain I see in that area of the foot is either capsulitis (you can read about it on my site) and sometimes a skin split at the level where the toe meets the metatarsal bone.
Look underneath the foot and bend the fifth toe backwards and see if the skin is split. If...that happens to be the case apply some bacitracin or neosporin ointment twice a day for a week to ten days.
If your problem is neither of those two, you may have to bite the bullet and see a doctor.
Marc Mitnick DPM

pain on the top of my feet right at the bend and the front of my shins

I just started working out 9 days ago and the last two days I started increasing my work out on the treadmill from the usual 3.0 to alternating from 3.2 for 1min and 3.5 for 30sec, and since I have increased my speed I have pain on the top on my feet close to the bend of my foot and pain down my shins, Is that normal to have that pain when you first start out?

Well.....no pain is normal but when starting an exercise program depending on your age and overall physical conditioning you may have to build up to a certain workout slowly.
Cut back to your original time and speed, do it for 2 weeks, if you then feel alright, try increasing your workout, but do it slowly.

Marc Mitnick DPM

my son has a deformity of his middle toe

by Kristin Nolan
(Santa Maria, CA)

Since he was born, his middle toe on both feet are growing under the toes next to it. All of his physicians stated he would grow out of this & the toes would eventually begin to grow normally. He just turned 2, and it seems to be worse. I am concerned this will cause pain and difficulty with normal activities in the long run including an emotional problem since his feet appear so different then every one else's. I would like to know if there is a name for this condition and what are the options for correcting it.


Hi Kristin,
There may be a name for this but I am not aware of it. Generally it is the fifth toes that grow in the "wrong" direction and it is usually a familial trait.
Of course I have not examined your child but I doubt the toes will straighten out on their own. He is 2 years old, and he may still be young enough to have the toes splinted in an effort to change their direction.
The problem with having a toes that under/overlaps the adjacent toes is that in most cases it will be painful to walk.
I would suggest you get another opinion from a foot specialist because in my opinion I cannot see how your son is going to outgrow this.
Marc Mitnick DPM