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

Pain in one foot started sudenly like rock in shoe next to ball of foot

by Dan
(Mexico)

Last night for no apparent reason I had a sensation of a stone in my shoe. The pain quickly became so intense I can hardly stand on the foot as the pressure sends shooting pain into the area just to the left and towards the back of the ball of my left foot.


Today after waking the pain is still there very intense as soon as I stand.

I am a runner 66 years old run 4-5 miles a day 5 days a week. The strange part of this problem is I had not run for 3 days prior to the pain, and have not been suffering any foot discomfort..

RESPONSE
Hi Dan,
Usually, when patients complain to me about the feeling of a "rock in their shoe" I usually find a cyst or at the very least a thick callus on the bottom of the foot.
I have assumed you have looked and/or felt the bottom of your foot and there is nothing to be found.
If the foot feels warm and perhaps mildly swollen in the affected area, then there are two other issues to consider.
One would be a stress fracture. Although you state you have not run for the last couple of days, anything is possible, and the fact that you are a runner in your mid 60's it is certainly in the realm of possibilities.
The second would be a gout attack. The interesting thing about a gout attack is that it can occur spontaneously and can be very painful. It might not feel exactly like a stone in the shoe but the foot will be very tender. Once again I would expect the affected area of the foot to be red, hot and swollen.
The last thing that I can come up off the top of my head and without the ability to actually examine you, would be a neuritis. A neuritis is an inflammation of a nerve ending. In most cases there is some degree of pain in a localized area, where the nerve ends.
I cannot say exactly that the pain is severe, nor do most people complain of the rock like sensation but it is a pain that can come about for no apparent reason and no real explanation.
If the pain begins to subside over the next couple of days, you probably do not need to do very much about the problem, but if it were to persist beyond a few days then my best advice would be for you to see a foot specialist in your area who could then make an accurate diagnosis and also offer you some form of treatment as well.

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
If you happen to live in the New York - New Jersey area and would like to visit our office

Dr. Marc Mitnick

151 Summit Ave.
Summit, NJ 07901
908-522-0761


To make an appointment online or for directions to our office click Dr. Marc Mitnick.

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this site is purely informational in nature. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition. This information is not a substitute for advice from a medical professional. Please consult your healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and treatment. The information presented here may be subject to errors and omissions.


SITE LAST UPDATED: MAY 2026




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(items I prescribe in the office)


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


SuperStepOrthotics

Orthotics for heel and arch pain for those who must wear dress shoes
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redithotics

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(location unknown)
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(location unknown)
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Yours truly,

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LH

(location unknown)
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(location unknown)
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UK

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Mansfield Ctr, CT

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Unknown location

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Unknown location

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Thank you for your very interesting and informative site!

Anonymous



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New Zealand

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Sincerely

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Arizona
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Thanks, Kathy

Florida
1st of all THANKS A LOT for your great site......

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Poland
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M P

South Carolina
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Natalie

unknown location


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Arlington, VA


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San Clemente, CA


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Pam

location unknown


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location unknown


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Bre

location unknown


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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!

anonymous



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Poland



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Seattle, WA


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Bonnie

location unknown



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New Jersey



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Debbie

location unknown



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Chrissy

location unknown



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Tracy

Evansville, IA



Dear Marc

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Russ W.

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location unknown



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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



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Jill S.

location unknown



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Jackie

Whichita, KS



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mark

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.

by: Max

location unknown
Again, I really appreciate that you responded to my inquiry, and that your mention of Parkinson's helped me to find my way to a diagnosis of this difficult to diagnose disease. Most patients see on average 16 doctors before they are diagnosed. I hope that you can help other people that ask for your expertise in the future.

Barb D.

Canada
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location unknown
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Wisconsin
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Julie

location unknown
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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

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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.

location unknown
Your webpage is excellent, I commend you on sharing your knowledge to the public.

Robert

New Jersey


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a mom

location unknown


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Lenoir, NC


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Bellevue, WA


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Jodi

location unknown

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