Pain in side of foot

by Fiona
(Walsall. England.)

When I got out of bed this morning I had to hobble as I have an unexplained pain in my right foot along the outside. Like a strain or muscle pain, starting behind the toes on the side and ending before the ankle bone. I was fine when I went to bed and was not 'out' last night or have done anything at all strenuous in the past week. I thought it would 'go off' but it is now late morning and there is no improvement. It is a bit sore at rest but that pain goes off if I raise my leg as long as I don't wiggle my foot. When walking I really have to hobble for 10 yards or so then I can walk with just a bit of a limp though it is sore. Any ideas? I didn't kick my husband in the night nor get up to go to the loo. Very strange.

RESPONSE

Hi Fiona,

Your problem is not as strange as it may appear on the surface. I have seen similar issues over the years; people wake up in the morning with pain in their foot or even their ankle for no apparent reason.
It is now two days since you wrote in and I would not be surprised at all if your pain is gone by now.
Essentially what happens in most people is they sleep "wrong" meaning they sleep in an awkward position and wake up with pain in their foot.
By the way, this phenomenon is not limited to the foot and ankle. It can basically happen anywhere in the body.
You more than like over strained either a tendon or a ligament. A tendon is the end portion of a muscle and attaches into bone. As the muscle contracts, the tendon pulls on the bone, creating a motion, in this case movement of the foot.
A ligament is a small leather like substance that attaches bone to bone to create stability between two bones.
If during sleep you twisted your foot in a certain manner, that could over stretch either a tendon or ligament and the end result is you end up waking up in the morning with pain in the foot as you ambulate and as you point out in your narrative, for no apparent reason.
This is the most common cause of pain in the foot or ankle with no history of trauma.
There are of course some more remote causes of this type of situation such as a gout attack or a blood clot but in both instances the painful area would also be hot to touch, red and swollen to some degree. If you have any concern that you have either of these two issues then you should see a doctor.
If the affected area of the foot is only painful and there are no signs of inflammation (as just described), then in most cases nothing more than an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin or Motrin, Advil or Aleve (if they sell them in England) would be indicated and that is assuming you can tolerate that type of medication.
Immobilization with an elastic bandage and warm soaks would also be helpful.
If your problem is as I have described, then following this advice for a day or two should take care of the problem.
If, however, the pain persists for a few days and in fact seems to be worsening, then a visit to a local doctor would certainly be in order.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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