Why Does the Top of My Foot Hurt?

Pain on the top of your foot is not as common as other foot pain, but a variety of diseases and conditions can cause pain and discomfort in this location, with a usual suspect being the dropping of a heavy object — like a laptop computer — on your foot.

Top of the foot pain can be caused by the following:

●     Broken bones - The small bones of the foot are very delicate and subject to serious injury from impacts. Stress fractures on the top of the foot can be caused by structural deficiencies and a decrease in bone density from osteoarthritis.

●     Poorly fitting shoes - Tightly fitting shoes can cause substantial pressure that can contribute to swelling and tenderness of the tissue on the top of the foot.

●     Diseases - Many arthritic and other systemic diseases may cause tenderness and fluid build-up around the joints on the top of your foot. Nerve damage from diabetes and complications of tendonitis can also create pain.

●     Hormonal changes - Women going through menopause or pregnancy often notice a rise in pain on the top of the foot caused by changes in hormone balance.

●     Getting older - As we age, our bones and muscles weaken contributing to pain on the top of the foot.

If you have a burning or tingling sensation, or a wound that isn’t healing properly then you need to seek the assistance of your foot doctor immediately for treatment to avoid complications. At Fit Feet for Life, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including heel pain, sports injuries, toe deformities, nail fungus, and plantar warts.  Bonnie Sanchez, DPM, and Gregory Cook, DPM, provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area at our five offices conveniently located in Sun City Center, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and our two Tampa locations. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.