Top Of The Foot Pain

It's the season for foot pain

The cycle of foot pain

“This is peak season for foot pain,” The Wall Street Journal says. “Feet swell and sweat in warmer weather, which changes the way shoes fit. As summer wears on, calluses develop and pain subsides. But then, through winter, feet lose their toughness if you don’t continue wearing the shoes. By next spring, the cycle begins all over again. Current fashions are partly to blame. Gladiator sandals’ straps and studs make them look and feel like sadomasochistic torture devices. Elasticized ballet flats may slice painfully into the Achilles tendon. Even flip-flops are guilty: As they flip and flop with each step, they can create hot spots and blisters between the toes or in the place on top where the V-strap rubs.”

Getting a grip

“New research … discovers mild electric stimulation to the skull can help an individual control impulsive behaviour,” reports Psych Central. “Researchers from the University of Taiwan performed the study, which is published in the journal NeuroImage. The scientists discovered that when a weak electrical current was applied over the front of participants’ scalps for 10 minutes, it greatly improved their ability to process responses – effectively jump-starting the brain’s ability to control impulsivity. The intervention holds promise as a non-invasive treatment for individuals with conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome, drug addictions or violent impulsivity.”

Restoring willpower

“Currently, there are a few things that have been shown to improve willpower once it gets depleted,” says Scienceandreligiontoday.com. “First of all is rest or sleep. Rested, well-slept people have more willpower than tired people. In fact, people’s willpower is often highest in the morning, and lowest late at night. Very few people break their diets first thing in the morning, or go on an impulsive crime spree right after waking up. Instead, these self-control failures are more likely to occur at the end of the day. … Another mechanism that has been shown to replenish depleted willpower is eating. Exerting willpower takes energy, quite literally, and energy in the form of food that gets converted into blood glucose can improve willpower. Studies have shown that people’s blood glucose levels drop after exerting willpower (such as by resisting some temptation), and raising glucose levels by eating increases willpower. Recent studies have shown that when recovering addicts are hungry, they are more likely to relapse and give in to their urges for the addictive substance. Hungry people are more likely to be crabby and impatient rather than using their willpower to resist such urges.

What could be causing the top of my foot to hurt when I walk, jog ...

I have jogged 3.5 miles outside every morning for about 5 years. The only exceptions have been when I have had to use an elliptical and/or treadmill on vacation or in horrible storms (so about 2-3 weeks total each year). Almost two weeks ago, instead of jogging outside, I exercised on an elliptical for 6 days, then on a treadmill for one day. However, unlike the previous instances where I have not jogged, I did very little walking the rest of the day, and I did not even leave my apartment on some days (other than to go to the fitness room). The day I began jogging outside again, I don’t remember whether I noticed any pain in my foot. However, the next day, I definitely noticed a sharp pain just behind where my big toe connects with the main part of my right foot. It’s on the top of my foot, and I feel it whenever I bend my big toe back. I feel the same thing on my left foot, but it’s barely noticeable. It was so bad I could barely jog yesterday, so I wrapped my foot in an Ace bandage this morning. It may have helped a little, but not much. Strangely, my foot hurts least when walking in high heels. Also, by the time I’m a little more than halfway through my jog, the pain starts to dull, though it never completely goes away until I stop using my foot (or if I stand on the side of my foot instead of the sole). I can’t really see anything, though the skin may be a little reddish.

Any ideas what might be causing this? Could I have pulled a muscle by not using it much for awhile and then suddenly using it again? Top of the foot pain is a general term that is used by patients to describe pain in the top surface of the foot. It is common injury amongst runners and sporting people. A sharp pain on the top of may foot which is usually around the second metatarsal (in line with the second toe). Sometimes the pain can be localized around the 3rd or 4th metatarsal. The two most common causes of this type of pain are either a stress fracture or tendinitis of a metatarsal tendon. Athletes sometimes try and run through injuries such as heel pain, shin pain and Achilles tendinitis, which leads to this condition. In severe cases, even light weight bearing may be painful. The primary cause of this condition is over pronation. This can be controlled via insoles.

Other factors that can contribute to top of foot pain:

Ganglions, sacs of jelly-like fluid.

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