Lately, the bone which juts out from the middle of the top of my right foot has been hurting quite a bit. This happens regardless whether I walk, sit or lie still. At times, there is no pain.
A doctor told me that it might be tendonitis. When there is pain, it feels like a hammer is pounding my foot. Is it arthritis, tendonitis or something else?
A: The various common possibilities include improper footwear causing metatarsalgia (pain over the balls of the feet) and inflammatory causes such as gout, which result from too much uric acid in the blood.
Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis and the attack is often intense and sudden and most commonly on the first toe. With lifestyle modification and certain medications, the condition can be treated.
Other possibilities include osteoarthritis of the small joints of the feet and tendonitis. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage - which is the protective tissue that cushions the ends of bones in a joint - starts to wear away over time. This limits a joint's range of movement.
Tendonitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon and this can cause pain outside a joint, commonly around the shoulders, elbows, wrists and ankles. Rest and medication can reduce the pain and inflammation.
I suggest that you visit an orthopaedic specialist to determine the cause of your pain. A blood test, X-ray, physical examination and history taking will enable the doctor to plan suitable treatment for you.
Dr Kevin Lee is a consultant at the division of adult reconstruction, university orthopaedics, hand & reconstructive microsurgery cluster of the National University Hospital.
