Shocking foot pain for over 4 years..

[Pyeby]

I've suffered with frequent shock type foot pain on outside of my foot for last 4 years. Many investigations such as mri, ultrasound, nerve conduction study, wearing bespoke insoles in shoes and countless physio have failed to identify or sort the problem. They say my nerves are working ok. I always presumed it was nerve pain due to the sudden onset of the pain and feeling like a jolt of electric shock, but I've no idea. Anyone out there had this? Could it be tendons? I'm back at hospital next week and know Dr is going to be out of ideas.. I'm so desperate with this.

Plantar fasciitis? Arthritis?

Have you seen an Osteopath? I have very high arches in both of my feet. It causes sometines pain in my feet, either on the side of mu foot or underneath. Those cause vety tight calf muscles too.

I’d second an osteopath and also a podiatrist. The foot pain could be down to a cause in your foot but could also be caused by something higher up.

Thanks.. I've seen a private podiatrist a couple of years ago, hence the insoles. I do have tight calf muscle, and and the affected foot is always quite cold. No Dr's ever think any of this is of relevance. They just suggested more physio.. which I've been doing over last three years. Think next step may be steroid injection. By the way I've tried amitriptyline, it made no difference . But if its not nerves then I guess it wouldn't...

Pain is on outside of foot, so don't think plantar fascilitis.

I sympathise. I’ve had awful ankle pain for years, really struggling to walk. Nobody knows what’s wrong, I’ve seen everyone. Got insoles, had steroid injections, see a physio every month. I’ve got crazy tight calf muscles too. Nothing helps. It’s beyond frustrating. I have the lifestyle of a 90yo, can’t even go out shopping for a day as I just can’t walk.

Have you actually had it x-rayed? Could be a (potentially pathological) fracture.

You might benefit from getting regular calf massages as the tightness will be pulling into your foot. One of those electric massage guns might be worth it so you can do it often. Do you do calf stretches, yoga etc? If you are 50 or so the low oestrogen can also impact on tendons and muscles - we just aren’t as well lubricated as before.

Have you considered complex regional pain syndrome https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complex-regional-pain-syndrome/

I would see an Osteopath and ask for assessment and exercises.

Following, for what it is worth I got a similar pain but in my shins it came on all of a sudden whilst walking in a busy mall and felt like each step I was bracing for the shock! Horrible. I have arthritis and mentioned it to my consultant who was of the view that it is likely nerve pain and unlikely to be connected to my arthritis

Thanks for responding. I shall mention some of these next week at the consultant appointment. Its hard going when the Dr's are saying nothing is wrong.. I wish someone would tell my foot that!

Do you have a high arched foot and how old are you? I have a reason for asking this. Where exactly is the pain?

It can be nerve pain which isn't detected if you had non weight bearing nerve conduction studies.

Have you had an MRI scan of your lower back? I’m thinking it could be a pinched nerve there, would fit with the location. S1 nerve root (see dermatome link) which is the most common area to get this kind of thing from a bulging disc. Not actually sure if it would show up on nerve conduction studies though, think they’re designed for more local nerve issues generally so maybe not if the issue is higher up at the spine itself?

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24379-dermatomes

My sharp ankle pain was a stress fracture that showed up on MRI but not normal Xray. I think it was difficult to spot, is it worth having another MRI, maybe one that covers a larger area?

No especially high arches, but nor flat either, I'm 48. I wear insoles that were designed to help. I've had xrays before that have shown nothing. I'm wondering consultant would do back mri. The one last year was lower foot only.

I had exactly the same thing, could have written this post myself.Mine had lasted 6 years and tried everything, no one could find anything wrong. I was beginning to think it was all in my head but i knew it wasnt.I had shock wave therapy a year ago, a few sessions, it changed my life. It's almost completely gone now and very manageable.

Could you tell me exactly what treatment you've had? Sounds encouraging!

It was shockwave therapy by a physiotherapist. It cist £50 per session. Worth every penny in my view, it's lasted well over a year now

I also had shock wave therapy. I had PF pain but also pain on the outside of my foot. The podiatrist wouldn't treat the outside of my foot because he said it was too near the bone. SW therapy definitely helped - was excruciatingly painful but only 90seconds per session - but I still have a fair bit of foot pain. Kind of put up with it now, lost hope of it ever being better, but it's a lot less severe than the OPs.
Anyhow, sounds like SW therapy is worth giving a go but just don't get too hopeful.

Definitely worth a go find a good physio. I had three sessions one week apart, it was also very painful but as redboxer says the pain is only for a short time. The physio said it shouldn't be so painful and adjusted the machine to make it more bearable. I would have put up with any amount of pain if it meant my foot would improve. I initially thought it hadn't worked but about 3 weeks after the last treatment it felt so much better.He also recommended a spray called Bio Freeze which you can get in Boots. Spray that on and rub it in. It's natural so can be used with drugs and a few times a day if it's particularly bad. Both of these treatments were game changers for me. I can't do high impact sports any more but can walk 12000 steps easily, aqua aerobics 3 times a week, dancing and yoga. And I'm 73 tears old! Let us know how you get on.