Any idea what's causing my foot pain?

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I've had foot pain on and off as long as I can remember, since teenage hood. I'm now mid 40s. It's normally just annoying, very occasionally verging into painful and slightly difficult to walk territory.

It's only ever on one foot, my larger one if relevant.

It is centered around the widest part and can be brought on by wearing shoes which scrunch my foot up width ways, but it's often there with the roomiest of shoes. It can feel a bit like the innards of my foot are cold, where the ball of my foot is but not the sole - really inside, around where the toes join the foot. Very occasionally a toe or two can feel a bit numb.

Should I see a podiatrist or GP or someone else specialist? I've just put up with it for ever but if there is an insert or something I can get then I'd like to try

Try a high dose magnesium supplement,I had this and it worked really quickly. Keep a golf ball in the freezer and roll your foot on it while watching telly, you might hear some crunching in your foot.

Morton's neuroma?

This sounds like completely barmy advice but I like it! What is behind it - why do I need more magnesium and why will my foot crunch on a frozen golf ball? Will happily do this but keen to know a bit of the reasoning.
Thanks for the reply

Have you got a fallen arch or flatfoot

Sounds like a fallen arch, or maybe just damage from wearing shoes if you're wearing the same size but feet are different sizes. Insoles might help.

Generally magnesium is marvellous, either as a supplement or an Epsom salts Bath, helps improve circulation and nerve pain, and releases tension in the muscles. Also helps with sleep and stress.

Can you feel any small nodules/lumps in the soft underside (plantar) of your foot? Have a feel around. I have plantar neuroma which causes this type of pain OP. It is excruciating.

I’ve had foot pain where my toes join my feet ever since I was pregnant with my third child. Feet spread out naturally during pregnancy and they never restrengthened afterwards. It was easier to ignore and intermittent for a while but it became more persistent and debilitating and I went to see a podiatrist. Initially I went to a private one but they recommended a lot of expensive treatments and insoles and trainers. I did a couple but they didn’t make a difference. Then I spoke to my neighbour who is an NHS podiatrist and she said to self refer to our local hospital foot clinic. They recommended a kind of strap that goes around the widest part of your foot with little loops for your toes connected to it. It holds them in the correct position and that does seem to help. But also for me wearing Birkenstocks is the main solution because they have a little bar that your toes kind of rest on and that essentially does the job that my feet aren’t doing. Since they also make winter shoes I just wear a version of Birkenstocks year round now. But it’s certainly worth getting checked out if you can refer yourself to a clinic.

Apologies...I have plantar fibroma which causes the pain and nodules. Also neuroma, which also causes pain and toe clicking.

Another vote for mortons neuroma. Had the same since I was about 14.

Ooh lots of replies to read through and research. Thanks. I'll look into each of the things you mention.

I do have very fuzzy memories of fallen arches being mentioned in the deep past so it might be that / related

My physio suggested it, massages the foot and the cold improves any inflammation.

Magnesium is essential of nerve and muscle function.

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