Toe, Foot, and Ankle Problems, Noninjury

Topic Overview

Everyone has had a minor problem with a toe, foot, or ankle. Most of the time our body movements do not cause problems, but it's not surprising that symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear or overuse. Toe, foot, or ankle problems can also occur from injuries or the natural process of aging.

Your toes, feet, or ankles may burn, sting, hurt, feel tired, sore, stiff, numb, tingly, hot, or cold. You may have had a "charley horse" (muscle cramp) in your foot while lying in bed at night. Your feet or ankles may change color or swell. You may have noticed an embarrassing odor from your feet. Some changes in your feet and ankles are normal as a person ages or during pregnancy. Home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms.

Toe, foot, or ankle problems may be caused by an injury. If you think an injury caused your problem, see the topic Toe, Foot, or Ankle Injuries. However, there are many noninjury causes of toe, foot, or ankle problems.

Skin problems

Most skin problems that affect your feet are more annoying than they are serious. If you have:

• The feeling of walking on pebbles: you may have plantar warts on the bottom of your feet.
• Patches of thick and tough skin on the heel or ball of your foot: you may have a callus, corn, blister, or skin growth.
• Red, peeling, cracking, burning, and itchy skin between your toes or on the bottom of your feet: you may have athlete's foot. Or maybe your feet are reacting to the shoes you are wearing (shoe dermatitis).
• Red, swollen, and painful skin around a toenail: you may have an ingrown nail or an infection around your nail (paronychia).
• Red, swollen soles of your feet that are painful to the touch or when you walk: you may have a bacterial infection. Public showers, hot tubs, or swimming pools are common areas where bacterial infections, athlete's foot, and warts can be transmitted to your feet.

Joint problems

Toe joints are more likely to develop problems than other joints in your feet.

• Heat, pain, redness, swelling, and extreme tenderness that comes on quickly in your big toe joint may be caused by gout. Similar symptoms can occur with an infection.
• If you have swelling or a bump at the base of your big toe, you may have a bunion. See an illustration of a bunion.
• If you have a bump on the outside of your little toe, you may have a bunionette, also called a Tailor's bunion.
• If your toes, other than your big toes, bend in an odd position, you may have hammer toes, mallet toes, or claw toes. See an illustration of toe joint deformities.
• Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are common when you have conditions such as bursitis, arthritis, lupus, or gout.

Pain

You may develop pain in the front (ball) of your foot (metatarsalgia) or in your heel. Heel problems commonly occur when you overuse calf muscles, wear shoes with high heels, or participate in activities, such as running, that cause repeated pounding on your heels.

• Sharp pain on the bottom of your heel may be caused by plantar fasciitis.
• Pain in the back of your heel and ankle may be caused by Achilles tendinitis or tendinosis (tendinopathy) or retrocalcaneal bursitis.
• Pain that is worse before or after exercise but improves during exercise may be caused by a stress fracture of a bone in your foot (usually a metatarsal bone).
• Small bony growths under your heel bone may be a heel spur.
• Pain in your midfoot may be caused by "fallen arches" or being flat-footed.

Numbness or tingling

Many conditions may affect the nerves of the foot and cause numbness, tingling, and burning.

• Pain, burning, tingling, or numbness that occurs between your toes, especially the third and fourth toes, and in the ball of your foot may be caused by a growth around the nerves (Morton's neuroma).
• Pain, numbness, and tingling that begins in your back or buttocks, moves down your leg, and into your foot may be sciatica, caused by a pinched nerve (nerve root compression).
• Foot and ankle pain that occurs with numbness and weakness in your foot may be caused by a pinched nerve in your ankle (tarsal tunnel syndrome) or back (sciatica).
• Burning, numbness, or lack of feeling in your feet may be caused by poor circulation, especially in people who have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease. The circulation problem can lead to nerve damage (peripheral neuropathies). Foot problems are more likely to develop in people who have these conditions.

Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see your doctor.

Emergencies

Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• Sudden foot weakness or numbness with other signs of loss of function
• Sudden foot pain with numbness and cold or pale skin that has lasted for more than a few minutes

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

• An injury to a toe, foot, or ankle: Go to the topic Toe, Foot, and Ankle Injuries.
• Leg problems such as pain, cramps, or swelling in a leg: Go to the topic Leg Problems, Noninjury.
• Damage to your feet from cold exposure: Go to the topic Cold Temperature Exposure.
• If you are pregnant and have swelling in your lower legs: Go to the topic Pregnancy-Related Problems.

Yes

Do you have pain, soreness, or cramping in your toe, foot, or ankle?

See significance of pain, soreness, or cramping if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have severe pain that does not get better with rest?

Yes

Is a young child unable or unwilling to walk or stand, limping, or protecting a foot or ankle?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have moderate pain that gets better with rest but comes back with activity?

Yes

Do you have moderate pain in your foot or ankle that has made walking difficult?

Yes

Do you have a foot cramp that has not gotten better after 4 hours of home treatment?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Has pain, soreness, or cramping that is usual for you become worse after 24 hours of home treatment?

Yes

Does walking or putting pressure on your foot still cause pain after 24 hours of home treatment?

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do your foot cramps improve with home treatment but keep coming back (without other symptoms and without getting worse)?

Yes

Have you had mild pain, soreness, or cramping for 1 week or longer?

Yes

Do you have foot cramps that come and go for 1 week or longer without other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Do you have toe, foot, or ankle swelling?

See significance of swelling if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Is a swollen foot or ankle pale, white, blue, or cold?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have swelling in both of your feet or ankles with shortness of breath?

Yes

Do you have swelling in both of your feet or ankles with changes in urination?

Yes

Do you have a lot of new swelling in your feet or ankles?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Has swelling that is usual for you gotten worse after 24 hours of home treatment?

Yes

Do you have moderate swelling in your feet or ankles that has not gotten better after 24 hours of home treatment?

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have mild swelling without other symptoms that has not gotten better after 1 week of home treatment?

Yes

Do you have long-term swelling that has been evaluated by your doctor, but the swelling has not gotten better or not followed the expected course?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Do you have numbness, tingling, burning, or stinging in your toes or feet?

See significance of numbness, tingling, burning, or stinging if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have new numbness or tingling and your affected foot is more pale, white, blue, or cold than your other foot?

Yes

Do you have new numbness or tingling and you cannot move your toe or foot?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had steady numbness, tingling, or burning that has lasted for 1 hour or longer?

Yes

Do you have numbness, tingling, or burning in your toe or foot that has been checked by your doctor, but your symptoms have become worse since you last saw your doctor?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had numbness, tingling, or burning that comes and goes (but has not been steady for an hour at a time) for the past 24 hours or longer, and the symptoms have not been evaluated by your doctor?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Do you have pale, white, blue, or cold toes or feet?

See significance of pale, white, blue, or cold toes or feet if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have your toes or feet become pale, white, blue, or cold?

Yes

Are your toes or foot pale, white, blue, or cold after having a brace, cast, or splint applied? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint that may be too tight.

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have your symptoms gotten worse since being checked by your doctor?

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had a dusky or blue color in your toes or feet for a long time (chronic), and your symptoms have not been checked by your doctor?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Did you have sudden weakness of a toe, foot, or ankle with any other symptoms of loss of function, but your symptoms are gone now?

See significance of weakness of a toe, foot, or ankle if you need information to help you answer the question below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Did you have sudden weakness of a toe, foot, or ankle with any loss of function, but your symptoms are gone now?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Do you think you have an infection?

See significance of an infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have diabetes?

Yes

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?

Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth in your toe, foot, or ankle?

Yes

Is your toe, foot, or ankle increasingly tender to the touch?

Yes

Do you have increased pain with movement of your foot or ankle?

Yes

Do you have red streaks extending from your foot?

Yes

Do you have drainage of pus?

Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than 1 in. (2.5 cm) around the affected area for 24 hours or longer?

Yes

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) in your groin for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Do you have a lump, bump, thickening, or growth on your toe, foot, or ankle?

See significance of a lump, bump, thickening, or growth if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have a lump, bump, thickening, or growth and you have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or an immune system problem?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have a painful lump, bump, thickening, or growth with any signs of infection?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had a painful lump, bump, thickening, or growth for longer than 24 hours, but you do not have any signs of infection

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had a painless lump, bump, thickening, or growth for longer than 2 weeks despite home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Do you have skin changes on your feet or between your toes?

See significance of skin changes if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have skin changes on your feet, you know or think you have a fever, and you have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or an immune system problem? Skin changes on your feet may include:

• Peeling, cracking, chapping, or scaling skin.
• Redness or softening (maceration) of the skin.
• A blister, ulcer, pit, or sore on the skin.

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have skin changes and signs of infection?

Yes

Do you have skin changes on your feet and you have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or an immune system problem, but you do not have a fever?

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have symptoms of athlete's foot that have not improved after 2 weeks of home treatment?

Yes

Do you have a problem with foot odor that has not improved after 2 weeks of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Does your toe bend in an odd direction?

See significance of a toe that bends in an odd direction if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Is your bent toe affecting your balance or ability to walk?

Yes

Is the skin over your bent toe becoming red or irritated from rubbing on your shoe, and you also have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or an immune system problem?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Has the skin over your bent toe remained red or irritated for 72 hours or longer from rubbing against your shoe?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• A rash on your feet: Go to the topic Rash, Age 12 and Older or Rash, Age 11 and Younger.
• Athlete's foot: Go to the topic Athlete's Foot.
• Fungal toenails: Go to the topic Fungal Nail Infections.
• A toenail problem: Go to the topic Nail Problems and Injuries.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Home Treatment

Most minor toe, foot, or ankle problems go away on their own. Home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your pain, swelling, and stiffness.

• If you have swelling, be sure to remove all rings, anklets, or any other jewelry that goes around your leg or ankle. It will be more difficult to remove your jewelry if swelling increases, which in turn can cause other serious problems, such as nerve compression or restricted blood flow.
• Use rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) for pain and swelling.
• Stop, change, or take a break from any activities that cause your symptoms.
  • Avoid "running through the pain," which may increase damage to your foot.
  • Consider changing your exercise routine if you think running or another high-impact sport is causing your foot pain. Switch temporarily to a low-impact exercise activity, such as cross-country skiing, stair-climbing machines, bicycling (regular or stationary), rowing, or swimming.
  • Use sensible sports training techniques, such as wearing the right shoes and stretching before activities.
• Gently massage your feet to reduce discomfort, relax your feet, and promote circulation.
• Wear comfortable and supportive shoes and socks. See tips on good footwear to learn how to choose the right shoes for you.
• Consider using an orthotic shoe device, such as an arch support, to help relieve your foot pain.
• Try heel-cord exercises to increase your strength and flexibility if your heel or heel cord (Achilles tendon) is tight and painful. This may help relieve your heel pain.

Try home treatment for these other foot problems such as:

• Foot cramps. Try the following home treatment to help relieve leg cramps:
  • Straighten your leg.
  • Hold your foot and pull it toward you. It is probably easiest to do this from a sitting position. You can loop a towel around the end of your foot and pull it toward you if you have trouble reaching your foot.
  • Gently rub or massage your foot.
• Calluses and corns. Home treatment may help relieve discomfort from corns, calluses, or other thickened skin:
  • To thin a corn or callus, rub the thickened skin with a towel after a shower or bath.
  • Use a pumice stone after bathing to reduce the tissue. Do not do this if you have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, an immune system problem, or have been told that you have poor circulation in your feet.
  • Pad pressure areas with doughnut-shaped felt, moleskin patches, or lamb's wool.
  • Never cut corns or calluses. Infection may develop.
  • Some lotions and moisturizers may also relieve symptoms from corns and calluses.
• Blisters. Home treatment for blisters depends on whether the blister is small or large and whether it has broken open. See an illustration of blisters.
• Swollen ankles and feet. Try the following home treatment measures to reduce swelling in your ankles and feet:
  • Elevate swollen feet and ankles on a footstool or pillows (above the level of your heart) when sitting for any length of time.
  • Get up and walk around for a few minutes every hour if you sit for any length of time.
  • Cut down on your salt (sodium) intake. Sodium can be hidden in foods such as cheese, canned soups, and salad dressing. Consider making your own salt substitute.

More specific home treatment is available in the Home Treatment section of topics related to diagnosed foot problems:

• If your varicose veins are swollen or uncomfortable, see the topic Varicose Veins.
• If your feet are peeling, cracking, itching, and burning from athlete's foot, see the topic Athlete's Foot.
• If you have warts on your feet, see the topic Warts and Plantar Warts.
• If you have heel pain, see the topic Achilles Tendon Problems.
• If you have bent toes, see the topic Hammer, Claw, and Mallet Toes.
• If you have calluses or corns, see the topic Calluses and Corns.
• If you have pain in the arch of your foot, see the topic Plantar Fasciitis.
• If you have pain in the midfoot or arch, see the topic Flatfoot (Pes Planus).

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment.

• Signs of infection develop.
• Numbness, tingling, or cool, pale skin develops.
• Symptoms continue despite home treatment.
• Symptoms become more severe or frequent.

Prevention

The following tips may prevent toe, foot, or ankle problems.

General tips

• Bathe your feet daily in lukewarm (not hot) water. Use a mild soap, preferably one containing moisturizers, or use a moisturizer separately.
• Wear comfortable and supportive shoes. See tips on good footwear. Support weak or unstable ankles by using a brace or taping before exercise or activities that increase your risk of problems.
• Wear the correct size panty hose and stockings. Avoid wearing constricting garters, knee-high, or thigh-high stockings.
• Use a rubber mat to stand on if your work requires you to stand on hard surfaces. This may reduce stress on your feet.
• Maintain a reasonable weight for your height.

Exercise tips

• Do stretching exercises for the tendons at the back of the heels. This is especially important for athletes before sports activities but is also helpful for people who are not involved with sports.
• Walk regularly to improve circulation, increase flexibility, reduce fatigue, and encourage bone and muscle development.
• Establish good exercise habits and sports training techniques.
• Consider consulting a sports-training specialist if you are a competitive or serious recreational athlete. He or she can recommend training and conditioning programs to prevent foot problems.

Foot care tips

• Never cut calluses and corns with a razor or a pocketknife. Use nonprescription toe sleeves or toe spacers to prevent irritation.
• Prevent foot problems if you have diabetes.
• Prevent foot cramps with proper stretching exercises.
• Prevent plantar warts with proper footwear.
• Prevent athlete's foot by taking care of your feet.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• What are your main symptoms?
• How long have you had your symptoms?
• What were you doing when your symptoms started?
• Have you had this problem in the past? If so, do you know what caused the problem at that time? How was it treated?
• What activities related to sports, work, or your lifestyle, make your symptoms better or worse?
• Did foot problems begin after you started wearing new footwear?
• What home treatment have you tried? Did it help?
• What nonprescription medicines have you taken? Did they help?
• Have you started any new medicines or have you had a change in the dosage of a medicine?
• Do you have any health risks?

Related Information

• Allergic Reaction
• Athlete's Foot
• Back Problems and Injuries
• Blisters
• Bunions
• Bursitis
• Calluses and Corns
• Cold Temperature Exposure
• Cuts
• Gout
• Hammer, Claw, and Mallet Toes
• Hip Problems, Age 11 and Younger
• Hip Problems, Age 12 and Older
• Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
• Nail Problems and Injuries
• Osteoarthritis
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
• Puncture Wounds
• Rash, Age 11 and Younger
• Rash, Age 12 and Older
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Scrapes
• Toe, Foot, and Ankle Injuries
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Warts and Plantar Warts