Pain on Top of Foot Near Ankle: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Pain on top of foot can make jumping, running, and walking no less than a nightmare. You may not feel it when sitting, but it builds up significantly when you put pressure on your ankle or foot. On average, the feet bear around 1.5 times our body weight when we walk, making foot pain a common issue. 

Many factors can lead to pain on top of foot near ankle, such as stress fractures, extensor tendonitis, gout foot, athlete’s foot, and more. Fortunately, most types of foot pain are easily treated with conventional at-home treatments like resting, icing, anti-inflammatory medicines, physical therapy, etc. 

Surgery is recommended in severe cases. However, there is a painless and non-invasive alternative — the orthobiologic methods: cell-based therapies and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. 

Causes of Pain on Top of Foot Near Ankle

Foot pain occurs due to damage to the bones, soft tissues, skin, or nerves. Here are some common causes:

1. Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are the primary factors for pain on top of foot near ankle. They happen due to a sudden but small break in the foot bones, such as a metatarsal fracture. It causes moderate to intense pain, soreness, and swelling in the affected area.

Most types of stress fractures result from repetitive pressure on the foot. It includes excessive jumping, running, kicking, or high-impact workouts. 

2. Sinus Tarsi Syndrome

Sinus tarsi syndrome affects the bones between the ankle and heel, causing inflammation across the entire network. You will feel instability and stiffness near your ankles and pain on the top or outer sides of your foot when walking.

This condition occurs due to unusual foot mechanics and extended instability or after an ankle sprain.

3. Toe Deformities

Mallet Toe, Hammer Toe, and Claw Toe are the three types of toe deformities that lead to pain on top of foot near ankle. They make the small bones in the foot alter their positions through abnormal curling. You may feel pain, stiffness, or tenderness in the affected area.

The common causes of toe deformities include wearing too tight or pointed shoes, toe injuries, arthritis, or nerve problems. 

4. Extensor Tendonitis

Extensor tendonitis is another common cause of pain on top of foot near ankle. It causes inflammation in the tendons present on the foot’s top, which contract when you lift or move your toes upwards. 

You may not feel the pain initially, but it will develop gradually and make it difficult to wear specific shoes. Flat feet, muscular stiffness, prolonged running, walking, and standing are the primary reasons for extensor tendonitis. 

5. Tibialis Anterior Tendonitis

Tibialis anterior tendonitis affects the tendon present in the front of the ankle. It causes inflammation and pain, which increases gradually and feels worse even after resting. Common causes of tibialis anterior tendonitis include weak or tight muscles, overuse of tendons, and running or off-road downhill.

6. Gout Foot

Gout foot is an inflammatory arthritis that forms crystals in joints because of too high uric acid content. It causes sudden swelling, redness, and pain on top of foot near ankle or in the big toe. 

People who consume too much red meat or have a genetic history of gout are more likely to develop this condition. Diabetes and overweight are also two significant factors for gout foot.

7. Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is a fungal skin infection that causes foot pain in the top area, affecting almost 15% of the global population. This condition causes flakiness and itching in the skin, accompanied by blisters, swelling, and pain on the top of the foot. 

Many factors, including excess moisture, poor hygiene, and humid conditions, lead to athlete’s foot. If not treated on time, it can become highly contagious. 

8. Nerve Pain

Nerve damage in the lower back, foot, or leg can also cause pain on top of the foot near ankle. It results in intense pain, numbness, and weakness in the areas where the nerves are compressed or pinched. 

Nerve injury, spinal deformity, or bulging discs are the common causes of nerve pain.

Treatment for Pain on Top of Foot Near Ankle

The best treatment plan for foot pain depends on its underlying cause. Conventional methods work wonders for minor discomfort and swelling. However, you might have to opt for regenerative medicine treatment methods for severe issues.

Conventional Methods

The most effective at-home treatments for pain on top of foot and ankle include:

• Resting
• Limiting activity levels
• Icing or using heat packs
• Taking anti-inflammatory medications
• Elevation to regulate blood pressure in the foot
• Applying compression bandage (Tubigrip) on the affected part of the foot
• Practicing gentle exercises to loosen up the stiff muscles 

If your foot pain persists, you may have a lump with significant swelling on top of the foot. In this situation, your doctor may advise you the following treatments:

• Acupuncture
• Wearing orthotics
• Using crutches
• Performing physical therapy
• Surgery in rare conditions

Orthobiologic Methods

Orthobiologic methods are based on regenerative medicine and involve treating patients with their own tissues and cells. At CELLAXYS, we perform two orthobiologic treatments: cell-based therapies and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. 

Both are non-invasive and less painful and are performed as outpatient procedures, meaning the doctor may allow you to go home a few hours after your treatment. The choice between cell-based therapies and PRP depends on the condition of the foot.

Cell-based Therapies

You may know these methods as stem cell therapies. In this process, the doctor extracts healthy cells from the patient’s body, processes them, and reinjects them into the injury site. Stem cells are building blocks that serve as our body’s repair system. 

The two types of cell-based therapies at CELLAXYS are:

• Minimally Manipulated Adipose Tissue Transplant (MMAT). This process includes harvesting cells from the patient’s adipose tissues. The doctor can perform multiple MMATs in different locations during the same procedure.

• Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMAC). In BMAC, the doctor extracts highly concentrated cells from the bone marrow. 

Both cell-based therapies take around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.

PRP

PRP has been a popular treatment for spine, orthopedic, and sports-related injuries. It involves harvesting platelets from the patient’s blood, processing them, and reinjecting them into the injury site to boost healing. Platelets are the healing components of our body, which perform three main functions.

They release 10 growth factors, attract healing cells from the blood, and produce a web-like scaffolding called fibrin to promote early recovery. The more platelets on the top of the foot, the higher its chances to heal quickly.

PRP takes about 45 minutes to complete.