Persistent Foot Pain

[237SJ]

Which would be the best first port of call - the GP or a Podiatrist?

[Sqad]

\\Persistent Foot Pain\\

Which part of the foot? How long has it been causing problems? Is there anything to see e.g swelling. What makes it worse or better?

[237SJ]

Hi Sqad. I don`t think it`s plantar fasciitis as it`s not in the heel. For a few months, I have been getting weird shooting pains in various parts of both feet. No swelling or redness. Sometimes the pains are along the outer side of the feet, sometimes shooting into the toes. Sometimes below the toes but not normally in the ball of the foot. The pains are not usually constant. It started in both feet at the same time. When I get up in the morning or when I have been sitting for some time, the feet feel achy and stiff when I walk. Stretching them out helps a bit.

[Sqad]

Thanks 237.......your GP.
It sounds as if you need a few blood tests.

[237SJ]

What for? (arthritis?)

[Sqad]

LOL......you are squeezing me like a ripe peach...........;-)

Blood tests...ESR (non specific) blood sugar (for diabetes) serological tests ( for arthropathies) and finally X-Rays (for bony disorders)

[237SJ]

Oh OK. I was hoping someone would say I just have dropped arches or something. It came on around the time my Mum died. I wonder if the stress triggered something.

[woofgang]

My mother had her first Rheumatoid attack shortly after my father died. I have no idea whether there is evidence that it can be stress related but it certainly seemed to be in her case.

[Canary42]

My Mum had a similar problem in one of her feet - her GP, wirthout examining her, repeatedly dismissed it as "feature of growing old" (she was in her 80s). On getting a new GP some years later he examined her and diagnosed the probable cause straight away and sent her for a confirmation angiogram. This found a restricted artery for which they carried out an angioplast immediately - the problem disappeared for the rest of her life.

So, to answer your question, see a good GP (not many around unfortunately, but be persistent).

[Eve]

Woofgang, I've heard quite a few people say on forums (RA and Fibromyalgia) that theirs seemed to be preceded by either a traumatic event or some kind of illness, especially as immune system related. I wonder if a particular nasty viral infection triggered mine.

It does seem to run in female family lines too, though not the case with me.

Hope you get it sorted 237SJ.