Chronic Foot Pain

Two years ago I had a hard impact injury to my right knee that left me with an inward curve to my joint. The pain has since subsided but over the past year I have developed a chronic burning pain in the arch of my foot as well as a pain on the inside of my ankle. Could my past knee injury be causing this?

Dr. Johnny L. Lin:

The symptoms in your ankle may be the result of the "pronation" in your foot. Pronation is the flattening of your arch when your foot hits the ground. Excessive pronation can become a problem because of the repeated stress it places on the inside of your foot. This could also be causing the pain that you feel in your ankle due to the shifting momentum of your foot, and your muscles reacting by trying to overcompensate for the pronation. Pronation can also cause stress on your knee, shifting it inwards as it tries to correct your mechanical inefficiency.

In regards to your previous knee problems, it is possible that a knee abnormality could exacerbate a problem in the foot. The inward curve of your knee could be creating the imbalance and shifting of your arch, and the repeated stress on the stabilizing muscles of your lower leg could be causing your pronation.

Your injury could also be a nerve irritation, tendon inflammation, or joint inflammation.

Treatment Options:

It is difficult to determine without an examination and an X-ray what exactly is causing your chronic pain. In some cases of pronation, a specialist may recommend custom orthotics to help correct your pronation. In minor cases, over-the-counter inserts may work. Keep in mind that over-the-counter inserts are made for the general public and may not be adequate to treat your feet depending on the severity of the problem.

Again, your injury would be best diagnosed by a thorough physical exam by an orthopaedic surgeon. If the problem is worsening and it is preventing you from participating in desirable activities, I would highly recommend a visit to a physician.

For more information about Dr. Lin and the Sports Medicine physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, call 877 MD BONES or contact us through this Web site.

This information is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice of your physician, nor to be a complete description of every aspect of a condition, nor a complete list of possible side effects of any medication. Decisions concerning your treatment should be based on your own health care provider's evaluation of your personal health history and current condition. Consult your physician before following any of the suggestions on this Web site. All articles on this Web site represent the personal opinions of the individual authors and should not be construed as official policy of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.