Nerve ending that pinches in my left foot

by Fiona
(Ballarat, Victoria, Australia)



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My body gets very sore as there is a nerve ending that pinches in my left foot near the talus. I can feel the other end of the nerve is under my left shoulder and I have heaps of trouble getting circulation in that foot.

It gives me pain in my knee, leg, hip, back, shoulder, neck, jaw, head. What is it and is there anything that can help?





Hello Fiona,
Thank you for your question and I hope I can contribute something meaningful.

Firstly, whilst the nerves that supply the ankle certainly don't end under the shoulder blade, faulty biomechanics in the ankle can certainly affect the whole frame.

You obviously think it's circulatory which it could be. But are you a smoker, significantly over weight or have raised cholesterol? If not, I'd rather be thinking biomechanical.


That ankle joint pain and pinching will have changed your whole gait, with a knock on affect on your whole body.

Of course, "the patient can have two (or more) diseases, so that doesn't mean there aren't problems elsewhere too.

Does standing and dawdling as in window shopping cause problems? A short leg... can certainly disturb your whole rhythm too. Trouser lengths equal? Ask a friend to look at your back as you bend forwards - any obvious unleveling of the pelvis or spine?

Honestly, Fiona, nothing but a careful and thorough examination of your foot and spine will determine where the source of your problem is. Start looking for a chiropractor who works with feet. A "FICS" chiro would be a good place to start. Ask your local association. Sports chiropractic qualification.

Find a good chiropractor ...

Don't expect miracles. It's going to take hard work to sort this out... let us know in a month or two how you are getting on.

I hope this has contributed.

Dr Barrie Lewis






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Tight tendons in foot

by Wendy Shawe
(Amanzimtoti- South Africa)

About 2 months ago I had a fall resulting in a very painful ankle. It did not swell nor did bruising show for at least 5 days. I did not see a doctor as I thought it was minor.

All of a sudden in the last 2 days, the top of the foot looks quite swollen and I have difficulty in moving my toes. There is a bit of pain when I move the toes manually. Could this be as a result of what I presume was a strained ankle.

Should I see my GP and get x-rays or just wait a while? There is no redness or bruising showing at the moment. I am able to walk but it is more comfortable barefoot.



Hello Wendy,
If it didn't swell for 5 days, and you thought it minor, I doubt you have broken anything. Rather first a good examination of the foot to find out just what happened.

It is likely related to the original injury. It's hard for me to be specific but it certainly needs attention.

I'd recommend Dr Andrew Jones in Toti, he is specialised in sports chiropractic, and would give you the right advice.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Cuboid joint causing pain on pad of foot

by Reader
(Rochdale Gtr Manchester)

Dropped transverse arch causing callus, often associated with a cuboid subluxation.

Dropped transverse arch causing callus, often associated with a cuboid subluxation.

I am a 68 yr old very active male. Golf, walking, dancing and gardening. First noticed slight pain, as if my sock was creased, under the ball of foot when wearing dance shoes about 7 yrs ago. This irritation continued to worsen but not severely; I ignored this until I noticed that at the end of a round of golf the pain, a dull pressure type of pain had increased and I was limping.

In August 2010 after x rays a diagnosis of

"functional jamming of the hallux during the toe-off phase of gait causing a compensatory overloading of the lesser metatarsals. There was also sagittal blockade of the calcaneal of the cuboid joint and the loss of motion was causing compensatory forefront biomechanical misalignment."

This problem and pain has worsened despite several different orthotics. I only have any relief when wearing the orthotics, which limits my activities and impacts on my life style.


Regards E.C. Reader



Hello Mr Reader,
It's a common problem, and very treatable if not curable. The transverse arch of the forefoot sinks; have you got callus under the second and third metatarsal heads along the ball of the foot?

See if you can find a chiropractor with a FICS qualification.

Dr Barrie Lewis




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My foot hurts

by MO
(USA)

Last summer I severely sprained my ankle while jumping on the trampoline. Ever since my ankle has 'healed' my foot has a bad pain on the side of my ankle when I walk for a long time and I don't know why.



Hello Mo,
It's speculative but almost certainly because during the sprain you also subluxated the subtalar joint; if it's not reduced it often continues hurting and becomes arthritic.

See our ankle joint sprain page. Start hunting for a local chiropractor who works with feet, and not just expensive orthotics. A post graduate FICS qualification would be good; contact your local association.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Flat foot

by Stephanie
(Indiana)

I'm wondering if the multiple sprained ankles I had involving the same foot may have caused my arch to fall? I've experienced an increasing amount if pain in my left foot through my life, the same foot that I sprained multiple times and rolled a few times as well.

It's not just the pain but the weight I've gained because of the pain/immobility. Shoe inserts, ace bandages, or a combination of the two have not helped.



Hello Stephanie,
It's a good question whether the multiple sprained ankles caused the flat feet, or vice versa. I'm unsure, and suspect it goes both ways.

When one sprains an ankle apart from torn ligaments and tendons, very frequently one of the small bones is also subluxated; the ankle mortise, subtalar and cuboid joints are most frequently involved.

Presumably it often will correct itself, but sometimes not, and the result in chronic pain in the ankle and sometimes foot. This is probably what has happened to you.

Caught early it usually is easily corrected, but when it's allowed to become chronic there may develop erosions of the cartilage, and I cannot guarantee it can be cured. You may have to go for an occasional but regular correction.

Find a chiropractor with a FICS qualification; post graduate sport chiropractic. Contact your local association.

I don't know the specifics obviously, but usually you can get considerable relief, if not a cure. The downside is that left uncorrected it will become arthritic and increasingly difficult. An x-ray would be useful now.

Our alphabet ankle exercises will help too.

I hope this contributes. By the way, difficult though it is as you can't easily exercise, obesity will only increase your misery. Swimming and cycling are the best options.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Foot pain.

by Rob Hall
(Devon, uk)

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Every now and then, very sporadically, I experience pain in the ball of my left foot, right behind my big toe. When this occurs I find myself limping to get around. It usually subsides after a day or two. It isn't crippling pain but I can replicate it by touching the side of the ball joint and putting slight pressure on it. There is no swelling or redness or warmth. To the naked eye it appears nothing is wrong.

I sometimes get pain in the ankle of the same foot also causing a temporary limp.

I often wonder if it's related to an incident from about 12 years ago. I was having a kick about and my ankle twisted. My friends said they heard a crack and I could put no weight on it. I went to a medical centre who said it was not broken, but they didn't xray it. Maybe a hairline fracture for all this time, but I don't know why it would be sporadic.





Hello Rob,
Obviously it's speculative, but you probably subluxated a joint in the ankle, which is not visible on xray. There's simply a fixation of the joint, but it leads to knock on problems down the road because of the change of gait.

Now there are problems developing in the great toe, which may be related, possibly not.

It's right where gout is prevalent, but then you get the swelling and redness you talk of.

That joint in the great toe needs to be examined and treated. It may have become arthritic, so a new xray may be of value. In any event, look for a chiropractor with a FICS qualification; sports injuries.

I hope this contributes.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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