foot swelling and pain on top of foot
If you or your loved ones have recently had swelling and high foot pain, read on. Our doctors will tell you what causes pain and swelling in the upper leg. We will also briefly review ways to relieve pain and swelling in the upper leg.
Pain and swelling in the upper legs
In addition to the skeleton and skeletal structure, our feet have many soft tissues. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin are components of the soft tissues around our feet.
Each of these components can cause damage and swelling and pain in your upper legs.
Our feet support our weight during the day, so it is not surprising if you experience high pain and swelling in your legs after a busy day or a lot of physical activity. But do not worry, this pain will be normal after overuse.
Sometimes the pain in the upper leg becomes uncomfortable when walking and standing, the severity of the pain depends on your physical fitness and the cause of the pain, and can range from mild to severe.
In the following, you will get familiar with the causes of pain in the upper leg.
What causes pain and swelling on top of your foot?
Various causes can cause pain and swelling in your upper leg, some of the most common of which are described below. The most common cause of this pain and swelling is overusing. If you do activities such as running, jumping and kicking for a long time, it will be normal for you to have pain and swelling in the upper leg.
What conditions will follow after overusing?
- Tendinitis or inflammation of the tendons:
Inflammation of the tendons that straighten the foot (extensor tendons) is usually followed by overuse.
Also, if you are physically active or have worn inappropriate and tight shoes for a long time, you are more likely to develop extensors tendonitis. These tendons are located above your foot and push the foot forward. Inflammation of these tendons causes pain in the upper leg and swelling
On the inside of the foot, there is a canal under the inner ankle that is created between the heel bone and the talus bone of the foot and a band-shaped tissue called the retinaculum. This canal is called the tarsal tunnel.
Arteries, nerves, and tendons pass through this canal. If this canal becomes narrow for any reason, pressure is applied to the nerves and arteries, causing pain in the upper leg.
Overusing and strenuous, prolonged exercise may cause inflammation and swelling of the retinaculum, leading to canal stenosis.
- stressed fractures of the bones of the foot:
The bones of the foot, which doctors call metatarsals and are located on the top of the foot, may be fractured. Swelling and pain in the upper leg are symptoms of this type of fracture.
There is a type of fracture in the middle of the bones of the upper foot (mid foot) called Lisfrank dislocation fracture, the symptoms of which are:
- Swelling and pain in the back of the foot and in front of the wrist
- Hemorrhage in the above area
- In these cases, walking will also be difficult
Wearing inappropriate shoes, walking and running on uneven surfaces, etc. can cause ankle sprains and stretch tendons and ligaments in this area.
Pain and swelling, and sometimes bruising around the foot, are symptoms of ankle sprains that, in severe cases, sometimes spread to the top of the back of the foot.
Sometimes some fractures and dislocations of the ankle or even fractures of the tibia cause pain and swelling that extends to the back and top of the foot.
Other causes of upper leg pain
Other causes include:
Can cause sudden pain and swelling in the big toe joint.
Bone spurs in the joints between the bones of the foot can cause pain and discomfort in the back and upper legs.
- And peripheral neuropathies:
Doctors call peripheral neuropathies injuries and problems in the nerves outside the skull and spine.
- Back pain
- Numbness behind the foot prickling
- And sometimes swelling above the foot
It can be present in peripheral neuropathies such as diabetes and can even spread to the legs.
There is a branch of the large, thick sciatic nerve called the common peroneal nerve, which can cause numbness, prolonged pressure, and tingling in the upper leg, as well as weakness in the lower leg and ankle muscles.
Diagnose the cause of pain and swelling in the upper leg
- Get a history
- Clinical examination
- Simple X-ray imaging
- MRI and other imaging techniques
- Perform special tests such as EMG / NCV
- Blood tests
The above methods will be selected by your doctor according to your injury and condition.
What can we do to reduce the pain? What is the treatment for pain and swelling in the upper leg?
The type of treatment will depend entirely on the cause.
If there is no movement fracture, it is usually recommended to rest and stop strenuous activity. It is also recommended to use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Your doctor will ask you to place your feet on a pillow above ground level. Taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen helps relieve pain, swelling and inflammation. With the improvement of the acute phase of pain, it is necessary to start appropriate exercise or specialized physiotherapy.
Your doctor will advise you to avoid wearing non-standard shoes, medical shoes and proper insoles will help you to avoid further pain.