Top-of-the-foot pain typically results from extensor tendonitis but can also occur due to nerve damage. Treatment depends on the cause and may include rest and medication.

Our feet are made up of bones, ligaments, and tendons. These parts carry our entire body weight all day long, so it’s not much of a surprise that foot pain is relatively common.

Sometimes, we feel pain at the top of our foot that can be uncomfortable when walking or standing still. This pain can be mild or severe, depending on the cause and the extent of any possible injury.

We’ll cover the possible causes of this pain and the steps you can take to relieve it.

Pain on the top of the foot can occur with different health conditions, but most commonly happens due to overuse. Overuse injuries may result from a specific exercise like running.

Conditions caused by overuse

Conditions caused by overuse include:

  • Extensor tendonitis: Extensor tendonitis can result from overuse or tight-fitting shoes. The tendons that run along the top of the foot and pull the foot upward become inflamed and painful.
  • Stress fractures in the foot: Pain can result, particularly from fractures in the metatarsal bones on the tops of the feet. Stress fractures typically cause swelling.
  • Sinus tarsi syndrome: This condition is characterized by inflammation of the sinus tarsi, or the channel found between the heel and ankle bone. It causes pain in the top of the foot and outside the ankle.

Other causes

Other causes of pain on the top of the foot can include:

  • Gout: Gout can cause sudden, intense pain in the joint at the base of the big toe.
  • Bone spurs: Bone spurs are painful growths that form along the joints in your feet by your toes.
  • Peripheral neuropathy: Nerve damage causes pain, prickling, or numbness that can spread from the feet into the legs.
  • Common peroneal nerve dysfunction: This dysfunction of a branch of the sciatic nerve can cause tingling and pain at the top of the foot and weakness of the foot or lower leg.

If you have persistent foot pain that lasts longer than a week despite home treatment, consider making an appointment to talk with a doctor.

You may also want to talk with a doctor if your pain is severe enough to keep you from walking or if you have burning pain, numbness, or tingling. If you contact a general practitioner, they may refer you to a podiatrist.

At your appointment, a doctor may ask you about:

  • other symptoms you have
  • potential ways you may have injured your foot
  • your physical activity level
  • past injuries to your feet or ankle

As they examine your foot, a doctor may press different areas to see where you feel pain. They may also ask you to walk and perform exercises like rolling your foot to evaluate your range of motion.

To test for extensor tendonitis, a doctor may have you flex your foot downward and then try to pull your toes up while you resist. If you feel pain, extensor tendonitis is a likely cause.

If the doctor suspects a broken bone, fracture, or bone spurs, they’ll likely order an X-ray of the foot.

Other tests a doctor may perform include:

  • blood tests, which can identify conditions such as gout
  • an MRI to look for damage to the peroneal nerve

A mild injury can worsen if left untreated because our feet support our body weight. Prompt treatment may help speed your recovery.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include:

  • physical therapy to help treat peripheral neuropathy, extensor tendonitis, or peroneal nerve damage
  • a cast or walking boot for injuries such as broken bones or fractures
  • NSAIDs or other anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation, including inflammation from gout
  • home treatment

Home treatment can often help with foot pain. It may involve resting and staying off the affected foot as much as possible. You can apply ice to the affected area for 20 minutes. When you have to walk, wear supportive, well-fitting shoes that aren’t too tight.

Most causes of pain on the top of the foot are treatable, but they need treatment before the pain and injury worsen. If you have pain in the top of the foot, try to stay off your foot as much as possible for at least five days and apply ice to the affected area for no more than 20 minutes at a time.

If home treatments don’t seem to help after 5 days, consider making an appointment with a doctor.

What does it mean when the top of my foot is hurting?

Pain on the top of your foot typically results from overuse from running and jumping or wearing too-tight shoes. It can also result from health conditions, such as gout or peripheral neuropathy.

What does tendonitis feel like on top of the foot?

Extensor tendonitis can cause discomfort, pain, and swelling in the tendons that run across the top of your foot. It may hurt during and after exercise, including walking, and after being on your feet.

How do I stop the pain on the top of my foot from stabbing?

To relieve stabbing pain on top of your foot, you can try keeping your weight off that foot by resting and applying ice for up to 20 minutes. You may need medical attention if the pain is severe or doesn’t resolve after 5 days of rest.

Can plantar fasciitis cause pain at the top of the foot?

Plantar fasciitis typically causes heel pain and stiffness. You may also have pain in other areas of the foot in addition to heel pain. But it isn’t common with plantar fasciitis to only have pain on the top of the foot.

People tend to develop pain on the top of their feet from overuse injuries, such as running or wearing tight shoes. Keeping your weight off the affected foot may help relieve pain. However, if your injury is severe, you may need to wear a cast or attend physical therapy.

Top-of-foot pain can also occur with health conditions such as gout or peripheral neuropathy. If this is the case, treating the underlying cause may relieve pain.