✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

Bone on Side of Foot Sticks Out and Hurts [Causes & Best Treatment!]

The bone on side of foot sticks out and hurts: 90%+ of the time this means something is happening to your 5th metatarsal or your 5th toe bone.

Look:

• Outside of the foot pain can be improved with a few simple treatment changes.
• We are foot doctors & we see this problem get better almost every day.
• The goal is to solve this problem without medication or surgery if at all possible.

So, let’s GO!

Bone on Side of Foot Sticks Out and Hurts Overview:

• We show you why the bone on the outside of your foot is sticking out.
• This is due to your 5th toe, your 5th metatarsal phalangeal joint, your styloid process and the outside of your ankle.
• We then show you have to get rid of that pain with home treatment tips!

Symptoms:

This can lead to:

• Numbness.
• Burning.
• Tingling.
• 5th toe pain.
• Redness and rubbing against the shoe.
• Tight and swelling sensation in your shoe.
• Itching in your shoe.

Is It Dangerous?

• The majority of the time bone sticking out the side of your foot are not dangerous!
• Everyone always thinks the fifth metatarsals is a tumor, but generally what does happen is your Achilles tendon is tight in your foot rotates and rubs against the side of your shoe.
• Some people have a much larger fifth metatarsal bone, and a much larger fifth metatarsals styloid process than other people.
• Especially if you have a very high arched foot your fifth metatarsal process can be very large.

Lateral Foot Pain Causes:

• 5th toe pain.
• 5th metatarsal pain.
• Peroneal tendon pain.
• Outside of the ankle pain.

Causes of Bones on the Side of the Foot Sticking Out:

• The most common bone responsible for pain on the side of your foot and bone sticking out and hurting is the fifth metatarsals!
• There are three areas that could be causing this pain: the fifth toe itself, the fifth metatarsal and outside of the heel/ankle.
• We would estimate that approximately 90% of the time it is the fifth metatarsal, and in normal prominence called the fifth metatarsals styloid process is what is causing your pain.

Fifth Toe Bone Sticking Out:

• The fifth toe could become swollen and irritated.
• This can cause the bone to stick out.

The 5th MTPJ:

• This is referred to as the tailor’s bunion.
• This is the knuckle where your 5th toe connects to the rest of the foot.
• Gel pads work great hear as well, but the key is to stop your foot from twisting our.
• Look at some of the gel pads above.

The 5th Metatarsal Styloid Process:

• This is what most people are probably looking for.
• This is the center outside of your foot.
• This is a normal bone.
• It is usually only aggravated when your foot is twisting outward.

Less Common Causes:

5th Toe Pain:

• Little Toe Pain Causes are most common after physical trauma such as stubbing your toe, but it is very common to develop calluses and nerve pain.
• The most common causes of little toe pain are injuries such as a stubbing your toe, ingrown toenails or even the formation of calluses or corns.
• These all occur because the small toe is exposed to friction on the outside of your foot from wearing shoes that are too tight or even shoes that are too wide resulting in rubbing against the outside of that foot.
• It is important to take the initiative and begin to heal these problems on your own, because the corns and calluses likely will not just go away on their own.
• It is also possible to develop a little toe bunion known as a tailors bunion (aka bunionette) that is very similar to a smaller bunion but it is just affecting the little toe rather than the big toe.
• For more on Bone on Side of Foot Sticks Out and Hurts: 

Skin Problems:

• Calluses

Calluses are thick patches of skin that appear in sites of friction against the shoe, the floor or any other part of the foot. The danger is a blister can form underneath the callus!

• Corns

A corn looks like a little pebble that can form, they usually even occur with a callus around them. This can be exceptionally painful.

• Ingrown Toenails

Follow our at home pain relief guides, how to trim your nails properly and even how to remove them permanently.

• Swollen Painful Toe

These occur from stubbing your toe, so learn how to deal with them properly! Is it broken or is it just bruised, find out with this guide.

Bone and Joint Problems:

These that may result in a Bone on Side of Foot Sticks Out and Hurts.

• Little Toe Bunion (Bunionette)

This is when you toe looks really big and as if though its popping out at the base.

• Hammer Toe

This is when your toe starts to dislocate slightly.

5th Metatarsal Pain:

• Jones Fracture
• Cavus Foot- Styloid Process Protrusion
• Os Vesalanium

Muscle & Tendon Pain:

• Peroneus Brevis Muscle Tendon Pain.
• Peroneus Longus Muscle Tendon Pain.

Related Treatment Guides

• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Foot & Ankle Arthritis Treatment

References

1. Coughlin MJ. Treatment of bunionette deformity. Foot Ankle. 1991;11(4):195-203.
2. Suzuki T, et al. Accessory navicular: its relevance to the adult flatfoot. Foot Ankle Clin. 2019;24(2):189-197.
3. Raikin SM, et al. Fifth metatarsal fractures in the athlete. Foot Ankle Clin. 2017;22(3):579-603.

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.