You are in the right place. Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS — board-certified foot & ankle surgeon with 3,000+ surgeries — explains exactly what side of foot pain means and what actually works. Call (810) 206-1402 for a same-day appointment at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.
Quick Answer
Most foot and ankle problems respond to conservative care — proper footwear, supportive inserts, activity modification, and targeted stretching — within 4-8 weeks. Persistent pain beyond that window, or any symptom that prevents walking, warrants a podiatric evaluation to rule out fracture, tendon tear, or systemic cause.
Watch: Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM
Side Of Foot Pain [Causes, Symptoms & Best Home Treatment]
Side of the foot pain is usually due to your 5th metatarsal 90%+ of the time. Don’t worry. This is a normal bone with great treatment options!
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!
What Causes Side of the Foot Pain & Best Treatment:
- This video goes over what causes outside of the foot pain.
- We then go over the best treatment options!
Causes of the outside of the foot pain infographic:
Side Of Foot Pain Overview:
There are 3 widespread regions for pain on the side of your foot.
- They are near the pinky toe, near the 5th metatarsal, and the heel ankle region.
- On the inside of the foot, the big toe joint and the foot arch are most common.
Do you have 5th metatarsal pain? This is one of the most common causes of the outside of the foot pain.
Pain On Outer Side Of Foot:
Pain on the outer side of the foot is most commonly in 3 areas:
1)Near the Pinky Toe:
A) Pinky Toe Numbness, burning, or tingling:
- The pinky toe is very exposed and prone to irritation.
- If compressed by the shoe, it can cause numbness, burning, or tingling.
- If injured, it can also lead to being strained or irritated.
B) Callus, bump, or corn on the 5th toe:
- This is a prevalent source of irritation.
C) Sprained Or Broken Pinky Toe:
- If you stub the pinky toe, it has fragile support.
- It can very easily become strained.
The fifth toe is the smallest toe on the foot. Sometimes your entire body weight can crush it against the side of the shoe. This can lead to numbness, burning, and tingling.
D) Tailor’s Bunion:
- This is a bunion of the 5th metatarsal head.
- It is a bump on the outside of the base of the 5th toe.
- This is very prone to irritation.
For pinky toe and 5th metatarsal pain, consider these products:
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Our board-certified podiatrists treat this condition at two convenient locations. Same-day appointments often available.
2) Foot Pain Outside Of Arch:
There are 2 prevalent causes for foot pain on the outside of the arch:
A) Peroneus Brevis Tenonditis:
- This is the most common source.
- This is more common as chronic running pain or pain after running.
B) Jones Fracture:
- This is a fracture of the base of the 5th metatarsal.
- This usually happens with a severe ankle sprain.
Muscle & Tendon Pain:
3) Pain On Outer Side Of Foot Below The Ankle:
- This is most common after an ankle sprain.
- It is also widespread in chronic ankle pain.
- Also, if you have a chronic flat foot.
These are the most common situations:
- Ankle Sprain Treatment.
- Rolled Ankle Recovery Time.
- High Ankle Sprain Recovery Time.
- Ankle Tendonitis.
- Sore Ankles After Running.
- Broken Ankle Recovery Time.
- Broken Ankle or Sprained Ankle?
- Peroneus Longus Tendonitis.
- Peroneus Brevis Tendonitis.
Pain In Side Of Foot:
There are 3 common sites of pain on the side of the foot:
1) Big Toe Joint Pain:
A) Bunion:
- This is by far the most common cause of inside of the foot pain.
- This is when the inside bone bulges at the base of the big toe.
2) Inside Of Foot Arch Pain:
A) Foot Arch Pain:
- This is the most common cause of heel and arch pain.
- This pain is worse in the morning and after rest.
- It is also widespread after standing or walking for a long period of time.
We like to think of a plantar fibroma, almost like pair with scar tissue throughout the plantar fascia. The more you keep walking on it, the more swollen and agitated it gets. It fills up with more fluid and causes more pain.
Pain On Side Of Foot:
Do you mean:
Side Foot Pain Running:
Side foot pain running is almost always due to two of the following:
1) Tailor’s Bunion:
- This is the bump at the base of your 5th toe joint.
- It is a prime site of compression and irritation.
- It can cause numbness, burning, and tingling on the outside of the foot!
2)Peroneus Brevis tendinitis:
- This is the bump on the outside middle of your foot.
- If it becomes irritated, you will feel it in the morning and after running!
Burning Pain On Side Of Foot:
- Burning pain on the side of the foot is usually due to shoe irritation.
- This happens when the pinky toe or the 5th metatarsal head rubs against the outside of the shoe.
- The RICE method can treat nerve pain with rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
- It can take a couple of weeks for the pain to go away.
- But correct the constriction within your shoes, or this will keep getting worse!
Sharp Pain On Side Of Foot:
- Sharp pain on the side of the foot is usually due to nerve compression.
- If there is friction, compression, and rubbing over the skin, this can impinge the nerve.
- Don’t worry. This is rarely serious.
- Correct the source of compression, and the sharp pain on the side of the foot will start to go away.
- This may take a couple of weeks to get better, but it will!
For More Side Of Foot Pain Help:
Pain On The Outside Of The Foot Treatment Guide!
Other Causes of Pain in the Small Toes:
Most Likely
- Hammer Toes
- Black or Blood under the Toenail
- Broken Toe
- Swollen Toe
- Foot Corn
- Foot Blisters
- Callus Foot Pain
- Predislocation Syndrome
- Crossing Toes
- Foot Arthritis
- Long Second Toe.
Ball of the foot:
- Capsulitis
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s Neuralgia
- Metatarsal stress fracture
- Sesamoiditis
- Predislocation Syndrome
- Turf Toe
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Dislocated Toe
5th Toe
- Tailors bunion
- Cavus Foot
- Swollen Toe
- Jones Fracture
- Peroneus Brevis Tendinitis
Related Treatment Guides
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Pain on the Side of Your Foot?
Lateral or medial foot pain can stem from peroneal tendinitis, cuboid syndrome, stress fractures, posterior tibial tendon issues, or bunions. Our podiatrists use clinical testing and imaging to pinpoint the exact source of your pain.
References
- Dombek MF, et al. Peroneal tendon tears: a retrospective review. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2003;42(5):250-258.
- Jennings J, Davies GJ. Treatment of cuboid syndrome secondary to lateral ankle sprains. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2005;35(7):409-415.
- Raikin SM, et al. Fifth metatarsal fractures in the athlete. Foot Ankle Clin. 2017;22(3):579-603.
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Dr. Tom’s Lateral & Medial Foot Pain Protocol
- PowerStep Pinnacle — Medial foot pain from tibialis posterior tendinopathy: arch support is the primary OTC intervention, reducing the eccentric load on the medial column.
- Doctor Hoy’s Natural Pain Relief Gel — Peroneal tendon or cuboid pain: arnica + camphor gel applied to the lateral foot 3-4x daily reduces peritendinous inflammation between appointments.
- Plantar Fasciitis Compression Socks — Side foot pain with visible swelling: graduated compression reduces the venous pooling that worsens with prolonged standing or walking.
Side foot pain worsening or not improving after 4 weeks? Peroneal tendon tears and navicular stress fractures need imaging. In-office X-ray + evaluation → (810) 206-1402
In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle
If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your side foot pain, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a doctor?
See a podiatrist if pain persists past 2 weeks, prevents normal activity, or is accompanied by red-flag symptoms (warmth, swelling, numbness, inability to bear weight).
Can I treat this at home?
Mild cases respond to RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation), supportive shoes, and OTC anti-inflammatories. Persistent symptoms need professional evaluation.
How long does it take to heal?
Most soft tissue injuries resolve in 2-6 weeks with appropriate care. Bone injuries take 6-12 weeks. Chronic conditions need longer-term management.
Ready to feel better?
Same-week appointments available in Howell and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
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Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified foot & ankle surgeon (ABFAS & ABPM) 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 made him one of the most-followed foot & ankle educators on YouTube.