Summary
Navicular bone pain can disrupt walking and sports, caused by overuse, fractures, tendon issues, or an extra bone. Early diagnosis and treatment with rest and support are key. If pain persists, see a doctor to heal properly.
Are you feeling pain in the middle of your foot and thinking about what might be causing it? Navicular bone pain can be tricky and confusing, but it’s a common reason for foot discomfort. This pain can originate from the main navicular bone or an extra small bone called the accessory navicular. It can make walking and daily activities hard. Let’s explore in detail what causes this pain, what signs to watch for, and the best ways to treat and manage navicular bone pain safely and simply.
What Is the Navicular Bone?
The navicular bone is a small, wedge-shaped bone found in the middle part of your foot, on the medial side. This bone sits between the talus (ankle bone) and the cuneiform bones, which are found closer to the toes. The navicular bone is very important because it supports the arch of your foot. Any damage to this bone or the nearby ligaments and tendons can cause pain in your foot. Keeping it healthy helps you walk and move easily.
Causes of Navicular Bone Pain
There are several reasons why you might feel pain in the navicular bone area:
- Stress Fractures: This small bone can get tiny cracks called stress fractures. These happen mostly to athletes or people with excessive running and jumping.
- Tendinitis: The posterior tibial tendon connects to the navicular bone. If this tendon becomes swollen or hurt, it causes pain inside your foot. This is called posterior tibial tendonitis.
- Osteoarthritis: As you get older, the joints around the navicular bone can wear down, causing pain and stiffness.
- Accessory Navicular Bone: In some people, a small extra bone can develop next to the navicular bone. This extra bone can cause pain, especially during the teenage years or following an injury.
- Trauma: If you fall or hit your foot hard, the navicular bone can get damaged and cause pain.
- Medical Conditions: Certain diseases, like osteonecrosis, including Köhler disease in children and Müller-Weiss syndrome in adults, can reduce blood flow to the navicular bone. This can cause pain and change the bone’s shape.
Foot Navicular Bone Pain Symptoms
If you have pain in your navicular bone, you might notice several signs:
- Localized pain: You will feel tenderness right over the navicular bone. The pain gets worse when you press on it or move your foot.
- Swelling: The middle part of your foot may swell, especially after you do some activity.
- Redness or warmth: If there is inflammation, the skin might look red or feel warm.
- Visible bump: If you have an accessory navicular bone, you might see a bony bump on the inside of your foot.
- Flatfoot appearance: When the posterior tibial tendon is affected, your foot arch may look flat or lower than normal.
In more serious cases like stress fractures, the pain can be sharp and get worse when you put weight on your foot. For long-lasting problems like tendinitis, the pain is often a dull ache or burning feeling. Knowing these symptoms can help you understand what might be causing your foot pain.
Navicular Bone Pain When Walking
Pain in the navicular area can feel different for each person. Some feel a mild, annoying ache, while others have sharp pain that makes walking hard. Most people describe the pain as a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing feeling in the middle part of the foot. This pain usually gets worse when you:
- Walk for a long time
- Run or jump
- Stand for a long time
- Push off with your foot, like when climbing stairs
Sometimes, if you have an accessory navicular bone that is an extra small bone near the navicular, you might notice swelling, tenderness, or even a bump that you can see or feel on the inside of your foot. This can add to the pain and discomfort.
Accessory Navicular Bone Pain:
An accessory navicular bone is a common extra bone that about 10-15% of people have. It is located right next to the main navicular bone in your foot. This extra bone can cause problems if:
- The area gets hurt or stressed many times
- The posterior tibial tendon pulls too hard on it
- Wearing unfit shoes or your foot moves in a way that causes irritation
Pain from an accessory navicular often starts during the teenage years, especially in people who are active. You might notice:
- Swelling on the inside of your foot, just above the arch
- A visible bump near the navicular bone
- Trouble wearing some shoes because the bump hurts
- More pain during and after activities like sports or long walking
If you have these symptoms, it could be from an accessory navicular bone causing irritation.
How To Treat Navicular Bone Pain
The best way to treat navicular bone pain depends on what is causing it, but here are some common steps you can take:
- Rest and Change Activities: You should avoid activities that make the pain worse, like running or jumping. Try low-impact exercises such as cycling or swimming to stay active without hurting your foot.
- Ice: Putting ice on the painful area helps reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Supportive Shoes or Orthotics: Wearing shoes that support your foot’s arch or using custom orthotics can reduce pressure on the navicular bone.
- Anti-inflammatory Medicine: Medicines like ibuprofen (NSAIDs) can help lower pain and swelling.
- Immobilization: For more serious pain, a doctor might suggest wearing a walking boot or cast to keep your foot still so it can heal.
If these treatments don’t help or if the accessory navicular bone causes a lot of pain, surgery might be an option to fix the problem.
Navicular Bone Pain Exercises
After your pain and swelling get better, doing rehab exercises can help your foot work well again and stop the pain from coming back. But remember, always check with your doctor or physical therapist before starting any exercise. Here are some easy exercises that can help:
- Towel Scrunches: Put a towel on the floor and use your toes to pull it toward you. This makes your foot muscles stronger.
- Calf Stretch: Stand facing a wall, put your hands on it, step one foot back, and press your heel down. This stretches your calf muscles and eases tension in your foot.
- Marble Pick-Ups: Use your toes to pick up marbles or small objects. This strengthens the small muscles inside your foot.
- Arch Lifts: While sitting or standing, try to lift the arch of your foot without curling your toes. This works the muscles that support your navicular bone.
- Ankle Eversion with Resistance Band: Attach a resistance band and move your foot outward against the band. This strengthens the muscles that keep your foot stable.
Navicular Bone Pain Treatment: When Is Surgery Needed?
Most navicular bone pain can get better with simple treatments, and surgery is not always needed. But surgery might be needed if:
- Your pain does not go away after many months of rest and other treatments.
- The accessory navicular bone keeps causing pain or makes it hard to use your foot.
- A navicular stress fracture does not heal even after using a walking boot or cast.
- Your foot becomes badly deformed, or you lose normal foot function.
Before surgery, people often have long-lasting pain, swelling, or bruising around the foot. Surgery usually means removing the extra accessory bone or fixing the shape of the navicular bone and reattaching the posterior tibial tendon. After surgery, most patients feel much less pain and swelling once they recover. Physical therapy is very important to help you attain your foot strength and movement. Some mild pain might persist, but most people can return to their normal activities.
Key Things to Remember
- It’s important to find out the cause of navicular bone pain early, especially if you have a stress fracture. Early diagnosis helps stop the problem from getting worse.
- If your pain stays the same or gets worse, don’t ignore it. Untreated pain can lead to long-term problems like flatfoot or arthritis.
- The best results often come from a team approach. This may include physical therapy, using custom shoe inserts (orthotics), and surgery if needed. Taking care of your foot with the right treatments can help you feel better faster.
FAQs:
What causes navicular bone pain?
Navicular bone pain can come from stress fractures, tendonitis, arthritis, injury, or an extra bone called an accessory navicular. Overuse from activities like running or jumping can also cause pain.
Can exercises help with navicular bone pain recovery?
Yes, exercises after pain and swelling decrease can strengthen foot muscles and support the arch. A physiotherapist can help guide exercises like towel scrunches and calf stretches.
What are the best treatments for navicular bone pain?
Treatments include rest, ice, good shoes or orthotics, and anti-inflammatory medicine. Severe cases or stubborn pain might need immobilization or surgery.
Conclusion:
Navicular bone pain can make everyday activities like walking or sports very hard. It can occur because of overuse, stress fractures, tendon problems, or having an extra bone called the accessory navicular. The key to feeling better is recognizing the problem early and getting the right diagnosis. Treatment usually includes rest, good foot support, exercises, and medical help when needed. If your pain doesn’t get better or starts to get worse, visiting a doctor is important to help you recover fully and move without pain.
