Lately the tissue under the skin on top of my foot hurts, burns when I touch it. It is a bit numb.
I haven’t injured it recently, but I have chronic hip pain. Chiropractor appointment on the 13th of november 2012. (I’m heading off a post resurrection 1 month to five years from now by specifying the date).
If I push the tissue around with a thumb it hurts, but eventually stops. If I press into the curve where the ankle becomes the top of the foot, it causes that pain to flair up. It feels like a pull or stretch and I get some moderate pain further down towards the toes.
Nerve, tendon or circulation?
Local tenderness implies a local problem. If I understand your question, you are wondering if “nerves” or “circulation” are likely causes. No they are not. That is to say, local tenderness is not typically caused by an irritated nerve or poor circulation. An irritated nerve might cause local pain but local tenderness implies a local problem, on average.
Whether such a putatively local problem is a tendon, a bone, a joint, a cyst or some other local cause would not be possible to say without a direct and competent evaluation.
PS: I believe these sorts of questions are now put in IMHO, and this is indeed my armchair opinion, although I object to the defaulted “humble” characterization of it. 
If you wake up dead tomorrow from an atypical presentation of an arterial inflammation that began in the foot, I shall refuse to accept responsibility for reassuring you.
Not a problem. I will receive an informed and educated opinion in a week or so. You are not culpable for misinformed advice.
I was pretty sure it isn’t a circulation issue: My foot isnt cold not unusual in appearance.
It is probably complications from my hip problem, perhaps strain or a tear.
Chiropractor appointment…informed and educated opinion - not an association I’d make.
Medical advice is best suited to IMHO.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
Thanks for the move Colibri.