# Owie! What's wrong with my foot? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owie-whats-wrong-with-my-foot/587521 "2011-07-01T16:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owie-whats-wrong-with-my-foot/587521/1 "2011-07-01T16:15:45Z")
There’s suddenly some kind of little something wrong with the skin of my foot on the outside top near my ankle bone. Something tiny like a splinter or a crack in the skin. I can’t bend right to look at it super-close, but as close as I can get I can’t see nuthin’ the heck wrong. I tried sticking a piece of Scotch tape to the spot and peeling it off in case it was the kind of hair-size splinter you can get out that way, but it didn’t work. ☹ Also I rubbed a little lotion on it which also didn’t help. It’s right where the top edge of my shoe hits so I’m sitting here with my shoe in my lap. But I want to go get some coffee from the kitchen. I can’t walk to the office kitchen with one bare foot. Jeez, it almost feels like I have, like, a fingertip’s worth of sunburn there. Or a sting. What the heck is wrong? Halp! You are not a doctor, you are not my doctor, and if you think I’m seriously asking for medical advice you need to get your noggin checked. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owie-whats-wrong-with-my-foot/587521/2 "2011-07-01T20:52:44Z")
That can be what they call an applique injury caused from a shoe rubbing in a certain spot and causing an inflamed nerve. Sometimes it can cause a blister or just what you experience. Try some different shoes or no shoes for awhile. Use slippers or walk in socks in the house. I place a piece of duct tape over the area. Then again, you might have picked up a burr from the garden that did penetrate the skin and lodge there. A warm water soak for a long time would tend to bring it out in that case. Use all the tools in your arsenal. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owie-whats-wrong-with-my-foot/587521/3 "2011-07-01T22:53:17Z")
Serious or not, requests for medical advice go in IMHO. I shall move this thither for you. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owie-whats-wrong-with-my-foot/587521/4 "2011-07-03T04:42:03Z")
Take a picture of it using the macro setting on your digital camera. You’ll be able to examine it closely that way. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owie-whats-wrong-with-my-foot/587521/5 "2011-07-03T05:21:28Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Take a picture of it using the macro setting on your digital camera. You’ll be able to examine it closely that way. Brilliant! That wouldn’t have occurred to me in a month of Sundays! But to the OP, if the problem is where I’m envisioning, I often get really rough dry spots in that area (bony spots on my foot, just below the ankle.) Minus other health concerns like diabetes or PAD, I personally don’t get too concerned - just a little extra pumicing and moisturizer. But if you do have other health concerns, I’d have it looked at by a doctor. (Or, if you think it’s a splinter, you might try the carpenter trick: apply glue, like Elmers white or wood glue, let dry, and peel like a facial mask.)