Differential Diagnosis for Forefoot Pain in Joints
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Osteoarthritis: This is a common condition that affects the joints, causing pain and stiffness. The forefoot is a common area for osteoarthritis to occur, especially in the metatarsophalangeal joints.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Gout: A form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints, often occurring at the base of the big toe.
- Morton's Neuroma: A condition that causes pain and numbness in the ball of the foot, typically between the third and fourth toes, due to compression of a nerve.
- Sesamoiditis: Inflammation of the tendons surrounding the sesamoid bones, which are located under the first metatarsal bone in the foot, causing pain and swelling.
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion the joints, causing pain and swelling in the affected area.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Septic Arthritis: A serious infection within a joint, requiring prompt medical attention to prevent permanent damage or disability.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disorder that can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, including those in the forefoot.
- Charcot Foot: A condition that causes the bones in the foot to weaken and break down, often due to nerve damage or poor circulation, which can lead to severe deformity and disability if left untreated.
Rare Diagnoses
- Freiberg's Disease: A rare condition that affects the metatarsal bones, causing pain and stiffness in the forefoot, often due to poor blood supply to the affected area.
- Köhler's Disease: A rare condition that affects the navicular bone, causing pain and swelling in the midfoot area.
- Psoriatic Arthritis: A type of arthritis that occurs in people with psoriasis, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, including those in the forefoot.