My foot is cracking?

Please help, what is wrong with my foot? I need to constantly keep cracking/popping it to release pain?

• This has been going on a little over a year now.. basically what it is, is I have tension or cramps in my right foot.. it occasionally will cause me to limp as I'm walking, pretty much everyday but on & off. When I walk I need to keep my right leg COMPLETELY straight and limp with it, or else I will feel major cramps in my knee area. It's not severe pain that I have at all, like no burning feeling or anything like that, it's more like cramps. I guess I just got used to it thats why I don't find it TOO painful. Anyways, at night is when it causes the most problem for me because I cant go to sleep. I crack my left hand & right foot all night until the pain is released... its very strange idk what is wrong with me. But its my thumb that I mainly need to crack.. and my big toe for my foot. Every night i need to dig my foot into the mattress of my bed to make my toes crack.. & once it does I get very relieved & alot of pain is released... but then it comes back & I need to again roll my foot around the bed restlessly, trying to get rid of the pain. I can definitely tell that my hand is connected to the problem with my foot. Its terrible & very painful & makes me frusterated, definitely at night because I can never go to sleep because my foot is so restless. my hand doesnt have as much pain as my foot at all, but it is very similar. I can basically never put my leg in a weird position, it is only comfortable straight & I dont know why. thats why when i limp i need to keep it straight. I think the most pain/uncomfortable feeling is in my knee area, which is the main problem. Is this restless leg syndrome? I have no idea but is it serious? Please help thank u

• Answer:

  I have a hip problem called Perthes disease. It's probably nothing like what you've got, but I tend to limp as well just because it's easier to walk that way and it doesn't hurt my hip as much. I also find that when I crack my hip, it often relieves pain for a little while, but then comes back. Anyways, I definitely think you should see a doctor if you haven't already. Explain to them everything you've just explained on here. They may be able to give you some sort of pain relief that could get rid of the pain for a while. Or perhaps you might need orthotics (inserts to go into your shoes for people with flat feet/dropped arches). If you see a doctor (maybe a foot specialist in particular) they'll be able to solve the problem and help relieve some of the pain. Also, your knee might be hurting because there is so much stress on that leg. I hope I helped a bit, but I really think seeing a doctor is best :)