Strange connection - pain in head and eye when touching foot

My neurologist is mystified. Whenever I touch or move my right foot, or if anything touches or even lightly brushes up against the right side of the foot, even through my shoe, I get a strong dull pain that shoots behind and just above my right eye and forehead. This condition came on suddenly about a month ago and has been persistent, 24 hours a day, since then. It hurts me throughout the day and wakes me at night.  It all started about a month after I had an emergency heart cath through my right groin. It took a long time for the bruising there to clear up and I have not felt right since. Pains and some tenderness in the groin area and some pain midway between the ankle and knee in the front of the right leg (where I had once cut myself on some glass). Also some pain around the knee and right thigh. No pain however in the right foot--only in my head when it is moved or touched. I had a brain scan (no contrast) with no remarkable results. Blood test came back normal. My neurologist wants to do another brain MRI with contrast but said he expects it to come back negative. He has no idea what this can be or how it might be treated. I had two opthalmic migraines over the past ten years. Visual distortion and flashes in the periphery that lasted a few minutes each time. I had my eye checked out and it appeared to be normal.  

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

I am confused as well. Anatomically, the symptoms are difficult to explain. However, there is a concept called central and peripheral sensitization. This is caused by a previous injury/painful event. It explains a lower pain threshold that may occur such as the pain to a nonpainful stimuli as what you are describing in the feet.

However, you have a history of migraines and the symptoms may not be related.

You should discuss your situation with your family physician/neurologist. You should optimize your migraine treatment. You would also benefit from a brain MRI, especially since you have new symptoms and have had a recent arterial procedure.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.