I have been getting pains in various parts of my feet for years now, but recently the worst one was a burning/stabbing pain in my left foot on the outside flank behind the small toe.
It was relieved a little by walking and did not get better by wearing different boot/shoe/sock/insole combinations. It would hurt while I was in bed too.
Last night my good lady suggested that we try using her TENS machine on the problem area. For those not familiar with these, they are digital units that sends pulses of electrical energy through the soft tissue, they are low power and the sensation is like someone prodding the skin with a blunt stick. My wife is a nurse and has used kit like this with her patients when pain killing drugs are not appropriate or lose their effectiveness.
She put the pads on the foot above and below the pain area and set it going, it has a fifteen minute cycle and gives various jolts and pulses, it's not unpleasant at all.
The outcome is that, at least for now, I am free of the pain. It is more effective than ibuprofen gel or paracetamol.
I don't know how long it will last, but we have the kit to sort it out again.
I can report back on how I get on as I am sure that others on here will be interested.
TENS units can be picked up quite cheaply, they have applications for back pain too, you would have to do some research to see if it would be of benefit to you.
In my opinion this is a much better treatment, for me at least. I now don't have to reach for the pain killers!