Metatarsalgia is pain in the ball of the foot. It may be accompanied by calluses. It is aggravated by hard training and high impact activities. It is also exacerbated by shoes that do not fit well or are worn out.
An appreciation of the biomechanics reveals many reasons why this pain occurs. It is usually caused by excessive cyclical loading of the metatarsal heads especially under the first metatarsal head.
Causes
Pain under the ball of your foot is called metatarsalgia (MET-ah-tar-SAL-gia). This area has five long bones (metatarsals) that connect to your toes and help distribute weight evenly when you stand, walk or run.
These bones end in the ball of your foot and are surrounded by a network of nerves, tendons and ligaments. The pain of metatarsalgia often centers on one of the ends of these bones, where extra pressure causes a hard growth of skin (callus).
Most people who develop metatarsalgia have flat feet, but the condition can affect anyone. It is more common in runners and other athletes who spend a lot of time on their feet, or in people who wear tight shoes with little cushioning. It can also occur in people who are obese, because the extra weight puts more stress and pressure on the ball of the foot.
Symptoms of the condition are usually worst after you stand or walk. It can feel like you have a pebble in your shoe or as though the bottom of your foot is burning. It can also cause a tingling or numbness in your toes. Metatarsalgia can make it difficult to walk or exercise, which may lead to other health problems, such as low back and hip pain.
If you’re experiencing pain in the ball of your foot, talk to a podiatrist at The Foot Institute. We can diagnose your condition and offer targeted treatment that will relieve your pain. With proper treatment, you can return to your normal activities. Call us today to schedule an appointment! We have three convenient locations in El Paso, TX. We look forward to seeing you soon! Our board certified physicians specialize in all aspects of the foot and ankle. This includes the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as bunions, hammertoes and metatarsalgia. We offer state-of-the-art treatments such as Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT). These techniques are performed in our office and provide relief without the need for surgery. We can also treat patients with conservative measures, such as over-the-counter pain medication, cortisone injections and custom orthotics.
Symptoms
Metatarsalgia (met-uh-TARS-al-juh) is pain in the ball of your foot. It may be caused by wearing tight shoes or from a health condition like arthritis. It can also be caused by activities that put pressure on your feet, such as running or jumping. Your foot has five long bones called metatarsals. They end in the ball of your foot, where they push off the ground when you walk. If a bone becomes so swollen that it presses on the skin, you get pain and redness in the area around the bone. Sometimes the skin becomes hard or a callus forms on the area. Your doctor can diagnose this condition with a visual and manual exam of your foot. They will look at your feet while you stand and sit and ask about your lifestyle. They may do X-rays of your foot or use other imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or an MRI, to see what is causing the pain.
The most common symptom of this condition is sharp, shooting pain in the ball of your foot. The pain usually gets worse when you run, jump or stand barefoot. It is often relieved by resting, icing and over-the-counter pain medications. Foot and ankle surgeons can also treat this condition with arch supports, shock-absorbing inserts or pads.
If you have this condition, it is important to treat it so that it does not become worse and cause more pain. Treatment options include changing your shoes to ones with good support and padding. It is also important to warm up and stretch before any exercise. If your GP recommends it, you can use a metatarsal pad to help relieve the pressure on the affected bones.
You should see your GP if your symptoms are getting worse or you can’t walk normally. Often metatarsalgia is not serious, but it is important to get it treated because it can make you limp and change how you put weight on your foot. This can lead to stress on other parts of your body, such as your lower back and hips.
Diagnosis
A specialized diagnostic test called a pressure-sensitive cholesterol crystal force plate analysis can be used to determine whether abnormal forces are causing the pain. A careful history will also be obtained to assess any possible factors contributing to the problem. In some cases, an intra-articular or digital nerve block may be necessary to further evaluate the condition and help decide on a course of treatment.
Metatarsalgia can be painful and disabling, making it hard to do the activities you enjoy. However, there are a number of steps you can take at home to relieve the symptoms and prevent this foot problem from getting worse.
The condition is named for the pain and irritation under the long bones in the front of the foot, just below the toes. This is a result of excessive pressure on the ball of the foot, typically caused by wearing shoes with thin soles or high heels or by running and jumping too much. Other causes include foot deformities, such as hammertoes or bunions, and feet that aren’t formed correctly. Often, conservative measures, such as ice and rest, are enough to relieve the discomfort. Wearing footwear with shock-absorbing insoles and arch supports might prevent or lessen future problems.
If your symptoms don’t improve or get worse, it’s important to see a podiatrist. The expert podiatrist will examine your foot and your footwear, ask questions about your lifestyle and activity level, and recommend treatments to reduce the pain. Depending on your needs, this may involve stretching exercises, icing the affected area, and using heel cups or orthoses to correct foot alignment.
If you’re tired of wincing with every step, call 8362 5900 to schedule your low or NO Gap* examination today. Metatarsalgia can be prevented by early diagnosis and specific treatment, so don’t wait until it’s too late to get relief! Our specialist team of Adelaide Podiatrists is here to help.
Treatment
Often, you can relieve the pain of metatarsalgia with simple at-home treatments. If not, your healthcare provider will help you treat it more effectively. Metatarsalgia is pain and inflammation of the ball of your foot (forefoot). It usually centers under one or more of the five bones at the base of your toes, called the metatarsals. It may also involve the fat pad in the bottom of your foot.
The pain may be sharp, shooting, aching or burning. It typically gets worse when you stand, walk, run or flex your feet. Some people describe the feeling as walking on pebbles or having a stone in their shoe. People who have health conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes or certain neurological disorders, are more likely to develop this condition. Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly or that are too high-heeled, tight or unsupportive is a common cause of this condition.
Treatment options include rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers. If your pain is severe, you might need to avoid activities and sports that put too much pressure on your forefoot. Your healthcare provider might recommend that you wear shoes with shock-absorbing insoles or arch supports.
Other therapies might include manual therapy, massage and stretching exercises to improve flexibility in the forefoot area. These are designed to reduce pain and improve foot function. Your podiatrist might also recommend shoe orthotics. These are designed by your podiatrist based on the specific measurements taken during your bio-mechanical assessment.
You might need more intensive treatment if at-home care doesn’t help your pain or you have a complication of this condition that affects the way your foot functions. In some cases, surgery might be necessary. This might include removing the excess bone from your toe or changing the way the toe joint is aligned. It might also include removing bone spurs or other abnormalities from the forefoot.