Pain in the Ball of Your Foot? What You Can Do About Metatarsalgia
Many conditions cause pain in your forefoot, with metatarsalgia being one of the most common.
Unfortunately, it can cause such intense pain that it becomes impossible to do your favorite exercise.
At the same time, however, it’s highly treatable and you can count on getting back to normal (and probably without surgery).
You may have metatarsalgia if you feel:
- A sharp pain in the ball of your foot, just behind your toes
- Burning in the same area
- A steady ache and pain that worsens when you stand or engage in physical activity
- Like you have a rock or pebble in your shoe (but actually don’t)
- Tingling or numbness in your toes
- More widespread pain in the ball of your foot, if you’re an athlete
What Causes Metatarsalgia?
Like any other foot condition, metatarsalgia has a number of possible causes.
Usually, patients affected by one or more of the following factors come to us with this condition:
- Naturally high foot arches – This puts more pressure and weight on your metatarsus. And the result can eventually be pain and inflammation.
- Performing repetitive activities – This may be because of your job or intense, high-impact exercises.
- Older age – As you age, you lose fat from the bottom of your feet. This fat cushions your metatarsus. With it gone, that leaves your bone beneath exposed.
- Neuroma – Instead of having metatarsalgia, you may actually have a neuroma. A neuroma is a benign tumor of a nerve. These can form in the metatarsal region of your foot and causes burning and inflammation.
- Footwear – High heels especially, and other footwear also, can put more pressure on your metatarsal region, leading to metatarsalgia.
- Stress fractures – Because of the length of your metatarsal bones, they’re more vulnerable to stress fractures. Low vitamin D levels, along with repetitive exercise activities, can cause metatarsal stress fractures.
- Existing health conditions – Certain illnesses that lead to joint inflammation (such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis).
How Do You Treat Metatarsalgia?
Fortunately, metatarsalgia most often does not require surgery. However, it might. At the same time, it’s wisest to begin with more conservative treatments, such as:
- Proper footwear – Arch supports, orthotics, low heels, and a wide toe box can all help.
- Changing activity – You may need to stay off your feet entirely for a while. At minimum, you’ll need to reduce high-impact, repetitive physical activity.
- RICE – The simple but effective rest, ice, compression, and elevation formula always helps.
- Removing calluses – Soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 5 minutes. Use a pumice stone to scrape down your calluses. This spreads the pressure on your feet out, which helps relieve your pain.
- Medication – You may need NSAIDs or other OTC medications.
- Exercise – Yes. Gentle strengthening and stretching exercises can help you recover too.
It stinks to not be able to do what you want to do. But this will only be temporary. And more than likely, you won’t need surgery.
If you experience metatarsalgia, see your podiatrist so you can get rid of the pain and back to your favorite activities as soon as possible.
