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Metatarsalgia Conditions and Treatments for Faster Relief
Foot Condition – Pain in the Ball of the Foot (Metatarsalgia)
Metatarsalgia is the medical name for pain in the ball of the feet. It affects the bones of your foot located just before your toes (the metatarsals), causing inflammation. The metatarsalgia pain some people experience is because the bones support your weight when you stand, walk, run, play sports, and work out. It can occur for several reasons, such as high-impact sports.
Although it interferes with your day-to-day activities and can be very uncomfortable, the good news is that the pain at the ball of the feet often gets better with simple treatment.
Metatarsalgia Causes
Metatarsalgia foot pain is usually the result of increased pressure on the ball of the feet. You might develop it if you do high-impact activities. There are also other causes, including wearing shoes that are too tight, too loose or high heels.
Some metatarsalgia causes:
- High-impact sports and workouts (running, tennis or high-impact interval training) can create ball of feet pain.
- Specific foot shapes, such as narrow feet, high arches or flat feet, can impact the ball of the feet.
- Ill-fitting footwear. Some examples are shoes that are too tight or too loose or high heels which force the ball of the foot and toes into a small space.
- Excess weight because when you walk, most of your body weight transfers to the front of your foot, meaning extra pounds add more pressure on your metatarsal bones.
- Foot conditions such as arthritis, bunions, stress fractures, hammertoes and bursitis.
- Morton’s Neuroma is a growth around a nerve usually found between the third and fourth metatarsal bones.
Sometimes only one of these issues can lead to metatarsalgia foot, but many times it’s more than one factor involved.
Metatarsalgia Symptoms
Metatarsalgia symptoms tend to develop gradually. You may feel it in a small spot on your foot, across the entire foot width, and it may impact both feet. Metatarsalgia foot tends to feel worse when you’re doing activities, standing, walking, running or working out.
Some metatarsalgia symptoms include:
- A sharp, shooting, burning or aching pain in the ball of your foot, just behind your toes.
- Pain that feels worse when you stand, flex your feet or move, especially if you’re barefoot on a hard surface.
- Pain on bottom of foot near toes or pain under big toe pad.
- Pain in the ball of the feet that improves when you rest.
- Starting to limp or shifting the way you walk from the pain in your foot.
- A feeling like there’s a small pebble stuck in your shoe or under your foot.
Metatarsalgia Treatment
Although metatarsalgia foot pain interferes with your day-to-day activities and can be very uncomfortable, the good news is that it often gets better with simple treatment. Left untreated, metatarsalgia pain can lead to pain in other parts of your feet, including bottom of heel pain. It can also spread to other body parts, such as your lower back or hip because you tend to limp from foot pain.
Metatarsalgia pain treatment varies depending on the severity of your pain and if you have any other complications.
If you’re wondering how to treat metatarsalgia at home, rest and icing the area are just a couple of things you can do for some immediate relief for metatarsalgia.
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Orthotics
Custom orthotics are effective in helping to treat the ball of the feet. To be effective, the orthotics must fit into your shoes, feel comfortable and have specifically designed metatarsalgia insoles. Ensuring the insole is of the proper height, size, and density is critical.
LMC Chiropodists stress the importance of ensuring you have perfectly fitted custom orthotics to reduce pain and speed up healing.
Proper Footwear
LMC Chiropodists recommend wearing proper shoes.
- Try shoes with a lot of room for your feet and toes instead of high heels.
- Look for shoes with a gentle curvature in the toe area (like the shape of the base of a rocking chair) will help relieve the pressure on the metatarsal area.
- Ensure your shoes fit and aren’t too tight or too loose.
- Don’t wear worn-out shoes, as they can worsen the ball of the feet.
- Once your foot is healed, ensure your shoes are appropriate for the types of workouts you do or sports you play.
Taping
Metatarsalgia taping can be an effective treatment option to help manage your pain and provide your foot with some necessary support, especially if you have a toe deviation. It helps to stabilize the ball of the foot so you can rest it in place.
Cortisone Injections
Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory medication used to treat musculoskeletal conditions. When cortisone is injected into your affected area, it can lower inflammation and pain. Other solutions including proper footwear and orthotics are often better options.
Why Choose LMC
We are part of one of Canada’s largest teams of Medical Specialists and treat the most complex foot conditions, such as diabetic wounds, daily. It makes simple cases such as metatarsalgia, heel pain (plantar fasciitis) and plantar warts easily handled by our experts.
Trail Blazers
LMC Healthcare has one of the largest research divisions in North America, Centricity Research. Our Chiropodists (Footcare Specialists) have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge foot health research and new treatment approaches.
Members of the Approved Provider Network (APN)
LMC Healthcare is one of a handful of the most skilled and trusted footcare providers included in the APN. It allows us to be exclusive providers for various hospitals and insurance companies in Ontario.
Collaborative and Convenient Approach
While a referral is not required to see our Chiropodists, we keep your family physician informed every step of the way with assessment and treatment summaries.
You also never have to wait long for an appointment! We have eight easily accessible locations in Ontario. Brampton, Vaughan, Oakville, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Midtown Toronto, Barrie, Ottawa, with more coming soon.
Contact Us About Your Foot or Heel Pain
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Helping you understand and ease your foot or heel pain
Helping you understand and ease your foot or heel pain
Do you have questions about your foot health? Call us today to find out how our specialists can help!
Phone: 1-844-562-3668
Easily book an appointment online with one of our specialists today to help with your foot health needs
Email us to set up an appointment and find out how our specialists can help improve your foot health!
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