Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is not an injury; it's actually a symptom or a group of symptoms.
Understanding the Condition
The symptoms may include pain in the ball of the foot, with or without bruising, and inflammation. It is often localized in the metatarsal heads or it may be more isolated, in the area near the big toe. One of the hallmarks of this disorder is pain in the ball of the foot during weight-bearing activities. Sharp or shooting pains in the toes also may be present, and pain in the toes and/or ball of the foot may increase when the toes are flexed. Accompanying symptoms may include tingling or numbness in the toes. It is common to experience acute, recurrent or chronic pain as a result of this problem.
Treatments and Advice
Metatarsalgia develops when something changes or threatens the normal mechanics of the foot. Ultimately, this creates excessive pressure in the ball of the foot, and that leads to metatarsalgia. Some of the causes of Metatarsalgia include:
Being overweight: the more weight is brought to bear on the foot, the greater the pressure is on the forefoot when taking a step.
As men and women age, the fat pad in the foot tends to thin out, creating less cushioning and making them more susceptible to pain in the ball of the foot.
Wearing shoes that do not fit properly: Shoes with a narrow, tight toe box, or shoes that cause a great deal of pressure to be put on the ball of the foot (high heels, for example) are often the cause of Metatarsalgia. Because such footwear inhibits the walking process and forces the wearer to alter his or her step to adjust to the shoe, the mechanics of the foot are compromised.
Certain foot shapes contribute to metatarsalgia. A high-arched foot, or a foot with an extra-long metatarsal bone can cause pressure on the forefoot region and contribute to pain and inflammation there.
Claw toes or hammertoes can press the metatarsals toward the ground and cause stress on the ball of the foot.
Arthritis, gout or other inflammatory joint disorders can produce pain in the ball of the foot.
Recommendations
This can be a debilitating and painful condition. Consider a consultation with us to help decide if your problem has been caused by poor biomechanics, or injury or trauma to the nerves. We will assess whether prescription orthotics will be suitable for you or, if we need to consider other treatments such as injection therapy or cryosurgery, as examples of different treatment options available.
