Metatarsalgia is a burning, aching pain in the forefoot. It’s actually a generalized term, not a specific condition, referring to inflammation in the ball of the foot. It can describe other specific conditions, including sesamoiditis, Morton’s neuroma, or fat pad atrophy. Even callus build-up, stress fractures, and a few less common problems can fit under the metatarsalgia umbrella.
Running, jumping, dancing, walking, and even just standing—they all use your forefoot. The ball of your foot and your toes allow your lower limbs to push off the ground so you can propel yourself forward. Pain in the ball of the foot makes this normal motion uncomfortable and limits your mobility.
Ultimately, this general problem describes pain in the ball of the foot that feels worse under pressure and improves somewhat with rest. When you put weight on the affected foot, usually you experience dull or sharp pain that may be localized under one or more joints. Depending on the cause, you may develop shooting pains or numbness in your toes as well. Some people describe a sensation like walking with a pebble under the ball of the foot. Typically, the condition is the result of repetitive hard impacts or excessive pressure over time, but symptoms can appear suddenly as well.
Conservative Treatment for Metatarsalgia Pain
Fortunately, metatarsalgia can be simple to treat and eliminate!
- Shoe changes to reduce pressure on the forefoot (Avoid narrow shoes or high heels that put abnormal pressure on your forefoot)
- Custom made orthotics to help with weight distribution , support and shock distribution
- Padded insoles or metatarsal pads to add an extra layer of cushioning under the forefoot.
- Icing the ball of the foot to help with inflammation
- Addressing calluses may help with problems from skin lesion build-up.
- COLD LASER THERAPY to reduce inflammation and heal affected structures
- Cortisone injection to reduce inflammation
- Filler injection to the add padding to the affected area
Surgical Treatment for Metatarsalgia Pain
If conservative treatments fail and depending on the exact source of pain, we implement surgical modalities to correct the deformity and/or reduce pain.