Causes and Symptoms of Ball of Foot Pain

Pain in the ball of your foot is most commonly attributed to overuse. As we mentioned above, a lot of weight is channeled through this area with each step you take, so if you’re a runner, you play sports or you’re simply on your feet all day at work, you’re going to feel it in your metatarsals. Aside from overuse, direct trauma and being overweight are some common causes and risk factors for developing pain or inflammation in this area. Oftentimes this leads to a condition called metatarsalgia.

Symptoms of metatarsalgia include:

• Pain in the ball of your foot
• Pain that worsens with activity
• Symptoms that improve with rest
• Numbness around the toes
• The feeling that there’s a small rock underneath their shoe when walking

Treating Metatarsalgia

Pain in the ball of your foot that is caused by overuse or stress-induced inflammation is best treated with short-term rest and activity modifications. For example, give yourself a few days or weeks off from strenuous sporting activities like running or athletic competitions. If you’re still dead-set on getting your workout in, consider some workouts that don’t overstress your feet, like cycling or lap swimming.

Other helpful treatment methods include regularly icing the area for 10-15 minutes a couple times a day to help calm inflammation, taking anti-inflammatory medications, gentle stretching exercises to strengthen your Achilles tendon and other supportive muscles surrounding the area and shoe modifications.

When it comes to shoe modifications, really take a closer look at your shoes to see how they contributed to your injury. Are they an unsupportive shoe? Are you regularly wearing heels or shoes with limited arch support? Are they the right shoe for the job? Make sure the shoes you are wearing are up to the tasks they need to perform, and consider investing in a more supportive option or in an orthotic that contours to the shape of your feet. Odds are your shoe choice played a role in the onset of pain in the ball of your foot, so if you rest but continue to put your feet in these unsupportive shoes, nothing is going to change.

If problems continue, consult with a foot specialist for more hands-on treatment. Surgery is rarely needed for the condition, but it does have a high success rate. For more information, or to talk to a specialist about your pain, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today.

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The Ball of Your Foot

The ball of your foot, also known as the metatarsal, can be affected by a number of different issues. Some of these problems respond well to rest, while others need more active treatment. Here’s a look at some conditions that can affect the ball of your foot, and how they are treated.

Metatarsalgia – This condition, sometimes referred to as a stone bruise, occurs when inflammation develops in the middle toes where they connect to the ball of your foot. Swelling and inflammation in this region can lead to pain and discomfort with each step. It is a common condition in physically active individuals, especially forefoot-strike pattern runners. Treatment includes rest, investing in shoes with more forefoot padding and over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Another potential issue is rheumatoid arthritis, which is categorized by swelling and discomfort in the joints. It can affect a number of different areas of your body, include the ball of your foot. Although arthritis cannot be reversed, controlled exercise, physical therapy, a healthy diet, rest and stretching routines can all help to limit discomfort and slow the progression of the condition.

Hanmertoes – Hammertoes develop when there are pressure imbalances on your toe tendons and joints, leading the middle of the toe to bend upwards, giving your toe a scrunched appearance. This can lead to abnormal stress on the metatarsals and swelling in the ball of the foot. Wearing appropriate sized shoes for activity can help mild cases, but for more serious cases of hammertoes, physical therapy and even surgery are recommended.

Arch Problems – Finally, there’s also the possibility that the swelling in the ball of your foot is due to an arch issue. If you have an overly high arch or a very flat foot, your metatarsals may be handling more stress than normal, which can again lead to swelling in the ball of your foot. Arch supports and a consultation with a foot specialist are great ways to ensure your arch issue isn’t putting undue stress on the ball of your foot.

For more tips, or if you’d like to set up a consultation with Dr. Silverman, contact his office today.

The post The Ball Of My Foot Is Swollen – What To Do appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.