Metatarsalgia

Description

Metatarsalgia (met-uh - tahr-SAL-khuh) is a condition in which the ball of the foot becomes painful and irritated. Metatarsalgia the results of the activities that involve running and jumping. Other causes include feet that are not formed correctly, and the shoes that are too tight or too loose.

Although not often serious, metatarsalgia can make it difficult to move. At-home treatments, such as ice and rest, often relieve symptoms. Wear proper footwear with shock-absorbing insoles or arch supports may prevent or lessen future problems with metatarsalgia.

Symptoms

Symptoms of metatarsalgia can include:

  • Sharp, aching or burning pain in the ball of the foot. The ball is the part of the sole just behind your toes.
  • Pain that worsens with standing, running, flexing the foot or walking. Do any of these barefoot on a hard surface makes the pain worse. The pain improves with rest.
  • Sharp or shooting pain, numbness, or tingling in the toes of the feet.
  • A feeling of a stone in the shoe of the affected foot.

When to see a doctor

Not all foot problems that need medical attention. Sometimes the sore feet after a long day of walking or a hard workout. But it is better to act in foot pain that lasts more than a couple of days. Talk with your health care professional if you have a burning pain in the ball of your foot that is not improved after changing their shoes and their activities.

Causes

Sometimes a single factor can lead to metatarsalgia. More often, several factors are involved, including:

  • Hard workout or activity. Distance runners are at risk of metatarsalgia. This is mainly due to the fact that the front part of the foot takes a great amount of force when a person is running. But anyone who makes a high-impact sport is at risk. This is especially true if the shoes do not fit well or are worn out.
  • Certain foot shapes. A high arch can put additional pressure on the metatarsals. So that you can have a second toe that is longer than the big toe. This is the cause of more weight than usual to be moved to the second metatarsal head.
  • The toes of the feet that have different shapes. He wore too-small shoes or high heels can cause the feet and the toes of the foot to change shape. A low curling toe, called a hammer toe, can cause metatarsalgia. So they can be swollen, painful, bony bumps at the base of the big toes of the feet, called a bunion.
  • The excess of weight. The majority of a body weight that is going to the forefoot while on the move. So that extra weight means more pressure on the metatarsals. Losing weight may reduce or get rid of the symptoms.
  • High heels or poorly fitting shoes. High heels are a common cause of metatarsalgia. Wearing high heels puts more weight on the front of the foot. Shoes with a narrow toe box shoes or sports that do not have enough support and padding can also be part of the problem.
  • Stress fractures. Small breaks in the metatarsal or toe bones can be painful and can change the way you put your weight on the foot.
  • Morton's neuroma. This non-cancerous growth of fibrous tissue around a nerve usually occurs between the third and fourth metatarsal heads. It causes symptoms similar to those of metatarsalgia. The growth of stress on the metatarsal.

The risk factors

Almost any person can develop metatarsalgia, but you're at higher risk if:

  • Do high-impact sports that involve running and jumping.
  • Wear high heels, shoes that don't fit well or shoes with spikes, such as wedges.
  • Are overweight or obese.
  • You have other foot problems, including hammertoes and hard, thickened areas called calluses on the bottom of the feet.
  • Have inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.

Complications

Left untreated, metatarsalgia can lead to pain in other parts of the same foot or on the other foot. Limping because of the pain in the foot metatarsalgia can also cause pain in other parts of the body, such as the lower back or on the hip.

Metatarsalgia

Diagnosis

Various foot problems can cause symptoms similar to those of the metatarsalgia. To find the source of your pain, your health care professional to look at your feet while you are standing and while you sit and ask about their style of life and their activities. You may need an x-ray to see if you have a stress fracture or other foot problems.

Treatment

Measures of self-care can be all that you need to relieve the symptoms. These can include rest, the use of different shoes, or the use of an arch support or a pad on the affected area of your foot, called a pad metatarsal.

Rarely, surgery of the meta -tarsal bone may be an option. This can happen if self-care measures do not relieve the pain, and you have foot conditions such as hammer toe.

Self-care

To help relieve metatarsalgia pain, try these tips:

  • Rest. Protect your feet from injury by not stwhen you press it. Keep the foot elevated after standing or walking. You might need to not play his favorite sport for a while. But you can stay in shape with low-impact exercises, such as swimming or cycling.
  • Apply ice to the area. Apply ice packs to the area for about 20 minutes several times a day. To protect your skin, wrap the ice packs in a thin towel.
  • Take pain reliever that you can get without a prescription. Try ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or aspirin to reduce the pain.
  • Wear the right shoes. Avoid too tight or too loose shoes. Limit your use of high heels. Wear shoes that are made for sports play.
  • Try arch supports. The arch supports can decrease the stress on the metatarsal bones. Andou can buy arch supports non-prescription drugs, or they can be conditioned.
  • Try metatarsal pads. You can get these without a prescription. Put on shoes just ahead of the metatarsal bone to help keep the stress out of the painful area.

The preparation for andour appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your family health care provider. Or you may be sent to a specialist in bones, called an orthopedist or a foot specialist, called a podiatrist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to your pain in the foot, and when they began.
  • Key personal information, including the sports you play and your medical history.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

For metatarsalgia, basic questions to ask include:

  • What is the cause of my symptoms?
  • Need proof?
  • Is my condition likely to go away quickly or to be of long duration?
  • What treatment do you recommend it?
  • Do I need to limit my activities?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask questions such as:

  • What type of shoes are you wearing?
  • What activities do you do?
  • Is your daily routine involve a lot of walking or standing?
  • Do you usually go barefoot? What types of surfaces?
  • Do you have symptoms all the time or only sometimes?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, in any case, it seems that you andour worsening of symptoms?

What you can do in the meantime

While you're waiting for your appointment, rest the foot as much as possible, and wear shoes that fit well. Pain relievers can help relieve the discomfort.

Symptoms and treatment of Metatarsalgia