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Metatarsalgia

What is it?

Metatarsalgia is a condition in which the ball of your foot becomes painful and inflamed.

What causes them?

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

  • Intense training or activity.Distance runners are at risk of metatarsalgia, primarily because the front of the foot absorbs significant force when a person runs. But anyone who participates in a high-impact sport is at risk, especially if your shoes fit poorly or are worn.
  • Certain foot shapes.A high arch can put extra pressure on the metatarsals. So can having a second toe that's longer than the big toe, which causes more weight than normal to be shifted to the second metatarsal head.
  • Foot deformities.Wearing too-small shoes or high heels can cause your foot to be misshapen. A downward-curling toe (hammertoe) and swollen, painful bumps at the base of your big toes (bunions) can cause metatarsalgia.
  • Excess weight.Because most of your body weight transfers to your forefoot when you move, extra pounds mean more pressure on your metatarsals. Losing weight might reduce or eliminate symptoms.
  • Poorly fitting shoes.High heels, which transfer extra weight to the front of your foot, are a common cause of metatarsalgia in women. Shoes with a narrow toe box or athletic shoes that lack support and padding also can contribute to the problem.
  • Stress fractures.Small breaks in the metatarsals or toe bones can be painful and change the way you put weight on your foot.
  • Morton's neuroma.This noncancerous growth of fibrous tissue around a nerve usually occurs between the third and fourth metatarsal heads. It causes symptoms that are similar to metatarsalgia and can also contribute to metatarsal stress.

Symptoms:

  • Sharp, aching or burning painin the ball of your foot — the part of the sole just behind your toes
  • Pain that worsenswhen you stand, run, flex your feet or walk — especially barefoot on a hard surface — and improves when you rest
  • Sharp or shooting pain,numbness, or tingling in your toes
  • A feeling ofhaving a pebble in your shoe

What to do next:

Contact us to make an appointment with the doctor.

Our Location

10441 Quality Drive
Suite 103
Spring Hill, FL 34609
(352) 606-3950

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