What Does Pain In The Ball Of Your Foot Mean?

You may have realized lately that you have some intense pain in the ball of your foot, and you cannot quite figure out why. Pain in the ball of your foot is something that is annoying or debilitating, depending on the severity. This blog is going to explore what this particular foot condition is, what causes it, and how to treat it.

What Is Pain In The Ball Of Your Foot Called?

Pain in the ball of the foot is one of the more common foot pains that people talk about. However, there are other types of foot pain, and it is wise to make sure you can pinpoint where the pain is coming from, as the conditions will vary. When the pain is in the ball of your foot, this condition is referred to as metatarsalgia. The name comes from the small bones in the region between the toes and arch of the foot, which becomes inflamed, thus causing pain in your feet. The pain is made worse when you putpressure on the ball of your foot. It is important to note that this type of foot pain can happen due to your body’s alignment, sports you play, or the shoes you are wearing.

What Causes Metatarsalgia?

There are several different things that can cause pain in the ball of your foot some of which are related to your body while others are related to the shoes you wear. A few of the anatomical causes of metatarsalgia are:

• Your age. As we age, we start to lose the padding on the bottom portion of our feet, which increases the pressure we feel on our metatarsal.
• A strange foot shape cause also cause pressure on the ball of your foot.
• Bunions, which can push your toes together and throw your foot out of alignment.
• Hammertoes can also increase pressure on the ball of the foot, causing the metatarsal bones to inflame.
• Obesity can also cause the metatarsal bones to inflame because of too much pressure placed on the foot by too much weight. 

Other ways in which you can suffer from metatarsalgia are if you play certain high-impact sports such as soccer or football or if you wear improperly fitting shoes. 

Is It Treatable?

This condition is very treatable with several different methods, depending on the severity of the metatarsalgia. Some of the treatments are:

• To lose weight if needed.
• Massage your foot and use ice for about two or three minutes, several times throughout the day.
• Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to combat the swelling and keep it down.
• Purchase orthopedic shoes that can help keep your feet aligned properly, with great support that regular shoes do not offer.
• Orthopedic insoles are other great ways to treat metatarsalgia if you do not want to buy shoes just yet. 

There are several other ways in which to treat pain in the ball of your foot, which you can learn from your doctor or podiatrist. It is always wise to talk to your doctor before starting any treatment regimen to make sure it is something that will benefit and not hurt you.

Metatarsalgia is a condition that can cause significant pain for a long time, but is very treatable. Call your doctor to start the treatment process and take a look around The Orthotic Shop’s to find some great orthopedic shoes or insoles that will be perfect to treat your condition!