Metatarsalgia is an excruciatingly painful ailment that affects the ball of the foot. The metatarsals are a group of bones that link the toes to the ankles.
Overuse or high-impact sports, arthritis, and wearing improper footwear, such as high-heeled shoes, can all contribute to it.
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Treatment
The treatment will primarily aim to alleviate discomfort and pain.
- Applying ice to the affected area several times a day for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, with the ice wrapped to protect the skin Ice packs can be ordered from the comfort of your own home.
- Using over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain while maintaining pressure off the feet and keeping the feet up when resting will reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Metatarsal pads or a metatarsal bar can be used to relieve pressure on the metatarsal bones, and shock-absorbing insoles or arch supports can be used to ease pressure during walking.
A doctor may prescribe steroid injections to relieve pain and swelling in more severe situations.
Wearing correct foot wear is one way to lower the chance of developing metatarsalgia.
Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes. Shoes should not be too tight and should provide appropriate support and cushioning, ideally with a large toe box. Cushioned insoles, which may be purchased online, can help prevent or reduce pain.
Maintaining a healthy bodyweight will relieve foot pressure.
People who are recovering from injuries should follow their doctor's advice about when they can resume intense activities.
Complications can occur if metatarsalgia is not treated or if you return to activities too soon.
As the person adjusts their gait to manage the pain, the pain may migrate to other regions of the foot or elsewhere in the body.
Causes
Between the metatarsal bones in the foot are tiny toe nerves.
When the heads of one metatarsal bone press against the heads of another, the tiny nerve between them becomes trapped and inflamed. Metatarsalgia is the result of this.
Putting weight on the foot might aggravate symptoms because the metatarsal bones scrape together with each step, causing the nerve to become inflamed.
Specific medical disorders and other things can produce pain, but putting weight on the foot is the sole thing that causes it.
Factors that are at risk
Metatarsalgia can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Shoes that are overly tight around the toes or high heels that put pressure on the ball of the foot as it is squeezed into a small space can cause pain.
- Obesity: Being overweight can place a pressure on the foot.
- Metatarsalgia is caused by a thinned fat pad that covers the foot as it gets older.
- Running or participating in high-impact sports raises the risk since the feet absorb a lot of force.
- The shape of the foot and toes might add to the pressure by having a high arch or a second toe that is longer than the big toe.
- Stress fractures: When pressure is applied to the toes, small breaks in the bones can cause pain.
- Ankle stiffness can put pressure on the metatarsal bones.
Metatarsalgia can be caused by a variety of medical disorders, including:
rheumatoid arthritis, which causes swollen joints in the foot, or gout diabetes, which causes inflamed tiny nerves in the foot and causes a buildup of fluid.
A bunion is a painful, swelling lump at the base of the big toe that weakens the toe and puts more pressure on the ball of the foot.
Bunions can form as a result of wearing too-small shoes, or they can be inherited. Women are more likely to have them than men. Metatarsalgia might result as a result of this.
Morton's neuroma is a fibrous tissue development that surrounds one of the nerves that runs between the metatarsal heads. Morton's neuroma causes symptoms that are quite similar to Metatarsalgia and can put additional strain on the metatarsals.
Exercises
employing fitting insoles (orthotics) to reallocate pressure, enhance foot function, and protect the ball of the foot instead of high-impact sports and exercise that puts pressure on the feet exercising the ankle and extending the Achilles tendon
Symptoms
The intensity of pain varies from mild to severe. When the person stands or moves, it is frequently more obvious and uncomfortable.
There may be tingling or numbness in the toes, as well as a searing or shooting pain or a sharp hurting. The area between the toes and the ball of the foot can be affected.
Flexing the toes may make the pain worse.
Symptoms usually appear gradually. They can, however, occur unexpectedly, especially if you raise your exercise level and put more strain on your feet, such as sprinting or leaping.
Surgery
Surgery may be required if other therapies fail. The sort of surgery required will be determined by the underlying issue.
Surgery can straighten a hammer toe or claw toes by reshaping the bones, or it might alleviate or remove a trapped or irritated nerve.
Outlook
Metatarsalgia symptoms are generally relieved with conservative treatment, such as wearing more appropriate shoes. The prognosis, however, will be determined by the underlying source of the discomfort.
Diagnosis
The patient may consult a family doctor or seek treatment from an orthopedic surgeon or a podiatrist, a foot specialist.
- their medical background
- their way of life, the shoes they wear, and their pastimes
- They'll also want to know when the pain started, how often it happens, when and where it happens, if it's becoming worse, and if it's spreading to other parts of the body.
To test the patient's gait, they may be asked to walk on a treadmill or pressure plate. This can assist in determining which areas of the foot are under pressure.
There may be tests as well.
Any bone fractures will be revealed by imaging tests such as an X-ray, an MRI, or an ultrasound scan.
Gout, arthritis, and diabetes are among illnesses that can be detected by blood tests.
- Metatarsalgia. (2017) http://www.acfaom.org/information-for-patients/common-conditions/metatarsalgia
- Metatarsalgia. (2016, February 3) http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/metatarsalgia/Pages/Introduction.aspx
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