fbpx

Ouch…the Balls of my Feet Hurt!

 

“The balls of my feet burn and pain a lot, when I walk these days, and I can’t understand why!” “When I wear a certain height shoes, I feel a lot of discomfort to the front of my feet.” “I dunno what’s going on with me, but don’t care what kind of shoes I wear, I feeling like I walking on gravel!” All common cries that amount to the same thing…PAIN!

The different expressions of pain or discomfort mentioned reflect a condition called METATARSALGIA, which is felt in the ball of the feet or forefoot area. It’s another popular ailment that many people simply know nothing about, but which is growing in frequency at our Clinic. Although it is generally not too serious, metatarsalgia can sideline you.

Description

It is a painful foot condition in the metatarsal region of the foot, located just before the toes, commonly referred to as the ball-of-the-foot. Metatarsalgia is a known foot disorder that can affect the bones and joints in that area. It is an ailment that is also marked by inflammation.

The term is derived from the name of the bones in this part of the foot, that is, the metatarsals. These are the long bones at the base of each toe. The metatarsal bones run through the forefoot from the arch in the mid-foot, to the base of the toe joints.

Each time we take a step forward, we push-off with our toes and the ball of the foot, forcing ourselves forward. To do this, we force 100% of our body weight on these structures. If they are not aligned perfectly, or if we have insufficient fatty padding, we experience the sometimes searing pain in the ball of the feet.

Symptoms

The key symptom of metatarsalgia is a sharp, aching, burning or shooting pain. It may also be felt in the area around the second, third and fourth toes, or only near the big toe. Other main symptoms could include:

  • Pain that worsens when you stand, flex your feet, walk or run and improves when

you rest.

  • Tingling or numbness in the toes
  • A feeling in your feet as if you’ve been walking on pebbles
  • Increased pain when walking barefoot, especially on a hard surface
  • Callousing under the second, third or fourth toes.

Causes

You may experience metatarsalgia if you’re physically active (athletes for example), and your feet are impacted by excessive walking, running and jumping, or some of the following:

  • Extra strain or pressure on the ball of the foot.
  • High arched feet, which can be genetic
  • Flat feet, another factor that may be hereditary
  • Improper footwear (high heels in particular), or worn out shoes
  • Overweight or obesity
  • Incorrect posture during movement
  • Trauma, such as from a car accident
  • Deformed or crooked toes
  • Strained arches – excessive pronation or supination
  • Nerve disorders
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Stress fractures
  • Fluid accumulation in the foot
  • Muscle fatigue.

Treatment

The first step in the treatment of metatarsalgia is to identify the cause and work on same. Specific lines of treatment could consist of:

  • Medications
  • Use of metatarsal pads or cushioning.
  • Arch Supports (orthotics) or metatarsal pads, which fit inside the shoes and help minimize stress (shock absorb) and improve foot function.
  • Shock-absorbing insoles, which are cushioned inserts that fit inside your shoes to help cushion shock.
  • Surgery for realignment of the metatarsal bones is advised if all other measures fail, and especially if you have a bunion deformity.

Self Care

Self-care measures are known to be of great help for metatarsalgia. Here are a few main home care guidelines:

  • Wear well-fitting footwear, with moderate heel height and a wide toe-box.
  • Cut down on running and extended walking to rest the foot.
  • Massage the area with the finger tips
  • Ice the location. It can be done for approximately10 minutes to the painful area, no more than every four hours.

  • Do exercises such as stretching the calf muscles.

If conservative treatments fail and your symptoms persist, the doctor may recommend a surgical option to rebalance the metatarsal heads and reduce abnormal pressure on the ball of the foot. During surgery, the metatarsal bone is cut just behind the toe. This procedure is called an osteotomy. Because of complications that may be involved as with any surgery, one should make sure that any possible risks are clearly understood.

87 thoughts on “Ouch…the Balls of my Feet Hurt!

  1. Appreciating the dedication you put into your blog and detailed information you present. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Excellent read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  2. Howdy, i read your blog often and that i own a similar one and that i was simply wondering if you get lots of spam comments? If therefore how do you forestall it, any plugin or something you’ll be able to advise? i get so much lately its driving me mad thus any assistance is extremely much appreciated.

  3. Man! Its such as you read my mind! You appear to grasp most about this, a bit like you wrote the book in it or one thing. i think that you just will do with some pictures to drive the content home a bit, besides that, this can be informative blog. A outstanding browse. ill actually return again.

  4. I simply want to tell you that I’m very new to weblog and really loved your website. Probably I’m going to bookmark your blog . You amazingly have wonderful posts. With thanks for sharing your webpage.

  5. I am satisfied that i possess realized this kind of web site. As a final point everything essential to achieve rubbish, which often we all endure amazingly commonly. The web page is definitely adoringly serviced along with stored up to date. And so it should be, regards designed for spreading that with us.

  6. I am just however following coming from an individual, however Now i’m increasing personally. My partner and i surely absolutely love learning the significant which created in your own site. Develop the myths arriving from. I loved it all!

  7. An attention-grabbing dialogue is price comment. I feel that it’s best to write more on this subject, it may not be a taboo subject however generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  8. I like the helpful info you provide to your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I’m fairly certain I will be informed many new stuff proper right here! Good luck for the next!

  9. I do know this if off topic but I am on the lookout into commencing my personal web site and was questioning what all is needed to have arrange? I’m assuming possessing a blogging site like yours would cost a really penny? I am not rather net savvy so I am not 100% optimistic. Any recommendations or advice may be significantly appreciated. Cheers

  10. Sup. Just want to give a brief note and enquire where you grabbed your particular internet page theme I am commencing own wordpress blog and absolutely really like your specific graphics.

  11. I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i am happy to express that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I so much surely will make certain to don?t fail to remember this site and give it a glance on a relentless basis.

  12. Thanks for an amazing publish, can examine your particular others content. thank you your ideas for this, I felt a bit made an impact to by this short article. Merit again! You wanna make a good time. Has great report here. I believe that in case a greater number of people thought about it like that, they’d have a very better time frame receive the grasp ofing the issue.

  13. Fantastic goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely wonderful. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a great web site.

  14. Nice post. I study one thing tougher on different blogs everyday. It will all the time be stimulating to read content from different writers and observe just a little something from their store. I’d desire to make use of some with the content on my weblog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link in your internet blog. Thanks for sharing.

  15. I’m impressed, I must say. Really not often do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you will have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the difficulty is one thing that not sufficient individuals are speaking intelligently about. I am very completely happy that I stumbled throughout this in my search for something relating to this.

  16. hello!,I like your writing very much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I require an expert on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to see you.

  17. After reading your blog post I browsed your website a bit and noticed you aren’t ranking nearly as well in Google as you could be. I possess a handful of blogs myself and I think you should take a look here: http://dominateseowithwordpress.com You’ll find it’s a very nice tool that can bring you a lot more visitors. Keep up the quality posts

  18. Hello, friend, I would like to offer you my congratulations for building this kind of fantastic website. The thing is, you have caught my fascination. And, I really do not easily forget people who grab my attention. What I really do to such guys is that I bookmark their web sites and hold a steady look on their posts to discover if they really are as good as the ones that I first read. Now, Keep in mind: YOU are at the top of my bookmark list!

  19. whoah this blog is fantastic i love reading your articles. Keep up the good paintings! You already know, many persons are searching around for this information, you can aid them greatly.

  20. Hey there, I just hopped over to your web-site using StumbleUpon. Not somthing I might typically read, but I enjoyed your thoughts none the less. Thank you for making some thing worthy of reading.

  21. I am not really sure if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your great job is clearly identified. I was wondering if you offer any subscription to your RSS feeds as I would be very interested and can?t find any link to subscribe here.

  22. Right after researching many of the weblog articles in your web site today, i truly as if your method associated with blogging and site-building. My spouse and i book marked this to my personal book mark web page itemizing and may also become checking out back again soon. Could you try out my website as successfully along with tell me what you believe.

  23. Great article! I loved the insight as well as the advice given . Also, your blogging style is very pleasing to read. If you have enough time please make sure you visit my new blog and let me know what you think.

  24. Though I am an atheist, today I want to thank God (or whosoever there is) for hearing my prayers. You see, I was digging for a little bit of information on this topic, and, here I have discovered not a little bit but rather, a bigger bit of information. I can’t explain to you how glad I am to have came across your pretty website.

  25. fantastic post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector don’t notice this. You must continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!

  26. I simply desired to appreciate you once again. I’m not certain what I would’ve implemented in the absence of the actual advice shown by you on my theme. It had become a daunting case in my view, but viewing a new skilled technique you handled it forced me to weep over gladness. I’m just happy for this help and as well , believe you recognize what an amazing job you have been providing training people by way of your webpage. Most likely you have never got to know all of us.

  27. I almost never create comments, but i did a few searching and wound up here …. » Blog Archive » Ouch…the Balls of my Feet Hurt!. And I do have 2 questions for you if you do not mind. Is it simply me or does it give the impression like a few of these responses come across as if they are coming from brain dead individuals? 😛 And, if you are posting on other online social sites, I’d like to follow anything fresh you have to post. Could you make a list of all of your public sites like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?

  28. hello there and thank you to your information ? I’ve certainly picked up something new from proper here. I did on the other hand expertise some technical issues the usage of this web site, as I experienced to reload the site many instances previous to I could get it to load properly. I have been brooding about if your hosting is OK? Now not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could harm your high quality ranking if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and can glance out for much extra of your respective interesting content. Make sure you update this once more soon..

  29. Unquestionably imagine that which you said. Your favorite reason appeared to be on the internet the simplest factor to take into account of. I say to you, I definitely get irked whilst people consider issues that they just don’t understand about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the entire thing with no need side effect , folks could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thank you

  30. Thank you for every other informative blog. The place else may just I get that kind of information written in such a perfect method? I’ve a project that I’m just now operating on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such information.

  31. Nice submit. I discover something more challenging on various sites every day. It’ll always be revitalizing to study articles from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog site whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

  32. At last I have found just the information which I’ve been hunting for. You know, it was truly disheartening to surf through a number of websites and not get the to-the-point stuffs. However, your website ended up being an exception. I can proudly tell that- “See, here’s a site which i value for my study! ”

  33. Finally I’ve found just the information that I have been in search of. You know, it was really disheartening to surf through a dozen websites but not get the to-the-point stuffs. However, your website was an exception. I can proudly tell that- “See, here’s a website that I value for my study! ”

  34. It is perfect time to make a few plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this publish and if I could I wish to recommend you few fascinating issues or advice. Maybe you could write next articles regarding this article. I desire to learn even more things approximately it!

  35. Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my cousin were just preparing to do some research on this. We grabbed a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such great information being shared freely out there..

  36. I do not even know how I ended up right here, however I thought this submit was once great. I don’t know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger in case you are not already. Cheers!

  37. Good article and then right to the thing. My spouse and i don’t determine if this is often truly the best shop to request on the other hand do you guys have virtually any what it really best places to take advantage of a little professional writers? Many thanks

  38. Hello, Neat post. There is a problem together with your web site in internet explorer, may check this… IE still is the marketplace leader and a big part of other people will miss your fantastic writing due to this problem.

  39. Very fine publish. My spouse and i just simply stumbled upon your current website along with wished to talk about which need truly enjoyed studying your own blog content. However I’ll always be following for a wesite along with I hope anyone publish once more in the near future.

  40. Somebody necessarily help to make critically posts I might state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and to this point? I amazed with the research you made to make this actual submit amazing. Fantastic task!

  41. Hello, There’s no doubt that your web site might be having internet browser compatibility issues. When I take a look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Other than that, fantastic website!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

WhatsApp WhatsApp us!