Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Learn everything you need to know aboutmetatarsalgia, including symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
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Metatarsalgia Symptoms
The main symptom of metatarsalgia is a pain in theball of the foot, also known as the metatarsal head. You might notice burning, shooting pain, a dull ache, or tenderness. The pain may worsen when walking, especially across a flat floor.
Other symptoms of metatarsalgia can include:
There are several possible explanations for persistent pain, pressure, and/or inflammation under the ball of the foot.
Some of the causes of metatarsalgia include:
Older people, people withdiabetes, and people who are overweight are more likely to experience metatarsalgia. Any other deformity or condition affecting your forefoot (the front part of your foot), such ashammertoes(claw-shaped toes), can also increase your risk of foot pain.
Metatarsalgia and Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatoid arthritis (RA) sometimes causes metatarsalgia. If you have metatarsalgia due to RA, your healthcare provider may recommend that you manage your symptoms with prescription medications like disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Metatarsalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sometimes causes metatarsalgia. If you have metatarsalgia due to RA, your healthcare provider may recommend that you manage your symptoms with prescription medications like disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Can Foot Pain Be a Symptom of Diabetes?
You can use several coping strategies to manage the symptoms of metatarsalgia. Self-care options include:
If your foot’s pain persists or worsens, visit your healthcare provider. Apodiatrist(foot doctor), physical therapist, or other specialists may recommend the following treatments:
Shoe Modifications for MetatarsalgiaStudies suggest that foot orthotics, such as pads, cushions, and insoles, can significantly decrease the pain associated with metatarsalgia.In certain cases, other interventions like splints, shields, or toe spreaders can also help to relieve symptoms.
Shoe Modifications for Metatarsalgia
Studies suggest that foot orthotics, such as pads, cushions, and insoles, can significantly decrease the pain associated with metatarsalgia.In certain cases, other interventions like splints, shields, or toe spreaders can also help to relieve symptoms.
What Could Be Causing My Foot Pain?
Summary
Metatarsalgia is pain in the ball of the foot. People with metatarsalgia may experience sharp, shooting pain or ongoing aches and tenderness. Common causes include wearing ill-fitting footwear, performing high-impact exercises, and having injuries, flat feet, high arches, Morton’s neuroma, bunions, and arthritis.
Conservative treatments for metatarsalgia include rest, ice packs, over-the-counter pain medication, and wearing more comfortable shoes. Losing weight may also help to relieve the pressure on the ball of your foot. A podiatrist might suggest physical therapy, custom-made orthotics, or steroid injections if the pain doesn’t go away. In very rare cases, surgery can help.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Service.Pain in the ball of the foot.Besse JL.Metatarsalgia.Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2017;103(1S):S29-S39. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2016.06.020National Health Service Inform.Metatarsalgia.National Health Service.Metatarsalgia foot pain.MedlinePlus.Morton neuroma.MedlinePlus.Foot injuries and disorders.Malta JN, Martins J, Azenha A, Lemos Pereira P.Diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of metatarsalgia in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.Cureus. 2022;14(1):e21751. doi:10.7759/cureus.21751Federer AE, Tainter DM, Adams SB, Schweitzer KM Jr.Conservative management of metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities.Foot Ankle Clin. 2018;23(1):9-20. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2017.09.003Männikkö K, Sahlman J.The effect of metatarsal padding on pain and functional ability in metatarsalgia.Scand J Surg. 2017;106(4):332-337. doi:10.1177/1457496916683090Park CH, Chang MC.Forefoot disorders and conservative treatment.Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2019;36(2):92-98. doi:10.12701/yujm.2019.00185
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Service.Pain in the ball of the foot.Besse JL.Metatarsalgia.Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2017;103(1S):S29-S39. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2016.06.020National Health Service Inform.Metatarsalgia.National Health Service.Metatarsalgia foot pain.MedlinePlus.Morton neuroma.MedlinePlus.Foot injuries and disorders.Malta JN, Martins J, Azenha A, Lemos Pereira P.Diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of metatarsalgia in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.Cureus. 2022;14(1):e21751. doi:10.7759/cureus.21751Federer AE, Tainter DM, Adams SB, Schweitzer KM Jr.Conservative management of metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities.Foot Ankle Clin. 2018;23(1):9-20. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2017.09.003Männikkö K, Sahlman J.The effect of metatarsal padding on pain and functional ability in metatarsalgia.Scand J Surg. 2017;106(4):332-337. doi:10.1177/1457496916683090Park CH, Chang MC.Forefoot disorders and conservative treatment.Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2019;36(2):92-98. doi:10.12701/yujm.2019.00185
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Health Service.Pain in the ball of the foot.Besse JL.Metatarsalgia.Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2017;103(1S):S29-S39. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2016.06.020National Health Service Inform.Metatarsalgia.National Health Service.Metatarsalgia foot pain.MedlinePlus.Morton neuroma.MedlinePlus.Foot injuries and disorders.Malta JN, Martins J, Azenha A, Lemos Pereira P.Diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of metatarsalgia in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.Cureus. 2022;14(1):e21751. doi:10.7759/cureus.21751Federer AE, Tainter DM, Adams SB, Schweitzer KM Jr.Conservative management of metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities.Foot Ankle Clin. 2018;23(1):9-20. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2017.09.003Männikkö K, Sahlman J.The effect of metatarsal padding on pain and functional ability in metatarsalgia.Scand J Surg. 2017;106(4):332-337. doi:10.1177/1457496916683090Park CH, Chang MC.Forefoot disorders and conservative treatment.Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2019;36(2):92-98. doi:10.12701/yujm.2019.00185
National Health Service.Pain in the ball of the foot.
Besse JL.Metatarsalgia.Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2017;103(1S):S29-S39. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2016.06.020
National Health Service Inform.Metatarsalgia.
National Health Service.Metatarsalgia foot pain.
MedlinePlus.Morton neuroma.
MedlinePlus.Foot injuries and disorders.
Malta JN, Martins J, Azenha A, Lemos Pereira P.Diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of metatarsalgia in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.Cureus. 2022;14(1):e21751. doi:10.7759/cureus.21751
Federer AE, Tainter DM, Adams SB, Schweitzer KM Jr.Conservative management of metatarsalgia and lesser toe deformities.Foot Ankle Clin. 2018;23(1):9-20. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2017.09.003
Männikkö K, Sahlman J.The effect of metatarsal padding on pain and functional ability in metatarsalgia.Scand J Surg. 2017;106(4):332-337. doi:10.1177/1457496916683090
Park CH, Chang MC.Forefoot disorders and conservative treatment.Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2019;36(2):92-98. doi:10.12701/yujm.2019.00185
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