What Is Metatarsalgia?

Symptoms of Metatarsalgia

Most people who have metatarsalgia describe the condition as sharp or stabbing pain in the ball of the foot. You might even feel like you have a rock stuck in your shoe. This is sometimes known as “stone bruise.”

Common metatarsalgia symptoms include:

• Sharp, burning, or aching pain in the ball of your foot
• Pain that gets worse when standing, running, or walking
• Stabbing pain, numbness or tingling in the toes
• Feeling like something hard, such as a rock or pebble, is stuck in your shoe
• Painful calluses on the skin around the ball of your foot
• Bruising or swelling in the area

If you’ve been on your feet all day long, you might experience mild pain that goes away once you rest. Some metatarsalgia pain can be more severe, lasting longer than a few days and making everyday activities like walking the dog or taking the kids to the bus stop painful. For severe metatarsal pain, visit your doctor or podiatrist for a diagnosis and treatment options.

What's Causing My Ball of Foot Pain?

Consider what activities you like to do and the kind of shoes you wear when figuring out what causes pain in the ball of your foot. A lack of support in your shoes is a common factor.

Other causes for ball of foot pain include:

• Arthritis, gout, or joint inflammation in the feet
• Wearing shoes that are too tight, too narrow, or lack support
• Foot deformities and conditions like hammertoe, bunions, or Morton’s Neuroma
• Excess weight putting too much pressure on the feet
• Stress fractures or other injuries changing how you walk
• Prolonged periods of standing
• Increase in high-impact activities or sports
• Intense training in worn-out tennis shoes

If you’re a frequent runner or have high arches, you might also experience symptoms of stone bruises.

How Do You Treat Ball of Foot Pain?

There are several ways to remedy pain in the ball of your foot. At-home metatarsalgia treatment options are great for mild symptoms while podiatrist recommended orthotic insoles for ball of foot pain prevent further problems.

Typical treatment for metatarsalgia includes:

• Resting and icing your feet or wearing more supportive shoes can relieve mild stone bruise or ball of foot pain
• Taking a break from whatever activity has been causing the pain
• Reducing impact stress to that area for a time
• Metatarsal pads or othotic insoles to help separate and support the metatarsal bones
• Elevating your feet after strenuous activity might promote proper blood flow to relieve tingling or numbness that comes with foot pain
• Ultrasound therapy or surgery may be required in more serious cases

When treating metatarsalgia pain, you want to reduce the amount of pressure and stress on your feet. Shoes or insoles with strong arch support and special shock-absorbing material can help minimize that pressure and provide immediate relief for metatarsalgia.