I have pain in the ball of my foot

Pain in the ball of the foot, sometimes spreading to the toes, is called metatarsalgia. This is not a specific condition; it is a type of pain produced by a range of conditions with their own causes and treatments.

If any of the metatarsal heads begin pressing down on the ground too hard, a callosity or corn will develop below them. If the pressure worsens, the tissue becomes inflamed and sore, causing a sensation like walking on a stone or pebble. With deterioration, the joint at the base of the toe inflames. The whole forefoot can swell and the toe joint loses its shape, becoming angled or clawed. It is sometimes unclear whether the metatarsal pressure causes the clawing or vice versa. This overload syndrome is probably the most common cause of metatarsalgia. It can occur due to other conditions such as hallux valgus (bunions). However, simply losing the sponginess of the fatty tissue cushioning the foot (atrophic fat pad) can cause the condition and tight calf muscles seem to exacerbate the problem.

If the pain, with or without callosities, is under the ball of the big toe, there might be a problem with the two baked bean-sized sesamoid bones beneath. These can become inflamed (hallux sesamoiditis), injured, fragmented, or arthritic.

Inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis can cause metatarsalgia by inflaming the soft tissues or damaging the joints at the base of the toes so that the toes become clawed. Morton's neuroma may cause a tingly pain in the ball of the foot moving into one or two of the toes, especially if the pain is less in bare feet, even on hard floors.

 

The following list is a summary of some symptoms you may have. For full assessment and treatment of your particular problems, please contact us.

I have...

• suffered a sporting injury.

• a painful bump on the side of my big toe.

• pain and/or a lump in my heel.

• an ankle injury that's not improving.

• a weak ankle.

• ankle pain and/or stiffness.

• flat arches or a collapsed foot.

• painful toes.

• pain in the ball of my foot.

• an in-growing toenail.

• a stiff or painful big toe joint.

• pain and/or stiffness in the midfoot.

• clawed or curly toes.

• pain in my forefoot.

• pains in my shin.

• a lump on my foot.