Pain in Balls of Feet
There are several common problems that cause pain in the ball of the
foot. Most of the time all of the problems will respond to conservative
treatment. The most common causes of pain in the ball of the foot are:
Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is a general term used to denote a painful foot condition
in the metatarsal region of the foot (the area just before the toes,
more commonly referred to as the ball-of-the-foot). This is a common
foot disorder that can affect the bones and joints at the
ball-of-the-foot. Metatarsalgia (ball-of-foot-pain) is often located
under the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal heads, or more isolated at the
first metatarsal head (near the big toe). More information on
Metatarsalgia.
Neuroma
Neuromas usually cause pain in the forefoot, especially in the area of
the 3rd and 4th toes. The nature of the pain may be shooting, burning,
stabbing, radiating and/or just an odd feeling in the area. One of the
classic findings is relief of symptoms with removal of shoe and
massaging the area. More information on Neuroma.
Sesamoiditis
The sesamoids are small bones under the first metatarsal head.
These bones are prone to overuse and inflammation. This condition
is called sesamoiditis. Treatment is focused on removing force
from the area and reducing inflammation.
Callus
A callus is a thickening of skin, often found under the ball of the
foot. It can cause significant pain—much like a having a rock in
your shoe.
Ball-of-Foot Pain: Self Treatment
Home treatment for pain in the balls of your feet
The goal of treating pain in the ball of the foot is to do two things:
- Transfer pressure off of the ball of the foot
- Provide cushion under the ball of the foot
- Reduce calluses or dry skin under the ball of the foot
Several studies have shown the most effective way to accomplish this is
to use custom orthotic devices that conform very close to the arch of
the foot (this puts the pressure on the arch instead of the ball of the
foot). In addition, specific modifications to orthotics can provide
significant cushion. So if your pain is severe, see a podiatrist with
expertise in orthotic therapy. In the long run this is the most
effective and least expensive treatment as it can provide many years of
relief.
If you cannot see a podiatrist, or you want to try home treatment first,
here are some suggestions on self treatment of pain under the ball of
the foot:
- Use an arch support to transfer force off of the ball of the foot. An
arch support that will not collapse will do the best job. We recommend
the
Powerstep Full Length Arch Support.
- Use a silicone product to cushion the balls of your feet. Two that work
very well are the
Silipos Metatarsal Gel Strap
and the
Silipos SoftSock.
Both of these devices provide a tremendous amount of cushioning.
- For cushioning in women’s dress shoes, where the Gel Strap and SoftSock
would be too big, try using a
Gel Metatarsal Pad.
- Calluses cause pain under the ball of the foot by increasing pressure. If
you have calluses or dry skin under the ball of your feet, use the
following products:
All of the items above are available at
www.FootAnkleStore.com.
Don’t live with pain under the balls of your feet. For the most
effective and long-lasting treatment make an appointment to see us in
our Seattle office.
All pages on this website © 2008
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.
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