A Leading Foot Specialist in Louisiana Discusses Ball of Foot Pain
Pain or discomfort located in the ball of the foot is among our most common patient concerns. This region of the foot is located just behind the toes, on the bottom surface of the foot, where the heads of the metatarsal bones contact the ground. The metatarsal heads are surrounded by a number of supporting structures—tendons, ligaments and nerves—that, when injured, inflamed, or abnormally developed, can result in forefoot pain.
While there are a number of reasons that one may experience pain in the ball of the foot, the majority of cases are attributable to the following causes:
Neuroma and Ball of Foot Pain
Neuroma (also called Morton’s neuroma) is a benign thickening or swelling of a normal nerve. It causes burning, tingling or numbness on the bottom of the foot, often radiating into the 3rd and 4th toes. Patients frequently describe a “bunched sock” feeling beneath their feet. Shoes such as high heels, high-impact physical activities, and foot deformities such as flatfeet or high arches can each contribute to the development of a neuroma, which is basically a pinched nerve.
Capsulitis and Ball of Foot Pain
Capsulitis is another cause of pain in the ball of the foot and is one that is frequently confused with a neuroma. Capsulitis is inflammation of the protective covering around the ball of the foot. A distinction between capsulitis and neuroma is that capsulitis is typically localized to the undersurface of the foot where the toe meets the ball area, whereas a neuroma is mostly between the toes. Additionally, this condition most commonly affects the 2nd toe, whereas a neuroma usually affects the 3rd and 4th toes.
Stress Fracture and Ball of Foot Pain
A stress fracture is a repetitive strain / overuse injury. There is typically not a sudden onset with this condition. Rather, it is a gradual worsening in pain, often accompanied by swelling. This can happen after an abrupt increase in activity, change in shoes, starting a job that requires more time on one’s feet, or even a vacation that involves a significant amount of walking. A stress fracture hurts when you push on the top of the foot instead of the bottom. Pain typically worsens as the day progresses and feels best early in the day. Sometimes a stress fracture does not show up on initial x-rays, and other tests such as a computed topography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be necessary.
If you are experiencing ball of foot pain, there is a strong possibility that one of these three conditions is to blame. Fortunately, each can generally be managed with simple, nonsurgical treatments such as pads, shoe changes, physical therapy and other options. What is most important is securing a diagnosis and beginning treatment before the condition has an opportunity to worsen. For patients in the Greater Baton Rouge area, you can take the first step in treating your foot pain by
making an appointment with Patrick Hall, DPM whose expert care can expedite your treatment and healing process.
