Ball of Foot Pain

Talkabout Publishing (Chester) Ltd. Brief:
Peter’s Monthly Foot and Ankle Column, pp,
Overleigh Roundabout Magazine [Jan 2010]


This month, we look at an affliction that affects most people at some point in their lives: Metatarsalgia (or Pain in the Ball of the Foot.)

Metatarsalgia is a general term that simply denotes a painful condition in the metatarsal region of the foot.

It’s always best to have your ball of foot pain diagnosed specifically by a medical or health professional, because the proper treatment can only really be established after accurate diagnosis. Here are a couple of causes of ball of foot pain:

Morton’s Neuroma

This is where a painful growth occurs in between any of the the ball of foot ‘metatarsal head’ bones. It usually occurs on the digital nerve in the inter-metatarsal space near the little toe causing pain in the foot and nearby toe/s. It occurs four-times more frequently in women than men, and tends to present most in people aged 40-50. Morton’s Neuroma sufferers usually find obvious relief by removing their shoes and manipulating the foot.

Your Podiatrist can provide Orthotic Insoles with features to widen intermetatarsal space areas, and to off-load the painful area. Referral for confirmation of size and location by ultrasound may be needed in stubborn cases.

Hallux valgus

This is the commonest of the foot deformities. It is recognised by the big toe bending towards the little toe (sometimes moving under the second toe) along with some degree of a bunion at the base of the joint. There is usually a stiffness of this first MTP joint too, along with pain when walking.

Adolescents with family history and older patients with arthritic changes can develop Hallux Valgus with or without an accompanying bunion.

As with Neuromas, Your Podiatrist can provide Orthotic Insoles to off-load any painful toe joint, with extra design features to mobilise a slightly stiff joint as a starting point… or immobilise and support a very painful toe joint at the other extreme. A good Podiatrist will also advise when surgical opinion may be indicated.

Other Conditions

After taking a good case history, along with physical examination, your Podiatrist may make other diagnoses concerning your ball of foot concern. These may include: Freiberg’s Disease, March fracture, Claw Toe, Sesamoiditis, or conditions secondary to any medical issues (like Peripheral Neuropathy in Diabetes).

Don’t conclude that you have to live with foot pain! Many useful treatments are available, and we are happy to provide advice.

If you would like an appointment with Peter, please contact 01244 682500 or 07880 702475

Happy walking!
Peter Colhoun, Podiatrist
PeterColhoun.com