The balls of your feet are like unsung heroes – they help you push off when you step, stand on your tippy toes, jump, and more, but they’re never paid much attention. Of course, all that changes when they start hurting and hindering you from doing things you enjoy!
Pain in the balls of your feet can result from a number of causes, but the two main culprits are metatarsalgia and Morton’s neuroma — which each have numerous causes of their own.
The long bones in your feet that attach to your toes are called metatarsals, and when the ends of these bones become aggravated and inflamed, ball of foot pain ensues! What’s behind this irritation?
This occurs when a nerve that runs between the metatarsal bones becomes thickened due to irritation. The result is numbness, tingling, burning, and pain in the ball of your foot, most often (but not always) affecting the area between the third and fourth toes.
Metatarsalgia and Morton’s neuroma are often found together, but can luckily be treated conservatively, with rest, a switch to roomier, lower-heeled shoes, orthotics, and breaking up activities with low-impact options like swimming and yoga. If these methods fail to provide relief, nerve decompression surgery may need to be considered. If you are struggling with ball of foot pain, call our Bloomington, IN office for an appointment today by dialing (812) 333-4422. We can get you the help you need!
Are you participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept 24 here in Bloomington? What a great charitable cause and excuse to get out there and get some exercise! Of course, if it feels like you have a pebble in your shoe every time you go walking, and when you stop to dump it out, nothing’s there, well, that can definitely be annoying and take away from you walking enjoyment! It also just happens to be a signature symptom of Morton’s neuroma and an associated condition called metatarsalgia.
Morton’s neuroma is the swelling of a nerve in the ball of your foot, most often between your third and fourth toes. It can feel like your sock is wadded up or a pebble is stuck in your shoe. It can also aggravate the long metatarsal bones that connect your foot to your toes, causing additional pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot.
Luckily, there are ways you can prevent that “pebble in your shoe” feeling and do all the walking you please, pain- (and pebble) free!
If these prevention tips don’t seem to provide any more relief than dumping out the contents of your shoe or adjusting your sock, don’t hang up your walking shoes just yet! Nerve decompression surgery could be just what you need to relieve symptoms. Find out more about this by giving us a call. You can reach our Bloomington, IN office by dialing (812) 333-4422 and we’ll be happy to “walk” you through it!
