Do you also have pain in the front of your foot? Let's talk about Metatarsalgia!

Do you sometimes feel a burning or aching sensation in the bottom of your foot, right where your toes start, as if a small stone has been caught? Does this pain seem to increase when you stand all day, run, or jump? Many people have this experience. Today we are talking about this pain in the front of the foot, or the medical term `Metatarsalgia`.

Simply put, what is Metatarsalgia?

Metatarsalgia (pronounced "meta-ta-sal-jia") is pain and swelling in the front of your foot, the ball of your foot. There are five long bones in the foot that connect to your toes, called the metatarsal bones. The pain usually occurs at the ends of one or more of these bones, where the toes meet.

There could be several reasons for this. For example:

• Some foot deformities.
• Other medical conditions affecting the leg or ankle.
• Games and activities that involve running and jumping.
• Wearing shoes that are too tight or too big.

The best thing is that treating this condition is usually very simple. You can start with things like rest, exercises (stretches), and painkillers.

What are the main symptoms of this condition?

The main symptom of metatarsalgia is pain in the front of the foot. Sometimes this pain can come with or without swelling. These symptoms can start suddenly, or they can develop gradually over time. Let's take a look at the main symptoms.

Why do we get Metatarsalgia? What are the causes?

If you are someone who regularly engages in activities such as running and jumping, you are likely to develop this condition. Also, certain changes in the foot and the type of shoes you wear can greatly affect this. Doctors divide the causes of this into three main categories.

1. Problems with the structure of the foot itself (Primary Metatarsalgia)

This is a change in the pressure on the sole of your foot due to certain changes in the position of the bones in your foot. Simply put, problems with the shape of your foot.

• Bunions (Hallux Valgus): A condition where the base of the big toe protrudes forward due to the big toe bending inward. This changes the way weight is distributed while walking, putting more pressure on the sole of the foot.
• Hammertoes: The toes are bent upwards like a hammer. This also changes the pressure on the sole of the foot.
• Calluses: When pressure is applied to the same spot on the sole of the foot, the skin thickens and calluses form.
• High Arches: Some people have higher arches than normal, which puts more weight on the front of their feet.
• Long second toe: Some people have a longer second toe than their big toe. This can also change the pressure on the sole of the foot.

2. Other medical conditions or activities (Secondary Metatarsalgia)

This means that another medical condition, your lifestyle, or activities are putting too much pressure on the front of your foot.

• Inflammatory conditions: This pain can be caused by inflammatory diseases of the joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout , sesamoiditis, and Morton's neuroma.
• Neurological disorders: This condition can also be caused by diseases that affect the nervous system, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
• Metabolic diseases: Obesity and diabetes can cause weight gain and damage to the nerves, which can put more pressure on the soles of the feet.
• Other health problems: things like torn ligaments and plantar warts.
• Trauma: Frequent activities such as running and wearing ill-fitting, worn-out shoes can cause constant trauma to the soles of the feet.

3. As a side effect of surgery (Iatrogenic Metatarsalgia)

This is a bit rare. That is, this pain can occur as a complication of surgery on the front of the foot. For example, this pain can occur due to changes in the big toe after surgery for a bunion.

Who is most at risk of developing this condition?

Metatarsalgia can affect anyone, but some people are at a higher risk.

Also, people who wear ill-fitting shoes are at higher risk. Especially women who wear high-heeled shoes put the entire weight of the body on the front of the foot and heel. This is a major cause of Metatarsalgia.

In addition, as mentioned earlier, people with leg deformities and inflammatory conditions are also more likely to experience this pain.

What happens if left untreated?

If you continue to have these symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor. If left untreated, this pain can change the way you walk. When you start walking with a limp, it can cause pain in other parts of your body, especially your lower back and hips .

How do you find this, Doctor?

When you go to see a doctor, he will first ask about your symptoms. Then he will examine your leg. He will look for pain, swelling, and any changes in the shape of your leg.

• Sometimes you may be asked to take an X-ray to check for a stress fracture.
• An ultrasound or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test may also be recommended to check for problems with the soft tissues, that is, tendons and muscles.

What are the treatments?

Metatarsalgia treatment starts with very simple, non-invasive methods. That means the doctor doesn't immediately go for things like surgery. He tries these things first.

• RICE method: This is a very popular method.
• R (Rest): Rest. Stay away from activities that you think caused the pain for a while.
• I (Ice): Apply ice. Apply ice to the area of ​​pain and swelling for 15-20 minutes several times a day.
• C (Compression): Wrap the area tightly with a bandage. This can help reduce swelling.
• E (Elevation): Keep your legs elevated. When sitting on a chair, keep your legs elevated on another chair.
• Painkillers: You can take a painkiller recommended by your doctor, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Stretches: Do stretching exercises that gently stretch your legs and ankles.
• Changing shoes: Wear a pair of good, comfortable shoes with good soles.
• Shoe inserts: There are soft insoles or `metatarsal pads` that are specifically designed for this condition. These can help reduce pressure on the sole of the foot.

If these simple treatments do not relieve the pain, your doctor may recommend an injection or surgery to treat the underlying cause of the pain.

Can Metatarsalgia be prevented?

While some causes cannot be prevented, there are several things we can do to reduce the risk of this condition.

• Choose the right shoes: Wear shoes with a good, thick sole, a wide toe box, and a low heel.
• Comfortable insoles: Put comfortable insoles in your shoes.
• Don't walk barefoot: Avoid walking barefoot for long periods of time, even indoors, especially on hard surfaces.
• Remove calluses: Soak your feet well and gently remove calluses using a pumice stone. This will relieve pressure.
• Maintain a healthy weight: The more weight you have, the more pressure you put on your legs. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight is very important.

When should you definitely seek medical advice?

Most of the time, this condition can be treated at home. However, if you have any of the following conditions, you should definitely see a doctor.