What Can a Levittown Podiatrist Do For Metatarsalgia?
You’re walking or running and you noticed that the ball of your foot hurts… a lot… and it also feels like it’s inflamed. It tends to be most noticeable when you are on a hard surface. That’s known as metatarsalgia. Athletes who have a lot of high-impact running may be prone to getting it… but you don’t have to be a pro athlete to be at risk.
A Levittown podiatrist is here to tell you all you need to know about the common symptoms, causes & treatments of metatarsalgia.
What Causes Metatarsalgia?
Firstly, you should know what causes it. If you are armed with this knowledge, then you can know how to possibly prevent it.
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Certain Foot Shapes & Deformities
As far as things go, this one is largely out of your control. You’re born with what you have and you are not in charge of how your foot looks. if you have a high arch, then you will be putting pressure on the metatarsal bones. If one of your toes is longer than your big toe, then that can play a factor, since the big toe takes the most pressure. If you wear shoes that are too small, like high heels, then this can also cause this issue.
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Morton's Neuroma
If you have pain in the ball of your foot, your podiatrist is going to be thinking that you possibly may have this or metatarsalgia. They can be quite similar. Metatarsalgia feels like pain is all over the ball of your foot and Morton’s neuromas are usually between the third and fourth toe. The biggest difference is that you usually can feel a mass in the foot when it comes to Morton’s as opposed to metatarsalgia.
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An Enlarged Metatarsal Head
This can put more pressure on your foot and cause metatarsalgia.
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Diabetes: Nerve-Type Pain
While diabetes can be hereditary, obesity can play a big factor in causing people to get metatarsalgia. The excess weight put on one’s feet when they are standing or walking can affect more than just one’s back or knees. All that pressure winds up on the metatarsal bones.
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Arthritis Or Degenerative Joint Diseases
This is also a big risk factor for you, since the inflammation can affect your feet greatly.
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Skin Lesions Or Calluses
If you get calluses on the bottom of your feet, then that can change what areas of the foot have pressure on them. The result can be metatarsalgia.
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Shoes That Lack Support Or Padding
This is the one that is most in your control. You should make sure that your shoes have plenty of stability and support. A lack of padding will mean that your feet are not protected from the shocks of your feet hitting the ground repeatedly… and you will definitely notice how often you do it every day if you don’t have padding.
What Happens If Metatarsalgia Is Left Untreated?
If you leave it untreated, then you will wind up compensating for your pain by limping, which will affect other parts of your feet and body, including your hip or your lower back. Then you will find that you need more work done than you originally might have. Be proactive and go see a podiatrist when you feel foot pain. Don’t try to gut your way through it, since it will only make things worse, not better.
Simple Treatments For Forefoot Or Ball Of Foot Pain
One thing you can do is shed some pounds. When you do that it will significantly lessen the pressure on your feet. There are also metatarsal pads that you can put in your shoes. The best treatment for this is rest. The pain usually goes away when you do this. Of course, you can’t stay off your feet all the time - provided that you can walk or run, that is. Put ice on the area.
Examine your shoes. Make sure that they fit well and provide a lot of support. In the long run, it’s better to have pain-free feet than to be the most fashionable person in the area. Let someone else wear those unwieldy high heels.
It may take a few different changes, but you can get your feet feeling good again. Be sure to get a medical professional to look at your feet - an X-Ray may be needed. Before you know it, you will be out walking and running again, pain-free.
Contact The Most Professional Podiatrists In Levittown, NY
You may ask yourself. “What can a Levittown podiatrist do for Metatarsalgia?” Dr. John J Hickey of Levittown Podiatry can use his extensive experience and knowledge to help you manage it. Give him a call today - 516-735-4545.
Levittown Podiatry
2870 Hempstead Tpke, Suite 103,
Phone: (516) 735-4545
Website: https://www.levittownpodiatry.com/