Pain in the Ball of the Foot Q & A
What causes pain in the ball of the foot?
The ball of your foot refers to the padded area on the bottom of the foot just below your toes. This area takes on a lot of pressure every time you lift your heel off the ground, whether during walking, running, or any other movement.
Pain in this area is frequently diagnosed as neuroma, a condition that occurs when nerves between your toes thicken and form a lump. However, pain in the ball of your foot can have many causes that aren’t related to nerves, including:
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Hammertoe
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High arch
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Bunions
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Calluses
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Arthritis
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Stress fractures
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Weak flexor muscles
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Tight Achilles tendon
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Lisfranc injury (midfoot fracture)
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Sprains
Foot sprains often cause pain in the ball of your foot. All sprains occur when you stretch or tear ligaments. When the pain is in the ball of your foot, the sprained ligaments may connect your toes to long bones (metatarsals) or you could injure the ligaments attached to bones in the middle of your foot.
What other symptoms accompany pain in the ball of the foot?
The pain in your foot may feel like a burning, aching, or shooting pain. You may also have:
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Pain, tingling, or numbness in your toes
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Feeling that there’s a small pebble in your shoe
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Pain that’s worse when you run or walk
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Difficulty moving your toes
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Inflammation or swelling
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Bruising
The amount of pain, swelling, and other symptoms depends on the severity of the sprain or foot condition.
How is pain in the ball of the foot treated?
Your treatment depends on the underlying condition. For this reason, Dr. Marzano of Westchester Podiatric Medicine begins by carefully diagnosing the problem. In addition to examining your foot, he performs diagnostic imaging, such as digital X-rays or ultrasound.
After diagnosing the root cause of your pain, your provider creates an individualized plan targeting the problem. Your treatment could include a range of therapies, such as:
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Immobilizing your foot and ankle
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Customized orthotics
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Activity modification
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Physical therapy
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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
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MLS® (multiwave locked system) laser therapy
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Restorative medicine
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TCS device
Dr. Marzano of Westchester Podiatric Medicine specializes in TCS devices to promote healing in ligaments responsible for pain in the ball of your foot.
Call Dr. Marzano of Westchester Podiatric Medicine or schedule an appointment online to get prompt care for pain in the ball of your foot.