Pain in the Ball of Your Foot

Is the ball of your foot killing you after a long day on your feet or a night on the town in high heels? There is a condition referred to as metatarsalgia. Basically, this condition means that the metatarsals, the long bones in your feet are irritated as a result of either a smaller pad at the ball of your foot than most people, or you could have a high arch placing pressure in that area. Regardless of what the cause may be, the lucky thing is that the treatment is the same.

First off, when you go to your podiatrist’s office for your appointment, they are going to want to check your foot type to see how your foot sits. Each person has just as individual of a foot type as any other part of you. For this reason, shoe gear that works for Bob may not work for Susie. So, your doctor will also want to evaluate your shoe gear to see what type you are wearing. They may then make recommendations for a better shoe or a newer shoe for your foot if need be. If your shoes are old, the padding inside could be breaking down which could be the cause of your pain.

If the problem is instead how your foot sits and compensates for itself, you may need a pair of orthotics instead. In this instance, your podiatrist will take a cast of your foot and then will send out for orthotics specialized to your foot. You can think of orthotics like braces for your teeth. They hold your foot in a specific position that allows them to function better as well as decrease or take away your pain.

So, if you or someone you know is having trouble with pain in the ball of their foot, you should seek help from your podiatrist. If you live in the Tewksbury or Chelmsford, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your feet. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.