Medical Conditions - Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia is a painful condition in which the ball of the foot becomes inflamed. The condition often occurs due to excessive running or jumping, foot deformities, and wearing tight footwear. Symptoms include sharp shooting pain in the ball of the foot that worsens on walking and movement. The patient may also complain of numbness of the toes and feel of a pebble in the shoe. Metatarsalgia is a self-limiting condition and often gets better on resting, not wearing ill-fitted shoes, and using metatarsal pads. In rare cases, the condition may require surgery to realign the metatarsal bones.