Pain in the ball of the foot
Pain in the ball of the foot
Pain in the ball of your foot is known as metatarsalgia. You can usually ease the pain yourself.
Common causes of pain in the ball of your foot
Pain in the ball of your foot is often caused by exercise, such as running, wearing shoes that are too tight or a condition such as arthritis.
Some people also have a foot shape that puts extra pressure on the ball of the foot. Hard or cracked skin or a verruca can also cause this type of pain.
Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing your pain.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| A. Pain, swelling, and bruising started after intense or repetitive exercise | Sprain |
| B. Sharp, burning, or shooting pain near your toes (ball of your foot), feels like a lump or small stone under your foot | Morton's neuroma |
| C. Redness and swelling, dull aching pain | Bursitis or arthritis |
| E. Hard bony lump near the big toe | Bunions |
How you can ease pain in the ball of your foot yourself
- rest and raise your foot when you can
- put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas in a towel) on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- wear shoes with plenty of room for your feet, which have a low heel and soft sole
- use soft insoles or pads in your shoes
- try to lose weight if you're overweight
- try regular, gentle foot and ankle stretching exercises
- use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed) to ease the pain
- After, use Metonil a joint pain product for the pain in the ball of your foot.
If you have pain in the bottom of the foot
- do not do any sports or other activity that you think is causing the pain
- do not walk or stand for long periods
- do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
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