Metatarsalgia: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment 

Excellent video doctor. I love that you explained it in layman terms. Now I have some direction to head towards.

I had that problem in the 70s. The only advice I got from Dr was surgery. I had the second metatarsal bone broken in each foot and rearranged. One foot was normal afterward. The toe stuck up on the other foot so another surgery to partially fix that. I hobbled around on casts and surgical shoes for a long time. I'm glad to see another treatment because I have always regretted mine.

Very informative video, thank you for sharing it with us! watching this is 2019!

I couldn't figure out what I had till now, thank you! 😁

My podiatrist told me to purchase shoes that don't bend. Also, the shoes are supposed to have a back on them, in order to keep my feet from bending up and putting pressure on the ball. My heel needs to stay down on the shoe, he said. It's bought some relief already, and I just got them this week. Simple. Wish I'd known about this last year. I did purchase custom orthotics, also, for a fallen arch. So far those haven't brought the relief the non-bendable shoes have brought. Also, I'm using ice packs on my feet, various times of the days. And, using TENS shoes, for a couple sessions of that each day. (TENS unit has helped with back problems tremendously.) Trying to loosen up tight calf muscles with a roller wand, and a slant board. Life sure changes when our feet are painful.

I broke my foot last June , I had five fractures . In a cast for three month. Still having physio. I got told to go to a podiatrist and I got orthopaedic insoles made I’m having this problem also. But mine will take a long time to heal with the injuries I suffered. Wearing the right shoes is a must. The physio told me not to walk around in bare feet or wear slippers around the house. Trainers (sneakers) are the best.

My pain started in my calves, went to my heels and then to my metatarsals. I love having a new pain each day.

I found that avoiding any shoes with a heel helped a great deal, along with plenty of cushioning (as stated in the vid). I stopped running while healing the metatarsalgia and instead I used an elliptical machine at the gym which kept workouts pain-free during and afterward. I wore my nice cushy running shoes all day instead of wearing shoes that aggravated the condition. The biggest factor for me was not wearing shoes with heels, since elevating the heel shunted the weight onto the ball of my foot.

When I cocktails in Las Vegas I wore super high heels and constantly walked while carrying the tray (shot rep) I had callus on my toes and between the front feet.. gosh I Miss al those great cheap foot massage places we have there

Very nice video 👌 i have very much pain in these part of feet

Thank you this is so important to me I walked more than 12 blocks yesterday and the area you showed in red is where I have the problem so painful Bending my toes in very painful because of the swelling Wish I know what's best to put on the area

Wow...one foot is flat while the other has a high arch. Very unique. My problems lie more in pain in my soles as well.

Sir. Thanks for sharing the video. Sir the sole is to be put for the shoes. Thanks God Bless You and Your Career

I have a fabulous diet and yet have gout in one toe joint (runs in the family and I thought it was a baby bunion for years and so I babied it--that it barely changed probably has something to do with my decent diet... have no idea what I was eating so much of when the issue first presented). The rocking shoe you demonstrated would never work for me because of the placement of the stitching. Also, I find rocking on those joints (the pressure the shoe exerts) to be painful, including the downward pressure of the top of the shoe on those joints. (I'm better off with very soft uppers.) Having Morton Neuromas, I find flat shoes, with orthotics--heel cup, arch support, and metatarsal pad), with a natural bend more comfortable. Also, if there's too much cushioning, it makes my hypermobility worse and worsens my MN (but some cushioning is needed (generally I save the insoles of shoes that haven't worked and try out various insoles with soles and my orthotics to find the right match. I've seen other people report that cushioned orthotics make their MN worse as well and I suspect it may be the difference between people with hypermobility and those without.

Thank you for helping me figure out what my condition is!

I have pain in the metatarsal area on the top of the foot that goes down through the bottom of my foot. My podiatrist had me try a metatarsal pad. It was so aggravated even more

IF I WEAR A SIZE 12 EEE WHAT SIZE SHOULD I BUY OF THESE ??? New Balance Pressure Relief Insoles with Metatarsal Support IPR 3030

It feels like im walking on a pebble under 2nd and 3rd big toe. It is such an aggravation trying to find shoes and boots because most hurt because of this issue. I've thought about buying a pair of sturdy insoles and drilling out a small hole where the toe rocker is.

Good info!

Thanks so much

Thank you

Struggling with mine for years

Thank you so much doctor

I am pretty sure I developed it after wearing shoes with air pockets under the balls of the insole. I replaced them at least 3-4 times over several years. Eventually, the soles would break down and I would be stepping on a concave soft spot. Different new shoes insoles with arch support helped but going vibram toe shoes totally resolved it. I credit the lack of cushioning and no heel sole. A harder shoe teaches you to walk softer. The thin soles often remind me of a foot massage when hiking, because there is a random pressure on and twisting of the foot with every step. I also feel compelled to change the way I walk slightly, if I feel a hot spot developing. I also found it interesting that after a couple years of wearing them, that my feet had apparently become much thicker and more muscular without any change in activity by me. They are not for everyone though, and it will take a lot of use to rebuild the muscle that is apparently lost while wearing conventional restrictive shoes. I totally recommend getting some luna or xero footwear as at least occasional wear.

30 years ago I had this pain between my 1st and 2nd metatarsal. By the time I went to the doctor I was walking on the sides of my feet - which just create other problems. I was diagnosed with sesmoiditis. I was told there are small bones in your metatarsals that are free floating and one had moved into the space of my 1st and 2nd toe. The podiatrist had me do what they called strapping then. I had a thick foam pad, with the part where my foot hurt cut out. This was taped to my foot and I had to replace it every 2-3 days as it didn’t hold up with showering. When I walked, the space between the 1st and 2nd toe didn’t touch the ground because of the hole cut out. I had custom made orthotics which I could only wear with tennis shoes. These were the days women wore panty hose and dresses. I looked lovely wearing these shoes with a dress on. It took several years for this to somewhat heal and I finally found dress shoes that didn’t hurt. I wore these orthotics for years and was pain free. Just recently I purchased a pair of boots and the pain was back. I found a thick foam insole and cut the area out where my pain was. Immediate relief. Now, my adult daughter was diagnosed with the same thing. They put her in a walking boot. Didn’t help. Then they tried cortisone shots. Still didn’t help. They finally surgically removed the small bone. My podiatrist told me if the orthotics and strapping didn’t help, the next step would be cortisone injection and possibly surgery. Foot surgery is miserable and takes a long time to heal. This padding taped to your foot with a hole cut out where the foot makes contact with the ground really takes care of the problem.

Along with certain pads, I find wearing 1 shoe size up helps. Thank you

Awesome video. I now have many helpful tools I didnt have before watching this. Thank you

Desde Honduras con todo Respeto póngase guantes

Mine hurts on the bottom. It's swollen and painful. I can't tell if it's coming from the joint or in-between my middle and fourth toe. It's causing me to limp. Steel toe boots and concrete sucks!

Okay so i have this but i swear if he touched my feet like that i’d die of laughter😂

That was really helpful.

I have this now. Hope it goes away soon. Dr. Told me to ice and do some stretching exercises

I’ve had this for years and it won’t go!!

thankyou, i am a former performer and i’ve had many injuries after 20 years in the practice, from neck to ankles. never in my feet though, and so grateful for that. however, a few days ago, i worked out after a long three weeks of doing nothing more than daily house work and personal care, and the rest of the time slugging out 😅 next day, recognized unfamiliar pain and it was a little shocking…continued to be alarming days later, still having pain in my foot in this area. i could not walk without thicker compression socks and had to have shoes on (not a fan of shoes in my home, but i had no choice and pulled out the crocs). 🙄🤣 i was starting to think “ alright…time to accept they may cut my foot off”, but now i’m a bit relieved and more confident it’s just my own mistake in padding and execution of going too hard when i wasn’t ready. lol 😆 solid info, i appreciate it!

When I don't wear inserts I will get blood blisters in the ball of my feet, If I wear regular inserts I will have just a burning sensation to the area, If I wear the ones with the ball of the feet padding I might get a minimal discomfort if any, but the rocker bottom shoes is what I wear when I'm going to walk for over an hour continuously.

The front of my feet are on fire, pins and needles mixed with numbness, pain everyday. My heels hurt as well. but not as much as the front of my feet. It is hard to walk for very long. I will have to try this. Thank you.

wher is your practice located?

Would have Ben helpful is listing link to brand/model of shoes shown in video

Has foot problem: Hey, I would like to fix the problem Doctor: No we will not fix the problem, wear shoes instead

I have very bad pain in the first one on my left foot

No online cite yet? That should be a priority, dont u think? Tom L , Connecticut

Good explanation for how to overcome a condition.

presently I'm facing same problem, very hard to walk

Can you suggest some Good affordable Company shoes!?

What if you want to compete in kickboxing and have metatarsalgia? does it ever completely go away? I have a fractured 5th metatarsal right now and i’m like 90% sure i have this and really want to train and fight again.

I finally got an orthotic that addresses 1 and 5th met pressure but find that the ball of the foot feels worse when it falls through the indentation made for the 1st metarsal. Awful, nervy pain, any suggestions?

Very informative video but the music chimes are very distracting. Thank you for all the information.

The menopause has had an impact on my feet, not helped by weight gain. Can't wear heels anymore due to pain on ball of my feet. But trainers fine and good quality ones from Ecco are worth every penny, or £150.

I just got a shot in there but I am also going for insoles

Hi my name is Brandon Jackson I recently was a covet patient and the blood clot was in my foot after a while the skin underneath came off and now I am having slight problems I don't know if it's the exact thing like what is on your video can you help me out please thanks . The book that was in my foot my foot was swollen then it came down to normal size and after the skin underneath started to peel off on my boat foot

I need one of those custom pads made for me

Useful!

Is this also a weight related condition? I am carrying too much weight and wonder if it's screwed up my feet. My doctor diagnosed metatarsalgia and told me to wear insoles, of course, and some kind of device that pulls my 2nd toe back (it's kind of a hammer toe) and also heels that are at least 1 inch or more in height. I don't know about the heels. Is it better to have higher heels or lower heels? I would think lower heels would be better as higher heels would put more pressure on the ball?

Dr. Can I use tablet

Good morning , where can I buy this insoles ? Thank u !

I have this spots on my feet that hurt when I touch them and I’ve tried to like cut into it cause I thought it was just like a splinter or sum like that but as much as I try doesn’t help can anyone help me out

Ive starting walking after 6km i feel really pain there .im i allow to continue doing walking i mean continuing the long walks or should i switch onto another kind of sports or indoors activities or swimming?

Hi, What shoes are you holding in this Video? It looks like Ahnu? Is it Men's or Women's? What brand and model would you recommend for men, flat feet with no fat cushion? Thanks

I swear I have this rn and when I step on this part of the foot it feels like I'm stepping on a nail 😫😫😫

I think I have this issue at the moment. Feels like I have a pebble in my shoe & it's very annoying! Have been wearing orthotics as well, so I'm unsure what's caused this. I look back to the other day & was using my exercise bike so maybe that's what triggered it off. Might have to look at wearing my moonboot for a while & resting up because I can hardly walk let alone put any weight on it.

It hurts when I walk on the treadmill

I got this but it felt numb like my foot fell asleep that kinda feeling and pressure not swollen or inflamed but it was hard too walk. Best result is I laid on a bed on my stomach feet hanging over the edge and did some feet exercises slowly rotating my ankles and moving my toes. I didn’t push it I just started moving my ankles and toes slowly and over a few minutes I was able to move my whole ankle and toes without pain. I looked this up and it can happen from overworking your mussels in your foot from bad shoes or long periods of standing.

Why do my outside toes now run into the Toebox? My old shoes no longer fit :(

Can l ask what your job description is so that l can find the right person for metatarsalgia. I’m in Australia and as far as l know l can’t find anyone to fit this description. Our pPods certainly don’t do it ? Thank you.

please in spain

does this feel like sand in your shoe all the time i only just got this like a numb pain

I’m wearing Dr Martins. They’re the best shoes I’ve ever had but I’m still getting the pain on and off.

This video does make one wonder exactly what the symptoms are for metatarsalgia. I keep self diagnosing myself with Morton's neuroma, but metatarsalgia seems like a possibility. I have really sharp pain in the toes, especially at night, to the point of having difficulty walking. Walmart inserts do help. Thanks.

What’s that thing in the middle

Boa tarde. Poderia ter uma tradução simultânea. Não entendi nada.

I recently developed the Metatarsalgia on right side. no scale though. my shoes are bad though and I am going to change it. it is also associated with the tendinitis (sharp pain in heel -at the start of arch). any suggestions? which types of shoes I need to buy and from where? I I've in Italy (near Milan). Thanks

I have never had a problem with this while walking but my left foot gets sore in this area when doing calf raises it's made it too difficult to work out regularly is there something I could do for this or is there an exercise that could replace calf raises

What if the ball got so big it broke threw. Ripping the the skin.? Because this sucks

Oh shit I have this I thought I had a pebble or piece of glass stuck in my foot how is this treated? I've had this for several weeks.

Ive Been in pain for months

I'm diabetic I got into a car awondent and developed a Liz Fran fracture I now have hard ware in my foot I'd noticed once I was cleared to be up and mobile, my foot pad felt different I had marked numbness and a callous under my second toe Also my foot pad seemed raised and puffy along the first four toes That sensation hasn't subsided in the almost3 yrs sense surgery I gained 30 lbs with COVID and WFH and overall laziness A couple weeks now lower extremity edema has increased from working12 hours sitting at my computer The past week I've been gradually increasing my walking. Effectively decreasing the edema My plan was to increase to 2 five mile walks a day The area were the callous is became tender and sore affecting my gait yesterday after I walked 3 miles and then cut the grass Afterwards it became concerning and I had my family look and gave a picture It was a warm thick blister that formed where the callous is This morning the blister has all but disappeared But the area is still sore and tender I now have concerns about ulcer formation And I fear my plans if walking for weight loss have been thwarted I'm still walking gingerly trying to avoid putting pressure (and adding pain) to the area I'm wondering if I go see the podiatrist will he prescribe me somthing like these allowing me to walk? Or at least exercise on an eliptical or stationary bike at the gym?

I have this !!

I have it in my feet and hands. Fingers/toes, and ball of foot. Super painful in the morning. Doesn't go away with pain meds.

I had a toe remove but the one next to it stay sore in pain all the time been to 4 foot doctor they say nothing else can be done but cut off the other toe don't believe that any other place I can go to get help

I'm a pointe shoe ballet dancer and experience pain in the ball of my feet, could this be the answer?

I got foot problems and my toes are numb nerve pain and my pain it hurts under my toes the ball of my foot

Bought Adidas Superstars, wore them all weekend, now have Metatarsalgia pain both feet, especially the left foot. Sizing seems right, confused why this model is causing this?

I think I have this. It started out as an aching and uncomfortable feeling but the pain was like a 1/10. About 2 hours later, I was just standing there and when I took the next step, I got a very sharp localized almost sting around the first and second metatarsals. Woke up the next morning and the pain hasn’t gotten better. I “testing” it by bearing weight a few times and It’s like a 7/10 and I get teary eyed putting any weight on it. I don’t know what I should do, I’m gonna be very busy these next few weeks and months, I just want to walk or for the pain to get down below a 3/10 or so. I had plantar fasciitis last year at this same time and the podiatrist gave me a boot. I had been walking on my toes on that foot for almost 3 months (pain was in my heel that time). The boot got rid of it in like a week. That pain from plantar fasciitis feels the same as this pain but it’s near my toes instead. I cannot walk on the foot at all

Can people with flat feet get this?

POR QUE NO ESTAN EN ESPAÑOL !!! POR FAVOR , EN ESPAÑOL !!!

I’ve had problems with my feet for about 3 years. I’ve seen different people who checked my feet and they couldn’t find what was wrong . I’ve just had my feet scanned and now waiting to see what they say. My feet are worse when I take my shoes off. I get different feelings in my feet. Sometimes in my big toe it’s like someone has stuck a needle in and sometimes it’s like a bone sticking in my other toe. The ball of my foot seems swollen and the toe next to my little toe is swollen . I’ve tried toe protectors but they don’t help. I hope to get an answer soon as to what it is and what can be done

למה לא ניתן לתרגום בעברית

Padding in shoes MAKES THIS WORSE FOR ME, barefoot or flat shoes BETTER. I KEEP SEEING THIS ADVICE

Where to purchase this 👟 please?

I have pain everywhere on both my feet after I run and do several exercises that I do for soccer. It makes it extremely hard to continue, I've almost cried during practice because of how bad it hurts.

I’ve been to an orthopedic doctor. I spent over $1000 for injections, inserts & appointments for this particular condition without the help of Medicare. It has helped but is still painful after walking briskly on the treadmill for 4 miles in an hour. What shoes do you recommend for this condition?

I didn't listen to what he said....too focused on the scaly things on the ball of foot....

I have sore foot right now because I went walking this motioning and the killing me right now they are very sore

I shave the hard parts it feels good for a while but it always comes back.

Why is there music playing in the background - I'm trying to hear what the guy is saying!

Does this happen to flat footed people?

Could you PLEASE address this condition for the 3'rd and 4'th Metatarsals? Much thanks!

Get TOPO sneakers ! Amazing

This is so painful it came out no where 😓😢😢😢

Sir please tell a treatment I am from India here we do not have high quality shoes even if they r available they r very costly.