Metatarsalgia: causes, symptoms and how to treat it

Definition of metatarsalgia

What is metatarsalgia?

Metatarsalgia is a term used for pain and inflammation (swelling) of the metatarsals (soles of the feet). This musculoskeletal disorder often afflicts athletes who train without wearing protection.

Although it often causes sore feet, metatarsalgia is one disease that is easy to cure.

However, if left untreated, this disease that attacks the human movement system can cause pain in other areas of the body, such as lower back pain and low back pain, causing abnormal walking pathways.

How common is this disease?

Metatarsalgia is a disease that can be experienced by anyone in any age group. You can prevent your chances of developing metatarsalgia by reducing your risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms of metatarsalgia

The following are the various signs and symptoms you may feel when you have metatarsalgia:

• Feeling hard, burning, or painful on the soles of the feet, specifically the metatarsal area, which is the bottom of your fingers
• The pain gets worse when you stand, walk, or when you stretch your leg. The pain gets worse when you rest, stand or walk on hard surfaces.
• Stabbing, numbness, or tingling pain in your toes

There may be signs or symptoms not listed above. If you have any concerns about certain symptoms, please consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience the symptoms mentioned above and don't get better with home remedies, don't hesitate to see a doctor. Faster treatment can help you heal ailments more easily.

Causes of metatarsalgia

The main cause of metatarsalgia is excessive pressure on the metatarsals, which is very likely to occur as a result of the following:

• Doing certain activities on the legs repeatedly. For example, continuing to run and perhaps wearing worn or ill-fitting shoes.
• Being overweight puts a lot of pressure on the metatarsal legs as you move.
• Shoes that don't fit properly can cause deformities in the foot, such as a hammertoe and a swollen, painful lump at the base of the big toe (bunion). Likewise, the use of high heels can cause great stress on the metatarsals.
• The existence of a small crack in the toe bone can cause a change in the load bearing during activity which ultimately makes the pressure on the metatarsals become greater.
• Have the condition Morton's Neuroma, which is a non-cancerous fibrous tissue growth around the nerves that usually occurs between the third and fourth metatarsal heads.

Risk factors for metatarsalgia

There are various things that can increase the risk of metatarsalgia, namely:

• Frequent high activity, such as jumping and running.
• Using high heels for a long time.
• Suffering from arthritis (arthritis), such as rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism) or gout.

Medication & treatment of metatarsalgia

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

The doctor will examine the leg, which is causing pain when you stand and sit. Then, the doctor will also ask about your habits, activities, lifestyle and medical history.

Your doctor may also ask you to do imaging tests, such as x-rays and blood tests, to rule out fractures or other health problems in your legs.

What are the treatment options for metatarsalgia?

You can undergo home remedies if you have this disease. Your body needs rest, while compressing the feet with ice or using a leg hanging aid to relieve pain.

Painkillers can also help, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, or aspirin.

In addition, wearing the right shoes is also important, for example running shoes. Then, using soft inserts or pads made of foam, plastic, rubber or gel on shoes and orthotic devices can also reduce pain.

If all types of treatment have been carried out and have not worked, then you can choose surgery. Surgical procedures can reshape the bone to straighten the abnormal toes or it can remove trapped or irritated nerves so that symptoms no longer appear.

Home treatment of metatarsalgia

Some of the lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help you deal with metatarsalgia according to the Mayo Clinic website are:

• You need to cut back on exercise for a while, but you can still look fresh with light exercise, such as swimming or biking
• Compress the sore area to reduce pain
• Change your shoe model. A cushioned shoe can make a big difference
• Maintain your weight by having a healthy diet and exercising regularly
• Stretch and warm up before you do sports that make blood circulation smooth

Prevention of metatarsalgia

You can prevent metatarsalgia with the following actions:

• Use less high heels in your time. As much as possible, replace your high heels from time to time with sandals or shoes without heels.
• Make sure your body is resting when doing sports.
• Follow your doctor's treatment if you have inflammatory joint problems.
• Eat nutritious foods and stick to a healthy diet so that your body weight is ideal.