Metatarsalgia is pain that occurs in the ball (or metatarsal region) of the foot.
The pain can range from mild to severe and often gets worse when you stand or move. It is sometimes described as a burning or aching sensation and you may have shooting pains, tingling or numbness in your toes. Some people also experience a ‘walking on pebbles’ sensation.
Metatarsalgia is a common foot problem with a number of different causes, such as badly fitting footwear, being overweight and certain medical conditions (for example, arthritis). Older people are more susceptible. See Causes for more information.
Where it occurs
Metatarsalgia often occurs in the area where the second, third and fourth toes meet the ball of the foot (the metatarsal heads).
It can affect just one or two toes or the whole foot (or both feet).
Outlook
You can try a number of simple measures to ease the pain of metatarsalgia, like using shock-absorbing insoles and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen.
If you have more severe inflammation (swelling) and pain, consult your GP or podiatrist, who may recommend steroid injections into your foot joints. When nothing else works, you may need an operation on the foot (see Treatment for more information).
Continue to next section: Causes of metatarsalgia