Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia: Metatarsalgia, also known as stone bruise, is a type of pain and inflammation that occurs in a part of the foot known as the metatarsal. It often occurs in the metatarsal heads - where the three middle toes meet the ball of the foot. It is a common problem which can affect the bones and joints of the metatarsals. A lot of physically active people suffer from this condition as it can be caused by high impact of the foot which is a product of running, jumping etc. Sometimes, the condition can be caused by badly-fitting footwear, or even an underlying medical condition. The severity of the pain can vary and may affect just one or two toes - sometimes the whole foot or even both feet might be affected. Metatarsalgia can worsen when weight is put on the foot, as may be the case when standing, walking, or running.

Metatarsalgia can affect males and females of all ages, but is most common in middle aged females. Subjective evaluation revealed 23 very satisfied and satisfied patients. Based on the Lesser-Metatarsal-Interphalangeal-Scale the objective results showed 77.1 points on average. The results were excellent in 17 cases, good in 4, fair in 3 and unsatisfactory in 6 cases respectively. Recurrent metatarsalgia was noted in 5 cases, whereas no transfermetatarsalgia was observed. The average shortening was 4.4 mm. Subluxation of the metatarsophalangeal joint was corrected in 18 out of 22 cases. A restricted plantar flexion of the metatarsophalangeal joint was noted in 14 cases. 2 patients showed loss of movement.

Treatment for metatarsalgia: Metatarsalgia can be treated with simple methods such as rest and ice. Most treatment options are self-care methods. The treatment you will receive will be based on the cause of the metatarsalgia.For more serious cases, NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), steroid injections, physical therapy, or foot surgery may help reduce pain and swelling and correct the underlying condition causing the metatarsalgia.

•           Using insole inserts to supports the correct position of the foot

•           Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

•           Pain relief medication

•           Steroid injection, and

•           Surgery in severe cases