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 Findings in a follow-up study of 66 operations Morton's metatarsalgia performed on 52 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis during the years 1954-1977 were in many respects different from those described as "classic" Morton's neuroma. The incidence was one to 520 in rheumatoid patients. The ratio of females to males was 9.4 to one. Histology revealed inflammatory or degenerative changes of the walls of synovial cavities often in connection with typical rheumatoid nudules. The changes of the nerves were non-specific alterations caused by chronic compression. Surgical removal of the tumor-like formations gave uniformly good results. Early metatarsophalangeal synovectomy for rheumatoid arthritis decreased in need of operations for Morton's metatarsalgia from 4.5 to 0.6 operations per year and can be recommended as a prophylactic procedure.

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