Metatarsalgia refers to pain in the ball of your foot, the area of the forefoot just below the top of the metatarsal bones in your big toe. Most people feel this sharp pain in the space between their big toe and the arch of the foot. 

Pain in the ball of your foot can have many causes, such as an injury, ill-fitting shoes, excessive exercise, or underlying conditions such as Morton’s neuroma, bunions, or arthritis. 

Reasons the Balls of Your Feet Hurt

There are many possible reasons for pain in the ball of your foot, including:

• Excessive exercise
• Ill-fitting footwear
• Problems with the skin on the foot
• Anatomical differences (e.g., the particular shape of your foot)

It can also result from acute injury, such as a sprain, or an underlying condition, such as:

• Arthritis: A condition that causes inflammation and pain in and around the joints, including those in the foot, most commonly rheumatoid arthritis.
• Bunions: This condition causes painful bumps on the sides of one or both feet.
• Morton’s neuroma: Thickened tissue caused by nerve damage or inflammation. It usually occurs between the toes and leads to pain that may feel like a shooting, tingling, burning, or stabbing feeling or the sensation of having something stuck under the foot.
• Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa, sacs filled with fluid, around the joints, which causes pain, swelling, tenderness, and warmth.

Related Symptoms

Metatarsalgia-related pain may be sharp, burning, stabbing, shooting, or aching. It may be constant or come and go. It often worsens when you wear certain shoes, walk, or press down on the joint. 

Depending on the underlying reason for your pain, you could also experience:

• Swelling
• Cramps
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Thickened skin in the affected area
• Corns 
• Calluses
• Changes in the shape or positioning of your feet or toes
• Bony bumps
• Difficulty putting on certain types of footwear

Home Treatment and Self-Care

In many cases, metatarsalgia can be improved on your own with self-care methods, such as:

• Resting and elevating your foot
• Applying ice on the affected area
• Avoiding excessive exercise
• Switching out your heels or any ill-fitting footwear for more comfortable, well-fitted shoes
• Taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, such as ibuprofen
• Gently stretching your ankles
• Wearing orthopedic inserts, such as soft insoles or metatarsal pads in your shoes

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If the pain in the ball of your foot persists, worsens over time, or interferes with your day-to-day functioning, contact a healthcare provider. You should also see a healthcare provider, such as a podiatrist (a doctor specializing in feet and ankles), if you experience any numbness or tingling or have a comorbid health condition, such as diabetes, which could affect your foot health. 

In rare cases, you should seek urgent or even emergency medical care for pain in the ball of your foot. Get medical help right away if:

• You’re experiencing foot pain after an injury.
• The pain is so severe that it’s causing lightheadedness or nausea.
• You find walking difficult or impossible due to the pain.
• The shape of your foot has been altered.

Medical Treatment

In most cases, metatarsalgia doesn’t require medical treatment. However, your healthcare provider may recommend medication or surgery if your pain is persistent or related to another medical condition. 

Injectable steroids can help to relieve bursitis-related pain that doesn’t go away with more conservative measures. Some people with Morton’s neuroma benefit from surgery to remove the affected nerve and damaged tissue. Bunions might also require a type of surgery known as a bunionectomy, which brings the toes into realignment and removes the painful bump from the side of the toe.

Other professional methods of relieving metatarsalgia may include:

• Ultrasound therapy
• Cryotherapy (cold therapy)
• Massage
• Physical therapy

Summary

Pain in the ball of your foot is known as metatarsalgia. It is sometimes caused by tight shoes or excessive exercise, such as running, but it can also be due to underlying medical conditions like arthritis, bursitis, or bunions. 

Metatarsalgia often resolves on its own with the help of at-home remedies, such as applying ice, resting adequately, and taking over-the-counter pain relief medications. If it persists, you may need to enlist the help of a podiatrist or physical therapist. You may require prescription medication or surgery in rare, severe cases.