Metatarsalgia? anyone else ever get this?

Mine started bothering me in 2011. I didn't bother doing anything until late 2013 and as a consequence I've been down for over a year. I suggest you get it checked promptly.

Guy with a sore foot wrote:

Almost two weeks ago Sunday I noticed the bottom of my foot felt kinda sore, like I'd stepped on a sharp rock or something, although it wasn't sudden. I looked into it and it sounds like its metarsalgia, the pain being around the pad or just under my second toe of my right foot. It hurts the most when I flex my foot, or pull up on my second toe. It's probably worth mentioning that that second toe is also a mild hammer toe as that might be of relation to the problem. I've never really had this issue before, but I've taken nearly 2 weeks off and it doesn't seem much better at all. I just feel like something seemingly so minor shouldn't be bothering me for so long. Anyone else have a similar experience?

Can anyone offer some advice on this ?? I have the same issues. I had a couple cortisone shots a few months back and things cleared up.

I have been slowly increasing my mileage along with some hill running and I can feel it coming back again, after about 7 miles it starts to get worse. I wear inserts in all my shoe's and have tried carving out the area wear it hurts but this don't help either.

Thanks for any tips.

I've had this exact problem. Metatarsalgia is technically the symptom (the pain in that area) - the diagnosis of your actual injury is probably something different. For me I had capsulitis... and it really sucked. It is all gone now, but it took me about 6 months to recover. My advice: When you think it feels better, DON'T go back to running on it again right away. I did this numerous times during the 6 months and each time it came back just as bad. A few things that I did for it:

- took 1 cortisone shot. Quick fix that had me running well for a week, and then the pain returned.

- Advil a few times a day consistently for 7-10 days. Also tried a prescription drug that my doctor thought would work well for 10 days consistently, but for me I didn't respond to either (he seemed pretty surprised that this didn't fix my problem straight-out in 10 days so maybe others would respond better)

- ICE MASSAGE. Not positive that this was what actually fixed it, but I added this as often as I could shortly before it healed for good. Take a styrofoam cup and freeze some water in it, take it out of the freezer and tear down the edges so that solid ice is exposed. Then just rub it on the sore spot for like 8 or so minutes, a few times a day if possible. Consistency is key, just like with the pain meds.

- Switched shoes and got orthotics also. Orthotics were a drastic change so I only wear them in my running shoes, although I got a metatarsal pad for all the pairs of shoes I own. A metatarsal pad (look it up) works wonders for relieving the pressure of that bend in the second toe.

Again, I'd say even when it feels 100% walking, make sure you can press your fingers all around that area with ZERO pain before trying to get back into running. And if you do start running again, stop at the first sign of any pain at all. There's no "running through" this injury.

Good luck and I hope you can get through it a lot faster than I did!

Note - I also received physical therapy and ultrasound for a few weeks but that didn't help.

Thank you for the reply. I have already tried a few of your suggestions, had 2 cortisone shots and things have been good the last few months but I can feel it slowly getting worse. I am already registered for Boston so I might just cut back on milage and start icing more and start on Advil.

I have also been messing around with different inserts I also am going to start stretching the heck out of the second toe it hurts when i pull it back. Thanks again.

Mine went away slowly by buying wider shoes. If the toebox is to narrow it'll just pinch and make it worse. Same for walking around in. Also, you can find a orthodic or piece of padding to place at the base of your metatarsal head, the support will allow the metatarsals to separate a bit and allow the area to heal.

After going to a wider shoe and mine went away completely after a couple months without reducing any of my training.

Guy with a sore foot wrote:

Almost two weeks ago Sunday I noticed the bottom of my foot felt kinda sore, like I'd stepped on a sharp rock or something, although it wasn't sudden. I looked into it and it sounds like its metarsalgia, the pain being around the pad or just under my second toe of my right foot. It hurts the most when I flex my foot, or pull up on my second toe. It's probably worth mentioning that that second toe is also a mild hammer toe as that might be of relation to the problem. I've never really had this issue before, but I've taken nearly 2 weeks off and it doesn't seem much better at all. I just feel like something seemingly so minor shouldn't be bothering me for so long. Anyone else have a similar experience?

The orthofeet shoes have really given me pain relief from my year long battle with ball of foot pain. I have are so comfortable and really helps my planter fastidious. Able to walk now even long distances without much pain. Will definitely be buying another pair from orthofeet! I would recommend them to anyone with any kind of foot pain. Wonderful support all the way around.

Altra shoes ( wide toe box), Correct Toes( toe spreader that you can wear in shoes) and a metatarsal pad have helped me keep running

Had the same thing. Had surgery. Still feel it a little but not when I run.

I self-diagnosed the same thing for a while. Used Hokas to temporarily solve the problem. I thought I had a neuroma and a host of other issues. I finally went to the Dr. and was diagnosed with a classic hammer toe. I had it surgically repaired and the foot has been pretty good since. Tight and overdeveloped/strong calves caused the issue in the first place. They were pulling my toes like a puppet on strings. My toes/feet would curled up like the wicked witch of the west had I not had it repaired.

Hi there, i saw your post about metatarsalgia pain . I have this terrible pain on both feet which stopped me walking around the house for my minimal activity. It has been 2 months and i am still not feeling it is getting any better. Have seen podiatrist and with pain and anti inflammatory medicine, cortizone shot nothing worked a bit.

Do you have any suggestions how did you heal yours? I am kind of really sad and frustrated at this moment. Please share some advice that will be much appreciated.

sashi

I second the person who said metatarsal pads--- that's what really helped me!

Specifially these:

Thank you for your quick response! I tried them but did not help much. My doctor gave me to try but no relief. My 4th metatarsal joint is tender and i feel pain if i press little bit in that area. Not sure what helps at this moment. I have been resting almost 1 and half months already and not even 5% pain is down . This has caused me mental drain as well.

thanks

I've had pain under my 2nd metatarsal head for over a year that has never gone away or improved. Turned out to be tearing in the plantar plate. Wasn't seen on the MRI, had to get ultrasound to get it diagnosed. No idea if this could apply to you but thought I'd mention it

These worked for me. Dr. Christina Murphy, a chiro I go to in Columbus, recommended these. 5/16 is the best size for me.