Metatarsalgia is such an unpleasant word, isn’t it? While many people don’t even know what it means, this foot problem can be quite painful if not treated properly. Metatarsalgia results from the impact on the ball of the foot that causes pain and/or numbness due to damaged bones. The condition causes significant discomfort in the affected area and you might find that you’re in a lot of pain just walking around your home all day long without fail. Thankfully, medical studies show that metatarsalgia treatment will depend on the severity and cause of your foot pain.
Here are our tips to help you take better care of your feet to avoid future foot pain and inflammation.
Treating Metatarsalgia At Home
Metatarsalgia is the term given to pain that results from inflammation and pressure on the metatarsal bones in your feet. Friction usually causes this between one's toes, as well as the nerves that run on and around the bone. Thankfully, there are many excellent home remedies to help deal with this condition, usually resulting in markedly decreased pain levels after only a few days of consistent use!
Rest Your Feet
If you suffer from metatarsalgia, one of the best things you can do for your feet is to take a break and let them rest comfortably. Prop them up on the couch and raise your socks. This way relieves your feet of pressure and gives them time to heal. If you have to continue some activity, try low-impact sports like swimming that don’t strain your feet as much.
Apply Cold Therapy
For finding pain relief from forefoot pain brought about by metatarsalgia, there is no need to jump at the first solution that you see in front of you. There are many ways to deal with this condition and one of which is using cold therapy. Cold numbs pain and reduces swelling, so consider getting a cold pack for your ball of foot area. Use it for 20-minute intervals, making sure not to sleep with it on your skin. You can use cold therapy at any time during the day, just remember to apply it after exercise to manage any swelling that may occur even though inflammation shouldn't be a problem when you do your part in taking care of any problems caused by the use of cold therapy successfully!
Stretches and Exercises for the Foot
Metatarsalgia is something that requires stretching and exercise. You can stretch your feet or calf muscles to improve their overall range of motion and loosen any tight tendons and ligaments around your foot or ankle. You should also do something active, like walking around the block to help strengthen your surrounding muscles, which can help prevent further injury. You must find stretches that are comfortable for you and do them regularly. It might take a few days before they make a difference, so be patient! Always get approval from your doctor or physical therapist before trying out new stretches or exercises - as each one should be tailored to the individual's needs.
Healthy Foot Hygiene
Maintaining proper foot hygiene is incredibly important. Foot care can involve several distinct steps, all of which are crucial to keeping feet in the best shape. For example, you can keep your feet healthier by managing calluses, moisturizing, as well as performing regular foot massages. Although there are several foot ailments such as hammertoes, bunions, and Morton’s neuroma that can develop into metatarsalgia pain, these problems differ depending on the cause. As a result, it might be imperative to address the underlying causes of your pain to prevent or handle the pain better in the future.
Wear Proper Footwear
The right shoes are an essential part of recovery. Because every person's pain is different, you should look for shoes that accommodate your condition by offering a wide toe box that can conform to the shape of your foot without pinching while providing proper support and cushioning for the bottoms of your feet. For many people, this means wearing low-heeled shoes as opposed to high heels, which often put extra pressure on your feet.
Medication
When it comes to metatarsalgia, inflammation makes the ball of the foot incredibly stiff. This is where using an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen or naproxen can help. These over-the-counter medications can reduce inflammation and swelling throughout the body, which will cause less pain in the foot. If you've never used these drugs before, be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist as not all medications are safe to use together and some might cause negative side effects if taken with other medications.
Alternative Treatments
Sometimes home treatments just simply aren't enough to manage a foot ailment such as discomfort caused by metatarsalgia. Here are the other treatments that might work in treating your condition.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists are professionally trained to manage multiple injuries and illnesses, including metatarsalgia. They will guide you through a series of exercises and stretches, which will improve your strength and flexibility. Surgery can be avoided if the condition is treated at this early stage, but in most cases, patients opt for surgery after they have exhausted all other methods. Your physical therapist will work closely with you during your rehabilitation period to bring you back to your level of fitness before surgery.
Surgery
Surgery is rarely an easy solution for metatarsalgia and is only used in extreme cases of the condition. If you have suffered from this problem for several years without relief, then you might be referred to an orthopedist. Once that diagnosis has been confirmed, a plan of action will probably follow. An x-ray test is often called for so that your orthopedic surgeon may get a better picture of the bones in the area affected. During the surgery, they may realign parts of your foot to help take some weight off it if you tend to do too much on your feet.
Lifestyle Changes
One of the most critical factors in dealing with metatarsalgia is focusing on your overall health. While practices such as relieving stress and incorporating healthy diets are often used when addressing any ailment, it's important to remember that more attention must be paid to your foot health specifically. For example, you should make sure that the shoes you wear help safeguard against getting injured due to something like improper support or insufficient flexibility; you should avoid running on surfaces that could place unnatural stresses on your feet, and you should do everything you can to avoid putting excess body weight onto them by exercising/exerting yourself only as much as necessary.
Treating Your Metatarsalgia Pain
If you are suffering from pain in your feet, we urge you to see a podiatrist or doctor without delay, as there are many reasons one could experience such foot pain. This is how you can identify the condition. If you have metatarsalgia, this is an affliction that happens when pressure on the front of the ball of your foot keeps increasing; it's something with which several people suffer and it can be treated using home remedies or surgical intervention if necessary! While foot pain isn't fun, just remember it will pass and that with prompt attention to your situation and treatment from a podiatrist or doctor, you will soon be back able to enjoy all your favorite activities.