Getting a diagnosis of metatarsalgia can be very nerve-wracking and confusing. Not only does it describe a group of symptoms, but it can leave you with more questions than you started your appointment with. Metatarsalgia is actually a group of symptoms that affect the feet. People diagnosed with this condition usually show signs of pain, swelling and inflammation of the foot. There are many different things that can contribute to this condition and some of them are due to lifestyle habits and underlying conditions. Here are three of the most common scenarios and a breakdown of why they cause this pain.
Stress Fractures - when a stress fracture occurs in the toe or metatarsal bones, pain is often immediate. This pain causes a person to change their gait to accommodate the injury. This gait change causes excess pressure to build up on the back of the foot and cause the swelling, inflammation and pain known with this condition. Stress fractures often occur in athletes or individuals who endure large amounts of pressure and stress for long periods of time. This is why it is common to see athletes with these injuries.
Your Foot Shape is Affecting You - if you have high arches or flat feet, then it is likely that you will be dealing with these symptoms at least once in your life. High-arched feet sometimes have longer metatarsal bones which cause more pressure on the forefoot. This pressure can cause inflammation and swelling in that area.
Inflammatory Disorders - conditions such as gout and arthritis are known to cause inflammation. This can cause pain in the bottom of the foot and lead to this diagnosis.
Other contributors
Sometimes a combination of the factors listed above can cause metatarsalgia. In order to determine whether or not this is the case for you, it is important to see a podiatrist to get a proper diagnosis. Not only can they diagnose your condition, but they can also help you treat the symptoms.
Don’t have a podiatrist? Call us today. Call Joseph Stuto, DPM of Brooklyn, New York. There Dr. Joseph A. Stuto and Joseph C. Stuto can help get to the bottom of your bottom foot pain. Call 718-624-7537and make an appointment today.