We all need our feet every day. Not only do you need your feet to walk to the car, to drive, and to get to your workplace, you also need them to chase children, haul in groceries, and clean the house. Your feet are an essential part of your daily routine, and when they begin to experience pain, they can slow you down and change your routine drastically. A common pain that is felt in tired and overused feet is known as synovitis.

If you feel a sharp or aching pain centered at the bottom of the second toe, directly in the ball of the foot, then you may be experiencing the pain of synovitis. This pain can indicate an even bigger problem. That is, it can indicate that the toe bones are separating from the long metatarsal bones within the foot.

One frequent cause of synovitis is increased and excessive pressure and stress on the bones of the foot. This can be due to exercise, a new job, or any other similar increase in activity. The ligaments begin to break down and become permanently damaged. This loosens their hold on the bones and allows them to separate over time.

Exercise isn’t always the only culprit for the cause of synovitis. Wearing high-heeled shoes, getting bunions, having a high arch or having a long second toe can cause stress on the foot and lead to this condition. Even rheumatoid arthritis can lead to synovitis.

Symptoms of synovitis are a sharp pain in the ball of the foot, inflammation and feeling like there is a stone in one’s shoe when walking.

Treating synovitis is not impossible, but in most cases surgery is not necessary. Sometimes very severe cases of synovitis may require surgery to heal the affected foot. Common treatments that podiatrists may prescribe include splinting, icing, or taping of the joint. Sometimes a cast, a boot, crutches or other forms of immobilization are needed to help the healing process.

If you suspect that you are suffering from synovitis, call Joseph Stuto, DPM of Brooklyn, New York. There Dr. Joseph A. Stuto and Joseph C. Stuto can heal your synovitis. Call 718-624-7537and make an appointment today.