3 Potential Sources of Ball of Foot Pain
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As you’re walking one day, you notice an uncomfortable pain in the ball of your foot, almost as if there’s a pebble in your shoe. At Texas Foot Specialists, patients are surprised to learn that discomfort in the ball of your foot can have several possible sources. Below are three of the most common.
Sesamoiditis
At the base of your big two are two tiny bones that are not connected to other bones, called sesamoids. This unique type of bone is only found in a few places in the body. The role of the sesamoids in your feet is to allow the big toe to push off and then glide as you walk. Overuse, usually from a sport like basketball or tennis that features repetitive pounding to the ball of the foot, is most often the cause.
Plantar Plate Ligament Injury
Beneath the second toe lies the plantar plate. This ligament forms a web of support that helps spread out the pressure exerted on the forefoot. An injury to the plantar plant ligament can cause extreme pain in the ball of the foot. It may also result in the second toe bending upward at the joint, resembling a hammer and causing patients to often mistake this condition for a hammertoe. Fortunately, a relatively minor surgery can repair the ligament which will relieve the pain and restore the proper position of the toe.
Morton’s Neuroma
Inflammation of the nerve between the third and fourth toe can cause enlargement and compression of the nerve which will produce symptoms of pain, tingling, burning or numbness in the ball of the foot. Neuromas have several possible causes including activities like running that involve repetitive pounding to the forefoot, wearing shoes that are too small and narrow and exert pressure on the front part of the foot, and having certain deformities such as hammertoe, flat feet or a bunion.
Since the sources of discomfort in the area of the foot are so varied, it’s important that you seek diagnosis and treatment from our podiatrists Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum when you first notice the pain. Contact our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600) or Houston (713-664-6677) office for an appointment at your earliest convenience.