A general term for pain in the ball of the foot, metatarsalgia can be caused by many problems, such as tight shoes, calluses, and high heels. Conservative treatment can effectively alleviate the pain of metatarsalgia. Bunions and hammertoes. Although they tend to be hereditary, bunions and hammertoes are often aggravated by ill-fitting footwear. Bunions are misaligned big toe joints, which swell and become tender.
Hammertoes result when the toes contract into a claw-like position.
Enlarged, benign growths of nerves, most commonly between the third and fourth metatarsal bones, result in pain, burning, or a tingling sensation in the foot. Orthotics, cortisone injections, and oral medication are used to treat neuromas. The Foot Specialist Regular visits to a podiatrist, the foot specialist, will help your feet stay healthy and pain-free through prevention and early detection of problems. As part of an integrated medical team, podiatrists can identify these pathologies, treat manifestations in the foot, and refer patients to other specialists for care in other areas of the body. If your feet already hurt, there are a variety of conservative treatment methods at a podiatrist's disposal.