When you suffer from metatarsalgia, even a fun event like going to view the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Denver along the 16th Street Mall can be more than you want to tackle. A carnival atmosphere with costumed characters like magicians, stilt walkers, and comedians will prevail around the 9 PM and midnight fireworks displays. If you want to be ready to mingle with the crowds and be on your feet for the evening, you’ll need proactive care for your forefoot pain.
Being proactive is heading off problems before they start. That means you need to know what causes pain in the ball of your foot, so you know how to avoid it. Let’s start with your footwear. Since pinched toes and pressure on your forefoot can cause this type of pain, stick with styles that have big enough fronts to give room for your toes, and low enough heels so your weight isn’t focused onto the ball of your foot.
Speaking of weight, this is not a case of the more the merrier. The heavier you are, the more stress is put on the bones of your feet. The metatarsal heads—ends of your foot bones—often bear the brunt of this stress and can become inflamed and painful. Limit the goodies at holiday parties so you don’t put on extra pounds.
Pounding, did we say? Yes, the pounding your feet take during running or other sports activities can lead to stress fractures, which can cause pain by themselves and also cause you to alter your gait to avoid discomfort. Any time your change the way your foot moves during activity, you risk new pressure points and pain. Make sure you take time to heal from injuries before resuming your activity.
Bunions, hammertoes, claw toes, high arches—all put undue stress on the ball of your foot that causes pain. Altered gait and structural problems can often be effectively treated with conservative remedies, including custom orthotics that correct imbalances in your feet. These remedies can head off future problems, as well.
Want to head off metatarsalgia pain? Contact Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center for a consultation and let one of our expert podiatrists evaluate the cause of your pain. We’ll design a solution that will work for you. Call us at (303) 423-2520 and set up an appointment in our Lakewood, CO, office today.
