Metatarsalgia Treatment
Metatarsalgia is a condition of the foot which causes a lot of pain and irritation. It mainly occurs around the foot region just before the toes known as metatarsal. One feels pain in the joins and balls. One can be able to experience the pain in the metatarsal region especially at the metatarsal heads.
While one is running, jumping or walking, the body weight lies at the metatarsal region. The whole pressure is subjected to the toes making one to feel pain. This pressure mainly cause by excessive activity, mainly transfers to the toes and leads to lots of pain.
It is not a serious condition but subjecting the foot to too much pressure will make one to feel pain in the joints. If you are a sports athlete, you will feel pain when you suddenly land on the ground with force.
Treating it is very simple and one will only need some rest and basic therapy. However, some go for surgery when the case is severe.
Signs and symptoms of Metatarsalgia
One will feel a burning pain at the balls or sole of the feet. The pain will continue to increase when the person keeps on doing activities like walking. It is common to experience to numbness and taking a rest will go a long way in helping to eliminate the pain.
The pain which is a symptom will appear immediately but metatarsalgia will take some few weeks before it develops.
Causes of metatarsalgia
The most common cause will be over training of the foot. Thos can be in form of running, walking and different sports. The feet will be subjected to pressure and a lot of sudden weight. People that tend to over train will place the feet in more danger and will cause a lot of burning pain.
Another cause of metatarsalgia will be due to a longer second toe or other foot structural features. People who love to wear high heels do not make their feet to relax well as those who are overweight put pressure on the feet and will suffer from metatarsalgia.
As people age, they will be at more risk to suffer from the condition since the metatarsals pads thin with age and will make the bones to be weak.
Diagnosis and tests
One will need to visit a doctor who must conduct an x-ray test with the aim of eliminating possible foot conditions. You will also need to give the doctor a detailed account of yor lifestyle and activities to know the possible cause.
Treating metatarslgia
The simplest way when you can treat the condition will be through using packs of ice on the affected area. It will be able to reduce the pain as well as the swelling. Foot therapy is another way and you will be required to massage the affected area using oil. Taking a rest until the pain stops will be a good remedy especially if you are an athlete. If you are doing the exercise for keeping fit, you will be required to choose other simple exercise solutions like swimming.
A doctor will prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug which will reduce the pain and the swelling. When all these options fail, the doctor can opt for surgery that is known as metatarsalgia surgery where by the bones is realigned.