The holiday season means long hours on your feet, and at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we often find more of our Middlesex County patients asking why they’re experiencing pain in the ball of the foot. Pain in this area can be very debilitating because every step you take requires pressure on this part of the foot.

Below are 3 potential causes for discomfort in the ball of the foot and what to do about them:

1. Capsulitis—inflammation of the ligament on the bottom of your foot is the source of this disorder. The cause of Capsulitis could be poorly fitting shoes or repetitive activities requiring you to bend your toes, like climbing a ladder. In some cases, a trauma or biomechanical problem with your foot can be the source of the discomfort.

2. Metatarsalgia—there are five bones in your feet that lead to your toes, known as metatarsals. When one of the joints of these bones becomes aggravated due to arthritis, injury, or spending extended periods standing on hard surfaces, you may experience pain in the ball of the foot from metatarsalgia.
    
3. Sesamoiditis—patients with this condition say it sometimes feels like there’s a rock in their shoe. Sesamoids are tiny bones that are embedded in muscles or only connected to tendons. Two of them are present in each of your feet at the base of the big toe. In addition to pain, if you have sesamoiditis, you may also notice swelling or bruising, and it may be difficult to straighten your toe.

Getting Relief from Foot Pain

The only way to determine the source and treatment for your ball of foot pain is to have your feet evaluated by Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas. The foot doctor will examine your feet and ask questions about your work and other activities that may be putting undue stress on the forefoot. Once the podiatrist knows which condition you have and why he can prescribe the appropriate treatment to stop the pain and let you get on with the holidays. Contact our Cromwell office today by calling: (860) 632-5499.