Pain in the ball of your foot can be tricky to diagnose. At Foot & Ankle Specialists PC, we see multiple causes for pain in the area of the foot between the toes and the midfoot. For one thing, there are several disorders that affect the joint of the big toe, such as gout, which can radiate to the ball of the foot. In order to accurately diagnose the pain, our podiatrists, Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, Dr. Christine I. Tumele, and Dr. Matthew W.E. Lewin will ask questions about what the pain feels like, when you most experience it and the exact location. A complete medical history will be taken and possibly x-rays as well, which will provide clues to the source of the pain. Here are 4 of the more prevalent reasons patients experience pain in the ball of your foot:

1. Sesamoiditis—this is the most common source of pain in the ball of your foot. The sesamoids are two tiny bones under the big toe. When these bones get inflamed or fractured, most likely due to over use or excessive repetitive pressure, pain occurs.
2. Calluses—a patch of thick skin forms on the bottom of the foot in response to a misaligned bone in the forefoot. The deformed bone puts excessive pressure on ball of the foot, causing the skin to build up. When it gets too thick, it becomes painful and uncomfortable to walk on.
3. Arthritis—both types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid, inflame the joints in the big toe and the ball of the foot.
4. Neuroma—a pinched or swollen nerve between two metatarsal bones (the long bones between the toe and midfoot) creates pain as it swells beyond the normal space.

Fortunately, many of these disorders can be healed with rest and other non-invasive treatments such as orthotics and physical therapy. It’s important to not ignore pain but to get it evaluated and treated promptly. If you are experiencing any pain in the ball or other part of your foot or ankle, contact our Monroe or Lambertville office for an appointment.