Foot pains can be uncomfortable, and it is even worse when you aren’t sure whether you are dealing with metatarsalgia or plantar fasciitis. If you are in Queens, NYC, you don’t need to endure the discomfort caused by metatarsalgia or plantar fasciitis. At Best Foot Dr. NY, our podiatric surgeons are here to examine your foot and diagnose your condition.
In this article, we discuss the key differences between metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis, as well as their respective treatments.
What Is Metatarsalgia?
Metatarsalgia refers to pain in the metatarsal area of the foot. The metatarsal bones are five bones that emerge from the arch of the foot and end at the base of the toes. Metatarsalgia pain derives its name from the five metatarsal bones, with ‘algia’ being a suffix meaning nerve pain.
The primary source of pain associated with metatarsalgia is inflammation, which can be likened to the discomfort experienced when your feet are sore after a long day. It can develop even as you engage in routine activities, such as running or jumping. In rare cases, metatarsalgia can be caused by a foot deformity or by wearing shoes that are either too tight or too loose.
Symptoms of Metatarsalgia
At Best Foot Dr. NY, we help you recognize the symptoms of metatarsalgia that may require professional attention, ensuring you receive the best care possible in Queens, NYC.
- Worsening pain: If you stand, flex your feet, or run without shoes and experience pain that does not improve with rest, you may have metatarsalgia.
- Sharp burning or aching pain: Another sign is a sharp, aching pain at the ball of your feet, just behind the toes.
- Feeling like you have a pebble in your shoe: When you feel constant discomfort from this sensation, but there is nothing in your shoe, it is caused by metatarsalgia.
- Tingling pain: Metatarsalgia can cause numbness in your feet or a sharp, tingling sensation in your toes.
Groups of Metatarsalgia
At Best Foot Dr. NY, our foot and ankle specialists categorize metatarsalgia into three distinct groups.
- Primary metatarsalgia: Primary metatarsalgia occurs when you experience problems with your metatarsals, affecting how metatarsal bones relate to other parts of the foot. Examples include calluses, bunions, hammertoes, and high arches.
- Secondary metatarsalgia: Secondary metatarsalgia occurs when you have other health issues or do something that causes excessive pressure on your forefoot. Some examples include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and Freiberg disease.
- Iatrogenic Metatarsalgia: If you undergo forefoot surgery, you could develop some complications due to changes in your big toe that cause metatarsalgia pain.
How to Treat Metatarsalgia
There are a few protocols that you can observe as metatarsalgia treatment, including the following:
- Change the type of shoes you wear, and avoid shoes with high heels, narrow toes, or uncomfortable fits. Get shoes that have good support and fit perfectly.
- Reduce your participation in high-impact activities, such as running and standing.
- If you are overweight, find ways to work toward achieving a healthy weight to reduce foot pain.
- After a long day, place ice on your feet to reduce inflammation and relieve some of the pain.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the part of the foot called plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is the strong, fibrous attachment that starts from your heels to the ball of your foot and toes.
The plantar fascia keeps the bones of your foot attached together, and it always adopts a shape like an arch. When the plantar fascia gets overused or overstretched, it becomes inflamed, and you will feel pain when you walk or use your foot.
If you visit Best Foot Dr. NY, our local podiatrist will diagnose your condition and, if the pain is severe, may recommend metatarsalgia surgery to address plantar fasciitis or metatarsalgia.
Laser Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis in Brooklyn, NYC: Reduce Heel Pain Without Surgery
Common Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Some of the common signs of plantar fasciitis include:
- Pain at the arch of your foot. The pain will fluctuate depending on what you are doing at that time of day.
- Pain in the heels occurs when you stand up after sitting down or when you wake up, and it subsides for a few minutes.
- Swelling around the heels.
- Stiffness around the arch of your foot.
- A tightened Achilles tendon that causes a dull, constant pain.
How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is managed using over-the-counter medication and home remedies. Some of the common treatments include:
- Pain medications, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, can help reduce pain and inflammation.
- Reduce your participation in sports activities that initially caused plantar fasciitis.
- You can place ice on your foot for at least fifteen minutes, twice daily.
- Wear shoes that provide proper support and a good fit.
- Use shoe inserts or orthotics that add extra support to uncomfortable shoes.
- You can get a massage to ease the pain in your foot.
If your symptoms are too severe, a doctor in NYC specializing in plantar fasciitis may recommend surgery.
Get Treated by Our Top-Rated Podiatrist Today in Queens, NYC
Plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia share various similarities, except in the location of the pain you will feel. At Best Foot Dr. NY, our top-rated podiatrists in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, NYC, will examine your foot and provide the right treatment to eliminate your pain and related symptoms. Contact us today for expert care.