Pain in the Ball of the Foot (Metatarsalgia)

Pain in the ball of the foot is called metatarsalgia and may have many different causes (including arthritis, pinching of the nerves between the toes, posture problems, and various disorders).

The most common causes include:

• Freiberg disease

• Metatarsal stress fracture

• Damage to the nerves in the foot (Morton neuroma)

• Metatarsal joint pain

• Sesamoiditis

• Age-related thinning of the fat pad cushion in the ball of the foot

Often, developing one disorder that causes pain in the ball of the foot contributes to development of another disorder that causes pain in the same location.

(See also Overview of Foot Problems.)