134 - Metatarsalgia

Abstract

Metatarsalgia is characterized by tenderness and pain over the metatarsal heads. The patient often feels as if he or she is walking with a stone in the shoe. The pain of metatarsalgia worsens with prolonged standing or walking for long distances and is exacerbated by improperly fitting or padded shoes. Often a patient with metatarsalgia develops hard callus over the heads of the second and third metatarsals when trying to shift the weight off the head of the first metatarsal to relieve the pain. This callus increases the pressure on the metatarsal heads and exacerbates the patient’s pain and disability.