Forefoot pain can cause pain and symptoms in the ball of the foot. There are many conditions that can relate to forefoot pain such as:
- Neuroma
- Fat Pad Atrophy
- Stress Fracture
- Bunions
Neuroma
A Neuroma is a common cause of forefoot pain. It is irritation of a nerve that runs in the front of your foot. This irritation causes your nerve to get thicker and means there is now even less room for it causing more discomfort.
You might experience a clicking sound and pain when putting your foot into a tight shoe. Our Podiatry team can help by providing you with footwear advice, in-shoe padding, injections and orthotics if needed. If conservative treatment fails then our Podiatrists have good relationships with foot and ankle surgeons and will be able to give you a referral for a surgical opinion.
Fat Pad Atrophy
What is fat pad atrophy? Fat pad atrophy means that the cushion of fat underneath the ball of your foot has become thin or even moved. This fat pad provides support and shock absorption for your foot. As we get older this fat pad reduces and so does the cushion and support it offers which can lead to corns, callouses and foot pain to develop.
Unfortunatley there is no way to replace the fat pad once it becomes thin. However, our Podiatrists will stil be able to solve this problem. We can replace the loss of fat with other types of cushioning. We do this through orthotics, in-shoe padding or different types of silicone gel products that can be worn to give you back the comfort you long for! We are able to assess your forefoot pain and give you the best option to suit your individual needs.
Stress Fracture
Stress fractures in the forefoot can be very painful. A stress fracture does not occur instantly like falling from a play ground and fracturing your arm. A stress fracture occurs over time and can come on slowly. They are usually associated with incorrect training techniques such as too much activity too soon. They can also be caused by poor footwear, foot posture and walking and running patterns.
Our Podiatry team know all to well the pain of stress fractures and the interruption they can cause to your life and the activities you love. We are able to refer you for bulk-billed x-rays and ultrasounds to examine the extent of the fracture and determine the best treatment option. Our Podiatrists are highly trained in the prescription and fitting of a CAM Walker/ Moon Boot, we are also able to cast for fractures when non-weightbearing is needed. The treatment we choose will depend on the state of the fracutre and your individual needs.
Bunions
Bunions can be a common reason for forefoot pain. A bunion is a deformity of the big toe where the big toe moves in a sideways angle towards the second toe. There can also be a bump on the side of your foot. Bunions can be caused by a range of factors including tight fitting footwear, flat feet, genetics (a family history of bunions) and flexibility of the toes.
Our Podiatrists are familiar with the forefoot pain that can be caused by a bunion. This can be due to shoes rubbing on the side of the bunion causing friction or the joint of the toe not being aligned properly causing arthritis and pain.
Our team will be able to help you by discussing non-surgical and surgical options with you. There are many treatment options to consider before surgery including bracing/splinting, orthotics and footwear advice. However if these are unsuccessful or you would rather consider a surgical option then our Podiatrists will be able to refer you to one of our recommended foot and ankle surgeons.