What causes the ball of my feet to hurt and swell?

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER. Thank you for reaching out to our community.

Please call your primary care physician, if you have not already. Your doctor knows you, your medical history and can do a physical exam.

In the meantime, this might be a case of metatarsalgia, which is a general name given to pain in the front part of your foot under the heads of your metatarsal bones.

This is the area on the sole of your foot, just before your toes. It is sometimes called the ball of your foot. Metatarsalgia can be caused by a number of different conditions affecting the foot. It is really a symptom of other problems rather than a specific disease itself.

Metatarsalgia causes pain in the ball of your foot that can be made worse by standing, walking or running. Some people describe the pain as feeling like they are walking on pebbles. Others describe more of a general aching pain. The pain can occur in one or both feet. In some people the pain is felt under one or two metatarsal heads; in others it is felt under all of them.

Metatarsalgia usually comes on gradually over some weeks rather than suddenly. The affected area of your foot may also feel tender when you press on it.

Regards,
Maryann