2nd Metatarsal Stress Fracture
A stress fracture to the second metatarsal can develop from repetitive force applied over time. It often occurs in runners or people who stand for long periods of time. There will be localised pain and swelling over the fracture site.
Freiberg's disease
Freiburg’s infarction is a relatively rare condition which causes pain underneath the ball of the foot. It is an injury to the growth plate of the metatarsal bones. Freiburg’s develops in adolescence before these growth plates close.
Morton’s Neuroma
A Morton’s neuroma is a thickened and inflamed nerve in the forefoot. This causes pain, pins and needles, burning, numbness or tingling to develop under the ball of the foot and can extend to the toes.
Bursitis
A bursitis is an inflamed bursa, which commonly develops between or under the heads of the metatarsal bones. This causes pain and swelling under the ball of the foot.
Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is a broad term used to describe pain across the ball off the foot at the metatarsals. A range of conditions can cause this such as for example, capsulitis, bursitis, Morton’s neuroma, stress fractures, plantar plate injury etc.
