Associated symptoms
Based on the accompanying symptoms, the orthopedist can draw conclusions about the cause of the disease.Depending on the cause, pain in the ball of the foot can be of a pulling or stabbing character, accompanied by tingling and numbness (Morton Neurom), or associated with painful pressure points and blisters after excessive strain (overload-fatigue fracture). If the cause of the pain is inflammatory, the ball of the foot may be reddened and swollen (gout). Depending on the cause, the pain in the ball of the foot occurs only when the ball of the foot is loaded, immediately after loading the ball of the foot or even at rest.
The clinical picture of gout is a metabolic disorder that occurs in phases and in which there is too much uric acid in the blood. Typically, uric acid crystals are deposited in joints and thus lead to severe inflammation. An acute attack of gout causes very severe pain and often occurs in the so-called metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe.
The pain typically occurs more frequently after drinking alcohol and/or eating meat. In addition, the number of attacks increases especially at night or in the morning. The pain in the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe can radiate into the entire foot, which is usually painful under pressure, reddened and swollen.
At the same time fever can occur. Normal walking is usually no longer possible during an acute attack of gout. During such an attack, the attack is usually treated with painkillers or cortisone. In order to reduce the probability of a further attack of gout, a change in diet (low purine diet) and, if necessary, the intake of so-called uricostatics should be carried out. If an acute attack of gout is suspected, a doctor should always be consulted for further clarification.
Diagnosis
First, a detailed interview with the patient is conducted by the doctor in order to exclude some possible triggers for the pain in the ball of the foot. The better the person affected can describe and localize the pain in the ball of the foot, the easier the diagnosis will be. Other important questions are when exactly and in which situation the pain occurs, whether the person affected has other complaints in addition to the pain in the ball of the foot and whether the person also suffers from other diseases.
This is followed by an assessment and an examination of the soccer. An X-ray of the foot can also provide information about the cause of the pain in the ball of the foot. Wear and tear of the metatarsophalangeal joints, fractures or bone tumors are often visible in the X-ray image. Furthermore, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging of the foot (MRI foot) and an examination of the blood of the affected person can also contribute to finding a diagnosis.