Pain In The Ball Of The Foot

Common causes of pain in the ball of your foot

Pain in the ball of your foot is often caused by exercise, such as running, wearing shoes that are too tight or a condition such as arthritis.

Some people also have a foot shape that puts extra pressure on the ball of the foot. Hard or cracked skin or a verruca can also cause this type of pain.

Do not try to diagnose the cause of pain yourself.

Important

If you think you might have broken your foot, do not try to treat it yourself. Contact NHS 111 to find out what to do.

How you can ease pain in the ball of your foot yourself

You might be able to treat pain in the ball of your foot yourself.

Do

rest and raise your foot when you can
put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas in a towel) on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
wear shoes with plenty of room for your feet, which have a low heel and soft sole
use soft insoles or pads in your shoes
try to lose weight if you're overweight
try regular, gentle foot and ankle-stretching exercises
use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)

Don't

do not do any sports or other activity that you think is causing the pain
do not walk or stand for long periods
do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes

A pharmacist can help with foot pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

the best painkiller to take
insoles and pads for your shoes
if you need to see a GP

Find a pharmacy

See exercise video safety information

The exercises in this series of videos are suitable for most people in good health with a reasonable level of fitness.

Unless stated otherwise, they are general exercises only and are not aimed at treating any specific cause of pain or condition. Video titles and descriptions can give more information on how difficult the exercises are and who they are for.

Get advice from a healthcare professional (such as a GP) before trying them if:

you are not sure if the exercises are suitable for your current level of fitness
you have a health problem, an injury, any symptoms, are feeling unwell, or you have had a recent health event such as a heart attack or operation
you have any other concerns about your health
you are pregnant or have recently given birth

Stop the exercise immediately if you feel any pain or become unwell. If you are concerned about any symptoms, or they do not go away, get help from 111 online or call 111 for advice.

See a GP if:

pain in the ball of your foot is stopping you doing normal activities
the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your foot
you have diabetes and foot pain - foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

Refer yourself for back or joint help

In many areas you may be able to get help, such as physiotherapy, from NHS community musculoskeletal (MSK) services without needing a referral from a GP.

Get NHS help for back or joint problems

Contact NHS 111 if:

you have severe pain in the ball of your foot
you are not able to walk
your foot has changed shape
you heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of injury
you feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
your foot is hot, swollen and painful
you have pain in the ball of your foot and feel hot, cold or shivery

These might be signs of a broken bone after an injury or an infection.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

	This item was in brought to you association with NHS website. Follow the links above for more information and don't forget to check out OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health which features items on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. This week our topic is: L - Lung Cancer.
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