Author: Foot Doc
Date: 2/28/2007 12:26 am PDT
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Metatarsalgia is frequently a convenient "cop-out" diagnosis when no more definitive diagnosis can be made, as all it says it that you have pain (algia . . from the Greek) associated with a metatarsal. It is not much more specific then telling a patient who is complaining of an aching foot that he/she has "foot pain." (Who-da-guessed?)In any event, when metatarsalgia is mentioned as a "diagnosis" it is generally in relation to plantar pain or pain about the metatarsal-toe joint, but you describe the pain on the dorsum of the foot and at the tarsal-metatarsal articulations. If your description of the location is accurate, it would place your pain at the base of the metatarsal(s) (you do not state which one). As you mention that this area is raised, the two most common source of a bump at that site is a common bone deformity condition known as "saddle bone deformity" and/or a ganglionic or synovial cyst. A nice little video depicting a saddle bone deformity and its treatment is available at
http://www.physicianwebpages.com/animator/flash/SADDLE.swf
But a diagnosis is needed before any treatment can be discussed and there are certainly other problems which might produce your symptoms. View the video and see if it fits your situation, but see a podiatrist in any case. It would be nice if you would write back and give a follow-up report. |
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