How to treat metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia refers to the frequent pain in the forefoot of our feet. Usually, metatarsalgia is caused by excessive pressure on the forefoot or strain or sprain of the metatarsal bones. In order to prevent metatarsalgia, we can wear some more comfortable shoes, soak our feet in hot water when we get home from get off work in the evening or before going to bed, and then massage the metatarsal area. We should also avoid squeezing the metatarsal bones on a daily basis.

Metatarsalgia diet and health care:

(1) Bone soup: Many people believe that bone soup can supplement calcium. In fact, the calcium in bones cannot be directly absorbed by the human body. The main nutrient in bone soup is collagen. Eating more collagen is beneficial for patients with fractures, but it is not advisable to eat too much within 1-2 weeks after a fracture, because it is too greasy and may cause blood stasis, affecting recovery.

(2) Calcium supplementation: Although calcium is an important component of bones, calcium supplementation is not beneficial for treating fractures. Instead, it may cause increased blood calcium levels. If the fracture patient is not calcium deficient, simply strengthening functional exercise can promote the body's absorption of calcium and accelerate the healing of broken bones. Calcium supplementation should not be done blindly.

(3) Indigestible food: Fracture patients often have a poor appetite due to long-term recuperation at home and swelling and pain in the injured area. If you eat too much nutritious and greasy food, it will not only make you lose your appetite, but also cause constipation. Therefore, after a fracture, you should eat more foods that are good for digestion and bowel movements, and avoid eating foods that are easy to cause bloating or indigestion, such as sweet potatoes, taro, and glutinous rice.

(4) Sugar: Excessive consumption of sugar after a fracture can lead to a large loss of calcium, which is not conducive to the recovery of fracture patients. Too much white sugar will also reduce the content of vitamin B1 in the body. Insufficient vitamin B1 will greatly reduce the activity of nerves and muscles and affect the recovery of functions.

(5) Panax notoginseng tablets: Taking Panax notoginseng tablets in the early stages of fracture can constrict local blood vessels and treat fracture bleeding. However, one week after the fracture has recovered, the bleeding has stopped and the injured bone needs a fresh blood supply to recover quickly. Taking Panax notoginseng tablets at this time will cause the blood vessels to be in a state of contraction, blood circulation will be poor, and it will be detrimental to fracture healing.

Prevention of metatarsalgia:

(1) Choose the right shoes: Wearing high heels or shoes that are too tight can cause a series of foot problems, including metatarsalgia. In addition, if the shoes do not provide adequate support and cushioning, it can easily lead to metatarsalgia. Therefore, you should wear shoes with a wide toe box (front) and cushioned soles to evenly distribute the impact force on the sole of the foot.

(2) Consider using cushioned insoles or arch supports: These products can effectively prevent and relieve metatarsal pain.

(3) Maintain a healthy weight: It is best to maintain your weight within a healthy range to reduce the load on your feet.

(4) If you have just recovered from an injury, do not resume heavy or high-intensity activities immediately. If you continue to train through pain before you have fully recovered, you may end up with a more serious illness, which will require a longer recovery time.