I had sharp pains in the ball of my foot. It felt like an electrical stab. My podiatrist had me wear one of those attractive boots for several weeks, but it still hurt. Then he gave me a shot of cortisone on the top of my foot. Within 30 minutes it was so painful that I called to ask him what the heck he'd done! Turns out, I had a neuroma which was removed surgically. Here's a description I found on the web. I don't know if it's what you have, but it sounds a little bit like what I had. I also found info about Metatarsalgia, which sounds similar.
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A neuroma can occur anywhere there is a nerve. The offended nerve is being pinched or impinged upon for a number of reasons. It is not uncommon for a tight shoe to result in an impinged nerve in the foot. Aside from the toes, the most common neuroma is under a metatarsal head (bone) in the middle of the foot. It is also possible to develop a similar inflammation on the side of the big toe.
Diagnosis is based on the history and physical examination. The complaint of unremitting pain in the interspaces of the foot is highly suggestive. Palpation of the space reproduces, sharp, stabbing pain, as does compression of the interspaces produced by squeezing the forefoot circumferentially.
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Metatarsalgia really covers a group of foot disorders. The classic symptom is pain in the front (ball) of the foot. Many people say that it is "like walking on pebbles," but x-rays usually show nothing irregular.
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A neuroma can occur anywhere there is a nerve. The offended nerve is being pinched or impinged upon for a number of reasons. It is not uncommon for a tight shoe to result in an impinged nerve in the foot. Aside from the toes, the most common neuroma is under a metatarsal head (bone) in the middle of the foot. It is also possible to develop a similar inflammation on the side of the big toe.
Diagnosis is based on the history and physical examination. The complaint of unremitting pain in the interspaces of the foot is highly suggestive. Palpation of the space reproduces, sharp, stabbing pain, as does compression of the interspaces produced by squeezing the forefoot circumferentially.
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Metatarsalgia really covers a group of foot disorders. The classic symptom is pain in the front (ball) of the foot. Many people say that it is "like walking on pebbles," but x-rays usually show nothing irregular.