Metatarsalgia is a medical term used to describe pain on the ball of your foot at the base of your toes. There are many different causes of metatarsalgia and sometimes it can be difficult to determine exactly which problem is causing the pain you are experiencing. Some of the most common causes include neuromas, plantar plate tears, extra long metatarsal bones, claw toes, and fat pad atrophy. It can be hard to decipher the area of metatarsalgia because the brain 

homunculus for the foot exhibits less sensory distribution feedback. Your description of symptoms and details you can provide to the doctor are very important. Generalized metatarsalgia can sometimes be treated successfully non-surgically with insoles, pads, and other footwear modifications.