Hi I am nwe to this forum . I found it by accident,but an glad i did. My problem is in my right foot I began having sharp pain in the second metarsal joint about 6 months ago. I went to the dr back in April and ask him to exray my foot exrays did not show anything abnormal so he set me up for a bone scan. That didn't show anything so he sent me to an orthopedic dr. he sent me for an MRI. he thought i may have a stress fracture. I did not. I'm still in great pain,I can't walk bare footed at all. Iam wearing an operative show. Now he put me in the orthotics in my shoes they help a little. the MRI did reveal that there is a osteophyte on the second metarsal joint he said he could go in and debrade the joint but I haven't went yet My Arthritis Dr says he thinks the pain could be from scoliosis I have 3 curves in my spine and have a hip higher than the other one i have plantar facia in both feet heel spurs on both heel I have more body weight on the right than i do the left leg The pain in the foot at the metarsal joint is on the right leg I read where you can have plantar facia in the mid foot also. Is this correct and do you think this could be my problem? I think i have plantar's facia in the mid foot with a spure! could it be ? I am in great pain. I think my whole problem is mis alignment of my whole body. he has ordered a shoe lift to help take some of the stress off the right leg . i have had scoliosis for all my life. i think this is my foot problems. Could someone help me? I have already been out almost a thousand dollars and still really don't have any answers. pcarroll Sorry I spelled metatarsal wrong!

How Old are you?

Go to a store get two bathroom scales place them side by side step on one foot each close your eyes and relax quickly open your eyes and look at the scales to see the difference. Digital scales may make this difficult a freind could also help. Theis should show how much weight difference you place on your feet. About 20lb is normal depending on your weight.

Try shoes with a rocker bottom. Do you limp when you walk. If you have ihurt your joint is take a month or more to recover.

Ask your dotor if you have morton's toe syndrome. You might have a long second ray and might benifit from a morton's modification.

Hope this helps

[b]Thanks for your response. Iam 52 years and i have had pain in this foot for about 20 years but nothing this severe. I got up this morning and couldn't hardly walk on it at all. At times it feels like i am walking on a rock sharp pains shootong from it before i even got out of bed. the Orthopedic mentioned morton's neuroma. you mentioned morton's toe is that the same as morton's neuroma? I honestly don't think the doctor really know's for sure . I don't limp usually but i sure do witout any shoes on from this pain. I just feel like there is a spure in this area. It is right where the end of the second toe joins the foot. I am miserable. i don't think my arthritis doc took it that serios either. This has been going on for 6 months.(the severe pain). What did you mean by long second ray? Thanks Pcarroll

[iTo Delavo Hi thanks for your quick response I had already answered back and had been waiting for your response ,but realized I had not Logged in. So here goes again. I am 52 years of age . This foot has bothered me for about 20 years,but never this painful. my doctor mentioned morton's neuroma at the very first ,but never mentioned it again. you mentioned morton's toe is that the same? I don't limp i just have one hip visible higher than the other pant leg is always shorter than the other. I have 3 curves in my spine one at the neck one in between my shoulders and one in my pelvic. I limp from the pain in my foot . Before i even got out of bed this morning sharp pains started shooting right where the end of the second toe fits onto the foot. that is where i have had pain all these years. I read somewhere that you can have plantar's Facia in the mid foot also. Is this correct? I think I have a spur there. If so what could be done My arthritis doc says not to have surgery because of scare tissue. Right now with my foot hanging down sharp pains are terrible. I hope there is some help for me . I have had to quit working part time. Ipaint new constructions. Bone scan showed nothing on the foot mri showed a he called it an osteophyte in the area but he didn't tell me that right off. only later,i don't think my doc really know's what to do i think that's why he suggested surgery. he said he could try to debrade the joint. I am at stand still on this one. help Pcarroll Also what did you mean by having a long second ray and might benefit from a morton's modification?

Look up Morton's syndrome. Where your toes attach to your foot is at the met heads (meta tartsals are the long bones of the foot the short bones are the tarsal located iunde your ankle) Ray is term that includes your toe and long bone.

if the long bone for your big toe is shorter than the long bone for the toe next to it (the second toe) , that could cause problems. The seconds toe joint become the longests part of the foot . The second since it is so small cannot handle the strain. The fat pad as well as the joint can break down.

A full length foot orthotics can balance the pressure of a foot with morton's syndrome and that would take alot of pressure and wear and tear off the second toe.

A bone spur or osteophyte that is usely caused by bone fragments or stress to the joint. If they donot interfer with the joints normal range of motion then theyare usely not a problem.

Leg length problems can cause back pain, back pain can cause pain to radiat down the leg.

Although if your left leg is longer than your right you might be vault up on your right foot to clear your left in swing but that would appear as a small limp.

Hope this helps

Dear Pcarroll
There a number of factors that may be causing your right foot pain. Scoliosis of the spine may result in a limb length discrepancy and can alter one's gait and weight distribution. Second metatarsalphalangeal pain can result be due to a number of reasons 1) poor 1st metatarsal phalangeal mechanics (due to arthritis/bunion deformity/previous surgery/elevated 1st metatarsal/trauma etc...) 2) trauma 3) avascular necrosis 4) capsulitis/bursitis 5) arthritis 6) infection 7) collagen vascular disorder 8) exostosis 9) long 2nd ray 10) scoliosis 11) limb length discrepancy 12) nerve entrapment 13) increased activity/pressure...etc...
If you do have a limb length discrepancy, it should be addressed. Treatment can be either a heel lift or a shoe lift depending on the amount of discrepancy measured. Orthotics is also a good option, the device can help to rebalance the foot and redistribute applied pressure to affected areas. Unfortunately, healing will take time.

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com
SBarlizo, DPM, C Ped
foot.com expert