Whenever I run (or walk in shoes other than flip-flops for that matter), I feel like there is a small rock under my big toe. It isn’t terribly painful; just annoying. Anyone know what this condition is called or how to alleviate it? I have seen a post about this before, but I couldn’t find it.
Thanks,
Charlotte
I’d suspect Morton’s Neuroma…pretty common amongst those who wear their shoes too small, too tight and too high heeled.
Could that be you?
There are some home remedies that involve a raised area under the ball of the foot to spread the bones out and eliminate nerves being pinched between.
G
It could also be a planters wart.
Hmmm…it could stem from my work shoes (aka “heels”), because my running shoes are pretty roomy and I got a proper fit done before buying them. I’ll have to reconsider my work attire if that is the case. I’ll Google around for some remedies. Too bad I can’t wear flip-flops to work.
Thanks.
I’d suspect Morton’s Neuroma…pretty common amongst those who wear their shoes too small, too tight and too high heeled.
Could that be you?
There are some home remedies that involve a raised area under the ball of the foot to spread the bones out and eliminate nerves being pinched between.
G
Yes, or perhaps an impacted sweat gland.
I actually had what I was sure was a plantar wart (I’ve had them before) and finally asked a podiatrist that stopped by the running store I worked at to take a look. After a quick glance, she said it was a sweat gland and to just use some of that triathlete toughness and dig the sucker out after a shower or swim. I did and it went away with no trouble.
Who knew?
G
No warts. It is definitely an internal discomfort. If I push on the area, it feels slightly bruised.
It could also be a planters wart.
That’s pretty much how either a wart or sweat gland will feel. No obvious sign other than possibly a small dark spot or area, just a general tenderness with a sharper twinge in one spot.
Mine was tolerable, but irritating…I knew it was there, but it was not actually painful unless I pressed on it. Just like a small rock under my foot.
G
Not likely a Mortons Neuroma, which is usually BETWEEN the metatarsal heads and is a nerve “tumor” so to speak, not under the big toe - usually between the 2nd and 3rd or 3rd and 4th toes… agree, could be a plantars wart developing, or sesmoiditis… Go see a podiatrist or sports med doc…
Well, that’s definitely what I feel – a sharp twinge if I push just right. I did notice that the pain was nearly gone while I was on vacation 3 weeks ago - no running/cycling and flip-flops 24/7.
That’s pretty much how either a wart or sweat gland will feel. No obvious sign other than possibly a small dark spot or area, just a general tenderness with a sharper twinge in one spot.
Mine was tolerable, but irritating…I knew it was there, but it was not actually painful unless I pressed on it. Just like a small rock under my foot.
G
Besides a neuroma, another likely possibility is a bruised or stress fractured sesamoid. Goggle both. If there is point tenderness just behind the ball of the foot, then it sounds more like a sesamoid issue. If the pain is between the first (big toe) and second metatarsals, then a neuroma sounds more likely.
If you can walk without pain in a sandal, and have pain in a low heel shoe of similar padding, then that really sounds like a neuroma. A Morton’s neuroma is an inflamed nerve caused by the front of the shoe being too tight, and compressing the nerve between the first and second metatarsals. (You can get neuromas between other metatarsals as well.)
If it is a neuroma, you need to switch to some form of shoe that allows your forefoot to spread out as much as it wants with no constriction. Relace your running shoes to only use the top three or four lace holes. You will lose support with this lacing, so aviod trails or other uneven surfaces.
Paul
Google has me leaning toward sesamoiditis. Nevertheless, I’ll try to get in to see a podiatrist. Thanks.
It is almost like a plantar fasciitis pain, but localized to the first metatarsal only.
Besides a neuroma, another likely possibility is a bruised or stress fractured sesamoid. Goggle both. If there is point tenderness just behind the ball of the foot, then it sounds more like a sesamoid issue. If the pain is between the first (big toe) and second metatarsals, then a neuroma sounds more likely.
If you can walk without pain in a sandal, and have pain in a low heel shoe of similar padding, then that really sounds like a neuroma. A Morton’s neuroma is an inflamed nerve caused by the front of the shoe being too tight, and compressing the nerve between the first and second metatarsals. (You can get neuromas between other metatarsals as well.)
If it is a neuroma, you need to switch to some form of shoe that allows your forefoot to spread out as much as it wants with no constriction. Relace your running shoes to only use the top three or four lace holes. You will lose support with this lacing, so aviod trails or other uneven surfaces.
Paul
In that case, it sounds more like a sesamoid issue. In particular, a sesamoid problem will be more painfull in a high heel shoe, and less painful in a low heel shoe.
The sesamoids are two small bones that are embedded in the tendon that flexes the big toe. As your heel elevates to go onto your toes, these bones are pulled under the head of the first metatarsal. When you wear high heels, these bones are always under the first metatarsal head, and if bruised or stress fractured will be painful while walking in a low heel shoe (and not toeing off) may not hurt much at all.
Google it, or better yet see a doctor, which I am not…
Paul
Paul Dunn had some very sound info there! Typical sesamoiditis is generally more painful (hence the name), but pain is a very subjective term. Also, depending upon where you are calling “beneath the big toe”, there can also be a small accessory sesamoid under the interphalangeal joint that you may be feeling.
The other poster with the “clogged sweat duct” is a very common finding (google intractable plantar keratosis or porokeratosis plantaris discreta) that is often misdiagnoses as a common verruca (plantar wart). But this is obvious and you mentioned no skin lesion.
In short, if you are having no pain, don’t worry too much about it! If you started some barefoot running program recently 
this may have aggravated the sesamoids - or at least made you more “aware” of them.