Pain in the ball of the foot is termed metatarsalgia. This is a vague non-specific term that includes everything from arthritis to tendonitis. Metatarsalgia might also be a symptom of Morton’s neuroma. Morton’s neuroma is one of the most common causes of pain in the ball of the foot.

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A Morton’s neuroma is a pinched nerve in the ball of the foot that develops into a benign tumor. They are often misdiagnosed as a stress fracture because the symptoms are the same. Morton’s neuroma pain tends to come and go throughout the day whereas stress fractures hurt all the time. A Morton’s neuroma develops as a result of chronic inflammation and pressure on the nerve.

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The condition is very treatable with conservative measures if caught early but if left untreated for more than a few months the nerve begins to fibrose and become a large mass that may need to be surgically removed.