MN without sharp pain, mostly burning and grinding
I'm at a loss for what to do. I'm not looking for a diagnosis from yall but rather some insight on symptoms and such.
My symptoms:
- grinding feeling between 2nd and 3rd toe, especially when wearing tight shoes or heels
- burning sensation
- fullness
- slight pain, but now I wear insoles with metatarsal support or my Birks and don't feel the pain as much.
- feels worse in tight shoes/heels, and when waking up and putting foot down on ground. Not sharp pain but definitely huge discomfort
- slight tingling in toes if I think about it but not prominent
- tight calves
- after walking all day my big toe is super sore
What I've done:
- went to podiatrist and he told me I have metatarsalgia and to stretch my calf and sent me home
- got xrays that showed nothing much other than those 2 bones are close together
- got insoles with arch and metatarsal support that I can't go a day without unless im in Birkenstocks
- gone to a few PTs and the last one worked with me to strengthen my gluteus medius, floss the peroneal nerve, strengthen my arch, and stretch/strengthen calves. Also has me massage my foot with a lacrosse ball. It hasn't made things worse but also isn't improving a ton. It's been 3 months of that PT
- I now wear wide toe box shoes
- toe spacers feel great
Possible causes:
- used to run and probably with poor form as I was somewhat new
- used to go bouldering but the shoes started to hurt, especially when wearing them and stepping on hard ground
I'm starting to think i have MN but I don't get the sharp pain I see everywhere, just the burning sensation and the grinding feeling. However, I've been wearing insoles for a year now so I just might not remember the pain since i wear insoles.
Questions for you all:
Do I go back to a different podiatrist or see someone else? With health insurance it was $150 to see that podiatrist and it felt useless but maybe I need a different one? Or is there a different doctor to see?
Can you have MN without sharp pain but instead just the symptoms I have?
Any other insight would be great. This has been going on for a few years and im sick of it! Thank you!