Painful Feet

For the past month i have been getting Sore Burning Feet, it started with my right foot, the longer i am on my feet the worse it gets, till i can barely walk or stand.

It then progressed to my left foot but it is not as bad, so far.

The agony is indescribible at times, sometimes it comes on very sharp like a knife slicing the sole of my foot.

To begin with i put it down to my shoes as they are about 18 mths old, i thought they lacked cushioning, but i have now disregarded this idea, because i think my feet are so bad and it is getting progressively worse.


Of course an additional problem to all this, i can't do walking which i love and i can't exercise, which of course doesn't aid my weight loss.

The longer i am on my feet the worse it gets, and when i am at work 3 days running is a killer.  My days off work are just so boring and frustrating, because i try and rest it....

I googled it and this is the closest possibilty i could find.

Metatarsalgia

Definition

Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia is a condition marked by pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot.
You may experience metatarsalgia if you're physically active and you participate in activities that involve running and jumping. Or, you may develop metatarsalgia by wearing ill-fitting shoes. There are other causes as well.
Although generally not serious, metatarsalgia can sideline you. Fortunately, conservative treatments, such as ice and rest, can often relieve metatarsalgia symptoms. And proper footwear, along with shock-absorbing insoles or arch supports, may be all you need to prevent or minimize future problems with metatarsalgia.

Symptoms

Symptoms of metatarsalgia may include:

• Sharp, aching or burning pain in the ball of your foot — the part of the sole just behind your toes
• Pain in the area around your second, third or fourth toes — or, only near your big toe
• Pain that gets worse when you stand, walk or run and improves when you rest
• Sharp or shooting pain in your toes
• Numbness or tingling in your toes
• Pain that worsens when you flex your feet
• A feeling in your feet as if you're walking with a pebble in your shoe
• Increased pain when you're walking barefoot, especially on a hard surface

Sometimes these symptoms develop suddenly — especially if you've recently increased your usual amount of running, jumping or other high-impact exercise — but problems usually develop over time.

What are the causes of metatarsalgia?

One or a combination of many factors can cause metatarsalgia.
Among the most common is over-training or over-activity. Studies show that runners – who tend to put excessive pressure on their metatarsals when playing – develop metatarsalgia more than others do. Intensive, extended training puts an abnormal amount of stress on the balls of the feet, often causing irritation and eventually, inflammation.
A high arch, an abnormally long second toe, and other such structural factors can also cause metatarsalgia. People with hammertoes , those who wear high heels (which prevent the toes from relaxing flat), and those who are overweight are also more prone to metatarsalgia because their conditions tend to put more pressure on the balls of the feet.
The risk of developing metatarsalgia also appears to go higher as a patient grown older. This is because the fat pads on the metatarsals thin out as a person ages, diminishing the ability of the metatarsal bones to protect themselves.

Tests and Diagnoses

Most doctors require a patient to undergo an x-ray in order to rule out other foot problems which cause symptoms similar to those of metatarsalgia. Most doctors also ask about a patient’s lifestyle, exercising habits, activity levels, etc.

How to treat metatarsalgia?

Most metatarsalgia cases only require conservative treatment.
Metatarsalgia treatment can be as simple as applying ice packs to the affected area several times during the first day, for example – in most cases, this can already significantly reduce swelling and ease pain. Rest is another simple but effective form of metatarsalgia treatment. By keeping stress off the balls of the feet, inflammation and pain are reduced. Athletes who need to still keep active even during recuperation period are usually advised to temporarily switch to low impact exercises like swimming.
In some cases, doctors may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen. These drugs aid in lessening pain and swelling. Doctors may also prescribe specially-designed orthotics to minimize pressure. Shock-absorbing insoles are also great in cushioning the balls of the feet.
When conservative metatarsalgia treatment options fail, the doctor may recommend metatarsalgia surgery. During surgery, the metatarsal bones are realigned.