Metatarsalgia: Pain in the ball of the left foot

15-year-old female

A 15-year-old dancer presented with pain in the ball of her left foot (Metatarsalgia), specifically beneath the second toe. The pain had been developing for over a week and made walking and weight-bearing increasingly difficult. With an upcoming international dance performance scheduled, effective and rapid treatment was essential.
The patient had a similar episode two years prior, involving the right foot. No trauma was reported, and the issue appeared to stem from overuse and strain caused by intense dancing.

• Location: Plantar aspect of the left forefoot, beneath the second metatarsal head
• Palpation: Local tenderness and mild swelling
• Functional Limitation: Difficulty walking and inability to perform dance movements due to pain

This case was treated using Master Tung acupuncture for foot pain, combining local techniques with distal and auricular strategies.

• Local bloodletting was performed at the site of pain to relieve stagnation and reduce inflammation.
• On the contralateral (right) side, the following points were needled:
  • San Cha Yi
  • San Cha Er
    These points are particularly effective in addressing pain in the second and third toes.
• Additional distal points used:
  • 44.06 Zhong Jian
  • Zhong Jian 2
• Auricular acupuncture was applied on the right ear, targeting the second and third toe zones. This was combined with the battlefield acupuncture protocol to enhance analgesic effect.

Three days later, the patient reported complete resolution of the pain following the first treatment. The pain recurred mildly after increased physical effort but was significantly less intense. The same treatment was repeated in the follow-up session with continued positive results.