Powerstep Metatarsal Pads for Women and Men Ball of Foot Cushions

I’m a long-distance runner who sufferers from Morton’s Neuroma since 2015. Depending on the running surface, I would feel numbness and intense pain between 8 – 12 miles. I also ran on dirt trails so I could run 1-2 miles longer before the pain would start. A foot doctor gave me a steroid shot that did not help. I finally purchased these three times for three different pairs of shoes.Despite everything that is written, I believe that all the faults that this product has are irrelevant if it works.I am pleased with the outcome because I can run now without fear or eventuality of pain. I now have the freedom to run wherever I want to or as long as I want to.I waited until now to write a review because I wanted to do the ultimate test. I ran the Houston Marathon on 1/19/2020 on a street that was all cement and not asphalt or dirt. Yes, I completed the marathon without foot pain.INSTALL NOTES:I removed the insole from the shoe and placed the pad behind the ball of my foot and then put the insole on my foot (over the pad) to gauge its proper placement. I highly recommend that you first use duct tape as a test until proper placement is satisfactory. Make sure the pad is placed behind the ball of the foot. Not any part of the pad should be under it, just like in the picture from the product container. Horizontal placement is also important. You might have to open the laces so that the pad does not shift because of the duct tape. I could run any distance using the pad and duct tape as an effective test. If it works for you, before you just peel off the pad and duct tape and use the pad glue, mark the spot with a black marker to put it exactly where you had it.

I've had a Mortons Neuroma since 2010. It's between the 3rd and 4th toe. I have a 14 EE foot. First thing my foot doctor told me was to get wider shoes so I don't pinch the nerve. I went to 14 EEEE. He said they should be loose enough so you can wiggle your toes. Next, he told me to buy 3210 motion control insoles. Then he said, put these metatarsal pads on the "bottom" of the insole towards the back of the ball of the big toe. (Look at photo) This position spreads your metatarsal so you don't pinch the nerve. If you put them on the top of the insole, they will really be noticeable and drag on your socks. When trying to position them in the correct spot to work best for you, don't peel the paper off the pad. Use some blue painters tape to hold them in place till you find the correct spot. Trace an outline around the pad, then peel and attach.. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because, after a few months, they tend to drift a bit and move out of position. I corrected that by adding a few thin strips of gorilla duct tape over the pad and onto the insole. They never moved after that. In fact, the insole will wear out before the pad. I've been doing it this way for 13 years and it has saved me from getting surgery. Just hope they never stop making these pads.

I've used metatarsal pads before but they have gotten so expensive and these were a little cheaper. They are also a little smaller but I don't know if that matters. The problem is once you put them on, there is no taking them off. Not only is it tricky for me to find exactly where they need to go, the pain on my foot will migrate sometimes and weeks later I may rearrange the pads in my shoes. I was still trying to adjust these before I realized that wasn't an option. So almost $8 down the drain. Stick to the fabric ones.

They’re molded dense foam with a sticky back, and the price was good, especially compared sadly, to local.My podiatrist recommended trying these rather than a steroid shot into the Morton’s Neuroma.The hardest part was finding where to put them. The first set I got locally and stuck them on, only to realize they weren’t in the correct place and didn’tHelp. So, I ordered this set.Upon receiving them, I decided to use two strips of blue masking tape wrapped around the insole to hold them in place temporarily until I found by wearing them was the best spot.Turns out they had to go farther to the rear than I thought (each person & foot are going to be different) and after 3 or 4 tries in different locations over the period of a few weeks I found the location that worked. I had to trim a bit as well. Dare I say to my relief? 😊 I can once again be on my feet for more than an hour or so without pain.I would, and will, buy them again since they need to be in every pair of shoes I own. Thankfully I don’t have a different pair of shoes for every day of the week!

Here's what you need to know if considering buying these pads.They run a little small.They are a little hard/stiff.If you get the ones I got, they will stick like crazy once inside shoe and walked on.They are easily removable for repositioning during setup.The edges are a little abrupt, you can feel the drop off.They are pretty inexpensive.Worth a shot in my opinion.I almost forgot something. I haven't seen this in any other review, but the surface is not slick. It's kind of rubbery which catches my sock and gives my toes a super wedgy. It's very frustrating and I haven't found a way to remedy it. Duct tape helped but didn't fix the problem : /

The pad itself seems well made and shaped, but the execution of them is very poor. First they are basically just soft foam, and extremely grippy on the top surface. So it's hard to get a sock/foot into a shoe with them without tearing them or having them peel up. Once they start peeling up, they end up tearing. If they had a smooth/slick surface on the pad it would likely eliminate the peeling up/tearing problem.Since they are left/right specific and you only get 1 of each per pack, they get very expensive very fast.