I'm new to dancing, but have participated in many sports activities throughout the years. Several months before I began dancing, I developed metatarsalgia, which is a very painful inflammation condition. My feet throbbed and kept me awake at night. Several factors can cause this condition (including being just slighty over your appropriate weight or participating in high impact activities). The best rememdy for this is to make sure your shoes are properly fitted, and that you wear well made shoes with a padded and contoured footbed...........yes, they are expensive, but you feet will thank you. Clarks makes good shoes for everyday wear and they offer many cute styles. Don't walk around barefoot often. When shoes begin to wear and stretch...replace them, they won't provide effective support. When my condition peaked, I wore supportive shoes even in the house...I had one pair just for wearing indoors. Thick white cotton socks help too. I also had very dry cracked heels from years of working on my feet in my paramedic boots. After trying just about every type of cream or ointment out there, I finally found flexitol heel balm and it works really well. After doing these two simple therapies my feet began feeling better within two days. Now they don't hurt at all. Perhaps trying these might save you a bill at the podiatrist. Good luck!