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The principle
symptom associated with a neuroma is pain between the toes
while walking. Those suffering from the condition often
find relief by stopping their walk, taking off their shoe,
and rubbing the affected area. At times, the patient will
describe the pain as similar to having a stone in his or
her shoe. The vast majority of people who develop neuromas
are women.
Symptoms
- Pain in the forefoot
and between the toes.
- Tingling and numbness
in the ball of the foot.
- Swelling between the
toes.
- Pain in the ball of
the foot when weight is placed on it.
How Do You Get a
Neuroma?
Although the exact cause for this condition is
unclear, a number of factors can contribute to the
formation of a neuroma.
Biomechanical deformities, such as a high-arched foot or
a flat foot, can lead to the formation of a neuroma.
These foot types bring on instability around the toe
joints, leading to the development of the condition.
Trauma can cause damage to the nerve, resulting in
inflammation or swelling of the nerve.
Improper footwear that causes the toes to be squeezed
together are problematic. Avoid high-heeled shoes higher
than two inches. Shoes at this height can increase
pressure on the forefoot area.
Repeated stress, common to many occupations, can create
or aggravate a neuroma.
What Can You Do for Relief?
Wear shoes with plenty of room for the toes to move,
low heels, and laces or buckles that allow for width
adjustment.
Wear shoes with thick, shock-absorbent soles and proper
insoles that are designed to keep excessive pressure off
of the foot.
High heels should be avoided whenever possible because
they place undo strain on the forefoot and can
contribute to a number of foot problems.
Resting the foot and massaging the affected area can
temporarily alleviate neuroma pain. Use an ice pack to
help to dull the pain and improve comfort.
For simple, undeveloped neuromas, a pair of thick-soled
shoes with a wide toe box is often adequate treatment to
relieve symptoms, allowing the condition to diminish on
its own. For more severe conditions, however, podiatric
medical treatment or surgery may be necessary to remove
the tumor.
Use over-the-counter shoe pads. These pads can relieve
pressure around the affected area.
Treatment by Your Podiatric Physician
Treatment options vary with the severity of each
neuroma, and identifying the neuroma early in its
development is important to avoid surgical correction.
Podiatric medical care should be sought at the first
sign of pain or discomfort; if left untreated, neuromas
tend to get worse.
The primary goal of most early treatment regimens is to
relieve pressure on areas where a neuroma develops. Your
podiatric physician will examine and likely X-ray the
affected area and suggest a treatment plan that best
suits your individual case.
Padding and Taping:
Special padding at the ball of the foot may change
the abnormal foot function and relive the symptoms
caused by the neuroma.
Medication:
Anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections can
be prescribed to ease acute pain and inflammation caused
by the neuroma.
Orthotic Devices:
Custom shoe inserts made by your podiatrist may be
useful in controlling foot function. An orthotic device
may reduce symptoms and prevent the worsening of the
condition.
Surgical Options:
When early treatments fail and the neuroma
progresses past the threshold for such options,
podiatric surgery may become necessary. The procedure,
which removes the inflamed and enlarged nerve, can
usually be conducted on an outpatient basis, with a
recovery time that is often just a few weeks. Your
podiatric physician will thoroughly describe the
surgical procedures to be used and the results you can
expect. Any pain following surgery is easily managed
with medications prescribed by your podiatrist.
Neuroma Tips
- Wear shoes with
plenty of room for the toes to move, low heels, and
laces or buckles that allow for width adjustment.
- Wear shoes with
thick, shock-absorbent soles and proper insoles that
are designed to keep excessive pressure off of the
foot.
- High heels should be
avoided whenever possible because they place undo
strain on the forefoot and can contribute to a number
of foot problems.
- Resting the foot and
massaging the affected area can temporarily alleviate
neuroma pain. Use an ice pack to help to dull the pain
and improve comfort.
- For simple,
undeveloped neuromas, a pair of thick-soled shoes with
a wide toe box is often adequate treatment to relieve
symptoms, allowing the condition to diminish on its
own. For more severe conditions, however, podiatric
medical treatment or surgery may be necessary to
remove the tumor.
- Use over-the-counter
shoe pads. These pads can relieve pressure around the
affected area.
Your podiatric
physician/surgeon has been trained specifically and
extensively in the diagnosis and treatment of all manners
of foot conditions. This training encompasses all of the
intricately related systems and structures of the foot and
lower leg including neurological, circulatory, skin, and
the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints,
ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves. |
A
neuroma is a painful condition, also referred to as a
“pinched nerve” or a nerve tumor. It is a benign growth of
nerve tissue frequently found between the third and fourth
toes that brings on pain, a burning sensation, tingling,
or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.
