When you step or walk on the ball of your foot, do you feel like you’ve stepped on an uncomfortable rock? Then there’s a good chance you have Morton’s neuroma, one of the most common kinds of neuromas.
With a treatment protocol prescribed at Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle in Mission Viejo, California, Thomas Rambacher, DPM, FACFAS, FAPWCA, and Amber O’Connor, DPM, can make sure your painful neuroma is gone for good. Discover more about the 5 most common causes of neuromas and how you can live without pain and discomfort.
Neuromas are bundles of tissues that can develop after an aggravation of the nerves in the immediate area. They can occur anywhere on your body, but one of the most frequent places neuromas develop is on the ball of your foot, between your third and fourth toes. This is called Morton’s neuroma.
Neuromas cause the nerves to grow and permanently enlarge from the irritation. You can’t visibly see a neuroma, but neuromas can change the way you experience pain locally and make the area feel engorged.
There are several common causes of neuromas. 5 of the most frequent include:
The most common reason to develop neuromas is from wearing shoes that put stress on your foot. The worst shoes to wear are shoes that tightly squeeze your toes into the front toe box, especially high-heeled shoes.
If your lifestyle involves standing or walking for long periods, you’re more likely to get neuromas from the stress on your feet. Your risk goes up even more if you’re not wearing supportive shoes.
Regularly playing sports where you’re putting pressure on the ball of your foot can cause neuromas. Tennis and any other sport where you run often have the highest risk.
You’re more likely to get a neuroma if you’re already diagnosed with:
Illnesses like gout and rheumatoid arthritis can also put you at risk.
You’re more likely to develop a neuroma when you’re pregnant.
Some neuromas can be extremely painful or uncomfortable. If you have Morton’s neuroma, you might experience some or all of these symptoms:
Sometimes, the pain from Morton’s neuroma can also radiate into your toes.
Nearly all neuromas can be managed with conservative measures. Our team recommends changing the shoes you wear, including avoiding shoes with high heels or a tight toe box.
We also often suggest putting padding in your footwear to support your arch and reduce the pressure on your nerves. Custom orthotics are especially useful to minimize the pressure being put on the nerve.
Over-the-counter medications can also decrease inflammation and pain, including ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. Combining pain medication with icing the neuroma further reduces discomfort and swelling.
If these measures don’t work on their own, our team can also use in-office injection therapy to treat Morton’s neuroma. Injections include local anesthetics and cortisone and are highly effective in reducing pain by making the nerve less inflamed.
In rare cases when these treatments don’t work, Dr. Rambacher can permanently remove the neuroma with a surgical procedure.
After getting treatment, you won’t experience any further neuroma-related pain or suffering. For prompt, effective, and professional treatment, schedule an appointment with our team.
