How to Identify Morton’s Neuroma? Causes and treatment.

Don Valley Health and Wellness • January 17, 2019

A lot of your work gets done because you have a healthy and functional set of feet that keep you going. But even a slight pain or discomfort to the feet can interrupt your normal functioning.

One such foot condition is Morton’s Neuroma. Let’s get a better understanding of what this condition is.

What is Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma is a foot ailment which develops when the tissue around a nerve that leads to your toes thickens and causes a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. As a result of this foot condition, your toes may sting, burn or feel numb.

What are the causes and symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s Neuroma develops in your foot as a response to irritation, pressure or injury to one of the nerves that lead to your toes. It is likely to occur as a result of wearing tight, high-heeled footwear, participating in certain high impact sports, or due to deformities like flat feet, high arches, bunions, hammer toes.

The discomfort of this foot problem is felt in the ball of your foot, which is the area between your third and fourth toes. Common symptoms include:

1. Pain or discomfort that feels as if you are standing on a pebble in your shoe or like your sock has folded inside the shoe.

2. A burning pain in your foot that radiates to your toes.

3. Numbness or tingling in the feet.

What are the treatment options for Morton’s Neuroma?

Cold Compression: Regular ice massage on and around the affected area may help reduce pain.
Footwear: Foot care always comes first. Avoid high heels or tight shoes, choose a pair that has a broad toe box and extra depth.
Physical therapy: Exercise to loosen tendons and ligaments and strengthen your ankles and toes, massage the ball of your foot to relieve foot ailments. Meet your physiotherapist for a better understanding.
There are arch supports and foot pads available that fit inside your shoe and help in reducing pressure on the nerve. You can purchase these over-the-counter, or your doctor could order custom-made fit-ins to match the exact contours of your foot.
Take a break: Reduce activities that subject your feet to high impact, like jogging, aerobic exercise or dancing.
Medication: Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help manage foot ailments by reducing swelling and relieving pain.
Injections: Your doctor might inject corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and pain caused by the foot ailment.
Surgery: Your doctor might opt for either of two surgical treatments, depending on the severity of your condition. Decompression surgery is done to relieve the pressure on the nerve by cutting nearby structures, such as the ligament that binds together some of the bones in the front of the foot. In some cases, he/she might opt for complete surgical removal of the nerve if other treatments fail to provide pain relief.

Don Valley Health and Wellness Center offers comprehensive foot care services that are tailor-made to cater to your individual health issues for better functioning and pain management on a day-to-day basis . All our treatment programs are overseen by an experienced orthopedic surgeon. Your recovery is our priority and we always put our best foot forward to serve the purpose.

To know more about our services click here.

< Older Post

Newer Post >