You won’t be able to enjoy watching the Royals take on the Giants on Sunday March 22nd if you are dealing with a Morton’s neuroma in your feet. Walking around and climbing up and down the stadium stairs can take a toll on already painful feet. It’s important to figure out the cause of neuromas and have them treated, before they become an even bigger problem.
A neuroma is a thickening of nerves and tissue in the ball of the foot (typically between the third and fourth toes). You may experience numbness, pain, tingling, or the sensation of having something in your shoe.
The causes of neuromas have to do with excessive irritation or pressure put on the ball of the foot. This comes from various places, such as wearing tight high heels or having a foot deformity (high arches, flatfeet, bunions, hammertoes, etc.). If you are highly active you may also experience a neuroma because of constantly being on your feet when exercising, running, or jumping.
The treatment methods used for a neuroma depend on the severity of the symptoms and how long it has been allowed to progress. If you catch it early, you can usually use at-home methods; for example, simply resting your foot and applying ice to reduce the swelling can have a tremendous impact. You should also consider changing your footwear to shoes that have more widely distributed support, rather than putting all of the pressure in one area of the foot.
If you have a foot deformity an orthotic can provide a lot of benefits. When symptoms have progressed or if conservative methods aren’t working, we may recommend corticosteroid or alcohol sclerosing injections to reduce swelling and the size of the neuroma. In very severe cases, you may need to undergo surgery to have the pressure released or the neuroma removed.
If you think you might have a neuroma and wonder how you should treat it, call Dr. Peyman Elison at (623) 584-5556 to schedule an appointment at Fixing Feet Institute in Surprise, AZ. We will do all we can to get rid of your pain and discomfort and get your feet back to health.
Photo credit to ba1969 via Free Stock Photos
