Neuroma

What is Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition that affects the nerves between your toes in the ball of your foot. It usually affects people aged 35 to 60, especially women, but it can happen at any age. It occurs when the nerves that supply your toes become irritated and thickened, causing pain and numbness. Treatment often starts with self-care.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Feeling like you’re walking on a pebble or have a lump in your foot
• Sharp, stabbing, burning, or tingling pain in the ball of your foot and toes
• Pain usually affects the 3rd and 4th toes but can affect other toes
• Pain when walking, especially in tight shoes
• Relief from pain when removing shoes and massaging the foot

Causes:

The exact cause is unknown, but it may be due to increased stress and irritation on the nerves. Factors that can contribute include:

• Wearing tight or high-heeled shoes
• Being overweight
• Foot deformities like bunions or hammer toes
• Inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
• Previous foot injuries
• Weak foot or leg muscles
• Tight calf muscles
• Spending long periods standing, walking, or running

How to help with Morton’s Neuroma:

There is no quick fix, but you can manage the pain by making some changes:

• Rest and elevate your foot
• Apply an ice pack to the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2-3 hours
• Wear shoes with cushioned heels and good arch support
• Use insoles in your shoes
• Do regular stretching and foot exercises
• Try low-impact exercises like swimming
• Lose weight if needed

Things to avoid:

• Walking or standing for long periods
• Wearing high heels and tight, pointy shoes
• Wearing flip-flops or backless slippers
• Walking barefoot on hard surfaces

Choosing the Right Shoes:

Make sure your shoes fit well and are not too tight across the forefoot. Avoid high heels, narrow, or pointed-toe shoes. Choose shoes with a deep and wide toe box, and avoid shoes with thin, hard soles. Shoes with laces or adjustable straps are best.

Padding:

Using a metatarsal pad can help reduce pressure on the nerve. Place the pad just behind the ball of your foot. These pads can be bought from a pharmacy or online.

Managing Pain:

Use a pain scale from 0-10 to identify your pain level, zero being no pain. Aim for pain to be manageable. If you experience severe pain, you might be overdoing it and should reduce your activity level.

For more information on neuroma visit: Morton's neuroma