Neuroma: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
A neuroma is a type of nerve disorder that affects the foot. It can result in pain, numbness and other symptoms. The most common location for neuromas is the ball of the foot between your toes. There are many different types of neuroma, but they all have one thing in common – they cause pain!
The symptoms can vary from person to person but usually include tingling, burning or numbness in the ball of your foot and sometimes even up into your ankle area.
This blog post will define what a neuroma is, discuss its causes, list some treatment options, and talk about risks associated with it, including limitations on day-to-day activities people may experience if affected by a neuroma.
What is Neuroma?
A neuroma can be a painful condition, also referred to as a “pinched nerve” or a benign nerve tumour. It occurs when the nerve tissue grows abnormally. The most common neuroma is Morton’s Neuroma (Intermetatarsal Neuroma). It is found between the third and fourth toes, which affects the ball of your foot, but it may also occur in other areas of the foot.
Symptoms Of Neuroma
Morton’s Neuroma
- Numbness, burning or tingling in the ball of the foot
- Swelling between your toes or sometimes no swelling
- Foot pain when weight is placed on the ball of your foot
- Pain may tend to ease during the night
- Discomfort at times when you're wearing tight shoes
Causes Of Neuroma
Neuromas are often caused by footwear pressure on the foot. Shoes that are too tight or have high-heeled shoes can irritate nerves in your feet over time, resulting in thickening of the nerve and pain due to continued irritation.
Foot conditions, such as bunions and flat feet, are at a higher risk of developing a neuroma. Activities that cause repetitive compression and irritate the ball of the foot can lead to Morton’s neuroma due to nerve injury or trauma.
Treatment Options for Neuroma
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your podiatrist will prescribe a variety of treatments. These may range from conservative treatments such as rest and ice to more aggressive treatments such as surgery or medications. In some cases, neuromas can be painful enough that surgery is necessary because they cause you significant discomfort in daily activities.
- Cold treatment – applying an ice pack on the affected area.
- Rest – messaging your foot to alleviate neuroma pain.
- Changing footwear – wearing wider shoes that is enough for your toes to moves, and avoid high-heeled.
- Orthotic device – wearing custom orthotics recommended by your Podiatrist.
- Exercise – proper stretching to strengthen your toes and ankles, or your Podiatrist may recommend physical therapy.
- Shoe inserts – wearing footpads can lessen the pressure in the ball of your foot.
- Medication – your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or cortisone injections to alleviate the pain and reduce inflammation.
- Surgery – there are many treatment options for chronic pain caused by a neuroma. Once the symptoms become severe enough to respond to nonsurgical treatments, surgical options may be necessary to remove the inflamed and enlarged nerve.
What are the Risk & Limitations due to Neuroma in day to day life?
The risks of neuroma in day-to-day life can vary based on what type of neuroma you are experiencing, but there are some tradeoffs or limitations to be aware of.
The discomfort you feel in your foot or toes may prevent you from performing activities that require force on your foot. Performing sports may be prevented to avoid worsening the symptoms such as swelling, inflammation or shooting pain in your toes and the ball of your foot. Wearing flats and high-heeled footwear may become difficult as your feet need wider shoes with sufficient space for your toes to move.
Why Choose Stephen Zucal South Perth Podiatrist for Neuroma treatment?
Stephen Zucal South Perth Podiatrist mission is to provide excellent podiatric care, and that includes providing treatment for neuroma. A consultation with our Podiatrist can help you treat the Neuroma through conducting physical exams, imaging tests or x-rays to rule out other problems that are causing the pain and reviewing your medical history.
FAQs
FAQ's About Neuroma
How is Neuroma diagnosed?
To diagnose Morton’s neuroma, your doctor may ask you about your symptoms and examine the region. Further tests such as imaging tests, x-rays or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) might be necessary to diagnose an accurate diagnosis.
What is the non-operative treatment for Neuroma?
For Morton’s Neuroma, conservative treatments are changes in your footwear that have sufficient space for your toes, corrective orthotics device,.
Do neuromas go away on their own?
Neuromas may develop in your toes and may not go away on their own.
What triggers Mortons Neuroma?
Morton’s neuroma can be triggered by a repetitive foot injury, wearing too-tight shoes and instability due to abnormal gait. These scenarios can irritate or compress the nerves on your feet, resulting in thickening of the nerve and pain, which affects the ball of your foot.
Is walking barefoot good for Morton's neuroma?
It is advisable to have your feet rest as it can be helpful to lessen the pain and discomfort while reducing the inflammation between your toes. There is no scientific proof yet that walking barefoot is suitable for Morton’s neuroma.
Is walking good for Morton's neuroma?
It is advisable to have your feet rest as it can be helpful to lessen the pain and discomfort while reducing the inflammation between your toes.
What happens if Morton's neuroma goes untreated?
Morton’s neuroma is treatable, but it can result in severe and permanent nerve damage if left untreated. You should consult with your podiatrist if the symptoms persist.
Can a neuroma be removed?
Removing a neuroma may be necessary when other treatments do not provide relief from the pain. Usually, surgical removal will succeed, but potential drawbacks include permanent numbness in the toes after surgery.
Does heat help Morton's neuroma?
Cold treatment constricts blood vessels, thus reducing the swelling in the area. Meanwhile, hot or warm treatment has the opposite effects. It increases the blood flow, which relaxes the muscles. Morton’s neuroma has symptoms of swelling because of the compressed nerve in your foot; hence, an ice pack is much more beneficial.
What is the recovery process after Neuroma surgery?
Recovery time varies from patient to patient, depending on the type of surgical procedure. For nerve decompression, you will be able to bear weight on your foot and wear a padded shoe right after surgery. The recovery period is more extended for a neurectomy, measuring from one to six weeks depending on where the surgical cut is made.
Is it possible to have more than one neuroma in foot at the same time?
It’s unusual to find two neuromas in the same foot. The majority of people with neuromas have only one nerve affected.
Is it common to have a neuroma in both feet at the same time?
It is possible to develop bilateral Morton’s neuroma (neuroma in both feet). However, it is uncommon in the general population. If you’re an athlete and wear tight shoes often, you may be at greater risk for bilateral or multiple neuromas.
If a neuroma is removed, can it reoccur?
The symptoms may return after surgery. You may want to consider some things to prevent a recurrence of the conditions, such as choosing proper footwear and avoiding tight shoes, or wearing custom functional corrective orthotic devices.
Is neuroma a tumour?
A neuroma is a benign tumour in the nerves leading to your feet and toes. Morton’s Neuroma is not technically a tumour, not cancerous, but rather a thickening of the tissue surrounding the digital nerve to the toes.
Is a neuroma painful?
Neuromas can be painful depending on the symptoms you may be experiencing, but the thickening of the nerve tissue can lead to swelling that commonly causes burning and sharp pain.
Can you feel a neuroma?
Morton’s neuroma most commonly affects the nerves that run along your foot between your toes, which affect the ball of your foot and can feel as if you are standing on a pebble in your shoe or there’s a fold in your sock.
What is a nerve neuroma?
A neuroma is an abnormal growth of nerve tissue. It is often called a tumour, but it is benign, or not cancerous.
How do you get a neuroma?
Morton’s neuroma can be triggered by a repetitive foot injury, wearing too-tight shoes and instability due to abnormal gait. These scenarios can irritate or compress the nerves on your feet, resulting in thickening of the nerve and pain, which affects the ball of your foot.
What causes Morton's neuroma to flare up?
Morton’s neuroma can be triggered by a repetitive foot injury, wearing too-tight shoes and instability due to abnormal gait. These scenarios can irritate or compress the nerves on your feet, resulting in thickening of the nerve and pain, which affects the ball of your foot.