Foot Care Relief

What are the Symptoms of Mortons Neuroma?

A neuroma is identified by a noncancerous swelling of nerve tissue that can grow in any part of the body. Mortons Neuroma is a condition in which compression occurs to the nerve located between the third and fourth metatarsal bones in the foot, causing thickening of this nerve tissue. Compression of the nerve causes symptoms such as numbness and tingling of the toes start to occur. These symptoms are more noticeable when there is weight placed on the ball of the foot, producing a noticeable amount of pain.

A Trigger for Mortons Neuroma

Causes of Mortons Neuroma are not unequivocally clear, but anything that can constrict this nerve can cause this tissue to thicken. Mortons Neuroma can be caused by wearing high heeled shoes that constrict the toes. Also, being flat-footed can cause the metatarsals to drop, which causes pressure on this nerve. Other causes can be irritation of the nerve or injury, which all can cause the thickening of the tissue.

A Common Cause of Ball Of Foot Pain

Metatarsalgia is another foot condition that presents itself as pain in the this area. This problem often happens to women who wear high heels, or people who wear shoes with no cushion or arch support. When the structure of the foot is weakened, it causes the bones of the foot to drop. When we wear shoes that do not provide enough support and cushioning we place excessive pressure on the ball of the foot and we experience pain. Also, people that suffer from excessive pronation can experience ball of foot pain in the ball of their feet. A condition called over-pronation occurs when the ankles tend to roll inward and can lead to a painful arch.

Diagnosis and Treatments for Mortons Neuroma

To properly treat this condition, one must get a proper diagnosis. A podiatrist will tend to examine the foot by pushing on the area of pain, squeezing the toes and pushing into the gap between the third and fourth toes. The doctor can simply feel the neuroma, in most cases. The doctor may also try pushing on the painful area and squeezing the entire foot at the same time to elicit a clicking noise, which is called Mulder’s sign. If the doctor is not able to feel a neuroma, he or she can employ other methods such as an x-ray to rule out the possibility of any broken bones. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows physicians to clearly notice a neuroma.

Treatments for Morton’s Neuroma can consist of anything, from resting the foot to surgery. Most doctors will use conservative treatments first. These include resting the feet, wearing more comfortable shoes and trying orthotics to improve arch support. Orthotics also help distribute your weight more evenly over the entire foot, lessening the pressure on the ball of the foot. In many cases the combination of these conservative treatments does provide relief from the pain that you may be experiencing. In severe cases, where these options are not helpful, your doctor may prescribe injections to attempt to shrink the size of the neuroma. In extreme situations, surgery may be the only feasible option.

Our foot care is an extremely important factor in our overall health and well-being. If you suffer from chronic foot pain, it is recommended to have a physician examine your feet as soon as possible in order to determine the cause.

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