Neuroma

The symptoms of a neuroma include the following:

• Pain in the forefoot and between the toes
• Tingling and numbness in the ball of the foot
• Swelling between the toes
• Pain in the ball of the foot when weight is placed on it

What can you do for relief?

• Wear shoes with plenty of room for the toes to move, low heels, and laces or buckles that allow for width adjustment.
• Wear shoes with thick, shock-absorbent soles, as well as proper insoles that are designed to keep excessive pressure off of the foot.
• High-heeled shoes over two inches tall should be avoided whenever possible because they place undue strain on the forefoot.
• Resting the foot and massaging the affected area can temporarily alleviate neuroma pain. Use an ice pack to help to dull the pain and improve comfort.
• Use over-the-counter shoe pads. These pads can relieve pressure around the affected area.

Medical care should be sought at the first sign of pain or discomfort. If left untreated, neuromas tend to get worse.

Treatment options vary with the severity of each neuroma and identifying the neuroma early in its development is important to avoid surgical correction. For simple, undeveloped neuromas, a pair of thick-soled shoes with a wide toe box is often adequate treatment to relieve symptoms, allowing the condition to diminish on its own. For more severe conditions, however, additional treatment or surgery may be necessary to remove the tumor.

The primary goal of most early treatment regimens is to relieve pressure on areas where a neuroma develops. Our doctor will examine and likely obtain an X-ray impression of the affected area and suggest a treatment plan that best suits your presentation.

Padding and Taping: Special padding at the ball of the foot may change the abnormal foot function and relieve the symptoms caused by the neuroma.

Medication: Anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections can be prescribed to ease acute pain and inflammation caused by the neuroma.

Orthotics: Custom shoe inserts made by our doctor may be useful in controlling foot function. Orthotics may reduce symptoms and prevent the worsening of the condition.

Surgical Options: When early treatments fail and the neuroma progresses past the threshold of the above non-surgical options, surgery may become necessary. The procedure, which removes the inflamed and enlarged nerve, can usually be conducted on an outpatient basis, with a recovery time that is often just a few weeks. Our doctor will thoroughly describe the surgical procedure and the expected recovery period. Post-procedure pain is easily managed with medications prescribed by our doctor.

Although the exact causes of neuromas are not completely known, the following preventive steps may help:

• Make sure your exercise shoes have enough room in the front part of the shoe and that your toes are not excessively compressed.
• Wear shoes with adequate padding in the ball of the foot.
• Avoid prolonged time in shoes with a narrow toe box or excessive heel height (greater than two inches).

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call The Foot and Ankle
Clinic of Albuquerque, P.C.