The most common neuroma in the foot is Morton’s neuroma, which occurs between the third and fourth toes. It is sometimes referred to as an intermetatarsal neuroma. “Intermetatarsal” describes its location in the ball of the foot between the metatarsal bones. Neuromas may also occur in other locations in the foot.
A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that may develop in various parts of the body. The thickening or enlargement of the nerve that defines a neuroma is the result of compression and irritation of the nerve. This compression creates an enlargement of the nerve, eventually leading to permanent nerve damage.
Anything that causes compression or irritation of the nerve can lead to the development of a neuroma. One of the most common offenders is wearing shoes that have a tapered toe box, or high-heeled shoes that cause the toes to be forced into the toe box. Other common causes are decreased padding in the ball of the foot and excessive walking on hard surfaces.
People with certain foot deformities – bunions, hammertoes, flatfeet, or more flexible feet – are at higher risk for developing a neuroma. Other potential causes are activities that involve repetitive irritation to the ball of the foot, such as running or court sports. An injury or another type of trauma to the area may also lead to a neuroma.
If you have Morton’s neuroma, you may have one or more of these symptoms where the nerve damage is occurring:
The progression of Morton’s neuroma often follows this pattern:
To arrive at a diagnosis, our podiatrists will obtain a thorough history of your symptoms and examine your foot. During the physical examination, our team will attempt to reproduce your symptoms by manipulating your foot. Other tests or imaging studies may be performed.
The best time to see our team is early in the development of symptoms. Early diagnosis of Morton’s neuroma greatly lessens the need for more invasive treatments and may avoid surgery.
In developing a treatment plan, our podiatrists will first determine how long you’ve had the neuroma and evaluate its stage of development. Treatment approaches vary according to the severity of the problem.
For mild to moderate neuromas, treatment options may include:
Surgery may be considered in patients who have not responded adequately to nonsurgical treatments. We will determine the approach that is best for your condition. The length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure performed.
Regardless of whether you’ve undergone nonsurgical or surgical treatment, our team will recommend long-term measures to help keep your symptoms from returning. These include appropriate footwear and modification of activities to reduce the repetitive pressure on the foot.
If you are experiencing any tingling, burning, or numbness in your foot, give us a call at (360) 641-7102 to schedule an appointment with Peninsula Podiatry for evaluation and treatment recommendation.
