Is this familiar to you? You are wearing one of your favorite pairs of high heels or oxfords and suddenly you feel a burning pain in the ball of your foot. Your toes begin to sting and you feel as if you can barely walk. As soon as you get to work you kick off your shoes, hoping to get some type of relief. If this is happening to you, you may have what podiatrists call Morton’s neuroma.
Morton’s neuroma occurs when there is a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves going to your toes. The nerve most affected is the one between your third and fourth toes. When you look at your foot, you may not see anything strange, but you definitely feel the pain! There is a sharp, shooting, or burning pain in the ball of your foot. It may also feel like you are standing on a pebble or that there is a fold in your sock. You may experience tingling between your third and fourth toes and toe cramping. Your pain may feel better when you take your shoes off, but mostly the pain gets worse over time.
Podiatrists do not know the exact cause of Morton’s neuroma, but irritation to the nerve seems to play a role. There are many ways that the nerves in your feet can become irritated. High heels or tight shoes can put pressure on your toes. Activities such as running can injure the nerve and cause irritation. Also, foot problems such as bunions, hammertoes, and high arches can increase the risk of developing Morton’s neuroma.
There are some things you can do to relieve pain, such as icing the painful area, but the most important thing you can do is schedule an appointment at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center with locations in Howell, Edison, and Monroe, New Jersey. Once you have been diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma. Your podiatrist may try different types of treatments. Some treatments commonly used are:
- Padding and taping the toe area
- Using special shoe inserts
- Wearing wider shoes
- Using medicine to block the affected nerve
- Using anti-inflammatory pills or injections to relieve pain
If the tissue over the nerve is really thick, your podiatrist may also suggest surgery. You may think that you can deal with the problem yourself, but remember pain from Morton’s neuroma tends to get worse with time. Without the help of a podiatrist, the pain may become so bad that it is difficult to do daily activities such as walking or driving.
It is hard to change your flat feet or high arches, but there are some things you can do prevent Morton’s neuroma. Instead of buying those heels that look like the ones Lady Gaga wears, just admire them from a distance. The pain in your wallet and the pain in your foot may not be worth it!
