If you regularly experience pain in the ball of your foot, a neuroma may be to blame. Neuromas are painful but benign nerve tumors that are particularly common in middle-aged women. At Chambers Foot & Ankle in Mesa, Arizona, Thomas Chambers, DPM, regularly works with patients to diagnose and treat neuromas. If you regularly experience pain in the ball of your foot, don’t wait to seek treatment. Request your appointment at Chambers Foot & Ankle by calling the office or using the online booking tool today.
A neuroma, or Morton’s neuroma, is a painful condition that causes a thickening in the tissue that surrounds the nerves between your third and fourth toes. As the tissue thickens, it causes a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. You might also notice that your toes sting or feel numb.
Over time, neuromas can negatively affect your mobility and quality of life. As the condition gets worse, you might also experience the sensation of having a rock or pebble stuck in your shoe.
Mild and moderate foot pain usually subsides with conservative measures of care such as ice, rest, compression, and elevation or the RICE protocol. However, if you experience pain in the ball of your foot that persists for more than a few days, or it negatively impacts your ability to go to work or participate in other routine activities, make an appointment at Chambers Foot & Ankle right away.
Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes neuromas, but certain factors may increase your risk, including:
You’re also more likely to experience a neuroma if you participate in high-impact athletic activities such as running, jogging, or skiing.
To diagnose a neuroma, Dr. Chambers carefully examines your feet and ankles. He also presses on the bottom of your foot to feel for a mass or tender spot. If he suspects your pain is the result of another condition such as a fracture, he might also recommend diagnostic imaging with X-rays or an MRI.
Dr. Chambers usually recommends conservative, noninvasive treatments to ease pain caused by neuromas. For example, he might recommend physical therapy, custom orthotics, or corticosteroid injections. If these treatments don’t provide relief, surgical intervention may be necessary.
There are several types of neuroma surgeries. Decompression surgery helps to relieve pressure on the nerves in your feet, while removal surgery involves Dr. Chambers surgically removing the nerve tumor and restore your foot to its near-original function.
If you’re living with neuroma pain, don’t wait to seek treatment. Book your appointment at Chambers Foot & Ankle today by calling the office or requesting one online today.
