Preuss Podiatry provides Morton’s neuroma treatment in Louisville, KY and Floyds Knobs, IN. If the ball of your foot burns, tingles or feels like you are stepping on a pebble, a neuroma may be the cause, and most patients improve without surgery.
What is Morton’s neuroma?
Morton’s Neuroma is when the nerve between the toes becomes swollen and irritated resulting in pain in the ball of your foot. Patients will complain of sharp pain in the forefoot or tingling or shooting pain into the digits. Some describe the pain as if they are stepping on a rock with every step they take.
A neuroma most often forms between the third and fourth toes. It is not a tumor. It is a thickening of the tissue around a nerve.
Symptoms
- Burning or sharp pain in the ball of the foot
- Tingling or numbness in the toes
- A feeling of a pebble or a folded sock under the foot
- Pain that is worse in tight shoes and better when you take your shoes off
Causes
Wearing shoes that are too tight or narrow can squeeze the forefoot causing irritation in the nerve. In response, the tissue around the nerve thickens, resulting in a neuroma. Women are more likely to suffer from neuromas due to wearing narrow toed shoes and high heels.
Running and court sports, and foot shapes such as bunions, hammertoes, flat feet or high arches, can also add pressure on the nerve.
Treatment
Changes in shoe gear, inserts, padding, and steroid injections can greatly help the condition. Surgical intervention may be needed if the pain does not improve with conservative measures.
Your podiatrist will examine your foot and may take x-rays to rule out a stress fracture or joint problem. Treatment usually starts with wider shoes, metatarsal pads or custom orthotics to take pressure off the nerve, then injections if needed.
Schedule an appointment
At any of the Louisville, KY or Floyds Knobs, IN locations, the knowledgeable podiatrists are here to relieve your neuroma pain. Call any office location today to schedule an appointment for your Morton’s Neuroma treatment!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a Morton's neuroma go away on its own?
It may calm down with better shoes and padding, but it often comes back without treatment. Getting it checked early gives you more non-surgical options.
Do I need surgery for a neuroma?
Most patients do not. Surgery is considered when shoe changes, orthotics and injections have not helped.
Can I keep running with a neuroma?
Many runners can, with the right shoes and padding. Your podiatrist will help you adjust your training.
