Nerves in your feet connect to your toes, sending information about sensation back to your brain. If a foot or ankle problem puts pressure on your nerves, you can experience symptoms like pain or numbness. Nerve inflammation can be stubborn, lasting even after the structural issue of the neuroma is dealt with.
One podiatry issue that can result in nerve pressure is a Morton’s neuroma. This is a noncancerous swelling of a nerve in your foot. With this condition, you could start to notice irritating or uncomfortable symptoms like burning pain, or a feeling that you have a lump between your toes.
At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Michael Blackwood and our team of experts help you address the neuroma and its effects. While your symptoms may come and go, this condition needs professional care to fully resolve. We offer care from locations in Tomball, Kingwood, and The Woodlands, Texas.
A Morton’s neuroma is sometimes known as a forefoot neuroma or interdigital neuroma. This condition typically affects the area between your third and fourth toes, and can also occur between your second and third toes.
It’s not clear why nerve swelling related to a Morton’s neuroma begins. However, as the condition progresses, swelling compresses nerves and affects neighboring ligaments and forefoot bones.
This condition tends to affect only one foot at a time, and it’s more common in women, likely due to styles of shoes such as high heels that put pressure on the front of the foot.
Symptoms of a Morton’s neuroma include burning pain, numbness and tingling at the base of affected toes, or pain that spreads from the ball of your foot out through your toes. Some people also feel a phantom sensation of a lump between toes, or something like a folded sock or hot pebble between the toes.
Your symptoms might let up as soon as you take off your shoes and stretch and flex your toes. Changing your footwear to options with wide toe boxes and low heels often improves or even resolves your symptoms. Your symptoms may also come and go based on how much time you spend on your feet.
Dr. Blackwell and the team at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine can diagnose your Morton’s neuroma and recommend the right treatment to restore your feet. We may suggest specialized padding techniques or shoe orthotics to support your feet and correct for structural imbalance.
Most patients find that their Morton’s neuroma responds favorably to these or other conservative treatment options.
In some cases, nerve inflammation can remain stubborn, even after the underlying cause is resolved. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen may help. You could also try injection therapies targeting the affected area.
When pain lasts for multiple months without responding to treatment, surgery may be needed.
For the knowledgeable care and support you need to resolve your Morton’s neuroma, contact Dr. Blackwell and the team at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today. Schedule your initial consultation by calling now, or book an appointment online with our easy-to-use tool.
