Merced Chiropractor

Symptoms of Mortons Neuroma

A neuroma is characterized by a non-cancerous swelling of nerve tissue that has the potential to grow in any part of the body. Mortons Neuroma is a condition in which compression occurs to the nerve located between the third and fourth metatarsal bones in the foot, causing thickening of this nerve tissue. Compression of the nerve causes symptoms such as tingling and numbness of the toes start to occur. These symptoms are more pronounced when there is weight placed on the ball of the foot, causing pain.

A Trigger for Mortons Neuroma

Causes of Mortons Neuroma are not 100% clear, but anything that can constrict this nerve can result in the thickening of this tissue. Mortons Neuroma can be caused by wearing high heeled shoes that constrict the toes. Also, it is possible that the condition of flat feet can cause the metatarsals to drop, which creates pressure on this nerve. Other causes can be irritation of the nerve or injury, which all can cause the thickening of the tissue.

What Leads to Ball Of Foot Pain?

Ball of foot pain is another foot condition that presents itself as pain in the this area. This problem often happens to women who wear high heels, or people who wear shoes with no cushion or arch support. The bones in the foot can drop when the structure of the foot is weakend. We can experience pain when we wear shoes that do not provide the proper support and cushion. Also, people that suffer from overpronation can experience metatarsalgia in the ball of their feet. A condition called over-pronation occurs when the ankles tend to roll inward and can lead to a painful arch.

How to Diagnose and Treat Mortons Neuroma

To properly treat this condition, one must get a proper diagnosis. A podiatrist will tend to examine the foot by pressing on the area of pain, squeezing the toes and pressing into the space between the third and fourth toes. The doctor can simply feel the neuroma, in most cases. Doctors can also try to elicit Mulder’s sign, a clicking noise, by pushing on the area of pain. If the doctor unable to determine the presence of a neuroma, he or she can use other techniques such as an x-ray to rule out the possibility of any broken bones. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) allows doctors to clearly notice a neuroma.

Treatments for Morton’s Neuroma can include several options, from resting the foot to surgery. In many cases the doctor will try the most conservative treatments first. These include resting the feet, wearing more comfortable shoes and trying arch support inserts to improve arch support. Orthotic shoe insoles also help distribute your weight more evenly over the entire foot, relieving the pressure on the ball of the foot. In many cases the combination of these conservative treatments does provide relief from the pain that you may be experiencing. In severe cases, where these options do not work, your doctor may prescribe injections to attempt to decrease the size of the neuroma. In extreme situations, surgery may be the only adequate solution.

Taking care of our feet is an extremely important factor in our overall health and well-being. If you suffer from severe foot pain, it is recommended to have a doctor examine your feet as soon as possible in order to determine the cause.