If your feet hurt ? they are telling you something is wrong. Many people who experience foot pain have a neuroma. A neuroma is a painful condition that is sometimes referred to as a pinched nerve or a nerve tumor in your foot. It is a benign growth of nerve tissue frequently found between the third and fourth toes, bringing pain, burning sensation, tingling, or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot. The principal symptom associated with a neuroma is pain between the toes while walking. At times, the pain is described as pain similar to having a stone in the shoe.

Causes and Treatments

The exact cause of the condition is unclear, but the following factors can contribute to the formation of the neuroma: high arch or flat feet, trauma to the nerve, improper footwear, repeated stress or occupational injuries. Treatment options vary with the severity of each neruroma. Identifying the neruroma early in its development is important to avoid surgical intervention. If left untreated, neuromas tend to get worse. Examinations include x-rays as well as an echograms in order to ensure the correct diagnosis. The most common modalities utilized to treat the neuroma are:

1. anti-inflammatory medications that can be prescribed for acute pain,

2. special padding orthotic devices

3. cortisone injections

4. revolutionary neurolytic injections (series of 4 to 7 injections) that are reported to have as high as 87% efficacy rate in making the symptoms subside or go away.

Surgical options are usually a last resort, but may become necessary when the earlier mentioned treatments fail and the neuroma progresses pass the threshold for these options. The procedure, which consists of decompression or removal of the inflamed and enlarged nerve, can usually be conducted on the outpatient basis. Recovery time is often just a few weeks and in the majority of cases patients can walk immediately after the operation.

Pain is Not Normal

Remember that foot pain is not normal, and any disruption in foot function limits your freedom and mobility. It is important to schedule and appointment with one of your podiatrists at the first signs of pain or discomfort in your feet. After being treated for a foot condition such as a neuroma, it is important to follow proper maintenance guidelines to assure that the health of your feet continues to improve. You will need quality patient care with access to state of the art diagnostic equipment, such as ultrasound and digital x-rays. Treatments may also include new revolutionary injections that eliminate the necessity of surgical intervention in the majority of the cases. Most podiatric surgeons have been trained specifically and extensively in the diagnosis and treatment of all manners of foot conditions. This training encompasses all the intricately related symptoms and structures of the foot and lower leg including neurological circulatory skin and the musculoskeletal systems which include: bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves. If you or someone you know is experiencing foot pain, your podiatric physician will be more than happy to thoroughly examine you and recommend the treatment that is appropriate for your condition.