Neuroma Symptoms Relief

Orthotics Bring Relief For Painful Neuromas | SEO Article Hub

As you head to your favorite golf course or head out for your morning run this summer, make sure your feet are in shape before beginning. Do you have pain, burning, tingling, or numbness between your toes and in the ball of your foot? If you exhibit pain, burning, tingling, or numbness between your toes and in the ball of your foot, you may have a neuroma. Neuromas are often described as nerve tumors, involving swelling within the nerve that may result in permanent nerve damage. Foot neuromas typically occur in response to irritation, pressure or injury to one of the nerves that lead to your toes. Over time, the nerve becomes thickened and swollen, which may cause symptoms of pain, numbness, stinging, or burning in the toes.

The Basics of Neuromas

A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that may develop in various parts of the body. The most common neuroma in the foot is a Morton’s neuroma, which occurs between the third and fourth toes and is also known as intermetatarsal neuroma. An intermetatarsal neuroma may occur between any toes of the foot. The thickening of the nerve that defines a neuroma is the result of compression and irritation of the nerve. The compression creates an enlargement of the nerve, which may lead to permanent nerve damage.

Symptoms of a neuroma of the foot may include:

* Pain in the forefoot and between the toes * Pain in the ball of the foot when weight is placed on it

Anything that may cause irritation or compression of your foot nerve may lead to the development of a neuroma. One of the most common causes is wearing shoes that have a tapered toe box, or high-heeled shoes that cause the toes to be forced into the toe box. The constant force of your toes in the shoes can cause pain and lead to a painful neuroma.

People who have certain foot deformities – bunions, hammertoes, flat feet, or more flexible feet – are at a higher risk for developing a neuroma. Other potential causes include activities that involve repeated irritation to the ball of the foot, such as running or sprinting.

Treating a Neuroma with Orthotics

Your podiatrist will first determine how long you have had a neuroma and evaluate the current stage of development. Treatment approaches can vary according to the severity of the problem. For mild to moderate neuromas, treatment may include the use of orthotics.

Orthotics are also known as orthoses, and refers to any device that is inserted into a shoe, ranging from felt pads to custom-made shoe inserts that correct an abnormal or irregular, walking pattern. Also referred to as arch supports, orthotics allow people to stand, walk and run more efficiently and comfortably. While over-the-counter orthotics are available and may help those with mild symptoms, they normally cannot correct the wide range of symptoms that prescription foot orthotics can since they are not custom made to fit an individual’s unique foot structure.

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