When you take good care of your feet, you will find that they can take on a lot of work and will help you live a healthy life. But when something goes wrong with your feet, it can make it difficult for you to move around and complete some of the daily tasks that you need because of the pain and discomfort.

There are several conditions that can happen to your feet depending on the shoes you wear, your genetics, and so much more. One of the conditions that you may struggle with is known as Morton’s Neuroma. Understanding what this painful condition is all about and where it will occur can make a difference in the type of treatment that you can get.

What is Morton’s Neuroma?

The first thing that we need to look at is the basics of Morton’s Neuroma. This is a benign type of swelling that is going to start showing up on the nerve in the foot, one that is going to carry sensations from the toes. In most cases, it is unknown why the nerves will start to swell in this area of the foot.

Once the swelling starts in the foot, the ligaments and the bones of the foot will start to put some more pressure on the nerve. This can cause more inflammation and irritation than before. As this continues, it can cause several different sensations in your toes including tingling, numbness, and burning pain.

While there can be some variation on this, most of the time the condition is going to be able to develop between the third and fourth toes. For some patients, the condition may be going to show up between the second and third toes. It is very rare to see this happen in other locations. It is also rare to see it happen on both feet at the same time.

There isn’t a lot known about the condition and why it will show up, but it tends to show up more in women compared to men. Many assume that it is because women are more likely to wear narrow-toed and high-heeled shoes for longer periods. These shoes can be hard on the feet and cause some issues.

When you wear the high-heels, it can tend to shift the bones of the feet into a bad position. This will increase the risk that this neuroma will start to form in the feet. You may find that issues like carrying around more weight than normal can increase the risk of developing Morton’s Neuroma too.

What are the Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma?

There are a few different symptoms that will show up that will lead back to the fact that you have Morton’s Neuroma. It is not uncommon for this condition to not have any external signs. Your foot will appear fine, even if you had the symptoms of Morton’s neuroma. There are some situations where symptoms will occur. These include:

• Metatarsalgia: This is going to be soreness that happens in the ball of the foot. It can sometimes feel like there is a burning pain in this area of the foot and it could cause some issues when it is time to run or walk.
• Feels like you are standing on a pebble: You may also notice that it feels like you are standing on a hard lump when you stand up. Many claims that it feels like a pebble or a rock, though it may feel like a wadded-up sock.
• Pins and needles or some numbness in the toes: If you notice that the toes feel tingly or numb and the pain radiates from that area between the toes, then you may have to treat Morton’s neuroma.

When you start to notice some of these symptoms, it is time to visit your doctor and see what you can do to take care of the feet and keep them in good working order.

What Can Cause Morton’s Neuroma?

There are a few different things that are likely to cause Morton’s Neuroma in your feet. To help prevent the condition from showing up in the first place, you need to know what factors will lead to the progression of these symptoms. Some of the most common causes for this condition will include:

Inappropriate Footwear May Cause Morton’s Neuroma

While you may love the way that the heels look and they may be fashionable, if you pick out shoes with too high heels, tight shoes, or ones that are too tight and put too much pressure on the toes and ball of your foot, then it can cause a good deal of damage to the foot and can cause this condition.

There is nothing wrong with wearing these types of shoes on occasion if you would like. But if you try to wear them all the time, then they can increase your risk of developing Morton’s neuroma instead.

Certain Sports Can Cause Morton’s Neuroma

There are a lot of benefits to choosing to do a variety of different sports. But if you are not careful, you could end up causing some damage to your foot. When you do exercises that are high impact, like sprinting and running, it can subject the feet to trauma. You have to be careful when you decide to play some specific sports.

You should also be careful with sports that will require tight footwear, such as rock climbing or skiing to make sure that they do not hurt your foot and cause this condition. When you go through these types of practices, they will subject the feet to a lot of pressure, which could make Morton’s neuroma develop.

Deformities in the Foot Lead to Morton’s Neuroma

When you have some deformities in the foot, it could put you at a higher risk of having the symptoms of Morton’s neuroma. Some of the conditions that you need to watch for include flat feet, high arches, hammertoes, and bunions. If you have these conditions, you need to talk to your doctor to help you prevent the symptoms overall.

What is the Treatment for Morton’s Neuroma?

There are a few different treatment options that you can rely on to help with the symptoms you have with Morton’s Neuroma. The treatment that you can work with depends on the severity of the symptoms that you have. Most of the time, you will start with the conservative approaches and then move up to get to the right one.

Some of the most common options that you can choose to help treat this condition will include:

Morton’s Neuroma Can Be Treated With Therapy

The first option to choose is the right therapy. Your shoes can be a good place for this one. You should pick out shoes that are going to provide enough room across the ball of the foot and into the toe.

You may want to go with some arch supports or even foot pads that fit into your shoe and could do wonders when it is time to reduce the amount of pressure on the nerve.

You should choose a custom orthotic to help with these. Some options are available over the counter, but they will not be as good as the custom options. You can get one individually designed shoe insert to make sure that your foot is as comfortable as possible.

Morton’s Neuroma Can Also Be Treated With Surgery and Procedures

If you find that using the right shoe and a good orthotic will help in most cases. But if these tend to not do the work that you want, there are a few other treatments that you can choose as well. Some of these include:

• Injections: You may be able to get a steroid injection into the area that is causing you the most pain.
• Decompression surgery: You may be able to work with a surgeon to help you relieve the pressure on the nerve by cutting the structures that are nearby and then providing you with some of the help that you need.
• Removal of the nerve: You may find that it is necessary to surgically remove the growth that is in your foot if the other treatments are not helping you relieve your pain. When this happens, you will have permanent numbness in the toes that are affected.

You will need to sit down with your doctor to determine which process is going to be the best for you. Often the shoes and orthotics will be enough, but if you need surgery or other options, they will be able to work with you to help.

Taking Care of Your Feet and Prevent Them From Morton’s Neuroma

You need to take care of your feet in all stages of your life. When you are rough on your feet and don’t give them the love and care that they need, it can result in some hard issues, like Morton’s neuroma. It is best to work with your medical professional to make sure that you give your feet the very best. Taking care of your feet can be made simple at Urthotics, as custom orthotics will last you years and help treat your Morton’s neuroma.