Symptoms such as feeling like you’re walking on pebbles often point to a foot condition known as a neuroma. This is a benign (noncancerous) thickening and inflammation of the tissue enveloping the digital nerve that goes to your toes. Neuromas most commonly affect the area between your third and fourth toes and can make walking difficult.
Neuromas are common, but that doesn’t make them any less painful!
At Midwest Foot & Ankle Associates, Dr. Biren Shah and his caring team treat a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, including neuromas. He can properly diagnose the cause of your pain and create a treatment plan that relieves pain and restores mobility.
Neuromas have many causes, including foot mechanics, general instability, and pressure on your foot from sources such as ill-fitting shoes or structural abnormalities.
For instance, certain foot conditions can lead to neuromas, including flat feet or high arches, bunions, and hammertoe. Shoes with tight toeboxes and sky-high heels are additional culprits, and possibly why women are eight times more likely to develop one.
Playing sports, working in a job where you stand for long periods, carrying extra pounds, and foot trauma are also contributors to neuromas.
All of these potential causes of neuromas make it clear why approximately one in three individuals will experience this condition at some point.
Though we talked about the pain associated with them that feels like you’re walking on little rocks or marbles, other unpleasant symptoms also arise:
Unfortunately, neuroma symptoms tend to worsen over time.
If Dr. Shah diagnoses you with a neuroma, which he does via a physical exam and sometimes imaging tests, he designs a plan to provide the best possible treatment. His goal is to provide lasting relief from a neuroma’s life-limiting symptoms.
He may suggest conservative treatments to relieve pressure if your neuroma is minor, such as:
Sometimes these approaches aren’t successful, or your neuroma may be more serious. Dr. Shah might then recommend:
For the most severe neuromas that even these treatments don’t successfully address, Dr. Shah offers a surgical solution. During this procedure, he simply removes the inflamed nerve bundles that are causing the pain.
If you think you may have a neuroma, it’s crucial to seek treatment to avoid chronic foot pain and the risk of worsening nerve damage. Don’t hesitate to contact Midwest Foot & Ankle Association in Elgin or Rockford to schedule an appointment or book an evaluation online.
