What Causes Neuroma?

Painful neuromas make it difficult to walk and participate in your usual activities. Your Turnersville and Pennsauken, NJ podiatrist at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC discuss the cause of neuromas and explain what you can do to prevent them.

What is a neuroma?

A neuroma occurs when the tissue around a nerve begins to thicken. This non-cancerous growth usually develops between your third and fourth toes. Although anyone can experience a neuroma, it's particularly common in women.

What causes neuromas?

It's not always easy to pinpoint the cause of a neuroma, but you may be more likely to develop the condition if:

• You recently experienced a foot injury.
• You have a foot condition that can make your toes unstable, such as high arches, flat feet, bunions or hammertoes.
• You wear high heels or tight shoes.
• You run, jog or participate in another repetitive activity.

What are neuroma symptoms?

If you have a neuroma, you may notice:

• Pain in the front part of your foot and between your toes
• A feeling that you're walking on a pebble
• Swelling between your toes
• Numbness or tingling in the ball of your foot
• Pain in the ball of your foot when you stand or put pressure on your foot

How can I find relief for neuroma pain?

Your condition may improve if you change your footwear. Look for shoes that offer plenty of room in the toe box and feature shock-absorbent soles. Stay away from tight shoes or shoes that have heels higher than two inches. Adding insoles to your shoes can help relieve the pressure on your foot.

If footwear changes don't relieve your symptoms, your Turnersville and Pennsauken podiatrist can provide treatment options that may help, including padding your foot and providing you with custom-made shoe inserts to reduce the pressure on your toes and the ball of your foot. Your podiatrist may also recommend anti-inflammatory medications or cortisone injections to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove the inflamed nerve.

Do you suffer from neuromas? Find out how your Turnersville and Pennsauken, NJ podiatrist at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC can help ease your pain by calling their offices to schedule an appointment. Ease your foot pain with a visit to your podiatrist!