What Is Causing My Foot Pain?
Do you have pain in your foot and wonder what is causing it or how to treat it? To help identify the cause of your foot pain, answer these five questions: Did the pain come on gradually without a suspected injury? Does the pain sensation tingle, burn, cramp or feel numb? Do you feel the pain at the end of your foot and into your toes? Does it feel like your walking on a wrinkle in your sock or on a small pebble? Do the symptoms occur after you've been walking or standing for a period of time? If you answered YES to any of these questions you may have irritated a nerve in your foot and could be suffering from what's called a neuroma.
A neuroma is the fibrous thickening of nerve tissue that is caused by irritation to a nerve. It is usually caused by compression on the nerve from ill-fitting shoes, abnormal bone movement or biomechanics, or an unrecognized injury. The most common neuroma of the foot is called a Morton's neuroma, which occurs at the base of the third and fourth toes. Neuromas may also occur in other locations in the foot. Neuromas usually affect only one foot, but may affect both. Neuromas can occur in all age groups, but are more common in 30-50 year olds. Neuromas are also more commonly found in females, which is often the result of shoe gear.
If you have tried treating your foot pain with home remedies such as icing, heating, or lotions and creams, and still have foot pain, I recommend that you see a certified podiatric physician. A podiatrist will examine your foot and determine the presence of a neuroma. If a neuroma is present, a podiatrist will provide you with many treatment options. A podiatrist will confirm a neuroma with a thorough clinical examination of your feet and may order other diagnostic tests, such as Ultrasonography or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Often an X-ray of the foot is taken to help identify structural causes for a neuroma, or to rule out other foot pathologies.
Once a neuroma has been confirmed it is important to discuss all treatment options with your podiatrist .A treatment plan will be developed to address your specific needs. Nonsurgical treatment methods may include the following: changing shoe gear to a wider toe box in order to prevent compression and nerve irritation, orthotic shoe inserts worn in the shoe to adjust the structural support of the foot and reduce pressure and compression of the nerve, padding to provide cushion and support which lessens the pressure on the nerve and decreases the compression, medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen taken orally to help reduce pain and swelling, or injection therapy using a corticosteroid or sclerosing alcohol given in the affected area.
Surgical treatment may be necessary when conservative therapy has failed to provide adequate relief of symptoms or conservative treatment options are impractical. Neuroma surgery consists of either removing or releasing the affected nerve. The surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation. Recovery usually consists of 2-3 weeks in a post-operative shoe that allows the foot to be non-weight bearing. After 2-3 weeks, the podiatrist will remove the sutures and assess the ability to progress to full weight bearing shoe gear, as tolerated. The length of recovery may vary depending on the type of surgical procedure performed.
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