Experiencing pins and needles or numbness in your toes? Feels like you’re standing on a stone? No, you're not going crazy, but you may have a Morton’s neuroma in the front of your foot. Now, before you go and do a quick Google search, we’ll provide you with some information about this condition and how we can help you to overcome it!
WHAT IS A MORTON'S NEUROMA?
A Morton’s neuroma is a thickening and/or irritation of a nerve in the ball of the foot. In most cases, the web space between the 3rd and 4th toes is affected.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
You may experience one or a combination of the following symptoms:
Pins and needles
Numbness
Burning
Feels like you’re standing on a stone
The discomfort is usually localised but can radiate into the toes.
WHAT CAUSES A MORTON'S NEUROMA?
It usually isn't caused by one factor alone but a combination of the following:
Tight footwear
High-heeled shoes
Foot structure
Foot function
Muscle tightness
Muscle weakness
Standing for long periods of time
Sports that require you to put a lot of pressure on the balls of your feet
HOW CAN WE HELP?
There are many treatment options that we can offer to assist you. Initially, we focus on getting the pain to settle down. This usually involves:
Activity modification advice (doing less of the things that aggravate the pain and more of the things that don't)
Footwear assessment and advice
Using a soft pad to take the pressure off the sensitive region
Taking pain-relieving medication for a short period of time
Longer-term treatment options include:
Using orthotics to reduce the pressure on the painful region and improve foot function
Reducing muscle tightness and improving muscle strength
Getting a pain-relieving cortisone injection
Does this sound familiar? If it does, you'd better get on the front foot (pun intended) to stop this from becoming a chronic problem. For individual advice regarding your feet, feel free to contact us or book an appointment online.
Author: Dion Vallianos