Have you ever experienced pain in the ball of your foot? Chances are it could be caused by a Morton’s neuroma. This ailment is extremely common, and is additionally common for women. Let’s take a closer look into what it is and how it is treated.
What is a Morton’s Neuroma?
While the word neuroma suggests that this is a tumor of a nerve, it is actually a not a tumor, but a thickening of the tissues that surround the nerve. The digital nerve plantar nerve that leads to the toes is located between base of the metatarsals. Otherwise known as the ball of your foot. The most common space in the foot for a Morton’s neuroma to occur is between the third and 4th metatarsal (ring and middle toe).
Symptoms and Causes
Signs and symptoms of a Morton’s neuroma include:
- numbness or tingling in the foot
- burning or aching pain
- the sensation that there is a pebble in your shoe
- a swollen sensation in the forefoot
Typically the symptoms begin gradually and progressively get worse. If you often wear heels or narrow-toed shoes, or tight shoes you are at higher risk. Sports or exercise involving a lot of running can also cause thickening of the nerve tissue. Likewise, foot deformations like bunions or flat feet can also lead to the ailment.
Treatment Options
It’s important to seek treatment right away to prevent permanent damage to the nerve. Conservative treatment such as therapeutic exercises and modalities to reduce the inflammation are typically done first. If your shoes are causing the problems, making the necessary modifications to your footwear can help. Another treatment method is providing a metatarsal pad to the forefoot to relieve pressure on the foot. Similarly, corticosteroid injections are also effective. These treatments involve injecting an anti-inflammatory medication to the nerve area.
In some cases surgical intervention is necessary. In this case, the surgery involves removing part of the damaged nerve, or the access tissue around the nerve.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Chiropractic care can treat a Morton’s neuroma. Along with massage, therapeutic exercises and modalities to reduce the inflammation and swelling to the nerve and tissue- chiropractic manipulation techniques can also help. A 2015 study from the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine showed that manipulation to the lower extremity was an effective treatment for patients with nerve pain in the foot.
Chiropractors specialize in improving the function of the nervous system. Coupled with treatments specific to the forefoot, a better functioning nervous system will assist in faster healing. In other words, if you are experiencing pain in the ball of your foot, contact the Silver Chiropractic and Wellness today to start feeling better today.
