Our Services / Neuroma

What is a neuroma?

A neuroma is thickened tissue that develops around a nerve. Morton’s neuroma is most common, forming between the third and fourth toes. Morton’s neuroma feels slightly uncomfortable at first. As time goes on, the pain and discomfort can be extreme enough to interfere with your daily activities.

What are the symptoms of a neuroma?

Everybody experiences neuroma pain differently, depending on the severity of the condition. Common symptoms of neuromas include:

• Feeling like you’re walking on a pebble
• Feeling like your sock is bunched up
• Sharp pain
• Swelling between the toes
• Burn or ache in the ball of the foot
• Numbness in the toes

Most people experience worsening pain when wearing shoes. Removing your shoes and massaging the space between your third and fourth toes can provide temporary relief from the pain of Morton’s neuroma.

What causes a neuroma?

A compressed nerve between the third and fourth toes is the most common cause of Morton’s neuroma. Certain risk factors raise your chances of developing a neuroma. These include:

Foot deformities

Foot deformities can change the entire structure of your feet, which can lead to nerve compression. Bunions, hammertoe, flat feet, and high arches increase your risk of developing Morton’s neuroma.

Trauma

Injury to the foot can damage the nerves between your toes. The resulting inflammation can cause the nerve to swell and the tissue around it to thicken.

Some shoes

Shoes that compress the toes, like high-heels, pointed flats, and fashion cowboy boots, can damage the tissue around the nerve.

High-impact exercise

Many kinds of high-impact exercises, like running, can inflame and thicken the tissue around the nerve between your toes.

How is a neuroma diagnosed?

A complete visual exam is essential to diagnose neuromas. During your exam, your foot and ankle surgeon puts pressure on the painful area to see if they detect a small mass of tissue between your toes.

If you feel pain, tenderness, or clicking between your toes during this exam, your provider will order an imaging procedure, like X-rays, an MRI, or an ultrasound.

How is a neuroma treated?

Conservative and surgical treatments for neuromas are available at Richmond Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates. Some of the most common treatments at the practice include:

• 3D scanned custom orthotics (shoe inserts)
• Changes in the shoes you’re wearing
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation
• Decompression surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve
• Complete nerve removal surgery

Call Richmond Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about neuromas.