Do you ever feel as if you’re walking around with a pebble in your shoe? This nagging ache in the ball of your foot could be Morton’s neuroma, a disorder caused by trauma or repeated pressure and overuse. The discomfort on your footpad may be modest at first, but if left untreated, the pain under the ball of your foot can become excruciating.
Let’s take a look at how to manage Morton’s neuroma and how shoes and other orthotic therapies can assist.
What is Morton’s Neuroma, and how does it affect you?
Morton’s neuroma is a swollen tissue mass that develops on the nerve that runs beneath the metatarsals. The metatarsals, which connect our toe bones to the forefoot, are subjected to a great deal of stress. Morton’s neuroma is usually diagnosed by a podiatrist or foot expert between the third and fourth toes, as this is where excess pressure tends to concentrate.
Morton’s neuroma affects far more women than it does men, owing to the fact that some women favor tight, narrow, or high-heeled shoes. When you wear high heels, the higher heel presses against the nerve, or the metatarsals, causing Morton’s neuroma.
You may experience an aching or burning sensation in the area, or it may become numb with discomfort, in addition to the uncomfortable sensation of walking on a stone.
The Most Effective Treatments for Foot Neuroma
If you think you could have Morton’s neuroma, see a doctor to rule out other possibilities including arthritis or stress fractures. They can help you establish a treatment plan to assist you minimize your pain and get back on your feet comfortably once you’ve received a diagnosis.
Treatments that can be done at home
Practical and simple activities and habit modifications that you may do at home are some of the most popular and successful therapies for Morton’s neuroma.
Icing your feet and taking anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin will help reduce swelling and pain. To reduce pain from Morton’s neuroma, you can practice exercises like stretching your toes and metatarsals.
Also, avoid exercises that put pressure on the balls of the feet, such as running. Instead, go swimming or cycling.
Neuroma Morton’s Shoes
If you commit to wearing well-fitting shoes with adequate padding, you will almost certainly notice a significant improvement in your foot pain. Shoes with a broad toe box and well-cushioned bottoms that don’t put too much pressure on the feet are ideal.
Treatments that are more advanced
If you’ve made various modifications to help with your Morton’s neuroma and are still in discomfort, your doctor may need to take more drastic measures.
Steroid injections can help with pain management, but your doctor may propose surgery to completely eliminate the problem. They will either clip the ligaments that are putting pressure on the neuroma or perform a neurectomy to completely remove the thickened nerve.
The Advantages of a Custom Orthotic in the Treatment of Morton’s Neuroma
A tailored orthotic may be able to assist you manage chronic Morton’s neuroma pain and prevent it from recurring in the future. These personalized insoles are tailored to fit your feet perfectly and provide mild padding and cushioning where you need it most.
IDEASTEP Orthotics creates custom orthotics that are accurately measured to your foot and delivered to your door. In addition, if you get a shoe and orthotic package, we’ll cut and shape your insoles to fit snugly in your new shoes. Your new shoes are ready to wear as they arrive at your door.