Neuromas
What is a Neuroma?
A neuroma is inflammation on a nerve in your foot. It is more commonly seen between the 3rd and 4th toes which is referred to as a Morton’s neuroma but can occur between any of the toes and on the sides of the 1st and 5th toe.
Signs and Symptoms of Neuroma:
The most common symptoms of a neuroma include:
- Pain between your toes when you stand or walk.
- Pain that’s worse when you wear high-heeled shoes or stand on the balls of your feet.
- Swelling between your toes.
- Tingling (feeling pins and needles) and numbness in the area of the neuroma that can radiate into the toes..
You may also feel like:
- There’s a small pebble in your shoe.
- You’re stepping on a marble or stone under the ball of your foot.
- Your sock is bunched up in your shoe.
Neuroma symptoms usually get worse over time. You might notice some minor pain at first that goes away with rest or after you take off your shoe and massage your foot. As the inflammation on your affected nerve gets worse, your symptoms will become more noticeable.
Cause of neuromas:
The exact cause of neuromas is not always clear, but several factors may contribute to their development, including:
- Repetitive Trauma: Chronic irritation or compression of a nerve due to activities such as running or wearing tight shoes.
- Foot Structure: Abnormalities in foot structure or gait can increase the risk of neuromas.
- Gender: Neuromas are more common in women.
- Footwear: Wearing high-heeled or tight shoes can increase pressure on the nerves in the feet.