My name is Marilyn Baker, and I have horrible allergies. I’m 42 years old and have been suffering from allergies since I was a child. I have seasonal and environmental allergies. Allergies plague me year round. When I was young, my parents even moved to a dryer area in the hope of helping me. Over the past eight years, I have done extensive research both through doctors and online. I have managed to come up with some combinations that have helped me a great deal. My allergies aren’t gone, but they have become manageable. I do have to have allergy shots, but I also use some natural remedies. I am happy to be able to share my findings with you here on my blog. I hope you can find some of this of value.
If you've been diagnosed with Morton's neuroma, you probably have a lot of questions regarding your condition and the treatment options that are available to help ease your pain and discomfort. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help eliminate or lessen your pain. Knowing some basic facts about Morton's neuroma will help you understand your condition and work with your physician and physical therapist to find the best treatment program for you.
What is Morton's neuroma?
Morton's neuroma refers to a nerve tumor. However, it's not actually a tumor. It's a swelling caused by a thickening of the tissue that surrounds the digital nerves. The thickened tissue causes irritation that leads to swelling and pressure on the digital nerve. The condition is noncancerous.
Morton's neuroma is also referred to as intermetatarsal neuroma or interdigital neuroma. Only one nerve is affected, and it is commonly the nerve that runs between the third and fourth digits of the foot, although it can occur between other digits.
What causes it?
The condition is triggered by irritation, injury, or in response to excessive pressure on the digital nerves. It occurs more often in women than men. Improper walking mechanics is a common cause. Wearing high heels or poor-fitting shoes may also be a cause, as it forces the foot and toes into an unnatural position that may lead to irritation in the metatarsal heads.
Symptoms
You may notice numbness and tingling in the toes and foot. As the condition progresses, you may feel as if you are walking on a stone or marble. You may experience a burning-type pain. The pain and numbness may extend up into the calf and thigh at times and is often extremely painful.
Treatment options
Your physician may recommend at-home approaches before trying more extensive treatments. These approaches include using ice to relieve swelling, changing to a wide-toed shoe, abstaining from sports and running activities, massage, and reduction of body weight if you are overweight.
Physical therapy from a clinic like Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital is commonly prescribed. A trained physical therapist will instruct you in exercises and massage techniques to relieve the swelling and irritation. You will perform exercises in the clinic and will also be given a home exercise program to do between visits.
Corticosteroid injections may provide some relief, but they can cause side effects such as high blood pressure and weight gain in some individuals. The number of injections you can receive is limited due to these side effects.
If physical therapy, injections, and self-care techniques are not helpful in eliminating your symptoms, you may need to have a surgical procedure to remove the nerve or the pressure on the nerve. This is a last-resort procedure. However, the success rate is very high with surgery.
Morton's neuroma is painful and annoying, but it is treatable. You will need to make some lifestyle changes to promote relief and work with your physical therapist to learn the proper exercises for treatment. In time, you should be able to return to your previous activity level. Your knowledge of what caused the condition will help you to prevent further flare-ups in the future.
Share