Have you ever felt like you have something in your shoe but find nothing there when you check? This unusual pain in the bottom of your foot may be a warning sign of a Morton’s neuroma.
At the office of Francine Rhinehart, DPM, in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, you can schedule a diagnostic evaluation for foot pain that you can’t treat on your own. Dr. Rhinehart offers on-site X-rays and other imaging technology to determine if your pain relates to a neuroma or another condition.
A Morton’s neuroma describes the thickening of tissue around the nerves of your feet that lead to your toes. This thickening leads to inflammation in the nerve, which causes pain in the ball of your foot that’s usually felt between your third and fourth toes.
Anyone can develop a Morton’s neuroma, but the condition is most common in those who wear shoes like high heels that compress your feet and toes.
You may also be at increased risk for developing a neuroma if you’re a runner, work in a job that repeatedly stresses your feet, or experience trauma to your foot from a fall or other accident.
Some people are born with structural abnormalities in their feet that put them at risk for a Morton’s neuroma. If you develop deformities in your foot, such as hammertoe or bunions, later in life they can irritate the nerve in the ball of your foot.
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with our office if you experience unusual foot pain that lasts longer than a few days.
A hallmark symptom of Morton's neuroma is the feeling that there’s a pebble in your shoe that’s pressing into your foot. You may also experience a burning sensation in the ball of your foot, as well as tingling or numbness in the nearby toes.
These symptoms may not go away on their own unless you relieve the pressure on your nerves. Without treatment, neuroma pain can also worsen.
Dr. Rhinehart spends time reviewing your medical history, your activities, and your symptoms. She also assesses your foot and may ask you to walk around, so she can evaluate your gait. Based on the severity of your symptoms, Dr. Rhinehart customizes a treatment plan to your needs, so you can find fast relief for your pain and lower your risk of complications.
The goal of your treatment plan for a Morton’s neuroma is to take the pressure off the nerves in your feet. To do this, Dr. Rhinehart may initially recommend extra padding or orthotic shoe inserts that cushion your feet and prevent further irritation of the nerve.
You may also need to upgrade your footwear to wide-fit shoes to ensure your toes have enough room. Avoid wearing high heels as much as possible and opt for a more supportive shoe style.
If your pain isn’t treatable with these therapies, Dr. Rhinehart may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to reduce inflammation and pain.
You may also benefit from regenerative therapies that use injections of amniotic cells to stimulate your body’s own healing abilities. As new cells grow, they calm inflammation around the affected nerve to provide long-lasting pain relief.
Schedule your diagnostic evaluation for Morton’s neuroma by calling our office at 214-216-6538, or book an appointment online today.
