Pain can take away your quality of life. Such is the case with an enlarged, compressed nerve in your foot known as a neuroma. Over time, the pressure on the nerve tissue can cause a burning, tingling, or other sensation that makes it difficult to walk or even stand without pain.
When you develop nerve problems in your feet, Southern Oregon Foot & Ankle can provide the effective care you need. Understanding this condition will help you know when it is time to reach out and schedule your appointment with us.
Understanding Your Nervous System
To better understand a neuroma, it is beneficial to start with a look at your nervous system, including its subdivisions into the central and peripheral nervous systems.
The spinal column and brain form the central nervous system. Electrical impulses are collected to receive physical sensations and sent out to provide directions for action. The brain relies on a comprehensive network of nerves that form the peripheral nervous system to receive and transmit data.
The peripheral nervous system is where neuromas form. While some nerves are responsible for triggering action, these nerves are tasked with collecting sensory information and conveying it back to the brain.
When everything is functioning normally, this system works quite well. However, the development of a neuroma (thickened nerve tissue) can become a problem.
Neuroma Signs and Symptoms
The more prevalent neuroma symptoms include burning or tingling sensations, pain, and even numbness. A feeling of something being inside a sock or shoe—when nothing is actually present—is another frequent complaint from patients having neuromas.
There is often a particular pattern of progression with neuroma symptoms. At first, pain or discomfort only happens occasionally, like when performing certain physical activities or wearing narrow-toed footwear. Relief might be experienced by massaging the affected foot, avoiding activity, or removing a shoe that is causing problems.
Eventually, symptoms will worsen to the point where they persist for extended periods, even as long as several weeks. Additionally, pain or other sensations can intensify as a neuroma enlarges. Left untreated, the neuroma can become a permanent problem.
How a Neuroma Develops
Essentially, anything causing irritation or compression on a nerve can lead to swelling and thickening, but narrow and high-heeled shoes are one of the most common causes.
Hammertoes, bunions, flat feet, and other foot deformities can increase the risk.
Any activities involving repeated irritation on the ball of the foot or causing physical trauma can potentially result in neuroma development.
Treatment and Preventative Measures
There are both conservative and surgical treatment options for dealing with a neuroma.
Non-surgical care includes padding, icing, modifying your activity or shoes, medication, orthotic devices, and sometimes injection therapy. We hope to avoid surgery using these kinds of treatment methods.
Surgery is only recommended when non-surgical approaches have not provided the desired results. In these instances, we will consider your condition and goals and then determine a strategy that will work best for you. The recovery timeframe will depend on which surgical procedure we perform.
You can lessen your risk of dealing with neuromas by wearing shoes with wider toe boxes and lower heels. This will help reduce the amount of pressure placed on the front of the foot.
Additionally, undergoing treatment for foot deformities instead of leaving them untreated will further lower the risk of this condition.
Foot and Ankle Nerve Care in Medford, OR
Nerve issues in the feet and ankles can be a concern, but our team at Southern Oregon Foot & Ankle is prepared to help. We provide an array of services at our Medford podiatry office to help you find the relief you need from issues like neuromas.
Contact us today for more information by calling (541) 776-3338, or take advantage of our online form and request an appointment with us right now.