You shake your shoe, expecting a pebble to come tumbling out. Alas, your shoe is empty — what gives? This phantom pebble isn’t all in your head. In many cases, it’s a symptom of a foot condition called a neuroma, a mass of thickened nerve tissue that causes foot pain and discomfort.
Fortunately, Kelly L. Geoghan, DPM, knows exactly what to do when a neuroma develops, and our team is here to walk you through what’s really going on inside your shoe.
Neuromas develop when the nerves in your forefoot become compressed, inflamed, and irritated. The nerves swell, and the surrounding tissue thickens, resulting in a painful mass.
The most common type of neuroma is Morton’s neuroma, which forms between the bones of your third and fourth toes. Experts estimate that one in three people will experience a Morton’s neuroma at some point.
When neuroma develops, it might feel as though you have a pebble in your shoe. You may also experience:
There are a few possible explanations for how a neuroma develops. Anything that compresses or irritates the nerves in your foot can lead to a neuroma.
Sometimes, it happens gradually due to repetitive stress, excess weight, prolonged standing, or wearing improper footwear. A neuroma also could be brought on suddenly by an injury or trauma, such as an impact from a fall or a heavy object dropped on your foot.
Certain foot deformities, including high arches, flat feet, bunions, and hammertoes, cause instability around the toe joints and can lead to a neuroma.
Women are more likely to develop neuromas, primarily because they tend to wear high-heeled shoes with pointed toes, which put extra pressure on the nerves in the forefoot.
Other foot problems could be causing your symptoms. Metatarsalgia is an inflammatory condition that develops in the ball of your foot and around the bones in your feet. Plantar warts, which tend to grow inward, can also make it feel like you’re walking on a pebble or marble.
We take great care in evaluating your symptoms and foot health to reach an accurate diagnosis and create the most effective treatment plan possible.
Neuromas are treatable, especially when we catch them in their earliest stages. We begin by discussing your symptoms and examining your foot. In many cases, we order an X-ray or an MRI to better assess the location and severity of your neuroma.
Mild neuromas respond well to simple at-home remedies and lifestyle adjustments such as:
Anything you can do to take the pressure off of your feet goes a long way in reducing your symptoms and allowing the neuroma to diminish on its own.
For more advanced neuromas, Dr. Geoghan may recommend:
We resort to surgery only in the most severe cases. The procedure is simple and performed on an outpatient basis, but surgical intervention typically results in permanent numbness in one or more of your toes.
If you suspect you have a neuroma, there’s no time to lose. The faster you act, the easier your foot problem will be to treat. Contact Kelly L. Geoghan, DPM, in Lutherville, Maryland, to schedule an appointment today.
