Neuroma

Anyone can develop a neuroma, but women are 8-10 times more likely to struggle with this painful problem. Joel Segalman, DPM, FACFAS, FACFAO, and Stephen Lazaroff, DPM, FACFAS, at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, effectively treat neuromas and ease your pain using conservative therapy and advanced treatments. If you feel like there’s a lump in the bottom of your foot, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Without treatment, neuromas get worse and can cause permanent nerve damage. Call one of the offices in Newtown or Waterbury, Connecticut, or use the online booking feature today.

What is a neuroma?

A neuroma is a thickened mass of nerve tissue that develops on a nerve. Though a neuroma can affect any nerve in your foot, the most common type (Morton’s neuroma) appears on the nerve between your third and fourth toes.

What causes a neuroma?

A neuroma develops when the nerve is irritated or pinched, a problem that has many possible causes, including:

• Tight shoes
• Shoes with pointed toes
• Shoes with high heels
• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Flat feet
• Nerve injury
• Pronation (rolling your foot inward)
• Repetitive, high-impact movement (running)

Most people end up with a neuroma when their shoes put too much pressure on the nerve.

What symptoms develop due to a neuroma?

At first, neuromas are small and may not cause any symptoms. Over time, the neuroma gets progressively larger and often causes severe pain. A large neuroma can cause enough pain to stop you from walking.

As the area enlarges, you will also feel the lump. You may have the sensation that there’s a small pebble in your shoe.

Many patients develop a burning pain that starts in the ball of their foot and radiates to their toes. Patients may also have tingling or an electric-shock type of pain. Nerve damage can also lead to numbness in the area.

How is a neuroma treated?

After Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC reviews your medical history and symptoms and examines your foot, your provider orders diagnostic imaging such as an MRI to get a good view of the problem. Or, an in-office diagnostic ultrasonic imaging can be done on the spot and may avoid the need and delay associated with an MRI.

Next, they implement the best treatment plan for your symptoms and the size of the neuroma.

Your treatment may include:

• Shoe padding
• Custom orthotics
• Shoe modifications
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Corticosteroid injections

Absolute alcohol also called dehydrated alcohol, is produced for medical use. During your in-office procedure to inject the alcohol, your Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC provider uses ultrasound to see the neuroma and guide the needle. 

The alcohol effectively relieves your pain by reducing the size of the neuroma and, in 85% of the cases, replaces the need for nerve surgery.

Most people can avoid surgery after receiving an alcohol injection. However, if the neuroma doesn’t improve, you may need surgery to save the nerve. Without treatment, ongoing compression can cause permanent damage.

When you need relief from the pain of a neuroma, you can count on the skill and experience of  Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC. Don’t wait to call the office or book an appointment online.